The NEW Captain...

Christmas Day, 2012, I was gifted with an all expense paid, surprise, trip to Amsterdam by scheduling. (Dinner and drinks excluded). The benefits of being on reserve.

But I had the opportunity to fly with a great crew, and the Captain was an example of the type of Captain I want to be. What a fabulous gift. A year ago I wrote a post on How to Be a Captain. 


Today I will add to that list.
What made my most recent Captain an example we should all follow?

• He knew the systems of his plane extremely well.
• He not only allowed the other first officer and myself to fly, but he told us all decisions were ours. Having responsibility makes one think. 
• He told us to manage the plane how we wanted while we flew... enabling confidence to do our thing. 
• He was optimistic, enthusiastic, laughed often, but safety always came first.

He believes that the new Airline Captain's greatest task is "how to not only manage the plane and operation, but how to manage people."

We live in an automated world and fly a automated planes. The essence of safety is how the crew becomes a team, and the ability to work together when the storm is brewing.

My gift this Christmas was to experience a great example of the type of Captain I want to be. Today I am in PVG. My all expense surprise trip on New Years Eve. I'm wrote this before my flight because I am going to the land of no blogging. I will not be able to access my own blog until I return to Tokyo.

Until then... fly safe. Be smart. And be the Captain of Your Life!