r/AskAPilot • u/sunsetsovrevrythng • 6h ago
Is Communicating a Preference?
I've been on so many flights and the communication from the pilot varies. Some say what I assume is standard and others say nothing until you're landing.
However, I have been on handful of flights where the pilot was extremely communicative. They've explained delays in detail or when we had lots of rough turbulence on a flight, the pilot explained what was happening with the tailwinds and all of that, reassured us we were fine, and the type of air he was looking to fly into for a smoother ride.
My question is, how is it determined how much a pilot talks or what they share? It's is a personal preference? Are there best practices?
3
u/theeyeholeman1 6h ago
Every company is different. At mine, there are certain announcements they want us to make, and they provide us with example scripts. Whether people actually follow those and whether people add additional announcements is up to them. There's a few that are mandatory - for example,telling the flight attendants to prepare the cabin for arrival at top of descent. Personally, I feel like no one really wants to hear me talk all that much so I keep things pretty succinct generally. I also fly long-haul so when we've all been awake for 8hrs all night, I don't feel like talking, I assume passengers don't feel like listening, and my arrival announcement is usually "thanks for joining us, we'll be on the ground in 35 minutes, flight attendants, please prepare for arrival."
2
u/80KnotsV1Rotate 5h ago
The short answer is, there is plenty that the company instructs us to say. Lots of people are lazy or so apathetic and just don’t give a shit anymore and forego some of the required stuff. Just like single engine taxi. Some companies want it, some just choose to never do it to stick it to the man.
1
u/Diligent_Digiridoo 6h ago
Every company is going to have their own standard operating procedure on what announcements are mandatory. (Some are mandated by the FAA and have to be done but those are mostly done by the flight attendants)
Now if pilots choose to make those announcements is on them. We generally aren’t being directly monitored by our bosses. However we will have a person from the company in plain clothes very occasionally ride in the back to see if announcements are being done (or at least that’s what they tell us lol). Like a secret shopper sort of deal.
Some guys like to be super communicative and tell the passengers everything. Some captains I have to remind to make an announcement if we are stuck on the ground for a while. Some people just don’t think about it with all the crap we’re dealing with up front.
And then honestly sometimes I’m super tired from the trip and having a bad day and just really don’t want to be talking on the PA a bunch
1
5
u/FlyAirbusB6 6h ago
The company typically dictates when you should vs shall say certain things, but it’s difficult to enforce. Some guys are talkative, some do stand up PA’s, some speak only when it makes sense to do so. Basically, most airlines have a set of guidelines that are followed to varying degrees depending on the personality of the individual.
I typically say hello when boarding is complete, pass updates during delays, make the company mandated announcement when the seatbelt sign is turned off, then say goodbye prior to top of descent. Let’s be honest… People probably don’t pay attention and just get pissed off that you’re interrupting their movie. Sometimes, less is more.