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not only a description, but the very definition of crustiness. Particularly crusty, in fact, crustier than average – perhaps only a couple of thousand hours short of the crustiest ever recorded (rumored to be Mr. Lacy at 45k).Though now formally established as crusty, Bob is one of those mentally sharp and healthy Captains that could easily fly airliners beyond the mandatory retirement age of 65. The flip-side is also true: some pilots should stop flying at 50 – but not Bob. The guy swims the Alcatraz Sharkfest in San Francisco Bay; he’s done it twelve times with no wetsuit! He flies and instructs in Dukes and other G/A aircraft as often as he flies the big iron. He owns airplanes and he knows how to be a Captain. Now, don’t get all huffy and shocked, but there are airline pilots today, sitting in the left seat of regional and main- line jets, that are not Captains. They haven’t even read Ernie Gann – so how could they be?Yes, they are type rated and hold an ATP certificate. They are PIC’s, CFI’s, AMEL’s, ASES’s, MEI’s, double I’s, E-I-E-I-O’s and a bushel-and-a- peck of other FAA acronyms that designate vast experience, many successful check rides, multiple type certificates and proficiency. They are astronauts, fighter pilots, crop dusters, airshow professionalsand test pilots. And they are all good pilots. Most are exceptionally good pilots and they routinely keep things upright when the poo hits the fan. But many are not Captains – even the ones that have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.Fix ThingsToday, an airline Captain must be a combination of MacGyver, Sherlock Holmes, Captain Kirk and Dr. Phil. You’re a parent, not a grandparent, an adult not a teen; on the field not the bleachers and you take the hits without whining or getting distracted. You are there to hear complaints, be leaned on and cried to, admired, respected and you are to fix everything that goes wrong – including the unhinged first-class lavatory toilet seat. It means mediating between your crew, ground staff and the very unruly, entitled passenger that never learned from Leave It to Beaver how to behave in public. Sometimes it’s standing up to other “captains” that claim “I’m here to fly the plane. I don’t get paid to deal with this crap.”It’s making “The Decision” and executing the plan. It’s also evaluating input from those around you, especially your crew, and finding the best course of action. The PIC part is often the straightforward part. The Captain part takes much more time, patience, practice, knowledge and coordination. You must think in, around and outside of the box – sometimes you need to build the very box itself. Pilots from that bygone era demonstrated this ability and the difference between being a pilot and a Captain.Most pilots, male pilots especially, are sometimes not so big on etiquette and the avoidance of toes while accomplishing the public relations, people-skills part of being a Captain. Don’t get me wrong; we’re pleasant enough and respectful – unless someone gets rude or interferes with the safe and efficient operation of our vessel. That’s whenpatience, empathy and forgiveness must be brought to the surface and employed. As in anything else, the “honey attracting more bees than vinegar” mantra is indeed true and the employment of said philosophy can often be more efficient in the execution of captain responsibilities. Occasionally though, the hammer must come down. When it does, it must be in a consistent, predictable and fair manner. It should be easy for those affected to say: I had that coming.The BatonBob has now handed the airline- pilot baton to his son, Justin (Gus) who is just beginning his airline career. In addition to a degree in aviation, Justin was trained to be a professional pilot and Captain by his Dad – in the old-school ways. Three years ago, with 750 hours, Justin started flying regional jets and now has over 3,000 hours. In two or three years he will put on theSEPTEMBER 2014 TWIN & TURBINE • 21