EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors; Company Policy
This is a report on the unsafe scheduling practices by my company. I am a brand new Captain (CA) on the EMB 170. My fed ride was completed near the end of September. To date I have only been scheduled for 5 flights as a Captain vs 22 as a First Officer. This is dangerous for a number of reasons. First; I have over 5 years and almost 4;000 hours as a First Officer.  Each time I now fly as a First Officer (FO); I fall back into that comfort zone and engrained muscle memory for flying that side of the aircraft. I lose the flows; muscle memory; Captain authority; and decision making that I gained in training. My deep seeded First Officer experience takes over since I have no foundation built yet as a Captain. On my trip yesterday; the scheduled Captain who switched seats to get some experience as a Captain said that he was worried since he could see I was not comfortable on the first few legs as a Captain.  I told them I keep getting assignments as a First Officer and just got done flying the day prior as a First Officer. It was his observation that I should not fly any more legs in the right seat since he could see the negative impact it was making on me till I at least get off high mins.Second; my company will dispatch me as a First Officer; then ask the scheduled Captain to switch seats or try and force the Captain to switch seats. I have already run into major safety concerns on how this. On my first trip after my Fed ride; I was scheduled for a 4 day all as First Officer. I told scheduling that I am a high mins Captain; and need my hours.  Scheduling tried to switch the other Captain to let me fly in the left seat. He refused. Scheduling then forced him. He argued with me that it was unfair; that I don't have the experience for the weather; that he does not have the experience in the right seat; and created a very hostile CRM situation. Seeing that this could turn into a complete break down in the cockpit; I switched back but asked scheduling to find me some time as a Captain. By the time I was done with the trip; I would not have flown as a Captain at all after my Fed ride for 2 weeks. They said they had no one; there was nothing they could do; and I had to fly as  First Officer. Due to hostile and aggressive environment this trip started out at; by day three I demanded to be pulled off since CRM was completely gone and I was concerned for safety. Since this trip; I have also had other Captains switch seats so I can get some left seat flying. I also have had to have scheduling switch one Captain back because he was visibly uncomfortable in the right seat since he has had zero hours as a FO on the aircraft. I felt that was another huge safety risk.  Overall; the practice of flying brand new Captains as First Officers during high mins is dangerous; as pointed out above. It's only a matter of time when a new Captain like myself does not get the much needed foundation that is necessary to handle the challenges of severe weather; new First Officers; maintenance issues; and handling of the aircraft.  Please look into this matter before something severe happens. Having a high mins Captain straight out of training flying 80% of the time as a First Officer is dangerous! I do not feel that I am getting the much needed foundation to handle the aircraft from the left seat; and to deal with the aircraft as pilot in command.
New EMB-170 Captain reports being assigned to fly the majority of her flights after training as a First Officer and believes this is an unsafe practice due to inability to consolidate the learning.