Pilot reveals surprising skill that makes a good captain - and it has nothing to do with flying

Daily Mail​

18-05-2025

A veteran pilot has shared one surprising skill that makes a good captain - and it has nothing to do with flying.
Steve Schreiber, 63, from New Orleans, U.S., has had 26 years of flying experience - including eleven as a captain - which saw him spend a total of 5,860 hours navigating the skies in 60 different aircraft.
Also known by his pseudonym Captain Steve online, the former United States Navy officer often shares safety tips on all things flying to his TikTok channel, @captainsteeeve, where he boasts over 370K followers.
In April, the seasoned pilot took to the video-sharing platform to reveal the lesser-known skill required of a captain: the ability to build a strong repour with one's co-pilot.
In the clip, the pilot first shared he is not permitted to read whilst in the air unless it is in relation to the aircraft itself, or aviation as a whole.
Though he stressed the importance of paying attention to ensuring a safe and successful flight, he insisted another crucial skill boils down to how the conversation unfolds between he and his co-pilot.
From finding out where one another is from, to warming stories about their families, to uncovering their interests and hobbies, Schreiber highlighted how a natural exchange between co-pilots is key.
He recalled his first interview with his current airline, explaining: 'When I first got interviewed at my airline, they just talked to me for about 20 minutes in the interview - they didn't ask me much in the way of technical questions.'
Though the captain was left 'scratching his head' at first, it soon struck him that he had already been considered a 'good fit' by his hiring managers and he was being tested on his ability to hold a 'good' conversation for a significant length of time.
He added: 'That's a big part of the job. You'd be surprised how many people can't hold a conversation for very long. I appreciate my co-pilots when we get into a good discussion about anything - it makes the flight go by a lot quicker.'
Over 190 viewers were left intrigued in the comments, with many asking follow-up questions about potential issues that could arise in the cockpit.
One person asked: 'Do you ever fly with a copilot that you just can't get along with?'
A second mused: 'How awkward is it when you're with a copilot that has radically different political opinions as you? Other than flight related talk, is it dead silent?'
Meanwhile, former pilot recalled: 'We used to have some of the most hilarious conversations during our missions overseas.'
A viewer added: 'Yeah I could see that getting kind of boring just listening to air traffic control.'
Another admitted: 'That I did not know, and I would, for that reason alone, be a terrible airline pilot....'
The seasoned pilot took to the video-sharing platform to reveal the lesser-known skill required of a captain: the ability to build a strong repour with one's co-pilot
Over 190 viewers were left intrigued in the comments, with many asking follow-up questions about potential issues that could arise in the cockpit
It comes as a pilot revealed her tips for nervous flyers and what to avoid doing before a flight if you are anxious.
Shibani Kaur Gupta, from London, who currently works as a Line Training Captain for Wizz Air, has revealed what nervous flyers should and shouldn't do during a flight.
The pilot, who got her private licence when she was just 17 years old, revealed she has spoken to a lot of passengers over the years and always shares her crucial advice to them.
The 35-year-old claimed after previously speaking to nervous flyers it 'calmed them down', she revealed hearing that everything is going to be ok 'from the horse's mouth really makes a difference.'