Narrative:

Captain ignored/disregarded/did not know altitude restriction for the initial turn on the departure and turned at 400 ft AGL instead of 2;000 ft MSL per the departure. This turn was therefore initiated approximately 1;600 ft early. As a rule; this captain does not adhere to sterile cockpit protocol; particularly on taxi out. The captain was talking about hotel issues; union issues; not getting a workout that morning; that although hungry didn't want to wait in line at a restaurant and other non essential topics on the taxi out. The captain failed to call for the before takeoff checklist to the line until tower had cleared us for takeoff. Although the captain had briefed the SID; the captain did not fly it [accurately]; and when I brought it to the captain's attention that the captain had turned early; the captain did not think it was a big deal. This captain needs to leave union duties and communications and details about personal life at the gate. We all talk about non pertinent issues on taxi out to some degree; but this captain's non pertinent conversation was excessive and distracted from the command and control of the aircraft. We all want to be friendly; but sterile cockpit means sterile cockpit. After three days of this behavior; with similar lapses resulting in larger and smaller deviations I was worn down. Monitoring this pilot can be very draining. I should have exercised additional diligence in my monitoring -- I should have interrupted the hotel and workout stories to make the call for the checklist. Should I ever be paired with this captain again; I will [be] less friendly and more assertive.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A First Officer complained about his Captain's lack of adherence to standard operating procedures related to sterile cockpit; checklist standardization; excessive conversation; and failure to fly a SID properly.

Narrative: Captain ignored/disregarded/did not know altitude restriction for the initial turn on the Departure and turned at 400 FT AGL instead of 2;000 FT MSL per the departure. This turn was therefore initiated approximately 1;600 FT early. As a rule; this Captain does not adhere to sterile cockpit protocol; particularly on taxi out. The Captain was talking about hotel issues; union issues; not getting a workout that morning; that although hungry didn't want to wait in line at a restaurant and other non essential topics on the taxi out. The Captain failed to call for the Before Takeoff Checklist to the line until Tower had cleared us for takeoff. Although the Captain had briefed the SID; the Captain did not fly it [accurately]; and when I brought it to the Captain's attention that the Captain had turned early; the Captain did not think it was a big deal. This Captain needs to leave union duties and communications and details about personal life at the gate. We all talk about non pertinent issues on taxi out to some degree; but this Captain's non pertinent conversation was excessive and distracted from the command and control of the aircraft. We all want to be friendly; but sterile cockpit means sterile cockpit. After three days of this behavior; with similar lapses resulting in larger and smaller deviations I was worn down. Monitoring this pilot can be very draining. I should have exercised additional diligence in my monitoring -- I should have interrupted the hotel and workout stories to make the call for the checklist. Should I ever be paired with this Captain again; I will [be] less friendly and more assertive.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.