what are line pilots???

[Tambo1]

Excuse my ignorance...but i've noticed on sites such as AFAP that companies are looking for "line pilots", is this just a phrase or is it something more specific?

[The Green Goblin]

Because there are so many Pilots out of work, they want the guys who have been lining up for work the longest. It's kind of like an unemployed Pilot seniority system.

We all stand in the line with our hands out chanting 'please sir, I want some more'


;)

[Peter Fanelli]

Pilots who are skilled at keeping formation in a broom line in the hangar.

[Metro man]

We're the frontline troops who turn up and do the work for a modest wage. ie bog standard pilots with no other role such as Chief Pilot, Sim Instructor, Examiner, Check and Training etc.

[Horatio Leafblower]

Not sure of the origin of the term, but a "Line Pilot" is basically a general-duties pilot - as opposed to a Chief Pilot, Check & training pilot, Chief Flying Instructor, Instructor, or #1 show-off Aero Club President GA Legend pilot :rolleyes:

Gobblin... very funny :D

[KRUSTY 34]

Beat me to it HL.

Crackup Goblin! :}

[The Bunglerat]

What Horatio said.


Line Pilot = Everyday, garden-variety driver (Capt or F/O);
Training Captain = As the title suggests, a captain authorised to conduct line training for either F/O or a person undergoing command upgrade;
Check Captain = Captain authorised to conduct final check & certification for said pilot undergoing line check, command check, etc.

[Icarus53]

I always believed it stemmed from the concept of a "flight line", originally being military speak for where the aircraft were parked.

You were therefore a pilot "of the line" as opposed to one of the aforementioned shiny-bum cake-eaters.

Happy to recline corrected!

[Masif Eego]

Tambo1

These guys are just having you on, don't believe any of it..........

Line Pilots are guys that fly straight lines between A and B and maybe C, boring as bat $h!t......keep away from it..........:ok:

[Bullethead]

How about you get checked to 'line' (airline) and are then a 'line' pilot.

Regards,
BH.

[archangel7]

on that note.... I have an ignorant question too,

What's Wet-season time? I can't find a " wet-season" column in my logbook!

[Masif Eego]

What's Wet-season time? I can't find a " wet-season" column in my logbook!

Ah that's an easy one..........

Strictly applies to fresh CPL holders straight after gaining their new license.
Not found in logbooks but found in undies. Soon becomes a 'memory' once a MECIR is obtained...........:ok:

[The Green Goblin]

A line Pilot could also be referring to Pilots in Kununurra lining up outside Centrelink

Wet season experience is simple, the backpackers arrive in droves from April until September......use your imagination, a time of plenty for all :}

[frigatebird]

Line Pilots in Vanuatu

http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy129/bird__photo/Vanuatu/scan0002.jpg

http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy129/bird__photo/Vanuatu/scan0004-1.jpg

[Lineboy4life]

correctamundo Icarus....line pilots are the fortunate soles whome show up and fly leaving the training/management/big D's & associated stress for the others...:}

[Horatio Leafblower]

Sorry - I stand (or indeed, recline) corrected :ugh:

Having been CP of a survey company I should have known that "line pilots" are the ones who can follow the trackair properly and turn right when the next line is on the left, or vice versa :ok:

A GOOD line pilot is the one who can do it all day without making the operator (or chief pilot or managing director) :yuk: in the back seat!

[Mach E Avelli]

American mate of mine refers to them as 'line donkeys'. Now, does he mean donkey as in stupid or as in beast of burden?
His other take on line donkeys is that the biggest decision they ever make on a flight is the steak or the chicken.
Don't shoot the messenger....

[slamer.]

Line pilots or "Flying the line" refers back to the old US postal service flights across the USA in the 1920's before IFR Ops. They flew a series or "line" of lit beacons at night or in poor Wx to guide them VFR cross country predominantly east to west . Jeppesen also has his beginings in this period

"Flying the line" is also the title of a very good book on the origins of ALPA whos beginings were founded in that era of .... flying the line.

In my opinion essential reading which will leave you with the knowledge that "nothing is new under the sun" in aviation, especially in industrial matters.

[mustafagander]

As I recall it, Antoine de St Exupery (pardon my spelling) mentioned "flying the line" in at least one of his books during the 1930s. It may well have been part of the title of one. Sorry but I can't check ATM, I'm out flying the line for a week.

[Track Direct]

G'day Slamer

Do you know where one would find a copy of the book ?
Sounds like an interesting read.

[girl with a stick]

g'day guys,

re Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - I'm pretty sure it was Night Flight - it's part of a trilogy - Wind Sand and Stars and Flight to Arras, documenting his time as a pilot for Aeropostal. They're still in print, published by Penguin. A cracking read....(as is The Little Prince)

gwas

[slamer.]

Hi Track direct.... the copy I read was borrowed from NZ ALPA back in the 80's (and returned) I'd say your association would have a copy in their library. From memory it was a limited edition print and can be difficult to find in your local second hand book store.

Otherwise try Amazon or other online sellers.

Amazon.com: Flying the line: The first half century of the Air Line Pilots Association (9780960970803): George E Hopkins: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Flying-line-century-Pilots-Association/dp/0960970800)

[Track Direct]

Thanks Slamer, will try on-line as you suggest.

[Aerodynamisist]

Want to know what a line pilot is ? read a book called "Fate Is The Hunter" by Ernest K Gann then read "Blue Collar Pilots" by Garth Wallace.

[M14_P]

Peter and GG, I was laughing out loud at those comments, nice one!

[mustafagander]

girl etc,

Thanks. You're right. He was a hell of a good writer, n'est-ce pas? There are at least a couple of very good translations around to save the effort of translating the books yourself.

[Aerohooligan]

'Line Pilots are guys that fly straight lines between A and B and maybe C, boring as bat $h!t......keep away from it..........http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif'
I remember a line from that doco 'Real Top Guns' when the LIFT guys were finishing Hawk Course and the CO was giving their graduation speech:

'When these guys came to us they were bright, confident fast jet dudes. They could take the jet off, they could land it, they could transit it between points. Now that in itself is an honourable thing - hell, some people even make a living out of it!'

Snap! :\

[flyhardmo]

what are line pilots???

The ones that get shafted by management pilots to inflate their ego.

[Aye Ess]

Line pilots....sometimes spelled ''Lyin' pilots'' as in...

"why yes,I've got 12000 hours,been flying 5 years''

''Qantas keep ringing me up wanting me to come & sort out their problems''

''I'm highly regarded in the aviation profession''

''Everyone was amazed at how I handled a turbulent ILS with one engine out''

''ATP subjects...passed 1st go,bit of a non event really''