I said Captain?

[Bally Heck]

Just to inject a spot of controversy.

I met a guy recently who's passport proclaimed that he was "Captain ****** ******"

Now, apart from being a bit of a ponce for putting his airline rank in his passport, I believe that in the UK, the only people recognised by the crown as being entitled to use the title "Captain" in official documents are commisioned officers of that rank in the armed forces and captains of merchant vessels.

Or could we have Captain Beckham of Man U in a passport?

Captain Bloggs of the light aircraft Yankee Zulu?

Is it not just a courtesy title for the rest of us?

Discuss please

Rear Air Vice Commodore The Honourable Bally Heck

[Herod]

Knew a guy once who was listed in the phone book as "XXXX Capt A", and had Captain on his credit cards. Pity he was still a First Officer. I wonder now he is promoted if he has "F.O." instead. (Or perhaps "Chief Pilot")

[Engineer]

Just people full of their own self importance trying to impress the rest of us.

[Captain Airclues]

Bally Heck

So why were you looking at the guys passport? :)

Airclues

[Bally Heck]

Have you never played "You show me your's and I'll show you mine" on a nightstop airclues?

[DownIn3Green]

I have Capt on my Amex for the simple reason that I've found in corporate flying it adds an aura of professionalism when making large purchases (such as filling up the 727) in some countries.

[Bally Heck]

If it's a company Amex....your forgiven.

[KaptainKangaroo]

That's pretty funny !!! CAPTAIN.... :)

[DownIn3Green]

Speaking of funny, are you the same Capt Kangeroo made famous by the F/A's after a hard landing announcement: "And now ladies and gentlemen please remain seated until Captain Kangeroo bounces the airplane to the gate"?

Just joking, it's early am here and I haven't quite woken up yet...

[one.two.go]

As far as I am aware even the person in charge of a merchant vessel is not referred to as the Captain, but the Master.

[Flintstone]

If I were in charge of a merchant vessel and my surname were Bates I'd insist on being called 'Captain'.

[chiglet]

Re mercantile vessel
Master and Captain = Captain
Pilot of said vessel= Master :)
Nuff sed :)
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy

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chiglet

[TowerDog]

Chiglet:

Merchant Marine vessels:

If the Master was a ex-Navy sailor with Captains rank = Captain or Master.

Civilian only = Master or Skipper.
The Pilot may be Captain or Master qualified, but doing pilot duties only on a ship. he is not the "Master."

However I have only served in 2 nations Merchant Marine's, yours may be different.

The same rules are loosly applied in the airline business, yet most Pilot's in Command
are called Captains. (Commanders in some European countries.)

My official tittle while in the left seat of big jets was "Flight Officer" as per my ID card. Per the FAA it was "Pilot in Command",
my First Officers usually said "Captain".
:) :) :)

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Men, this is no drill...

[Tom the Tenor]

...And for Man U it should be Captain Keane, not Captain Beckham!

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What we want is a bit of Pop Music, none of this Beethoven!!

[A Very Civil Pilot]

Grizzled old Captain to new FO on first day of line training:

"I like to run an informal flight deck, so you can call me by my first name, which is Captain; or my nickname, which is Sir".

[TowerDog]

A Very Civil Pilot:

Yup, that is it.

Or as I told some new F/Os years ago:

Hello, my name is TowerDog, and you can be my sexual advisor!
Uh, yes, how is that captain?

Well, If I want your fuching advise, I will ask for it.

(Relax guys, just an old Anti-CRM joke.)

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Men, this is no drill...

[Adrianna]

MMMMMmm i am also wondering do you you make a point of letting sales staff and all with in hearing know that you are captain ???
Or is it reserved for your passport only??

[TowerDog]

Adrianna:

Who me?
Letting sales staff know I am a captain?

Could not care less what the sales staff think:

If I walk around the ticket counter with the uniform on, uh let them figure it out, if it makes a diff.

Personally I would prefer to fly in shorts and T-shirt, no stripes and no glory.

Some captains out there however enjoy the 4 stripes and the admiring looks from pax and sales staff, but it gets pretty old after a while.
Most captains probably agree.

Those that don't take 'em self way too seriously:
Yes ya are God in your own little Kingdom, but better men have been there before ya....Just like inside your wife: Guys have been there before and done the same job.

Hmm, what was the question again?
What does the sale staff think???

Who gives a ****?

What this whole flying job boils down to is:

How much money do ya make and how many days off per month?

(Usually not enough of either as the job is harder and less paid than you think)

The glory and the stripes and all that is surely good stuff but it rubs off after a while.

Ex B-747, DC-3, DHC-6, etc. captain,



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Men, this is no drill...

[gravity victim]

Ships'Captains were referred to as 'Master under God' to indicate their absolute seniority/responsibility. For their aviating equivalent, how about 'Master Close to God?"
;)

[chiglet]

Towerdog
Thanx for your enlightening explanation. Not having served afloat,(RAF) I know several matelots, and I was quoting their "beliefs" :)
we aim to pleae, it keeps the cleaners happy

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chiglet