One occasionally sees stupid personalities as check captains. We had one such character in our airline who would work up a rage if things didn't go as planned. One absolute classic example was in the 737-200 simulator many years ago. The crew included a New Zealand captain and an Australian F/O undergoing annual re-currency. Plus Australian check captain (the nutter).
Scenario:
Nutter whispers in captain's ear to become incapacitated during takeof roll. F/O unaware of plot. Around 100 knots the captain gives a strangled cry and collapses over the controls. Very realistic I might add.
F/O startled, and says "WTF, Mate - are you OK?" and reaches across to sympathise with the captain who he thought was really sick. Captain had already booted in rudder as part of incapacitation process and the 737 departed the runway and was heading towards the control tower.at ever increasing speed. The captain still gurgling and clutching own throat. Hollywood movie stuff.
The nutter check captain roars in rage and freezes the simulator and says WTF to the hapless F/O who thought the captain had had a real medical episode and was only trying to help. The F/O got marked down for not taking over control and for not "playing the game."
After coffee break it was F/O's turn to be PF. Half way down the runway on take off roll the F/O gives realistic strangled cry and collapses in seat. Pandemonium on flight deck as not only is the check captain caught off guard, but the captain (PM) thinking the F/O has had a real heart attack, undoes his harness to reach over to restrain the F/O who, while thrashing around in apparent agony, still manages to jam on full rudder. What's good for the goose is good for he gander, he thinks. Meanwhile, the 737 again heads for the control tower at 2.15 EPR both engines. .
The check captain, incensed at what is happening un-briefed, freezes the simulator and rips into the F/O who is now sitting upright straightening his tie. Dying in the safety harness is a labour intensive event..
The captain is now red-faced because he thinks this must be a new plot he was unaware of and he awaits the usual castigation from the check captain.
But the captain is off the hook because the object of the check captain's ire is the smugly smiling F/O. "You weren't supposed to die" shouts the check captain to the F/O . "Only captains die and you are just a bloody smart-arse." and again writes down the F/O for playing silly buggers.
And that, dear readers, really happened and is called simulator "Training."
Last edited by Judd; 13th Oct 2019 at 01:39.