When can you be called " Captain "

[Gunship]

Not that I want to be as I am a retired Colonel but ... I read with interest about it on another thread ...

Seriously : I work for a North African Airline and the big chief is called " Captain" - yes he is / was an Airline Captain / commander of an airliner.

His Ops Co was a Mirage Pilot that flew for 7 years in the Air force, ejected ... never flew again and he is " Captain" ? Maybe Air force Captain ?

I also work for British Airlines / Charter companies and they are not serious at all about the " Captain issue " (ok not BA hey)

So who are a Captain and who are not ?

I Captained helicopters / fixed wings / Vip's / Jets / transport aircraft etc .. Am I a non - military Captain (rank) ?

Help I have a inferiority complex ...

Cheers lt COLONEL Gunss

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

Gunss,

I saw the same thread. I'm in a similar position. You are a bloody Captain mate !! Then, now and until you die.

Cheers and all the best.

NEO

[Gunship]

Cheers mate,

Maybe I should be even more specific .

I for instance do not have ANY civillian licences (other than expired PPL)

Neither the Mirage Pilot ?

Is he / us still "Captains" ?

Cheers,

Gunss

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

Doesn't matter mate. What you do or have done is what matters. Captain is a title of respect not just a licence.

I catch your drift.

NEO

[flyingmasai]

I was called Master by my house staff in east afrika, but I did not keep the title...

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

Did you like being called Master ? Or would Captain have been better ?

[exjet]

Take your pick. Bell captain has a good ring to it!!



cap·tain ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kptn)
n.
Abbr. Capt. One who commands, leads, or guides others, especially:
The officer in command of a ship, an aircraft, or a spacecraft.
A precinct commander in a police or fire department, usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief.
The designated leader of a team or crew in sports.

Abbr. CPT or Capt or CAPT or Capt. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above first lieutenant and below major.
Abbr. CAPT or Capt. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard that is above commander and below commodore.
One who holds the rank of captain.
A figure in the forefront; a leader: a captain of industry.
One who supervises or directs the work of others, especially:
A district official for a political party.
A restaurant employee who is in charge of the waiters and usually attends to table seating.
A bell captain.

[Gunship]

I was called " baas " ... that was in the old SA

A restaurant employee who is in charge of the waiters and usually attends to table seating.

Sjees it is like the hovercraft boys in freetwon calling themselves Captain ... well then again THEY are in charge.

tx for the info gents.

Exjet -sending you a PM - at LGW till Friday

[LHmain]

In the event of an emergency, last one out, assume the rank of captain.

[Stayinalive]

Someone who takes the poop on the shoulders when things go pear shaped.
No better way to find him than call him something so that the passengers and journos can get together and contrive the biggest drivel life changing story in the media.

[Gunship]

Ok thanks for the various responses.

But am I right in my assumption that XX XXX a 500 - 1000 commander on C206's does not call himself Captain when he answers his mobile (or do they these days) ???

Well for the same reason Capt XXX XXXX from SAA a 20 year veteran on the 747 ... is he known as Captain... in his private life ?

Sorry just curious at it is a serious issue here :

Understand ?

[Jacobest]

What about out the cockpit

I can understand that in a cockpit, there has to be a ranking pecking order, someone has to be blamed when it all goes wrong. But what about when you are out of the cockpit?

Does it mean that I no longer respect my Captain if I dont call him that in a bar after work for drinks?

I am a married man with kids, I respect people around me, but why must I call a Captain a Captain in my private time.

At work and in the cockpit, sure no problem.

Is this what you getting at gunns

[journeyman]

A good rule of thumb - people who insist upon being addressed as Captain at all times generally aren't worthy of the position in the first place.

That old story about commanding respect as opposed to demanding it.

[Gunship]

Jaco, that is not what I am aiming at but while on the subject :

In my whole 16 year Mil career as i was known as the one that always called my superiors on their ranks.

I have a Golden Rule. Once a senior tells me to relax and call him on his first name I will do so. But only then. That includes now in my after flying life. (right or wrong?)

Even visiting Airline Captains ... he remains Captain to me unless he tells me otherwise.

I am in Civvies so he does not know who I am.

Last night in the lift an Emirates Captain came in .. I asked him which floor ?

He said sorry his mind is somewhere else...

I asked him : " on short finals or thinking about the 16 hosties he just left behind at reception." had a good laugh.

Anyway that is just personal.
I had a great friend who was my boss for 5 years.

I had so much respect for him that he remained Colonel every day. Once he was a civvie the respect remained but he became CE

Anther example ... sat with a great friend at a hotel in ACC. He was then most snr co-pilot and due for command. he called his Captain on first name.

I called him Captain... he later asked the co-jock to call him Captain in front of the rest of the crew.

Mhhhh what do you think ?

Right or Wrong ?

I stay with my Golden Rule.

[chuks]

I was a 'Captain' on a Twin Otter, flown single-pilot. So, not really ... But such fine distinctions are lost here, perhaps. To the 'man in the street' I guess you are either a 'Captain' or you are nothing. If you need to carry that over into your private life then, yes, you might have a problem.

At home, Her Indoors is a 'Doktor,' as in, 'I will see your "Captain" and raise you my "Doktor!" That is my cue to throw in my cards, usually. But in a reversion to an old practice, we got a letter from a fancy hotel she likes, addressed to 'Herr Doktor Chuks und Frau Doktor Her Indoors.' I had a good laugh over this because I took it for more German foolishness.

A neighbour explained that, no mistake, it was a reversion to the old practice of giving the spouse the honorary title that had been earned by their partner. Ah-hah!

Here at work we have another German, a recent graduate of a test pilot school, who styles himself an 'Experimental Test Pilot' on his business cards even thought we just do normal passenger flying and the odd C of A air test. I do like to needle this poor deluded c*nt so that I have started using my new title. After all, it was awarded by a five-star hotel. And we are all 'Captains,' even the co-pilots, so that I needed something to raise my profile.

Then another letter came from the hotel, adressed to 'Herr Doktor Chuks and Frau Her Indooors.' She has been stripped of her title!

Does anyone know where I might find a bathrobe in dark blue with four gold stripes on each sleeve? I thought that might strike the right note as I come down for breakfast; it would be something to get some respect from those teenagers of ours, perhaps?

[Leftpedal]

Bonedome has "Captain R...... B....." printed on his business cards so maybe you're right journeyman.....

[LHmain]

When I am addressed as Captain, I expect something of an official nature, if my co pilot called me captain in a bar, I would really think I was in the bar with the wrong bloke, I prefer my name, had it much longer and the last time I done CRM it was stated that using the first name is more likely to get a favourable response than anything else. assuming that the one addressed is of human descent.

[Airforce1]

You finished with your flying for the day, you go to the bar (lets say at the aero club). Whats the first thing you do before you take a swig of your drink...?
-bars/epolets off, be it F/O or Skipper.
We all equal after the days flying and having a social drink at the bar...not so???? So whats with the captain calling,

AT THE BAR DOES THE F/O STILL GET CALLED "AND YOU" ?

[PW118]

I agree with you AIRFORCE1 !!

Work is work and play is play !! Keep them seperate!!

[cavortingcheetah]

When you have made wonderful love to her and are just about to open the second bottle of Gosset Rosé, slightly and somewhat prior to making love to her again; I do like to hear the sibilant whisper of 'Mon Capitaine' from the ceiling above me.
When in countries of a Latin persuasion, I outrank all Coroneles, simply, if appropriately enough, being known as un pocito flamenco!