Check airman with no ATP? Is this guy a liar?

[k9medic]

I recently ran into a guy that claims to be a "Captain." He even introduces himself as "Captain ......" after talking with him, he says he was a check airman on the 727 for Pan Am, but mostly did simulator work. He does freelance flight instruction now.

Now, me being the curious one, I looked at his FAA report online. He holds a commercial multi, but no ATP. Also, there is no type rating on his certificate.

Before I pull the BS card out, I wanted to double check the following:

You still need a type rating to become a check airman in a simulator.

Pan Am hired non ATP pilots for these positions.


My guess is that he is stuck on the "right stuff" kick and has watched too many movies.

[Intruder]

A type rating is required to become a check airman.

An ATP is not required for a type rating.

An ATP is not required for sim training -- only for revenue flying.

I don't know what Pan Am's hiring practices were. However, a check airman who is not a line Captain is not a "Captain" IMO.

[Panama Jack]

Check Airman or sim instructor?

Know that United preferred hiring non-pilots as sim instructors.

[quid]

Second Officer (Flight Engineer) Check Airmen don't require an ATP or type rating and Pan Am had those. Could that be the case?

[k9medic]

Wouldn't he at least need a type rating?

It just seems rather odd. I don't have much respect for someone that runs around introducting themself as "Captain," unless that person has truly earned it. For that matter, most airline Captains that I have met introduce themselves by their first name unless they were required to due to "official business."

[flt_lt_w_mitty]

Hmm! 411A is SUSPICIOUSLY quiet here? What d'ya reckon, guys and girls? Surely he will have a slant on this..............?

[A-FLOOR]

Interesting topic!

I always wanted to be an airline captain, but couldn't. :sad: Various simrides and psychological interviews over the years (I'm 21) assured me that the problem is not having the "right stuff" or not, but that the problem is solely medical (I have about the same clarity of long-distance vision as your average apricot). Maybe that's this gentleman's problem as well.

I am currently in college pursuing a career in the flight simulation of big iron, and I also have been looking at the possibility of becoming a part-time instructor for some time now. :O

What is the possibility for me to become a typerated instructor without actually needing/having a class-1 medical or ATPL?

I promise I'll never call myself captain :ok:

[TR4A]

I was a Check Engineer at Pan Am. We had Training Captains at the training center (known as the Pan Am International Flight Academy). The TC's were First Officers that did the pilot training in the simulators. Not sure if they were typed which would require an ATP.

Was this guy with Pan American World Airways or was he with the upstart Pan Am that started in the 1990s?

[k9medic]

It would be easier to get security clearance to a top secret military base, than it would to get accurate information from this person.

He is in his late 50's if I had to guess.

[Intruder]

What is the possibility for me to become a typerated instructor without actually needing/having a class-1 medical or ATPL?
Actually, reasonably good. However, you'll probably have to get a CFI first if you don't have an ATP. Paying for your own type rating in advance won't hurt...

[TR4A]

He is in his late 50's if I had to guess.
Most of the Captains at the original Pan Am were early to late 50's when we shut down 4 December 1991. That would put them well into their 60's and 70's.

I still have seniority list.

[hayduke]

Somehow this sounds fishy ;)
"check airman on the 727 for Pan Am, but mostly did simulator work"

First, if one desires to come up with a story always take an airline which is nonexistent anymore (panam still is, but not in their original formation). So how do you prove his story - impossible since most data about people employed there is loooong gone.

Second, being "mostly a sim instructor" compensates as good excuse for "not so up to date flying skills" as expected by somebody piloting a 727 :\

I would guess being a check airman with a company like Pan Am would always have required a rating. When you enter a company like PA, most pilots have time far in excess of the 1500hrs. ATP requirement and therefore get their ATP with the checkride - but that's only my conclusion.

Anyway, if this guy is fake, move on to somebody else and leave him with his dreams :}