What is the definition of the title 'Captain'?
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From: 75N 16E
My brother is a Captain, but then again he holds an unlimited Master Mariner's certificate and does indeed captain a ship (DSV)....Mind you he doesn't walk around calling himself Captain....
Me, I am merely a pilot but I do Command my own aeroplane
Though according to the Quantas Frequent Flyer card I am actually a Wing Commander 
Me, I am merely a pilot but I do Command my own aeroplane
Though according to the Quantas Frequent Flyer card I am actually a Wing Commander
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From: In the boot of my car!
Englishall
Strange the use of the word command? Okay I am just going to command my car sounds odd! I am just going to drive my car and fly my plane!
definition of cammander
Dont know about the frequent flyer bit suppose you could command and control the stewardesses
Pace
Strange the use of the word command? Okay I am just going to command my car
sounds odd! I am just going to drive my car and fly my plane! definition of cammander
Someone in an official position of authority who can command or control others
Pace
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From: UK
So the chief campanologist in a bell tower should be arrested for calling him or herself the "Bell Captain"? (ditto the bell boy supervisor in a hotel).
Not wishing to split hairs but I have never heard bell ringers calling themselves campanologists or captains, bell captains.
Perhaps only amoung the College Youths eh?
I recall many years ago a Barrister telling me dont worry that they call themselves London Lawyers - London is a place not a qualification as seems so often thought.
So if it makes you happy to call yourself Commander, Captain or a London whatever if it floats your boat so be it, but it is still only a name, not a qualification and sadly no more or less indicative that you are any better than skip over there.
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From: Norfolk UK
Fuji,sorry but you are wrong ,we have a Bell Captain living near us,rings at Reddenhall Church,near Harleston,writes a column in the parish mag.
You have Captains in golf,cricket,probably many other pastimes.
Certainly one round here to do with frozen peas
Two of my friends are airline captains and they get seriously pi**ed off if you call them that,even for a joke.
Lister
edited to add- a C130 has just been over here,no lights but reckon he was around 100 feet,lovely stuff
Could just see the handsome Captains gaunt expression as he passed overhead
You have Captains in golf,cricket,probably many other pastimes.
Certainly one round here to do with frozen peas
Two of my friends are airline captains and they get seriously pi**ed off if you call them that,even for a joke.
Lister
edited to add- a C130 has just been over here,no lights but reckon he was around 100 feet,lovely stuff
Could just see the handsome Captains gaunt expression as he passed overhead
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From: Ontario, Canada
What about retired airline captains who continue to prefix their name with "Captain" even if they dont hold any flying licence whatsoever?
Perhaps I generalize, but I've dealt with two such people recently, and the moment the word "Captain" crossed their lips, as they introduced themselves to me, they lost most of the credibility I would normally offer an unknown person out of courtesy. Funny how neither got what they were looking for, poor approach I guess...
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From: Savannah GA & Portsmouth UK
The person in legal charge of a seagoing civilian vessel is its master (from master mariner) and that applies to a small yacht as much as to the QM2 and in the air the equivalent is the aircraft's commander.
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From: Ontario, Canada
I doubt that you would address him as "Master Bates" for fairly obvious reasons.
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From: 3rd (big) rock from the sun
I reckon if you're the PIC you can be referred to as the captain of the aircraft whether commercial or not, although it seems only a commercial captain with crew &, most likely, passengers would ever actually be referred to as "Captain X" ie have the word used as a title, and that would be mainly for the passengers' benefit. Surely only those with the military rank would use the title away from work?
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From: UK
Fuji,sorry but you are wrong ,we have a Bell Captain living near us
You may well, but I think you will find he is in charge in the hotel lobby not the bells.
I dont suppose these people know what they are talking about:
Bells in Your Care
any more than I, but a few minutes with Google might convince you your mate is looking too the wrong bell.
The fact of the matter like with so many things is that if you are in the know the reality is different again. The chap in charge of the bells is the captain and even the title tower captain is rarely used.
How do I know. Well my wife is a bell ringer of erhm some repute and I was once known to ring a touch of Surprise - and as she tells me it was a surprise to all concerned (Surprise is a group of methods by the by).
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From: Near Stuttgart, Germany
Good morning!
On the ICAO flight plan form it says "Pilot-in-command". There is no such thing as a "captain" in the official language of ICAO, JAR-OPS, JAR-FCL and EU-OPS. I'm not familiar with American and other national publications and regulations though.
To people who enjoy being surrounded by laughter and gaiety, I strongly recommend a visit of "my" country (Germany) at the controls of a privately flown single or light twin, wearing anything similar to a uniform with any number of stripes on shoulders and sleeves and/or distributing business cards stating the title "Captain" before one's name But now the carnival season has started in parts of Germany, so flying in disguise may be the order of the day...
Since the word "captain" is not officially defined and protected in any way, everybody is free to have himself adressed as captain when and where he likes (other than academic titles or military grades). Usually, this is a honorary title awarded by the operators of transport category aircraft (or smaller, commercially operated aircraft) to persons deemed able to take the responsibility over a multi-million-Euro investment and any number of persons that it may contain. A valid pilot license with the letters "PIC" stamped in front of your (multi-crew-)typerating does not necessarily make you a captain.
Happy landings, max
Is my memory playing tricks or didn't the final space on a flight plan form say captains name?
To people who enjoy being surrounded by laughter and gaiety, I strongly recommend a visit of "my" country (Germany) at the controls of a privately flown single or light twin, wearing anything similar to a uniform with any number of stripes on shoulders and sleeves and/or distributing business cards stating the title "Captain" before one's name
But now the carnival season has started in parts of Germany, so flying in disguise may be the order of the day...Since the word "captain" is not officially defined and protected in any way, everybody is free to have himself adressed as captain when and where he likes (other than academic titles or military grades). Usually, this is a honorary title awarded by the operators of transport category aircraft (or smaller, commercially operated aircraft) to persons deemed able to take the responsibility over a multi-million-Euro investment and any number of persons that it may contain. A valid pilot license with the letters "PIC" stamped in front of your (multi-crew-)typerating does not necessarily make you a captain.
Happy landings, max
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From: N.YORKSHIRE
My log books to date have an entry collumn headed 'Captain' under which I've mostly written 'Self'. Should I look for a different format of Logbook to avoid being branded pretentious? Should I stop wearing a flying suit to the pub and bin my 'I'm a pilot, you know' T-shirt? 
On a more serious note. I had a stint of doing sight-seeing flights from a small German airfield. At times, keeping the excited passengers under control was akin to herding cats. I was advised to dump the jeans and T-shirt for the full kit with shoulder bars. The effect on discipline was dramatic.
On a more serious note. I had a stint of doing sight-seeing flights from a small German airfield. At times, keeping the excited passengers under control was akin to herding cats. I was advised to dump the jeans and T-shirt for the full kit with shoulder bars. The effect on discipline was dramatic.
Last edited by Flyingmac; 29th January 2010 at 10:06.
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From: Livin de island life
In many countries south, and east, of the Med a uniform and stripes are (as already noted) useful facilitators. In the same places the title of Captain is also used as a mark of respect and politeness when addressing somebody who drives aeroplanes.
I don't call myself a "Captain" but wouldn't dream of disrespecting somebody else's manners. Although manifestly a co-pilot, I have often been addressed as "Mrs Captain" and "Captain Gill" when using my surname could confuse me with the PIC and using my christian name would be considered forward.
What's the problem?
I don't call myself a "Captain" but wouldn't dream of disrespecting somebody else's manners. Although manifestly a co-pilot, I have often been addressed as "Mrs Captain" and "Captain Gill" when using my surname could confuse me with the PIC and using my christian name would be considered forward.
What's the problem?
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From: Near Stuttgart, Germany
Hello!
That again can be seen in two different ways. When they call me "commandante" in Italy, I usually answer "solo signore, per favore" ("just mister, please"). I never got the impression that any of the refuellers, hadling agents or lineboys felt offended or disrespected by that. Because I really didn't do anything to earn myself such a title (Mr. Bond had to save the world a dozen times before being called "commander" ).
On the other hand, I always had the strong feeling of disrespecting the achievements of airline captains by dressing like them when flying small aircraft. I have flown commercially (and in command) for several thousand hours on multi engine piston aircraft and always (successfully!) refused to wear stripes or other uniform paraphernalia. Because I would have felt so ashamed of myself when encountering a "real" captain at the airport. Like an impostor. (Even if probably I did a much harder job...)
So in the end, it really seems to be mostly a cultural thing. (During the darkest ages of Germany, the title "Flugkapitän" (air captain) used to be awarded to war heroes and distinguished test pilots either by the secretary of war, the air marshal or the führer himself, all of them among the top ten criminals of all mankind - therefore one does not really like to be called "Flugkapitän" today in my country).
Happy landings,
Max
...but wouldn't dream of disrespecting somebody else's manners.
).On the other hand, I always had the strong feeling of disrespecting the achievements of airline captains by dressing like them when flying small aircraft. I have flown commercially (and in command) for several thousand hours on multi engine piston aircraft and always (successfully!) refused to wear stripes or other uniform paraphernalia. Because I would have felt so ashamed of myself when encountering a "real" captain at the airport. Like an impostor. (Even if probably I did a much harder job...)
So in the end, it really seems to be mostly a cultural thing. (During the darkest ages of Germany, the title "Flugkapitän" (air captain) used to be awarded to war heroes and distinguished test pilots either by the secretary of war, the air marshal or the führer himself, all of them among the top ten criminals of all mankind - therefore one does not really like to be called "Flugkapitän" today in my country).
Happy landings,
Max