Qualification Check
Qualification Check or Check Pilot refers to a pilot who is authorized to conduct flight checks and instruction, ensuring pilots meet proficiency standards and are competent to operate specific aircraft types.
What it is[edit | edit source]
Purpose[edit | edit source]
To assess and maintain pilot competency and ensure compliance with regulations and airline policies.
Who conducts them[edit | edit source]
Check pilots (or check airmen) are pilots who have been designated and trained to conduct these checks.
Where they occur[edit | edit source]
Checks can take place in aircraft (both in flight and in simulators) or in flight simulators.
Types of Checks[edit | edit source]
- Proficiency Checks: Regularly scheduled checks to ensure pilots maintain their skills and knowledge.
- Competency Checks: Checks conducted to assess a pilot's ability to perform specific tasks or procedures.
- Line Checks: Checks conducted during normal flight operations to assess a pilot's performance in a real-world environment.
- Simulator Checks: Checks conducted in a flight simulator to assess a pilot's ability to handle various scenarios.
Regulations[edit | edit source]
Check pilots must meet specific qualifications and training requirements outlined in FAA regulations (e.g., 14 CFR Parts 121, 135).
Key Responsibilities of a Check Pilot[edit | edit source]
Evaluating pilot performance[edit | edit source]
Assessing a pilot's skills, knowledge, and judgment during flight checks.
Ensuring compliance[edit | edit source]
Verifying that pilots adhere to regulations, procedures, and airline policies.
Providing feedback[edit | edit source]
Offering constructive feedback to pilots on their performance and areas for improvement.
Maintaining standardization[edit | edit source]
Ensuring that all pilots are trained and evaluated to the same high standards.
Representing the airline and the FAA[edit | edit source]
Check pilots represent the airline and the FAA, ensuring that all operations are conducted safely and in compliance with regulations.
Becoming a Check Pilot[edit | edit source]
Experience[edit | edit source]
Typically, a pilot must have extensive experience in the type of aircraft they will be checking.
Training[edit | edit source]
Check pilots receive specialized training to prepare them for their duties, including training on FAA regulations, airline policies, and aircraft systems.
Designation[edit | edit source]
Check pilots are designated by the airline and approved by the FAA to conduct checks.