A check pilot (or check airman) is an
aircraft pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
who performs an oversight, safety, and qualification role for
commercial pilot A commercial pilot licence (CPL) is a type of pilot licence that permits the holder to act as a pilot of an aircraft and be paid for their work.
Different licenses are issued for the major aircraft categories: airplanes, airships, balloons, glid ...
s undergoing evaluation.
The role of the check pilot is to ensure that the
flight crew member has met
competency standards before the check airman releases the crew member from training and to ensure that those standards are maintained while the crew member remains in line service.
A check pilot is authorized to conduct the following:
*Pilot proficiency or competency checks conducted as a qualification curriculum segment in the operator's approved training program, from either pilot seat in an
aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...
, whether in
flight, or in a
simulator, as appropriate.
*
Flight instruction in the operator's approved training program, from either pilot seat in an aircraft in flight, or in a simulator, or both, as appropriate.
*Supervision of the reestablishment of
landing ability.
*Special checks conducted as a qualification curriculum segment of the operator's approved training program, provided the check airman is qualified in the specific activity for which the special check is being conducted (such as Category II (CAT II) and Category III (CAT III) operations).
*
Certification
Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...
of the satisfactory
proficiency and knowledge of airmen after completion of a flight training curriculum segment or
flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills.
Flight training can be conducted under a str ...
module.
*When authorized by the operator,
ground instruction for airmen, and certification of the satisfactory completion by an airman of a ground training curriculum segment.
See also
*
Checkride A practical test, more commonly known as a checkride, is the Federal Aviation Administration examination which one must undergo in the United States to receive an aircraft pilot's certification, or a rating for additional flight privileges. The nam ...
References
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Civil aviation