FO Check Airman

[JediNein]

What are the requirements for becoming a check airman at the current 'big four' (Xjet, Eagle, Skywest, AWAC)? How about moving into the training department, training captain, line instructor, sim instructor, etc.?

Can an FO be a check airman? I know of one that was at TSA, he was previous part 121 check airman, current DPE & 135 DO.

Thanks!

 

[Blucher]

How in the world did AWAC make it onto you list of "big 4?"

-Blucher

 

[Rook]

My two MD-11 sim instructors were F/Os.

 

[BoilerUP]

FOs at AWAC can become CPT instructors and in the past have been simulator instructors, but I'm not sure the latter is the case any more as training slowed down last fall and has yet to really ramp back up. As an FO you can become a ground instructor in ATW or CLT, but I believe the company wants all potential LCAs to have at least one year as a captain on the airplane.

I do know that XJT has better compensation (via an hourly override) for folks in the training department than at AWAC.

 

[amcnd]

At SkyWest FO's can do FTD and ground school. Other than that you have to be a captain. (They will hire off the street ground instructors)

 

[Soverytired]

It's been known to happen at Mesa. If you get in with the training department, you can jump the seniority list and get a captain training spot with captain pay even if you can only be an fo on the line.

But don't hold your breath . . . it's very much a "who you know" kinda thing.

 

[CitationLover]

Eagle is pretty much a buddy system to get in at GSW.

 

[ArcherII]

XJT has 6 mo. FOs in the training dept.

 

[Prop Trash]

At ExpressJet, there're several levels of instructors. First officers are free to apply for ground instructor positions which includes teaching in a classroom, Cockpit Procedures Trainers, and Flight Training Devices (fixed base sim). Then there are flight instructors otherwise know as sim instructors. They are all captains. After that, you have off-line and on-line check airmen, all captains as well. Off line check airmen are flight instructors who can give PCs and some are qualified as examiners. On-line check airmen are all IOE instructors and can give recurrent line checks - some are qualified to replace the FAA when observing new captains.

 

[drinksonme]

XJT has 6 mo. FOs in the training dept.

Those are only Ground school, FTD, and CRM instructors. No Sim or Line instructors are FO. They have to have 1000 PIC Turbine to even apply to be on or off line instructors.

The reason why there are so many FO's that teach ground school and FTD's is pay. If you are a "Ground School Instructor" and also teach FTD's, you are paid FO rates. Even if the instructor is a CA, they get yearly FO rate. Once the FO upgrades to CA, they leave the department because there is no reason to stay. Hence 6 months FO teach ground school, because no CA will. CRM is different. That is why we see a mix of FO's and CA's teach CRM. They are paid their respective seat. More incentive to stay in CRM because pay is better when you upgrade.

To answer the original posters question, NO. There are not any, nor will there be any, FO check airmen at XJT.