FWIW, at NWA, anytime the sim motion was on (which meant for all full flight sims & checks), a seniority list instructor was required. Seat fill required a seniority list pilot. Any checking event required a SLI.

NWA ran a combined program, and most, but not all, NWA IPs were also checkairmen, and did OE & line checks as well. In practice, there were some IPs who only did OE, and line checks were usually done by the most senior (in program) IPs.

It was also not a full time job. It averaged 6 months a year, with 2 months on the line and 2 in the box. You also had to be able to hold your equipment, and if you bid off (or got bumped), you lost your IP gig.

NWA did utilize non-seniority Aircrew Training Instructors for ground school and some procedures training. There was a program for them to get hired on the seniority list.

Nu