FL410

So, I get to my plane to start my preflight and when I get to the cockpit the captain is talking with an FAA inspector. First thought in my head: %$@# is everything updated? Ok, I introduce myself and show him everything. So far so good. He is going to sit jump and observe us. I have only been with this company for 4 months and I and still pretty green. The captain is flying and I am the NFP. We takeoff and land at the destination. The only thing the guy says is, "Nice Job, straight out of the text book." I am happy, now relaxed and thankful that everything went as planned.
We takeoff and go back to LAX. Arriving and pulling in to the gate the flight attendant says, "hey, the Chief Pilot is outside waiting for you." We both look at each other, thinking did we do something wrong. We went through the whole flight and couldn't think of anything.
Walking out side the CP said, "hey guys, how are you?" With a look of interigation. Next, "The FAA called me." Again the look. I start thinking, Oh $#$%$#. "The FAA called and told me what great job you guys did together and wanted me to give you guys kudos," the CP said with a smile. I started to relax and smile. Next he said, "I am going to write you guys a letter to put in your personal file, good job."
I was just as happy as I could have been. I know that in the aviation industry that there are a lot of negative and wanted to point out that a CP actually gives out good jobs. I have met the CP 5 times and he has been great everytime.

FlyerJosh

Nice job! If this is your first 121 gig, you'll find as you gain experience that 99% of the FAA operations inspectors out there are actually really great guys. Most of them are former airline drivers themselves, so they know what goes on and how the game is played.

Of course mind your P's and Q's and be sure to be standard, but there's also no reason not to be friendly and interact with them once you get up to cruise or before the doors are closed. Most of the time, they aren't there to find deficiencies, they're simply there to observe because either they a) need to get in so many observation flights/line checks per quarter on your airline or b) they need to get between two cities for whatever reason and decide to give a check enroute while travelling.

In 8 years of professional flying, I've only had one FAA inspector come on board my plane that was a bozo. It's a long story that involved delays, bumped passengers, and a very poor attitude on his part, but in the end we ended up leaving him at the gate (after we invited him to call our company POI).

saab2000

I have had two fed checks on the jumpseat and one ramp inspection.

No sweat. Follow the rules, be nice and you have nothing to fear.

HercDriver130

Good Job indeed. I second what Josh said. In my 2 1/2 years I was line checked several times. Out of JFK and MIA. Never had a problem. Hell twice the guy had never even been on a ATR much less flown one. I use to fly with this guy... ED V. was his name, he was actually a former FAA Inspector who flipped to our side....LOL. He was a GREAT guy to fly with. If he was still with AE he be near retirement and probably near the top of the SEN list.

BoilerUP

Had a Fed out of SDF one day do a line check...never said a single word once sitting in the cockpit other than "Thanks for the ride guys, have a good day" when he deplaned. Did I mention he had a rollaboard with him?

I was almost on a first-name basis with the TSA Inspector in DTW a couple months back...