Why does some captains insist on checking for your medical when you jumpseating. This happen to me on NWA all the time. Other carriers dont seem to care. It doesnt make much sense to me. Seem like a big trust issue than just a check to see if you have you certificates. I could see it giving the captain assurance that if something does go wrong you can help up but if im not typed in the aircraft and has never been flow a certain type of plane, i doubt that as a jumpseater I'm going to jump in and take over as PIC.. And if some like that did happen, i dont need a medical to do radio calls if thats my good Samaritan deed of the day...

I dont know why i need a medical to jumpseat...Just seems odd and unnecessary

Having a medical proves (supposedly) that you are currently qualified as an FAA certificated airman. It would seem that your company ID would suffice, but say it was an old ID, and all your pilot certificates are quite dated (which wouldn't be unusual), the lack of a current medical would make you illegal to jumpseat, as it should be.

Very few have gone this far when I jumpseat. Usually, they just look at your ID.

Before CASS it was the norm...the CA was basically letting a stranger in the cockpit based on pretty minimal documentation, so understandably he wanted to see as much proof as possible. He'd also chat you up a bit to make sure you came off as legit (in addition to just being friendly).

With CASS, you have a much higher confidence as to who you're getting...

I had a NW Captain who had his own Security Question test:

Capt: "How much is a USA Today?"
ME: "I don't know"
Capt: "May I see your ink pen?"
ME: "I just have this leaker from the Marriott"
Capt: "Welcome Aboard!"

funny! how much is a usa today anyway......i've never paid for one.

I think thats the point. No pilot should ever know the price of a USA Today.

I have made it my morning ritual to trip over my free copy as I leave my room.

I jump seat quite a bit, and they way I see it, if the Capt wants to see any type of documentation, then they can have at it. It is a great privledge and It helps me out greatly.

Guys, its not that difficult. As a frequent off-line jumpseater there is a specific etiquette that I follow.

(upon entering the cockpit)

"Hello caption/FO, my name is___ I'm a pilot with____. I would like to REQUEST a ride to _____"

I have my company ID, license, and medical fanned out and hand it to the captain.

This is really a simple procedure to follow and I've had several captains actually thank me for having my act together.

On the flip side I really don't get my bent out of shape when a pilot swings by on one of my flights with a standard thanks for the ride, barely flashing his ID. go figure.

Agreed. Plus, some companies require that those documents are verified. So the Captain is just following established procedures.

S.