Flying checks was scary.

 

Sounds about right.
I never wanted to be one, but my boss bugged me about doing it.
Small cargo company with big airplanes:
(Tradewinds Airlines)
Finally gave in and took the training and the job.
All of a sudden I got respect and my co workers was very polite, laughed at my jokes and hung on to every word I spoke.
(Finally got some respect. )

I lasted 16 months as a line check airman, then went back to be a line-swine.
Too much work: I refused to sign of a few guys, with pressure from the higher ups: When are you going to release this guy? We need to get him on the line, etc, etc.
I would not volunteer for the job, don’t need the stress, but interesting to have tried it.
Money was good however, like writing your own paycheck, always needed for this or that.

 

When you upgrade and can only hold reserve guess who you’ll be flying with...new FOs just off IOE. Instruction and mentoring is what you’ll be doing. Having said that, EVERYONE I’ve flown with coming out of training have been great pilots. It’s getting to know the 737 That’s the challenge. I was very thankful for the instruction and mentoring when I got here 11 yrs ago...

 

So let me get this straight. Someone that does NOT work at SWA wants to know how to be a check airman there? hahahaa pppzzzzzt. Move along please.

 

What are the guys who seek out the Check airman position like? Do they have a huge ego and a respect my authority attitude?

 

Generally they have a goal in mind like chief pilot or management position. Otherwise, it is probably someone who feels the need to be in charge or in a supervisory position. These generally aren’t the guys you want as check airmen.
Most of the CKA I have flown with are stellar pilots and are as humble as they are kind. They know they have a job to do and do it with the big picture in mind.
There are a few who just don’t get it. They feel that they have to be a hard ass and enforce arbitrary rule violations no matter the circumstances in which they occur. These are the guys you hate flying with. I had one debrief me that I needed to take the checklist all the way out of the holder when I read it because it looked bad. I always made sure the checklist was visible when I pull it halfway out.
I just chuckled and said ok thanks.

 

Technique only

 

Are there some CKAs who are so power hungry they spend every day not flying at the airport doing "random" line checks? Like can they list for the JS whenever they want or for a line check do they have to be listed on the OFP?

 

Just let him fly his approach. If he's unstable call a go around.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG7WwljU0Lo