When and why can a pilot be addressed "Captain" so or so?

[niss]

I get all my pax to address me as skipper.

[C-GGGQ]

"Captain" is soooo last year.....

You may now address me as "Commodore"
(one step up from Captain)

BBB

I prefer Air Chief Marshal (which in the modern air force is General. Air Chief Marshal is cooler though )

[Hedley]

Isn't a field marshall FIVE stars? I'm not sure there is a current equivalent - four stars is a "full" general, at least in North America AFAIK.

Five star generals include MacArthur, Eisenhower, Marshall, etc. All the long-dead WWII guys. I don't think there are any five-star generals still alive in the western hemisphere.

[C-GGGQ]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_ran ... sibilities


Here is a comparison. Air Chief Marshal was the RCAF equivalent of a 4 star General before unification and we became just the CAF and took Army Rank structure

[C-FCFL]

Airline Pilot Magazine propagates this by naming all their members either Captain or F/O... even in death in their memoriam section. So for instance F/O Smithwicks passes away and is remembered as F/O Smithwicks... but this was probably his last job, as Smithwicks likely was Captain Smithwicks at some point in his career (and for many years too)... It's kind of silly when you think about it, aircraft have PICs for a short period ot time - one flight at a time, while true Captains are master and commander of their ship over a long period of time, even when sitting still. The principals of the College discussed in the other thread all refer to themselves as Captain this or Captain that, so we can all take heart in knowing that they all, at least, been PIC at one point in time in their career, but never true Captains. None of us have. Not only is it borrowed from the marine world, but also the military and police forces, but those have true established ranking systems. I have many favourite capitaines, and none are aircraft pilots ... in order :

Captain Morgan
Captain Kirk
Capitaine Haddock
Capt'n Crunch
Captain Jack Sparrow
Captain Nemo
Capitaine Bonhomme
Captain America
Captain Scarlet
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Barbosa
and last but not least... Captain Jean-Luc Picard

And my enemy...Captain High Liner

[Cap'n P8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_ran ... sibilities


Here is a comparison. Air Chief Marshal was the RCAF equivalent of a 4 star General before unification and we became just the CAF and took Army Rank structure

Or is that four leaf?

[C-GGGQ]

yes four leaf

[Cat Driver]

If being referred to by a name that is descriptive and denotes power England is the place for you guys.

I used to surf the accident reports over there when I was bored and found their fetish for important sounding names to be truly entertaining......such as.....

The aircraft commander landed the Cessna 150 on the nose wheel with enough force to collapse the nose wheel and bend the firewall and adjoining structure as well as damage the prop and engine.

So there you go guys why not call your self aircraft commanders and really be important?

[C-GGGQ]

Cause in the navy Captain is a rank ABOVE Commander

[RichAir]

Passenger A: Where's my chicken?
Passenger B: Ask the driver
Passenger A: Hey are you the one driving the plane?
F/O: Yeah, I'm copilot and the other guy overthere is the captain
Passenger A: Hey, pilit, where's my chicken?
Captain: With the cargo, in the pod...(thinking: so it won't stink in the cabin)
Passenger B: Can I bring my booze in the cabin?
Captain: No sir, it's illegal and...
Passenger B: Just kiddin!...Gnaaaaaaaaaaa
Passenger A: Heyyyy, what means CZTM on this garbage bag?
F/O: It's the airport code for the destination where this suitcase is going
Passenger B: Hey pilit, is there a toilet in your bus?
Captain: No, the flight is not long enough to need it.
Passenger B: Oooooo...I see. Better go to the washroom before we leave.
F/O: Hey John, better call the ops to tell them we're delayed.
Captain: Yeah and tell them that mister cariboo didn't show up, I guess he will go on the next medical flight.

For your inspiration, here are a few terms you can use to refer to a pilot.

There's also a captain to add to that list overthere, there's Capitaine Bob in CYRJ, a nice restaurant giving me the same stomach ache than KFC does.

[Liquid Charlie]

all i can tell you is that wearing a uniform and 4 bars will get you a fiver standing outside a hotel when a guy pulls up and asks you to take his bags out of the boot. -- lmfaoooooo -- one way to supplement under paid pilots --

[flying4dollars]

The "Captain" thing in commercial aviation started in 1933. When the president of Pan American Airlines Jan Trippe, in a effort to convey that this new form of air travel was safe,to a skeptical public.

He figured out that buy borrowing from the sea terms like Captain and giving them 4gold (stripes ) with white shirts that would convey authority and confidence. Economics also played a role too, He saw buy doing this he could pay his pilots LESS as they didn't mind because of the AWE factor. This was copied at every airline around the world in very short order.

So if ya wonder were it the low wages and shiny bars started from ... now ya know.

Congratulations. Your post is today's top "Ridiculous Statement from AvCanada"

If english is not your first language, it is understandable. A free lesson in grammer, "buy" is a verb used to describe the action of purchasing beer, hookers, PPC's etc.

Thinking that Tripp somehow fooled those old boys who blazed their way into the history books paving the highway of aviation that pays your bills (i'm assuming) is pretty ignorant.

Oops!! Gotta love karma

[pic777]

right frikkin now!


ok, that was my last drink for today, I'm cutting myself off.

Sir Lord Commander will have to do tomorrow again.

http://videomyst.com/channel/video/rIVH ... ritah.html

[cdnpilot77]

Captain Morgan
Captain Kirk
Capitaine Haddock
Capt'n Crunch
Captain Jack Sparrow
Captain Nemo
Capitaine Bonhomme
Captain America
Captain Scarlet
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Barbosa
and last but not least... Captain Jean-Luc Picard

And my enemy...Captain High Liner

No love for Captain Caveman?

[Old fella]

Captain Morgan
Captain Kirk
Capitaine Haddock
Capt'n Crunch
Captain Jack Sparrow
Captain Nemo
Capitaine Bonhomme
Captain America
Captain Scarlet
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Barbosa
and last but not least... Captain Jean-Luc Picard

And my enemy...Captain High Liner

No love for Captain Caveman?

Captain Newfoundland, the one and only Brian Tobin of Spanish Tramp Trawler fame on the high seas a few years back

[Prairie Chicken]

Ten or twelve years ago the CFPA decided that all CAI's should add the honorific 'Captain' in front of their names on business cards or signature blocks. It was an effort to differentiate themselves from the technical inspectors. Although TC didn't argue, very few members followed through as most thought it was too egotistical. I think that idea has pretty much gone by the way now.

More recently I've seen a movement to adding alphabet soup after your name, e.g., Joe Smuck, ATPL.

I think there's a time & a place for both... but maybe not in the bar.

[WetJet]

Congratulations. Your post is today's top "Ridiculous Statement from AvCanada"

If english is not your first language, it is understandable. A free lesson in grammer, "buy" is a verb used to describe the action of purchasing beer, hookers, PPC's etc.

Thinking that Tripp somehow fooled those old boys who blazed their way into the history books paving the highway of aviation that pays your bills (i'm assuming) is pretty ignorant.

Fail.

Awesome, +1!

[Lost Lake]

Welcome to Canada, eh. Some professions have designations, ie father chior boy, Doctor Who, etc. As typical Canadians, we want to play down our job titles, our egos etc. In other parts of the world, a pilot's shirt and any number of bars will get you called captain. What's so wrong with that. 5 to 10 years of training or more, tens of thousands in $$ training. What's wrong with being respected as a professional and being a captain. As far as egos go, there will always be dick heads. Anytime I've been called captain, it kind of gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling, as well a boost to my self esteem.


How do you know if a CAPTAIN is in a bar or party? Don't worry, they'll tell you!

I will change my avatar now, Captain lost lake just doesn't have a nice ring.

[Cat Driver]

Just drop the word lake.

That otta do it.

[Duncan Idaho]

You're a captain if you command a crew. That's about it.

[Lost Lake]

Just drop the word lake.

That otta do it.

Nah, it would have to be Lost Captain

[armchair]

IN the eighties at some point, the military in some sectors such as Maritime Air Group tried to passed the title of "Crew Commander" to navigators and this did not go well at all with the plt-32u's... The Crew Commander for a short while was joe blow in the back who failed flight school but decided to stick around for 2nd best. It did not last long, but the navs were able to retain the option to command of the mission, giving back to the pilot the full authority on the aircraft and safety of flight. So the pilot was "Aircraft Captain", and streamer on the dials back there was "Mission Commander" (as opposed to Crew). It lead to some juicy encounters no doubts. No wonder all Aurora pilots do their time and then escape to the airlines... when they become true "Captains"!

Thks for all the replies, I knew for a fact that "Captain" was not an official title for pilots to put on any business card or credentials, but I wanted to get the views of the board members. Those who do use it formally are essentially contributing to the problem of professional accreditation for pilots - including Captain Sully.

[Randleman]

Congratulations. Your post is today's top "Ridiculous Statement from AvCanada"

If english is not your first language, it is understandable. A free lesson in grammer, "buy" is a verb used to describe the action of purchasing beer, hookers, PPC's etc.

Thinking that Tripp somehow fooled those old boys who blazed their way into the history books paving the highway of aviation that pays your bills (i'm assuming) is pretty ignorant.

Fail.

Turns out people from Sask can't spell or count

[rigpiggy]

In some ways I agree with the GIB, being the mission commander as there is really no way the pilot's can keep abreast of the overall situation dividing time between front/back. The Aircraft Captain is in charge of the overall safety of the aircraft, the Mission commander says go here, the captain says no can do, but may I suggest an alternate. Kind of like the Captain on say an Aircraft Carrier answers to the "Flag".

Just remember in the end they are paid for "Unlimited Liability".

[PunkStarStudios]

I have a few personal rules on this.
I fly a few planes corporately (MIFR, CPL).
If I am flying the new 182 I might... MIGHT wear the white shirt - but more often I would just wear business casual.

If I am flying the Navajo with the company/plane owner as a passenger I'll where the white shirt and the rest of the uniform but not the gold bars or the tie.

If I am flying the Navajo with passengers from outside the company, then I'll wear the gold bars and tie... some people are nervous fliers so it puts their mind at ease if they see someone who at least looks the part of a captain

As for calling myself captain. I never refer to myself that way... except when I am making a joke about it with regulars, and then it's "Captain Underpants". Now I am usually single pilot IFR, but on the rare occasions that I do have a co-pilot they tend to refer to me as captain when dealing with customs or FBOs and that sort of thing.