Definition
A qualified pilot designated by an air carrier or operator to evaluate other pilots' proficiency, knowledge, and adherence to procedures during checkrides, recurrent training, and line checks. The check pilot determines whether the pilot being evaluated meets the standards required to be qualified for a particular aircraft, route, or operational role.
Plain English
A senior pilot whose job is to test other pilots and decide whether they are flying to the required standard.
Context Anchor
You may hear this term in airline, charter, military, flight school, or company training programs when a pilot must pass a required evaluation.
Derivation
From 'check,' meaning to verify or test, combined with 'pilot.' The word 'check' here carries the sense of inspection against a standard, the same sense used in 'checkride' and 'checklist.'
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether a pilot can legally exercise the privileges of a certificate or rating after training or required checks.
Analogy
Like a driving examiner who tests new drivers before they receive a license.
Intuition Check
Check does not mean “stop” here; it means evaluate and verify. A check pilot is not just a helpful experienced pilot—they are authorized to judge whether another pilot meets a required standard.
Example Sentence 1
The check pilot rode in the right seat during my line check and signed me off for unsupervised operations.
Example Sentence 2
After the instrument proficiency check, the check pilot signed the logbook endorsing the pilot's currency.