Original Message

Company check pilots conduct Part 135 checks after an observation ride with the FAA. However, not all Part 135 operators have a check pilot nor is it required to have one.

A check pilot when conducting a check does so as a representative of the FAA during the check. If a company doesn't have a check pilot then the FAA has to provide inspector to do the check. First the request goes through your local FSDO then if no one there is qualified it goes into a National Resource pool to find one that is. This takes forever!