With FOs and Captains both needing route checks once per year, it averages out to four of these being done every day. Needless to say, their scheduling can be quite a nightmare.
The guys who do the line checks are normally, but not always, the C&T Captains. They are qualified to fly in either the right or left hand seat, and will do line training for pilots on conversions or promotion courses. That's the T part of the title. For checks they are generally additional to the crew, although they can be used as SOs if it becomes necessary. About half of their time is spent checking. When the training loads are heavy, they can end up with almost all of their flying time being taken up.
The Senior Check Captains do spend much of their time in the simulators, but they can do the checks, and will also do the initial sectors for any courses...after which it goes to the C&Ts. Their flying is generally one third of a line, with the rest of their time spent in the simulator.
There are also dedicated simulator instructors. They do not fly the aircraft, although they will have done the entire sim course. They're generally pilots who have retired...they come from many parts of the world, and bring points of view from other airlines and types.
