The Hoss Pearson I knew retired as a Captain. Check out
http://www.atsifightertraining.com/company/learn.html which confirms that
fact.
You should read the article more carefully

QUOTE
THREE YEARS AGO, a U.S. Navy vice admiral told Larry (Hoss) Pearson--a
former U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team commander, combat
veteran and test pilot--"You should get into foreign military pilot
training, because the Navy is getting out of it. With the downsizing, we're
not going to be able to continue doing it." Pearson is now chairman and CEO
of Advanced Training Systems International (ATSI) Inc., based here at the
former Williams AFB, now called Williams Gateway Airport.

UNQUOTE

Great concept, but given the fickle nature of government contracts and
option years ("Sorry, we're a little behind on the paperwork ... can you
just fold up shop for a quarter or two?") somebody could lose their ass as
well as their sanity in this line of work. But a chance to fly single-seat
A-4's as adversary ... what a briar patch.

R / John

"s.p.i." wrote in message
om...
This week's AW&ST cover story, "Red Air For Hire", discusses the
burgeoning civilian operated adversary services saying, "...the age of
outsourcing advanced tactical training and training support services
may have finally arrived--and with a vengeance".
http://www.aviationnow.com

Acknowledging that such endeavors have,"...died before all the
regulatory and licensing hurdles could be jumped", the article
continues on with some of the structural reasons why they may be more
sucessful now.

The article focuses primarily on Advanced Training Systems
International (ATSI) Inc, headed by VAdm. (ret.) Larry (Hoss)
Pearson-a former U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team
commander, combat veteran and test pilot. It appears he has a
realistic expectation about what his company can accomplish-and by
whats left unsaid about the whole CAT IV issue-what it can't.

At any rate I wouldn't think he would be the type to allow an
environment in which,"Corners will be cut because they can be--that's
human nature when you're trying to earn a buck"