Simviation Forums

When I go flying on an Airliner there is a flightattendant would stand at the door and stare at me and I would ask can I look around inside the cockpit, and they would say "No" as though I would hijack the plane on the ground with the engines off 30minutes before pushback but anyway, during the pre 9-11 years they'd let me go in and the pilot looked at me and asked "Do you want to stay up here and help me?" and I'd say "Ya"....then he'd tell me "Well if this was Europe I could let you, but it isn't so time to go to your seat" So my question is do they let PAX in the jumpseat in Europe?

Depends on which part of Europe. I very much doubt that this is allowed on any British airline. Sadly those days are over & never likely to be repeated.

Don't think they let anyone anymore - shame, I used to enjoy visiting the cockpit as a boy, something the yoof of today won't be able to experience. Imagine the lawsuits though if anything happened...

Before 9/11 there was also the Russian incident where the Captain let his son take the controls, and the aircraft crashed...

After landing if you ask nicely you should be allowed. Generally the crew is quite busy before a flight so its less likely to happen at that time. In flight, i believe a couple of european carriers still allow it, however no British ones do. Also alot of the middle eastern and asian carriers will depending on the pilots. On my trip to the US last year, i asked if i could view the cockpit after landing and they said it would be fine. However i had just swiped a blanket that your not supposed to so i didnt want to hang around for post flight clean up/ inspection

Smooth Craig.

Some airline pilots, myself included, have no problem letting people, especially kids, in the cockpit before/during start and after landing. A few, if you find a nice crew willing to risk it, will let you stay in the whole time. Something kids love to do it start engines, so I usually don't have a problem with that, especially if they are in First Class where it's easy to take them back to their seat quickly. You just have to know if there are Air Marshalls on board, they can nail pilots for things like that. But for the most part, I have no problem letting young'uns in the cockpit, let them see how it works, especially the young teens who aspire to be pilots. Let them flip the fuel levers to start the engine, let them turn lights on, just give them something to work for. My boss can bite me.

Most airlines in Europe, some in the US still, if you have a valid pilots license you can pretty easily get into the cockpit. PAX obviously is different but I have jumpseated on BA flights just by flashing my license and airline name tag.

What Airline do you fly for Saratoga, I think I'll have to arrange some flights with your company

Airlines ought to have a contest or something for kids who'd like to spend a few minutes on the flight deck. Maybe an essay contest, to find somebody who seems serious about maybe entering the business someday. This would allow time for a thorough security check. They could even limit entrants to trade-school or CAP members; something like that.
Prize scenarios could include: sitting in the jumpseat before start, or maybe sitting in a pilot's seat (supervised, of course) while the plane is down for maintenance. As far as sitting in the jumpseat during flight, if the kid is cleared and it's all pre-arranged, I don't see why not, except for the fact that if hijackers did storm the cockpit door, having a non-employee (esp. a kid) in there would complicate matters.
It's a shame that youthful inspiration has to be compromised in the name of security, but that's how it goes...

Well arranging flights with my airline doesn't mean a whole lot, many airline pilots are grouchy old chaps who won't let a kid even take a look inside. I decided a long time ago I would let kids take a look inside if they wanted. If it will make their lives better, I am all for it.

Just out of interest Saratoga, why do you seem reluctant to divulge the name of the airline you work for?  You seem to sidestep giving the name all the time-even in your sig, it says "for a major US airline."

This may be inadvertant, but if it's not, then how come?

[quote]Just out of interest Saratoga, why do you seem reluctant to divulge the name of the airline you work for?

I was talking to a pilot (whom I know persoanlly) and asked him If I could go up into the flightdeck for a flight...he simply said "NO"...if a FAA official or Marshall like Saratoga said  was on the aircraft it would be his job, licesnse, and a fine...I went to Orlando last year and after wards I got to go up into the cockpit once everyone had disembarked....but it just aint the same

Ya. Well it's not that I don't like telling you guys. I work for American and am proud of it. But the fecal matter starts impacting the spinning blades when guys from different airlines and FAA people and everything, you get the point. If any of you read magazines about flying, notice the guys don't mention their airlines ever, you can usually figure it out, but we are pretty much told not to diverge it a whole lot.

Ya pre-9/11 I would have FAA guys walk people to the cockpit and ask me if they could have a look inside. Now they would pounce on me for considering it. Oh well I risk it sometimes.

I know some people from American are on this forum. Maybe not registered, but they check it nevertheless. Lots of guys for major airlines and regionals fly FS. Keeps us entertained and let's us try the sh*t we'd get fired for!