Yesterday I flew back from LAX sitting next to an eighty year old retired KLM captain. How ridiculous that neither he (still a PPL holder!!) and I (ATC) are no longer allowed to visit the cockpit. I still think that the rule should, with appropriate I/D and at the Captain's discretion exclude aviation professionals directly involved with the safety of aircraft.
Absolutely right! I have no problem to allow no pax sitting on the jump seat, but I consider it simply useless to prevent controllers / pilots / aiport operations oficers from entering the cockpit. This should be the decission of the Captain. All the professionals mentioned above (and many more) can easily harm an aircraft and hundreds of pax every day in their jobs - they do not need to enter the cockpit for this reason. Even the catering and loading personnel can damage aircraft during their jobs - and we all know how badly they are sometimes paid. This is a far greater risk to security. (Completely crazy: I have heard that even deadheading crew members are not allowed to ride in the jumpseat, although this could be a company rule.)
Generally, I have made the experience, that it is extremely important for controllers / pilots / ops people to have contact and there are things you do not mention or discuss in official liaision meetings. That will backfire sooner or later...
Has anyone ever heard of a case where a visitor to the cockpit has tried to attack the flight crew?
Regards, Bernhard