Filming in the cabin

[CaptainCriticalAngle]

Hello fellow aviators,

I love watching videos of landings and takeoffs shot from the jump seat (loads on YouTube for example).

What are the laws re. this? Can I just ask a cabin crew member on boarding?

And what do you pilots think about enthusiasts (and wannabes like me) itching to ride on the jump seat?

[spottilludrop]

I'm not a aviator just a spotter, but if you do insist on filming in the cabin please don't post the film on here ,if I see another mind numbing boring clip of footage filmed from the cabin I shall lose the will to live

[Torque Tonight]

And what do you pilots think about enthusiasts (and wannabes like me) itching to ride on the jump seat?

We admire your enthusiasm, because most of us felt exactly the same when we were starting out, but we are sorry not to be able to accommodate your request because national law in pretty much all developed countries prohibits it.


http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf-self-loading-freight/510544-use-video-camera-commercial-flight.html

[CaptainCriticalAngle]

Torque Tonight thank you, although that's a shame. How come I see so many recent videos online l, just Google them. Perhaps they're trainee pilots, so I'll have to wait my turn. They're great learning tools btw as well. And I'm glad you fully qualified pilots appreciate why we're so keen. Perhaps I'll ask cabin crew really really nicely!!

[spottilludrop]

Only way your going to get on a jump seat is if you work for a airline and have flight deck clearance .

[RTN11]

How come I see so many recent videos online l, just Google them. Perhaps they're trainee pilots, so I'll have to wait my turn. They're great learning tools btw as well. And I'm glad you fully qualified pilots appreciate why we're so keen. Perhaps I'll ask cabin crew really really nicely!!

These will all be filmed and posted by pilots from the flight deck. There's no way you'll be able to get on the jump seat during flight, it doesn't matter how nicely you ask the cabin crew it just isn't up to them. As a pilot, I'd love nothing more than to share the flight deck experience with a wannabe, as that's exactly how I ended up wanting to be a pilot in the first place, but the laws simply do not allow it.

The best you'll get is to see the flight deck on the ground, either asking before or after the flight to say hi to the pilots, again I love the rare occasions when this happens and we are usually very accommodating. As for filming in flight, fine after take off, and if you insist on filming anything during take off or landing then do so very discreetly, or the cabin crew will get straight on you, it's their job. Funny thing is the pilot is probably up front with his phone on, tablet on in his flight case, and taped a camera to the window to film the flight.

[Mike Tee]

As RTN11 says the law won't allow it now but I can remember visiting the flight deck many times back in the good old days. Some of the more memorable times include Dan Air BAC 1-11 jump seat ride over the Pyrenees and decent into Gerona, Odyssey International B757 jump seat ride over Greenland on-route Newcastle / Toronto with the Pilot explaining our possible diversions if we lost an engine, Balkan TU154 jump seat ride over most of Europe in the dark on-route Newcastle / Bulgaria, British Midland DC9 jump seat shortly after Heathrow takeoff and landing on runway 06 at Teesside, brilliant although that "clattering" trim wheel did make me jump !!. Ahh the "good old days".
Also I agree that some pilots do like a "hello" from passengers. When departing from our flight from Newcastle to Heathrow last year I popped my head into the cockpit to just to congratulate them on "The Greaser" which was appreciated and caused lots of laughter and joking between the pilots.

[washingtondave]

CCA, like yourself I am a big fan of the many cockpit videos you can see on YouTube. Unlike you, I am at the other end of the age spectrum, but I have never lost my enthusiasm for flying.

I'm afraid 9/11 put paid to flight deck visits and jump seat rides. Prior to that I had managed a few flight deck visits in the cruise phase, but never succeeded in getting a full jump seat ride, although I came close once, having gained approval through asking the cabin crew on a BAE 146 flight from Florence to Stansted, only to be thwarted by the aisle being blocked by the trolley on a full to capacity aircraft. C'est la vie.

Some of the videos are very professionally done, offering a chance to observe flight procedures clearly, especially with the modern glass cockpit. I also enjoy the magnificent views, even clouds can create dramatic scenes. A series often featuring approaches to Santos Dumont airport in Brazil are among my favourites.

I will no doubt continue to enjoy such videos, and hope the professional pilots will keep on producing them. As for myself, of course, it will never happen, although I have enjoyed 2 one hour sessions in a full motion Boeing 737-200 simulator, succeeding, with the assistance of the instructor of course, to manage a number of take offs, circuits and landings at Aberdeen Dyce airport.

Keep up your enthusiasm, and it is heartening to see you receive some positive responses from professional pilots.

[KNIEVEL77]

Mike Tee,
A few years ago I worked on the ITV Series about Easyjet and had many landings at Newcastle International and never yet had a 'greaser', the landing was nearly always as bumpy as hell, I wondered if it was down to the slightly undulating runway?
K77.

[washingtondave]

Knievel, you are correct in saying there is a dip in the runway at Newcastle. As NCL is my "home" airport I have experienced a fair number of landings there over the years, with mixed results. Some greasers and some very heavy thumps. On one occasion, on a late evening arrival, with Easyjet as it happens, I was sat on the port side, and as the plane made it's turn to align itself for finals to runway 25. I could clearly see the approach lights through the cabin window. I had a feeling that the plane was not correctly aligned, and sure enough we did a go around.

On another occasion on a flight from NCL to Heathrow, you could feel the aircraft wavering in the wind on the apron at NCL ( I was sat near the back ). The approach to Heathrow in the westerly direction was one of the wildest rides I've ever experienced. It was a particularly windy day which prompted many comments on the BBC Have Your Say website.

Oh the joys of flying.

[Mike Tee]

KNIEVEL77 The "Greaser" was the landing at Heathrow after a flight down from Newcastle, (Airbus 319 I think). I too have had some real bumpers at Newcastle. The worst, or best depending on your level of pilot appreciation was during "Hurricane Charlie" in a Cyprus Airways A300. Sitting just forward of the wing we could see straight down the runway until we "kicked straight" just before touchdown. Great Stuff !!.

[Evanelpus]

How come I see so many recent videos online

They may be old videos.

Pre 9/11, I'd done almost as many jump seat landings as pax ones. Sadly, at the time, I didn't own a camcorder but had I have had one, there would have been some great vids to share ie Kai Tak, Santos Dumont, Miami (one engine smoking heavily).

Such is life though!

[L4key]

I once went MAN-FAO on a 757 in the Jumpseat and back with the Capt early 90's because my Dad did some work for him.

Was the best experience ever. I also remember being taken to visit the cockpit when going abroad and for me it was always one of the best parts of the holiday. The crews were always so enthusiastic and friendly, it always amazed me how cramped the flight decks were.

So sad that I won't be able to take my own son to do the same in a couple of years when he would be old enough to be as impressed as I was.

[CaptainCriticalAngle]

Some lovely comments here, but it looks as though unless I get an internal flight in Kazakhstan I'm not going to ride on the jump seat during takeoff or landing. Damn. So frustrating. More incentive to get my wings!!!

[Doors to Automatic]

I hope it gets relaxed again in my lifetime - I know most pilots who I have ever spoken to enjoy having interested and appreciative visitors on the flightdeck.

[L4key]

That was the old days though, I wonder how much the pilots would like to have the average contents of your average low-co into the cockpit!

Even in 20 years I bet the profile of passenger has changed considerably.

Again, I am a regular flyer on low-co's before anyone thinks I'm being a snob!

[Mike Tee]

Got to agree on that one L4key. Sorting through some old photos the other day we came across a picture I had taken of my wife and our two friends waiting on the stairs to board a Britannia 737 at Manchester. My wife noticed it first. "look at the way people are dressed". Men had sports jacket and tie with proper trousers, some had coats and macks folded over their arms. Ladies had skirts and jackets. Compare that to the "Motley Crew" that travel now. !!

[spottilludrop]

What exactly is a "sports jacket" and what constitutes "proper trousers"?

[Mike Tee]

Ahh, I guess you are not the wrong side of 60 then Spottiludrop. (You Lucky Guy). !!

[Geezers of Nazareth]

I've made quite a few cockpit visits, but sadly none since 2001.

In the late 60s and 70s I was a frequent 'schoolboy' traveller to France. Dad worked for BEA and organised the tickets; took me to the airport and walked me through the Terminal to the gate, and then often disappeared to speak with the crew ... quite often, on boarding, was met with "ah, here he is ... this way please", and ended-up being in the cockpit for the whole trip. In those days it was mostly Tridents, and occasional AF '727s.

It definitely gave me a better appreciation of what goes on during the flight.

In the late 70s, coming back from hols in Malta ... staff ticket, the whole family got 'bumped' due to overbooking. They eventually find 3 seats for us ... one cabin-crew seat 'down the back', and two in the cockpit of a TriStar. Came back all the way in the cockpit wearing a headset and chatting with the flight crew.

Sadly, the grey-matter was not up to the job, so never managed to make the grade.

In the mid 90s I went to SW France on Hols ... BA 737 out of Gatwick. En-route I asked for a look in the cockpit. Got chatting with the crew, asking about the radios and avionics ("wow, that's a new question, never been asked about that before! ..."). They asked why I was going to Bordeaux and I told them I was taking some photos ... got invited to stay in the cockpit for the rest of the flight on the basis that I took some photos for the crew as we landed and taxied. PNF folded down a small 'dicky-seat' and handed me his camera!
Took a few photos on approach, on touchdown, and as we taxied; can't remember how many pics, probably about a dozen? I hope they came out okay, as pre-digital.

A fantastic memory, sadly no longer available.

[Hartington]

737 jumpseat was one of the most uncomfortable I ever used. Little more than a narrow bench and a separate back (or that's what my posterior remembers!). The ATP really surprised me with a full size seat.

[Curious Pax]

Just to concur with those bemoaning the flight deck access restrictions post 9/11, and the fact that it means my son probably won't get to experience the view from the front inflight.

Was lucky enough to experience the jumpseat a number of times, and always made to feel most welcome. Best experience was a full chocks to chocks ride on a BA 757 from LHR to AMS. ATC offered a more direct routing on departure if we could climb fast enough to get over the inbound stack, which was duly achieved. Prior to departure the crew had expected reduced viz at AMS, so were planning an autoland, but turned out to be clear as a bell. They offered me the choice of sticking to that plan, or doing it manually - I asked for auto as hadn't seen one from the front before.

Those were the days....many, many thanks to all the crews that allowed me into their office.

[TizerTheAppetizer]

Those were the days. My first time in a cockpit was 1982, Monarch airlines, Luton to Milan.

A fellow classmate and myself asked the air hostess politely and she whisked us off to the flight deck, about mid-flight. We were there for ages, asking all kinds of silly questions. I remember asking the FO what would happen if the undercarriage fell off (I was only 14).

The FO even gave me his map/weather charts. An experience that is still vivid over 30 years later. It was an important part of my aviation education and love of airliners.

I can understaand the new rules, but it is a shame we can no longer have a peek into the flight deck during the flight. It's not the same when the plane is on the tarmac.

[1mach]

I had an hour on the flight deck of a Dan Air B727 in 1975 Man / Tenerife North. There was a 3 man flight crew and I was amazed when the flight engineer leaned forward from his instrument panel and throttled the engines back. He said it was because we were travelling beyond the economical air speed due the reduced weight due to fuel burn. And there was me thinking that the No 1 flew the aircraft. The flight engineer demonstrated what all the dials and indicators meant. An experience never to be repeated and never forgotten.

[ilesmark]

OP - enjoy! Shot by me on Friday just gone, from London to Reus.

Ryanair Luton-Reus flight 29 Mar 13 - HD - YouTube (http://youtu.be/l5nC5iUTI7g)