Hey guys & girls, Seeing that it currently remains unlikely that i'll become an ATPL holder due to my medical status, how often do Engineers/Technicians get to jumpseat on a flight? Regards, Dominic
Location: last week I was in....now, where am I now?
Age: 54
Posts: 245
Quote:
currently remains unlikely that i'll become an ATPL holder due to my medical status
Is that a status issued by an aviation medical centre? You have some years to go before an ATPL may be the basis for your job. Unless you are not grounded by at least 2 different examiners, it may be worth of starting a thorough investigation of your existing condition. Medicine is changing as quickly as aviation does.
But then, are you sure you want to sit at the pointing end?
In out company quite often unfortunatly becace there to tight to give you a decent seat in the cabin, went to bahrain and back last week stuck in a crappy old 757 2nd obs seat, however surely your not thinking of becoming a engineer because you might get a ride on the flightdeck are you?
I know I have some years to wait yet, there may be a cure by then, hopefully, the CAA/JAA/ICAO will relax their restrictions regarding flying and Epilepsy. Nightrider: I'm pretty sure that one day I want to be sitting at the pointed end. It's something i've wanted to do since I was 11, and although I havent gained real-life experience I've managed to build up a good idea of the pros/cons, lifestyle, etc. smudgethecat: I would happily take a 757 obs seat over a standard cabin one! No, I don't want to be an Engineer just because I could get the opportunity to jumpseat now & then, I was simply curious how often Technicians get to do it.
I guess it depends on who you work for and where and whether there is a requirement for a flying spanner. We were flying to ARN last year once or twice a week until the locals were up and running. Don't see it too often nowadays, a few years back it could be quite regular, did a few around Europe the middle east and the US, but none for a while or the forseable future.
Like already mentioned, medicine is changing every day so keep your dream alive and make sure you study hard while your young and when you get to the right age, then see what the governing body accepts.
But if you cant, then keep in mind the engineering route. We work with and on the aircraft and we dont have to sit in a cramped cockpit for 10-12hrs a day.
They are both good jobs but us engineers know what we are talking about- pilots sound like they know what they are talking about!!
Brad, in the Uk and Oz at least maintenance technicians such as myself are quite rightly known as Engineers.
There won't be many design Engineers allowed to fly in the jumpseat on commercial flights anymore as the rules on this have tightened up considerably.
I flown the jumpseat a handful of times and although its interesting and the crews have always been very friendly it's far more desirable to fly in the cabin in comfort especially after a long job away from home
I've spent three months on technical support for a customer that involved flying jump-seat as a "flying spanner" on a daily basis; usually two round trips a day for a total of eight hours or so flying time and of course another six hours doing transits and putting the aircraft to bed. I guess I logged about 600 flight hours in that time and though such assignments are scarce, they're not that unusual for some types of operation - crew-chiefs on charters and VIP for example.
A few years ago we had jumpseating mechanics almost 3-4 times a week. However most of the time it were the same money minded mechanics that did go with the a/c, and the mechanics that would really enjoy the flight had to stay on ground. If you were of the last type, you would do 1 or 2 trips a year.
These times however, very few jumpseats, most of the aog work is done by contracting people.
We have a few loadmasters, I think that is the job that offers you the most jumpseat time without being a pilot yourself.
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