The visit I had last...
Returning from a flight from Singapore last December with British Airways on a 744 and I managed to wangle a quick look into the flight deck after shut down on stand. I went to the aft galley mid-flight and posed the question about a visit to an attendant who said, ‘ask him yourself, he’s behind you!’ The captain ‘saw no reason’ why I couldn’t come up after the engines were stopped on stand.
Funny thing is 6 hours later, after the plane was 99% empty I knocked on the cockpit door and there was no reply so I shouted back to the one of the attendants in the upper galley who retorted: “Just give it a good shove mate…!” So after another futile knock, I did and the jolly thing flew open against the cockpit lavatory wall. The Captain was packing up his paperwork but was very forthcoming in answering a few questions about the decent and approach routing.
**For anyone with a passion then I doubt you are going to ask ‘what buttons do what’ as most already know. In light of the new rules it is much more unlikely that the uniformed passenger would get near the cockpit (i.e. … a nervous passenger who might once have been invited up mid-flight to calm their nerves) I should think the large majority of visits now come (stealing of market share (lol)) from the community of tenacious informed wannabe’s who don’t mind waiting 13 hours in economy for a 2 minute glimpse after shutdown while the community of nervous flyers after having bitten their lips, just clamber for terminal 4 rather than allay any future fears with a quick peak at the flight deck …..it is 5am after all!**
During the chat the FO came out of the lavatory with a shocked face and I was a little blushed to say the least having obviously disturbed him midflow. However, they were very nice and the young FO was forthcoming in his explanations but the tiredness of the flight crew was evident. (They’re only human) Ie. Don’t take the p££s out of the forthcoming nature of the captain who invited you up.
I suggest that an enquiry mid-flight is best (slip in some jargon…so the Chinese whisper might inform the captain he won’t be talking to a 2 year old). And don’t take all morning in the cockpit cos after 14 hours from Changi and answering your questions a trip up the M25/ 4 /40 is more than likely. (How willing to entertain would you be..?) Ask a few informed relevant questions which will keep the meeting convivial as 2/3/4 professional long haul flyers might just get bored of you quickly if you don’t have a cat in hells clue. (Which I’m sure u do…)
I don’t think writing a letter in advance will get you anywhere these days but being able to impress on the attendant / flight crew that you know what you’re talking about…might mean that they’re more willing to let your foot in the proverbial door after shutdown. (don’t dress like a ruffian either ……..)
Ess: just plan a few ripper’s to ask…
Best of Luck
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