RatherBeFlying -
AA here in the USA has a new policy that when one of the two (2) flight deck crew leave the cockpit (lav visit, etc.) that one (1) of the cabin crew comes into the cockpit to be available to open the door. This frees the other flight deck officer to be able to remain "in control" of the a/c.
When I first saw this happen a couple of weeks ago I almost had a heart attack thinking that the F cabin FA was going to fly the plane.
Took me a while to "wise-up". Second time I saw it happen I also noticed that it was always an FA in "pants" rather than one dressed in a skirt. I am guessing this is because they have to "climb over" the yoke??
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AAvid -