Flight Deck Visit with Air China: it IS possible.
To all the people who told me it's never possible to visit the flight deck with Asian airlines - it's not true. I've just been on holiday to China, and on the flight to Beijing I gave my usual note with a copy of my PPL to the FA, with a request to pass it to the Captain. The FO came back and apologised for the fact that they couldn't let me up for the takeoff or landing as they had four pilots that day, but said I was welcome to come up in the cruise. I did so and had an enjoyable half hour or so, using the FO as an interpreter as he was the only one who spoke reasonable English. They were all very surprised to meet me as there are very few women pilots in China: "There are three or four in the airlines", said the FO, "And a few in the military, but I never ever expected to meet one!"
On an internal flight from Chongqing to Beijing I didn't even ask as it was crowded and rushed, but when we had to divert due to a thunderstorm and had a two hour wait at some airfield I'd never heard of, I asked if I could visit the flight deck as I never had on a 767. I was allowed up, and since the Captain was supervising re-fuelling I got invited to sit in his seat!
It doesn't always work. On the way home I tried again, and got told there was no room, the Captain had said no, and anyway the airline didn't allow it. I'd heard all that before so I didn't argue and caught up on my sleep instead. But it's worth a try; don't believe those who say it's impossible.
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Whirly
To fly is human, to hover, divine.
[This message has been edited by Whirlybird (edited 05 July 2001).]