JUMP SEATS ANYONE?

[Captain Numpty]

<img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Anyone out there managed to get themselves a J/S ride or a visit to the F/D since 11/09/2001????

Airlines & Crew members need not be disclosed.

Regards
C.N. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[Sensible]

Is this a wind up?

[rossco18_uk]

Hi there,
Just thought I'd post a little reply to this one. I work for TUI, the company which now owns the Thomson Travel Group and hence Britannia. I have travelled with Britannia on numerous occasions over the past year and six times since 11/09/01. Each and every time I have asked for a visit to the flight deck and the response has been none other than, "Are you kidding??" I am not sure about other airlines, but Britannia wouldn't even let a 5 year old kid in the flight deck when I was on the aircraft. So in response, I do not think that flight deck visits will start again, or not at least until security is at an absolute maximum. It is a shame, because I always sat in for the landing with Britannia (even though they are not supposed to allow it ;-) ), but I guess never again.
Cheers
Ross

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

These requests are refused by British Carriers these days on DETR guidlines. They are not illegal though.

I have operated several flights where we have arranged for the Pax making such requests to visit the flightdeck when we have landed. We are always busy on turnarounds so visits need to be brief but it is usually a well appreciated gesture.

WWW

[neil armstrong]

I have been invited to the flightdeck twice in the last 3 weeks (without asking for it)while traveling in Uniform.
In both cases i asked the crew what the policy on jumpseaters was in there company, and both airlines do not allow jumpseaters.
I the freight world it works the same where it is not allowed but some crews will take people on a case to case bases.

Neil

[beamer]

In my Company flightdeck visits are no longer allowed - however, if a youngster asks for a
quick peek when we have shut down on arrival
then no problem - a smile, a few words and a
postcard/sticker does wonders.

I would imagine that when recruiting starts
again - requests for jump-seat rides by potential
candidates will be allowed when sanctioned by
Chief Pilot/Flt Ops particuarly if the individual
is known to the Company and/or the crew on a
particular flight.

It is a pity but nobody said life was fair after
11/09/01 !

[Fast Jet Wannabe]

Sorry to spoil the flow here, but Yes, I have.

I'm certainly making nothing up here. I asked, in flight, if the pilots would mind me visiting after we landed at our destination. I mentioned that I hold a PPL and left it at that.

20 minutes later a different flight attendant, presumably the number 1, came to my seat and almost whispered to me that the Captain was willing to allow me a visit. In the end I got a jump seat landing.

The airline was a British carrier, and the flight attendant told me I was the first person she had seen allowed on the flight deck since 11.09.

The Captains justification was along the lines of "I've been flying for 30 years...."

2 very nice blokes going the extra mile for a wannabe. Let me assure you all, it made my holiday.

All I can say is, ask, what harm can it do?

And for the racial profilers out there, I'm a white English, 18 year old, male.

[Captain Numpty]

My thanks to those of you that have replied so far. As I am grateful for the constructive comments made apart from the second entry that is !!! Only joking LOL.

And no it's not a wind up question, for before 11/09/2001 you would often read about people's J/S experiences and good reading they made too.

It's interesting and indeed good to see that the occasional crew is able and willing. After all, how many of us were inspired by that first time to the Deck. However, I do of course respect the issue of security and to be fair, if I was a passenger and saw someone not in uniform going up to the F/D, I might just start asking questions.

Cheers to everyone.

C.N.

[Max Levell]

Sat up the sharp end for about 2 hours on the way to Havana (777) just after Sep.11th.

Excellent experience, and great to see with your own eyes what all those buttons actually do!

Watched a diversion around a tropical storm using the weather radar, all from the comfort of the J/seat with blinding tea and sandwich service!

Since then I know things have tightened up greatly, with crew confined to their "quarters" without exception....Well almost

[Sir_Fly-a-Lot]

In my airline it is now strictly prohibited for anyone other than the flightcrew to visit the flightdeck. All as a result of Sept. 11. On my last flight we had to turn away a few children.
Personally I do not agree with this new policy. I can't see any harm in a five year old visiting the flightdeck briefly, escorted by the purser.
Adults, No ! but children ?

[whats_it_doing_now?]

I think its all a bit recent since 911 to expect this sort of thing. Maybe a few years down the line, but at the end of the day the terrorist threat is real, and the vast majority of flight crew will not take the risk. Plus its more than your jobs worth to break the company rules at the moment.
Its a real shame for wannabes and people with a genuine enthusiasm for aviation. I always enjoyed explaining to people what was happening at various stages of the flight. Its also funny to see the expressions of fear after a landing in bad wx.!

[Freddie-M]

Our company does not allow flight deck visits. The problem with people getting them is that other passengers will, and do, complain that security is being compromised if they see non-crew members going onto the flight deck. The same members of the public also complain if the flight deck door is left open for too long whilst drinks etc are being brought forward or if the flight crew spend too much time waiting to use the loo!! As long as the pax complain, the situation will not change. It all comes down to getting the public feeling safe to fly with us again.

[Autofly]

I think in the current climate the best way to get yourself on the flight deck is to approach a pilot before you get anywhere near the airport.

If its all pre-arranged there a a few bonuses like you can arrive in your Sunday best so other pax don't get annoyed as previously mentioned and also, you don't have to pay :) . Of course you need to know a pilot first. Going on from rossco18_uk's post, the pilot who's offered me a ride works for Britannia.

A quick appology to WWW and alike who are likely to be bombarded with requests at the next bash.

Cheers
AF

[Grandad Flyer]

Most airlines have a temporary ban on any flight deck visits. Its a brave Captain who accepts someone they do not know into the flight deck against the express wishes of the company right now as if anyone found out about it then they could expect to be disciplined for it.
Someone we all know, who works in handling at the airport I am based at asked if he could come on a jumpseat "familiarisation" flight, and he was not allowed to.
If you are a friend or relative of the operating crew you may be allowed a jumpseat but it depends on each airline's current policy.
I would suggest though writing to the airline's Chief Pilot two or three times to see if anything could be arranged that way.
Personally, I reckon if someone has written in, and can be security checked, and knows someone in the airline then it would seem sensible to allow them on. But the guys in the offices don't always see it that way unfortunately.

[tailscrape]

Whilst travelling on a staff ticket, i got stranded at AGP. I wanted to return to Manch, but there were no flights.

Brits gave me the jump seat back to EMA. Two top guys.

They did however have a good look at my MAN flightdeck I.D.

[Captain Chaos 747]

I think within 2 years flight deck visits will be permitted again especially for children, because most people who do visit the pointy end are children with their parents.

[scroggs]

I think it is extremely unlikely that flight deck visits will be reintroduced. We now have a situation where all UK flight decks are to remain locked in flight, with access restricted to authorised F/As only. This has been agreed by the CAA with the airlines, and is likely to become EU and national law, as it is in the USA, and has been for some years.
If an individual captain agrees to allow aircrew from another airline on his flight deck, that is his prerogative - although he may well be acting against his airline's SOPs and the law!
Don't hold your breath, peeps.

PS Pre-arranged jumpseat rides, organised through the airline (including crew companions travelling on a staff ticket) are another matter, but even then it's a little awkward publicly admitting people in civilian dress onto the flight deck in view of other passengers.

[ 14 January 2002: Message edited by: Scroggs ]</p>