Flight Deck Visit with Air China: it IS possible.
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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).]
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).]
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That was quite an interesting article you have just posted whirly, even though I have never flown with any sort of Asian Airline I know of pilots that do and they have no problem with passengers visiting the Flight Deck.
But it's all up to the Capt. as he is the one calling the shots and he may not want any body up the front for various reasons, and we all have to respect his or her decision. I have only been rejected once because it was only an hour flight so it probably wasn't worth it any way.
Regards Wowie
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if your gonna die, die in a kingswood
But it's all up to the Capt. as he is the one calling the shots and he may not want any body up the front for various reasons, and we all have to respect his or her decision. I have only been rejected once because it was only an hour flight so it probably wasn't worth it any way.
Regards Wowie
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if your gonna die, die in a kingswood
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Autofly,
This is what I write:
Dear Captain,
I have a PPL(A) and a PPL(H), and I'm currently working towards a CPL(H). I was wondering if it would be possible to visit the flight deck, preferably for take-off and/or landing. I realise you have a high workload at those times, so naturally I'd just sit quietly and not expect to be entertained.
Yours Sincerely,
Name/Seat number
I give this to the FA when I board, with a photocopy of my licences, and ask if he/she could give it to the captain, saying it's just a request for a flight deck visit. They can be a little suspicious, so don't put the note in an envelope, and keep it brief as otherwise you hold up the queue. I modified this for Air china, as their FAs don't speak much English; I got to my seat, then asked someone. If possible, it helps to get an aisle seat near the front where you can be easily found, but it's not absolutely necessary. If you don't have a PPL yet, I'd enclose some other ID like a student card or similar, and explain what you do and why you're interested - just anything to prove who you are.
This isn't foolproof; it depends on the captain. And some people do other things; if you do a search on wannabes you'll find lots of advice, as this subject comes up quite often.
Good luck!
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Whirly
To fly is human, to hover, divine.
This is what I write:
Dear Captain,
I have a PPL(A) and a PPL(H), and I'm currently working towards a CPL(H). I was wondering if it would be possible to visit the flight deck, preferably for take-off and/or landing. I realise you have a high workload at those times, so naturally I'd just sit quietly and not expect to be entertained.
Yours Sincerely,
Name/Seat number
I give this to the FA when I board, with a photocopy of my licences, and ask if he/she could give it to the captain, saying it's just a request for a flight deck visit. They can be a little suspicious, so don't put the note in an envelope, and keep it brief as otherwise you hold up the queue. I modified this for Air china, as their FAs don't speak much English; I got to my seat, then asked someone. If possible, it helps to get an aisle seat near the front where you can be easily found, but it's not absolutely necessary. If you don't have a PPL yet, I'd enclose some other ID like a student card or similar, and explain what you do and why you're interested - just anything to prove who you are.
This isn't foolproof; it depends on the captain. And some people do other things; if you do a search on wannabes you'll find lots of advice, as this subject comes up quite often.
Good luck!
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Whirly
To fly is human, to hover, divine.
