cockpit
Guest
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Number of factors can have an effect on cockpit visits.
If the security classification of either the departure or arrival airport is designated 'Amber' or above, no flight-deck visits due security.
On long night flights most of the J class pax are sleeping, (upstairs) and it is just not fair to have a steady flow of visitors walking up and down the cabin, it will be a steady flow, once one person gets to see the flight-deck naturally enough many more want to as well!
With double or heavy-crew the flight deck is often full with crew eating/changing clothes, having a nap etc.
For fellow professionals and keen Wannabees a business card should be enough.
If the security classification of either the departure or arrival airport is designated 'Amber' or above, no flight-deck visits due security.
On long night flights most of the J class pax are sleeping, (upstairs) and it is just not fair to have a steady flow of visitors walking up and down the cabin, it will be a steady flow, once one person gets to see the flight-deck naturally enough many more want to as well!
With double or heavy-crew the flight deck is often full with crew eating/changing clothes, having a nap etc.
For fellow professionals and keen Wannabees a business card should be enough.
Guest
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Enwun is dead right, though not necessarily when it comes to SQ, whose crews (both Asian and Western ex-pats) I (who is not an airman nor connected with the industry) have found generally very accommodating as regards cockpit visits (even allowing me to sit in the jump seat for the landing). Some cabin crew will not only "forget" to pass on a request to visit the flight deck, they will claim that it is forbidden for security reasons (Thai is notable for this in my experience), when we all know that visits generally are at the captain's discretion. I realize that US airlines have a blanket policy disallowing cockpit visits by non-operational personnel and cockpit doors are kept closed at all times. Fair enough but I think it's a shame (and a reason why I avoid them for long-haul flights). Open doors (at times) and (limited) cockpit access make for great public relations. I for one will never forget experiences such as watching the take-off of a BA Concorde through the cockpit doorway from row 2 and sitting in the jump seat of a 747-400 for landings at SFO and LAX.
Rockhound and aviation enthusiast
Rockhound and aviation enthusiast