cockpit visits at SQ on the ground
 

Hi,

a few days ago I flew from BNE to SIN and on arrival in SIN I asked the purser if I could say g'day to the pilots and have a look at the 777 cockpit (I fly turboprops in Oz)...and the purser told me that it wasn't possible due to security reasons...since I coulnd't really see the security issues I tried again explaining that we were on the ground but didnt get anywhere...I know times have changed...but please....can a SQ captain maybe explain....thanks

AB

AB,
If you could have written a nice note with your name card or ID and put in a request with the IFS (Chief Purser) during flight, you'll certainly get a nod from me at least. I'll most likely be arranging for you to be the last pax disembarking to grant you a visit.
Sometimes the cabin crew could have been too busy with after landing duties that they must just take the initiative to decline any such arrangement; if the request is impromtu.
Better luck next time maybe..

cpt777

Logically the cabin crew might think that it's a definate no-no but so many times if they forward the request to the flight deck crew most of the time in my experience the captain will give the nod! :)

man dont waste your time
try another airline thats it
:}

So your application to SQ wasn't successful then jumpdrive?;)

It's a standard policy now for ALL airlines not to allow cockpit visits from passengers...

cpt777,

You might want to re-read your Flight Staff Instructions WRT flight deck visits...

I know of a Capt( Retired now) who allowed a young PPL holder have a quick view of the flight deck on the ground after all passengers disembarked, some days later he received a NOT a nice note from the chief pilot to be reminded that NO FLIGHT DECK VISITS IN THE AIR OR GROUND. (He still has it as a souvenir) This is SIA I am talking about so cpt777 please read the circular and stay out of trouble.

i've never had a problem with deck visits with either BA, SIA or Continental for that matter.

No fuss unless OSAMA pays the flight deck a visit... get the idea???

My point is that it's been done in the past without much fuss as revealed through the pics on A.net. What's lacking these days is the inability to use one's discretion .. if an enthusiastic teenager comes up to the flight deck when disembarking, and asks to see the flight deck, do you really think he/she's the Osama type? :rolleyes:

Chipmunkpac & SlimShadey,
Thanks for the highlight, definitely well intended. As far as I could see the SIA culture in making sure that "covering your sixes" is well spread and the easiest way to handle this is to say "NO".

cpt777

In Sri Lanka and India, they use women and children...:}

Some would prefer Osama more than Bush...............:}

So what's the big deal when the aircraft is on the ground with its engines switched off? An SIA pilot told me that it was only forbidden while the aircraft has its engines running - that would make sense. However, it seems members of the cabin crew have their own interpretation of the rules, the men amongst them being simply being the offensive morons that they are. American airlines won't allow it at all but then they are paranoid having made it so easy for the terrorists in the first place, so much for America always claiming to liberate us huh!:rolleyes:

If a pax has an ID ( he is either pilot or cabin crew) what's the problem?, gentlemen, are we pilots, or osama sons......

An ID can be forged, if you don't know the person then if you don't have to take a risk, don't do it.

On a B747-400 with maybe fifty children on board if you allow one then you must expect to allow them all, not good for an on time departure!
Better to say 'no' to the one that asked than to the other forty odd that want to follow.

Isn’t this so sad. I got involved in aviation (which has provided every penny, cent, dinar, yen, baht plus a few other currencies that I’ve ever earned) as a direct result of a flight deck visit to G-APLL far too long ago to remember.

Whilst I totally understand that in today’s climate, airborne visits are a thing of the past, it’s a great pity the ground visits cannot be accommodated if only to stimulate an interest in aviation into the youth of today. Wishful thinking I suspect.

So I take it an A380 cockpit (ground) visit is definetly out of the question! :)

Might as well build up the hours to get the rating on my licence... then I wont have to ask!!!! :ugh:

Problem with the B747 is that most of the kids are in EY and it means a trip forward, up the stairs, through J class etc. etc. and usually at a time when cabin and ground staff need free access to the aisle, not to mention pax still looking for their seats! (you can add to that the tech crew will also be fairly busy talking to engineers and traffic staff as well as getting ready for a departure).

I let passengers visit my flight deck all the time. No security problem. You just have to know when to shut down the visit due to checklist management before push, etc. Anytime I tell them time's up and they've gotta' go back to their seats, they are always extremely polite and thankful.

Honestly, sometime we all take this security thing a but too far. By the time a passenger reaches the aircraft, they have been screened 3-5 times. Nothing to worry about there.

If a kid comes up and his parents are there I'll put him in my seat and let Dad get a photo of him. Tomorrow's aviators, folks. Someone's gotta' fly us around when we retire.

Sometimes, a little PR goes a long way to elevate our profession.

Well said GEEBZ. But it has to be convenient and not disruptive to the cockpit crew AND comply with the airlines rules. Many of us started out in piloting because of a cockpit visit - what a pity paranoia seems to rule these days.

I took a liking for flying and civil aviation when I was 5 and the jumpseat and cockpit visit opportunities just took my interest in that far much deeper. Each and every visit was incredible and fruitful. May seem nothing to those whose office is in there but to the enthusiasts and hopefuls, what a source of incredible insight, information and motivation.

It's a pity that the rules have changed but till today I'm still very appreciative of all the visits and jumpseats that I've gotten and still occasionally get. I still remember them very clearly... and oh did it set my heart out for an aviation career no matter what!

Geebz which airline do you work for? i will buy a ticket on your flight and would love to have my son up in the flight deck, cause the airline i work for does not permit any visits, so i have to take my son up in a Cessna.

Cockpit
 

I have had my son in the cockpit sionce he was one month old. He has also flown a sim at two. This security stuff is out of control. I have no problem as long as they are polite as they always are. Amen to old school - my dad flew in WW2 god bless the time prior to 911..................................

I don't think this thread has much further to go but it should be remembered that it was all about visits to the Flight Deck on SQ flights.
The rules are probably not the same as on domestic flights within one's own country or close neighbours.

A majority of SQ is long and medium haul with turn arounds that simply don't lend them selves to flight deck visits. I applaud the posters here who can always find time for visits, (Geebz etc.), I do though wonder what their cabin crew, traffic staff and engineers think about it as everyone struggles to make a slot time.

Turn Around Time
 

Dudes are you seriosu our TAT is 30 Minutes SQ is Min and hour give me a break. You do what you can but this is silly and enough said I guess I am really sick of listening to the old legacy people who think that they always do it better than the new carriers - I love this business too much.

Keep it on the blue side

I am so glad I got to watch quite a few approaches strapped into the jump seat back in the day, way before 911. Because those days are long gone. No can do now.

your company has reduced you folk to being airplane drivers and no longer the pilot in kids dreams:(

No, not the company at all, just the very nasty bastards that specialise in terrorism and blowing up aeroplanes. Big difference.

Jamestaylor - think you better stay off the grog before you post - have no idea what you going on about.

My son (9) was invited to the flight deck of an SQ 777 'in flight' in June of this year, he enjoyed it very much and no doubt like me (having had a similar experience of my own as 13 year old), it will stay with him forever.