Captain touring cabin
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Captain touring cabin
En route from Leeds to the Med the other week, it made a pleasant surprise to see the captain come out of the cockpit and make a tour of the cabin, chatting to passengers.
At one time this was commonplace, almost obligatory, but seemed to die out. Did these stop as a result of increased regulation, or did the captains simply get fed up with doing them?
At one time this was commonplace, almost obligatory, but seemed to die out. Did these stop as a result of increased regulation, or did the captains simply get fed up with doing them?
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Can you tell us which airline and, if you know, what aircraft? I'd be very surprised if it was one of the large carriers given that the seatbelt sign now goes on if s/he leaves the FD in flight...
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Depending on what part of the Med you were going to, its possible that an augemented crew was used, therefore even if the captain was in the cabin, there could be 2 others in the cockpit, or that captain could be a check airman in the jumpseat and the normal crew were still in the cockpit, or that captain could be jumpseating home and the normal crew were still in the cockpit.....
Lots of reasons why a captain could be in the cabin, so dont panic
Mutt
Lots of reasons why a captain could be in the cabin, so dont panic
Mutt
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I am not in agreement with this strolling and parading yourself in the cabin. If your are part of a 2 man crew it's a no no IMHO, Barring the call of nature of course but don't loiter. You only need something to go wrong at the wrong time and things could get ugly, very quickly, if not dealt with by the designated operating crew.
If said Captain is part of an augmented crew and playing at this, a pax my well think but not ask "who's flying the aircraft?" or "who is minding the shop?" while you are prancing around.
This "master of my ship mentality" is archaic and should be consigned to the scrap heap.
If said Captain is part of an augmented crew and playing at this, a pax my well think but not ask "who's flying the aircraft?" or "who is minding the shop?" while you are prancing around.
This "master of my ship mentality" is archaic and should be consigned to the scrap heap.
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PR? Not likely...most operations allow a crewmember out to answer the call and then head right back in...even if it was an augmented crew, it's still the same answer...the "God Walk" went out years ago...stuff your comments about the "Yanks"...that's just childish!
No, in fact it is mainly the Yanks and the Brits. The rest of world´s aircrews still live a regular working life, devoid of paranoia and misplaced righteousness. The Yanks and the Brits have meekly surrendered to ridiculous regulations imposed by morons who don´t have a clue what security means. Long live common sense!
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If you caught the local bus into town or you got the the train down to London you wouldnt expect the driver to leave his cab and and shoot the **** with the pasengers ,you would expect him to be doing his job at the sharp end ,so why should be it any different on on a aircraft?
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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Doesn't it go back to the days when people paid a small fortune to fly and this was a way for the company to show their appreciation? Way before any security considerations. Used to happen on BOAC with two FOs and an FE still on the flight Deck.
I'm just wondering whether the same feeling of trepidation would exist if the F/O left the flight deck for an extended time and left the Captain on the flight deck by him/herself?
In the mob I fly for both F/Os and Captains are trained and checked to the same standard and both hold a Command endorsement on the aircraft.
In a multi-crew aircraft sometimes the F/O and a S/O can be left on duty on the flight deck while the Captain is fast asleep in the crew rest, which may or may not be anywhere the flight deck depending on the particular airline and aircraft configuration.
Just because a crew member is an F/O doesn't necessarily mean he's inexperienced or less capable it usually means his chance for command training hasn't eventuated yet.
Personally if I want to go into the cabin for other than just a short break I'll check how my offsider is feeling and discuss any operational aspects that may arise though if the weather is doubtful or you're about to enter a busy ATC environment I'd delay until things settle down.
Regards,
BH.
In the mob I fly for both F/Os and Captains are trained and checked to the same standard and both hold a Command endorsement on the aircraft.
In a multi-crew aircraft sometimes the F/O and a S/O can be left on duty on the flight deck while the Captain is fast asleep in the crew rest, which may or may not be anywhere the flight deck depending on the particular airline and aircraft configuration.
Just because a crew member is an F/O doesn't necessarily mean he's inexperienced or less capable it usually means his chance for command training hasn't eventuated yet.
Personally if I want to go into the cabin for other than just a short break I'll check how my offsider is feeling and discuss any operational aspects that may arise though if the weather is doubtful or you're about to enter a busy ATC environment I'd delay until things settle down.
Regards,
BH.
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Perhaps the fellow needed to stretch his legs? For the love of God, if one is feeling a little odd, a brief stroll up and down can work wonders. One wouldn't expect the driver of a train to do the same as there is generally not a relief and fully qualified driver in the cab at the same time....
Let the witch hunt begin.
Let the witch hunt begin.
I fly quite a bit across the atlantic with KLM (B777/A330). They generally have three F/D crew members: Captain, Senior F/O and F/O. A seat in Business Class is curtained off as an F/D rest area. At some point during the cruise the Captain will leave the Senior F/O in command whilst he takes a rest. At this point it is not unusual to see the Captain take a little stroll in the cabin and chat to the pax for a while before he goes to his rest area.
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On the other hand, in short-haul two-crew operations it is must now be very uncommon to see a crew member wander around 'talking to passengers'. I flew from Bari to Stansted with FR last week; the captain switched on the seatbelt sign mid-flight and all passengers queuing for the toilet had to return to their seats so that he could pay a visit. The message sent out was clear: passengers cannot 'mingle' with the flight crew in flight.
BH, that is all very well for an airline with experienced F/Os who could handle any emergency on their own. In Europe, I think most would agree there are some carriers where it would be best if the captain, in many cases the only experienced pilot on the aircraft, was not fast asleep in his bunk, but rather at the controls, if something serious happened!
BH, that is all very well for an airline with experienced F/Os who could handle any emergency on their own. In Europe, I think most would agree there are some carriers where it would be best if the captain, in many cases the only experienced pilot on the aircraft, was not fast asleep in his bunk, but rather at the controls, if something serious happened!
So are (some of you) "happy" with the Captain leaving the Flight Deck at all? How do you reconcile the Captain not being at the controls, and on some aircraft not even being on the Flight deck for 3 hours plus a some of our 12+hour flights on Long Haul.
Even even on a 2 pilot sector I try to venture into all the galleys at least once on a sector - but my timing depends on the things such as weather ( e.g. forecast turbulence ) the route ( e.g. High Ground or complex airspace ATC ) and the experience level of the co-pilot(s).....but I don't hang around, I don't spend hours chatting to the passengers, I regard it as more of a crew management issue. It reminds some of our colleagues that there is someone in the Chain of Command above their Chief Steward, but I digress.
IMHO if done at a sensible time with e.g a 5000 hour P2 in the RHS I don't see the problem.
Even even on a 2 pilot sector I try to venture into all the galleys at least once on a sector - but my timing depends on the things such as weather ( e.g. forecast turbulence ) the route ( e.g. High Ground or complex airspace ATC ) and the experience level of the co-pilot(s).....but I don't hang around, I don't spend hours chatting to the passengers, I regard it as more of a crew management issue. It reminds some of our colleagues that there is someone in the Chain of Command above their Chief Steward, but I digress.
IMHO if done at a sensible time with e.g a 5000 hour P2 in the RHS I don't see the problem.
IMHO if done at a sensible time I don't see tit as a major issue
Wiggy is obviously a leg man ....!
Jack
PS And, equally obviously, amended his original message in the time it took me to reply!
Wiggy is obviously a leg man ....!
Jack
PS And, equally obviously, amended his original message in the time it took me to reply!
So are (some of you) "happy" with the Captain leaving the Flight Deck at all?
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I've seen this once, and that was with Easyjet on a trip from NCL-FAO. A passenger in front of me had been visibly nervous, and the Captain came out to have a little chat with her. I was very surprised but thought it was a really nice touch. After that he answered a few other questions from passengers before going back up front.
Probably a nice break for the Captain too.
RTG!
Probably a nice break for the Captain too.
RTG!
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KLM loves stripes! The whole crew wears (or at least almost all of them) 'em! They all have a different rank depending on the width, colour and type of uniform, and job description. It's not too hard to tell... but the Skipper out serving drinks? Hmmmmm...