PPRuNe Forums - PPL visiting the flight deck

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Yes, you're right, I was standing there to get the wide angle down looking view. As for the landing-Vs-TO preference, for me its got to be the TO and that lovely surge of power as the throttles are pushed to the full.............

Cyflyer,

Do the two pilots concerned have any objection to you posting their picture on a public forum? Your username and the picture make it fairly easy to identify the airline. The problem being that there are people in this world with malevolent intentions, who I'm sure are always interested in airlines with particulary lax security.

There is one thing for certain, those countries with lax security will tighten up their own regulations the first time they are embarrassed by being the target of a high profile event or threat.

I think the airline in Cyflyers picture went bust around November 2010.

Yes, and it appears that although Cyprus may be happy to adopt poor aviation security controls and regulations, the EU isn't quite so happy about it, as this article makes clear. They have been given 2 months (from mid March) to sharpen up their act.

would it be better to ask the airline via email before your flight if the jump seat was available or is it best to ask on the day?? please give me your thoughts:confused:

ashdaman,

If it is a UK (or a number of other countries) airline, it won't make any difference because it is prohibited. It is also prohibited for any airline operating in UK airspace.

For those countries that do not prohibit by virtue of their national legislation, or by company restriction, it will be up to the Commander. The airline would not give you advance permission.

ok thanks so does it not make any difference if you a doing your pilot training as im halfway into my ppl and planning to go all the way to atpl?

No, none whatsoever I'm afraid. In the circumstances I have described it wouldn't matter if you were a 20,000hr airline captain, unless you were already employed by the airline concerned, and even then there are restrictions.

ok i understand thanks...

This letter may also give you a bit more background.

Beazlebub, the answer to your first question is no, but also notice I deliberatly chose a photo showing the backs of the heads. As for identifying the airline, kudos to SW1. Have you never been on an airliner FD ? Does that mean that the airline or country of origin is "happy to adopt poor aviation security controls and regulations ?" If the OP's wish comes true, or fabbe92 who gets to sit in the jumpseat occasionally, does that mean that, that airline and country are "happy to adopt poor aviation security controls and regulations ?"
Nobody suggested anything about an airlines with lax security. If you read my earlier post you will notice I said, only if you are a friend/personally aquainted, not just anybody, and never over UK. Any one else, its a no-no. The rules are adhered to. Local airlines security regulations are the same as any other European airlines . If its a choice between the two, I think its safer to have someone you know personally and can vouch for personally, rather that some stranger who claims to be a pilot or enthusiast. The articles pointed out by Bealzebub refer to airport and such, although its the first time I've seen such a report. There has never been a security related incident with any local airline, unlike many other European airlines.
As for ashdamans' quiery, I think thats been answered by the others. No asking beforehand, no matter how many hours you have. I'm sure Beazlebub, if you're on a BA, flight and you know that the Capt who is a friend or neighbour for 20 odd years, and comes to your home and you go to his as family friends, that if you ask him he's not going to accomodate you at time during the flight discretly.
The people with 'malevolent intentions', can go to dozens of aviation websites such airliners.net and see far more and full detailed such photos if they so intended.
Havng done magazine photo stuff in the past, and for one of the local airlines, I always remember what one Capt friend said to me once when I was taking a photo of him. He said, you know, with the current situation of no FD visits, I've never had a picture of me on the FD, and the wife has never seen a photo of me in 'the office', which made it all the more worthwhile.

I've been lucky enough to visit maybe 10 BA flight decks, after 9/11 all at the end of the flight though bar one. I'm no commercial pilot (yet!) but I think this is the best time, as all you are making them late for is a beer and not a flight.

There's a man who wants access to the flight deck who doesn't work for the airline...

If I am flying on this aircraft, I actually don't want him on the flight deck as the recent BA IT guy in Newcastle saga showed, there are clever people who on the outside appear to all to be normal who do want to commit mass murder.

Unless they're current ATC or current airline, I would say they have no business on the flight deck of a commercial passenger flight. Not in this day and age, and I am usually the last person who would suggest we change our ways to accomodate terrorists but not everyone on the internet is who they appear.

Anyone else concerned?

Quote:

Unless they're current ATC or current airline, I would say they have no business on the flight deck of a commercial passenger flight

Completely agree. Thomson only allow current airline employees holding a valid airside pass into the FD during flight. Im lucky enough to be in that category so was/am allowed in.

They have to have a valid airside pass, as skipness pointed out with the BA example, even airline employees not on the front line can have hidden agendas.

Just because you hold a PPL doesnt mean you are automatically of good intention, even the 9/11 idiots took flying lessons.....

Whats this BA incident ? I missed it.

Quick google search gives more articles, but this is the crux of it:

Former British Airways Employee to Get 30 Years in Jail For Terrorist Plot | Self-Catering-Breaks News

a British Airways computer expert has now been put in jail for at least 30 years for plotting to launch a terror attack from the UK.

This worker, who did have access to Heathrow Airport, apparently was trying to use his position at the airline to plant a bomb on a plane. Reports show that this man, Rajib Karim, age 31, was working with Anwar Al-Awlaki. This is a notorious radical preacher that is associated with the terrorist group al-Qaeda.

The goal of Rajib was to become a member of the cabin crew for British Airways. From there he was going to plant a bomb on a United States-bound flight and blow up the plane. However, his plot was discovered before he had a chance to do this. He was found guilty just last month of four counts of planning terrorism.

Quote:

Thomson only allow current airline employees holding a valid airside pass into the FD during flight. Im lucky enough to be in that category so was/am allowed in.

I am afraid the DfT restrictions wouldn't allow an airside pass to qualify for access simply because you worked for the airline. The restrictions are far more specific than that.

Quote:

Unless they're current ATC or current airline, I would say they have no business on the flight deck of a commercial passenger flight. Not in this day and age

Probably true in todays terrorist fearing climate, but a pity, a great pity. A pity that kids or genuine enthusiasts, can never experience the thrill and excitment of a once in a life time visit to the FD, even for a few minutes, to ask a few questions and gaze in awe, like in the old days. Of course, this also applies to the veiwing areas at the major airports. I still remember the Queens building at LHR. I think it was wrong to close those off as well.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I was able to go up to the cockpit on the ground at the end of one of the flights. It was excellent, really good to look at the instruments and have a chat to the crew.