FAA Regs on jumpseating non-crew
 

Hi,

I'm a senior in high school and we are being asked to do a job shadowing project as our final dealy in high school. I have a friend that flies for Alaska Airlines and I know this is a longshot, but I was wondering if the FAA allows non-crew to jumpseat in an airliner. I am thinking of going into the airlines after college so I was hoping to find a some that I could shadow in the airline business (i.e. pilot). It sounds crazy, but I'm hoping someone can give me some insight into this. If not, I have a backup plan. :D

Sorry, with very few exceptions you need to be an airline pilot for another U.S. airline and your airline needs to have an agreement with the airline you would like to jumpseat on.

It may be possible to approach Alaskan management and ask for a one time letter of authority based on your school project, but that would be your only hope. I'd give that a shot first. Good luck.


Typhoonpilot

In another time and place, yea they would do it just for the asking and the good PR. But alas, that time and place was a good 40 or so years ago. Things started to change with regard to jump seating, since 9/11 nope. They would not even consider it. Well since you have an interest in Aviation, why not approach a Charter Company or even a Flight Instructor to observe what there day is like for your school project?

When I was a young boy it was common to be brought up to the flight deck, things changed, it made me interested in aviation and a sort of career as a pilot.

Thanks for your replies! I appreciate it!

Yeah, I was thinking post-9/11 would be the reason why I couldn't do it. My backup plan was just what Typhoonpilot suggested. I'm planning to take ground school at my airport and hopefully I will be able to make a few connections that might benefit me in the future. Thanks again!

The regulations about who can and can not ride in the jump seat isn't an FAA regulation but a TSA and Company one. Air traffic controllers have not been allowed to ride in the jump seat since 9/11 either. For us the jump seat allowed us the opportunity to discuss aircraft performance so that we would have an idea of what each aircraft could or could not do when we were vectoring and sequencing them.

Mike
NATCA BNA

Actually non-airline pilot jumpseaters is not unheard of these days. Our Vice-President of flight operations is has the authority to authorise jumpseating privileges. It takes several weeks to do but it has been done since 9/11 for interns and I know of guys who were allowed to jumpseat at other airlines while they were interns there (ACA was one of them). The best person to contact is the company. Make the request formally in writing and expect it to take a long time to authorise.

GOod Luck.

CAP
 

You should also do a search for a squadron in your area with the Civil Air Patrol www.cap.org . It is the auxiliary arm of the US Air Force. Great opportunity for young hopefuls.

I fly a super-mid out of SRQ. If you were local, I would mentor you no problem.

Best of luck, and keep 'em out of the trees.

"Do you like gladiator movies?"

Whoa, more replies! Haven't check back here in a while. Thanks again!

I think I'll just give it a try at submitting a request to the airline. I don't see any problem with that. The worst they can say is "no." ;)