Asking for the jumpseat and other lost traditions

If you're non-reving or deadheading in uniform on my flight, I'd actually prefer it if you just took your seat and didn't say hi. If we're on a quick turn and busy with pilot stuff, having several people needlessly interrupt us to say "Hey, I'm in the back if you need me" can be a bit annoying. I'm glad you made it on the flight, but if for some reason I need another pilot to come up front and save the day, I'll ask my FA if there's anyone in pilot garb back there.
^^What he said.
 
I really only need to meet jumpseaters. But if you want to drop in and say hi, I'm a social guy, come on up! :)
Is it weird to stop by and introduce yourself if you're on a deadhead or just plain non revving? I do that and some guys are all "blah go away" while others want to tell you all about their trip. I'm social so I don't mind a quick chat.

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Now that you can go through KCM out of uniform, I've found exactly zero reasons to deadhead in uniform. But, YMMV if your company requires it. :)

I'll *occasionally* jumpseat on an Atlas flight as a means to get home earlier, and while I always ask for a ride, most of the guys here are confused by the request. Nobody here seems to understand the difference between a jumpseater and a deadheader, but I still ask.
 
Now that you can go through KCM out of uniform, I've found exactly zero reasons to deadhead in uniform. But, YMMV if your company requires it. :)

I like my double-breasted coat to look, well, dope. I want my homeboys cheering "DAAAAAAAMN, SONNNNNNN! Submariner's coat ON FLEEK!" and the only way to keep it nice and upkept is either wearing it or keeping it hung up during the commute.
 
Pensions

.....and Buffalo wings from the Airways Motel

.....and flying PIT-ITH-ELM in a DC-9

.....and Flint overnights.


Typhoonpilot





















Just kidding about the Pension..............................................................................or was it the Flint overnights :D
Ahhhh. The Airways...
I woke up one time to hear a weird noise. In my sleepy fog, it took a while to figure it out at 3 am. Opened the door, and saw a rolling front of smoke, like a scene out of Steven Kings "The Fog". Something about an elevator motor fire.. Another time, front desk gave me keys to a room, opened the door and walked straight into a mid 30's couple making the best of a quiet night. They were not amused.
Great wings though!

FWIW, Max's in the Holiday Inn has some great char broiled/ fried (who knows what....) wings.
 
So...

How about if someone tells you that the JS is deferred you don't aggressively inquire as to "Why?" and then begin to attempt to tell the crew member that "That's ridiculous, you guys can't get oxygen in XYZ?" followed by continued aggressive tone with "This is a pretty busy commuter route, need to have that fixed." and then continued with "Thats absolutely absurd you can't get that fixed it." All the while the crew member is sitting here thinking "Would I ever do this to a mainline pilot if I needed a ride to/from work? And does this guy really think two commuting pilots up front get a full-on chub deferring jumpseats? Clearly there was a reason why this happened but he's too busy attempting to lecture the crew member to realize this.

Yeah, well bud...how about you relax the hell out until boarding completes considering 1) You're the fourth listed JS'r and 2) there very well may be seats in the back and 3) Perhaps ask for a ride first before you begin to tell a crew member how they should handle a maintenance situation that is outside of the direct control of said crew member.

In the end this jackalope managed to get a seat in the back. All that huffing and puffing and it didn't even come down to occupying the cockpit jumpseat...#ChillOutMainlineBro

If you're non-reving or deadheading in uniform on my flight, I'd actually prefer it if you just took your seat and didn't say hi. If we're on a quick turn and busy with pilot stuff, having several people needlessly interrupt us to say "Hey, I'm in the back if you need me" can be a bit annoying. I'm glad you made it on the flight, but if for some reason I need another pilot to come up front and save the day, I'll ask my FA if there's anyone in pilot garb back there.

I've noticed a trend with Shuttle and Republic guys...and when they do this...they're just so ridiculously happy to be hovering over us telling us they're deadheading...

"Cool...okay...yeah...uh huh...okay...right...sure...yup...bye."

They still get 50% DHD pay or something horrendous? Perhaps thats why they think they need to step up front since they're barely getting compensated for being placed on an airplane they're not operating by their Company.
 
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Reminds me of a few years ago. I was non-revving in uniform from SLC to PHX on a regional, in uniform and I called up to the cockpit and lectured about not checking in for the jumpseat.

I was confused and asked if someone from my company had failed to ask for the jumpseat and if they had, I'd be more than happy to send a note to our Jumpseat Coordinator.

He was confused at my response, I was confused by his statement and then we both figured it out.
"A regional." I'm vague Doug, not you!
 
"A regional." I'm vague Doug, not you!

I didn't want to highlight the airline as much as the confusion.

"It was Delta on guard"

"How do you know?"

"Because it always is. My plane has a Voight-Kampff device where we do voiceprint analysis" :)
 
I miss:

Regionals that only flew turbo-props or pistons.
Paid heath insurance
Paid retirement
Contract duty limits that were BETTER than the FARs
Three man aircraft
FAPA Newsletters (the one from the 80's) that had a gazillion airlines in it all hiring 100 a month.
Aircraft companies that innovated
Pre-everyone internet
MechWarrior 2
GA Companies that built planes people could afford
Avionics that work without a database
Being able to fly my 152 into DCA, just for the hell of it
The country that saw nothing wrong with this ^
The country that looked to the stars and said "we'll make this happen"
People not being sputtering fussbudgets
My lawn without kids standing on it

Richman
 
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