Controller Jump Seat/FDT

genot

genot

Well-Known Member
I didn't want to muddy up the JS zombie thread or resurrect the old JS thread I posted in, but I also wanted to thank everyone who did post or give me advice. I did a 4 leg jumpseat. Two legs on Southernjets. One on Derg's current ride and one on his former type rating sibling. The return was a 2 legger on a United 'Bus thence to a home grown regional. I can't begin to thank the crews enough for how well they treated me. I wish I had the name of the commuter who herded me down the jetway on the first leg and personally introduced me to the CA after his ride home.

It doesn't hurt to say I learned a ton from the experience.
 
Be sure to pass along your experience to all your friends. I don't know a single captain that would turn down a request for you (coworkers) to sit up front.
The mutual benefits are well worth it.
 
Nark said:
Be sure to pass along your experience to all your friends. I don't know a single captain that would turn down a request for you (coworkers) to sit up front.
The mutual benefits are well worth it.
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That's good to hear, unfortunately my buddy found one who refused to let him go cause she "Hated controllers" as she told em. But I'm sure those are a very small percentage.
 
Ozelot said:
That's good to hear, unfortunately my buddy found one who refused to let him go cause she "Hated controllers" as she told em. But I'm sure those are a very small percentage.
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What airline was that?

Many airline unions have a Jumpseat Coordinator that may want to have a discussion with this Captain and put out a reminder how important it is to have Controllers in the Jumpseat to their respective pilot group.
 
Seggy said:
What airline was that?

Many airline unions have a Jumpseat Coordinator that may want to have a discussion with this Captain and put out a reminder how important it is to have Controllers in the Jumpseat to their respective pilot group.
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Southwest, he said from what he gathered she was pretty senior.
 
And a solid reason the FDT form requires an alternate route. SWA was my backup ride and per our agreement I wore a suit each leg just in case (Business casual would have worked per the FAA/Airline agreements other than them, but SWA requires a suit). If your friend got told to shove off, well, it was duty time so it wasn't a total loss. We have around 35 controllers at my TRACON, probably 25 have no cockpit experiences after 9/11. 5 have zero time in an airplane other than as a paid passenger. The knowledge base is getting pretty thin. I'm elbow to elbow with guys who haven't been in a cockpit since the 727 was everywhere. That's not good.
 
Ozelot said:
Southwest, he said from what he gathered she was pretty senior.
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Maybe it was the same lady captain that did this:

swwheel6.jpg
 
I'd love to go on a FAM flight, but it's nearly impossible with our staffing, having to plan it at least 21 days in the future, and not being able to do it on a day in conjunction with leave. I did go to the Delta Simulators back in February and that was a great experience. I wish the two guys I was watching were based out of ATL though (JFK and MSP respectively), but it was still great to see them being "taught" the RPTOR arrival by their instructor.
 
RobertB said:
I'd love to go on a FAM flight, but it's nearly impossible with our staffing, having to plan it at least 21 days in the future, and not being able to do it on a day in conjunction with leave. I did go to the Delta Simulators back in February and that was a great experience. I wish the two guys I was watching were based out of ATL though (JFK and MSP respectively), but it was still great to see them being "taught" the RPTOR arrival by their instructor.
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I'm lucky enough to be AWS 10 hour days and good staffing. The outbound and return days flanking my RDO's made for a nice 5 day stretch. Visited a place the wife wouldn't be keen on and checked a dozen places off on my bucket list. Gov rate on the hotel and union plus discount on the rental car. No way I'd do an out and back, but for the little sweetener they add as RDO's are kosher, I'd do it again.
 
This program is right up my alley but I just can't give up my beard/hair yet. Though, I am a private pilot and otherwise an aviation enthusiast so I'm not totally in the blind when it comes to airline operations. It's part of the reason I hang around here so much.
 
I'm a controller who just got signed off on Ground and should have local in few weeks. I'm thinking about taking a FDT trip back home before I go to RTF. One leg would be on a E120 since that's the only thing that serves my hometown. Being 6'1", would the cockpit be too small for everyone to be comfortable? If the thought of a tall jump seater is the worst thing a Brasilia pilot dreams of, let me know and I'll just drive home from the closest hub.
 
JimmyK said:
I'm a controller who just got signed off on Ground and should have local in few weeks. I'm thinking about taking a FDT trip back home before I go to RTF. One leg would be on a E120 since that's the only thing that serves my hometown. Being 6'1", would the cockpit be too small for everyone to be comfortable? If the thought of a tall jump seater is the worst thing a Brasilia pilot dreams of, let me know and I'll just drive home from the closest hub.
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@Autothrust Blue can give you the opinion of a tall person in the E120.
 
FM_Weasel, I'm the same way. PPL Instrument and killed my training just before the Comm checkride. One of the Airbus guys, and I won't say which airline, hand flew every legal portion. He was off just barely enough to notice. Depending on beard growth its worth the shave.

Jimmy, I can only imagine an E120 would not be fun to say the least. However I'd guess the leg would be an hour or less. I'm 6'2" and managed just fine , granted not in an E120.
 
JimmyK said:
I'm a controller who just got signed off on Ground and should have local in few weeks. I'm thinking about taking a FDT trip back home before I go to RTF. One leg would be on a E120 since that's the only thing that serves my hometown. Being 6'1", would the cockpit be too small for everyone to be comfortable? If the thought of a tall jump seater is the worst thing a Brasilia pilot dreams of, let me know and I'll just drive home from the closest hub.
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Better hope the flight has plenty of seats if you want to ride up front! In my 4 years working with the Bro, only one time did I ever see them work it out to where a guy could sit up front. I think it was weight restricted to 27 and the numbers worked with taking a 28th if he sat in the jumpseat. Otherwise, anything 26+ is risky getting on period, even up front.
 
ASpilot2be said:
@Autothrust Blue can give you the opinion of a tall person in the E120.
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Oh boy. Hope you don't mind having your left knee groped.

ChasenSFO said:
Better hope the flight has plenty of seats if you want to ride up front! In my 4 years working with the Bro, only one time did I ever see them work it out to where a guy could sit up front. I think it was weight restricted to 27 and the numbers worked with taking a 28th if he sat in the jumpseat. Otherwise, anything 26+ is risky getting on period, even up front.
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30+1 can happen although they must be VERY light on luggage.
 
Well I'll be doing my first ride in the end of Dec with our homegrown airline, Sun Country, I can't wait. My buddy from work got very lucky today, he is jumpseating on Delta's 747 from MSP to ATL today!
 
Learned two things on my FDT day today. 1) Pilots just want to talk about how hot/not hot the flight attendants are. 2) TSA had no clue what I Was trying to tell them, but since I had a FAA badge they just whisked me through a super fast lane with no metal detectors.

But seriously, it was a cool learning experience. I'll definitely use the privilege again.
 
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