DXers on your flight deck
- Thread starter LX015
- Start date
BEEF SUPREME
Well-Known Member
I met one of my riding buddies when he was observing our flight through SE Alaska. It's no worries as far as I am concerned...
ClearedForOption
Psychiatric Help 5¢
I’ve had a few. One JSer and a few doing their annual rides.
Great experiences every time.
Even though I do mostly red eye transcons vs. NE day turns now a days, the more the merrier.
Bring the gossip. And let’s have some good conversations about our jobs and such and perspectives. And, I’ll always be happy to send ride reports and the like to help those in front/behind/etc.
Great experiences every time.
Even though I do mostly red eye transcons vs. NE day turns now a days, the more the merrier.
Bring the gossip. And let’s have some good conversations about our jobs and such and perspectives. And, I’ll always be happy to send ride reports and the like to help those in front/behind/etc.
I'm just a lowly FO but love jumpseaters of all types. Always like getting dispatchers, it's often a great opportunity to ask questions and get the point of view from the other side of the phone. Plus it adds a breath of fresh air to the cockpit conversations if they're willing to be social, especially on day 4 or 5 when you're starting to run out of things to talk about with the CA or are just overall getting tired and ready to go home. If anything I wish they'd restart the program where controllers had to go jumpseat once a year, I'm sure that's always a great learning experience for both sides and gives a lot of perspective.
If you have privileges, come take a ride!
I wish we did more cross-divisional observations. It would improve safety.
NovemberEcho
Dergs favorite member
That never existed, but the fam flight program used to be much easier to use than it is now so you probably had ATC jumpseaters more often. 9/11 and people abusing the program is what made them change how it works to the point of being too much a pain in the butt to bother. I would love to jump seat even just once but FAA says I have to be clean shaven and professional looking so that’s not going to happen.
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
That's ridiculous. The whole no-beards-for-jumpseaters thing is silly.
NovemberEcho
Dergs favorite member
I think it has to do with anyone in the jump seat is technically considered part of the crew so it’s for o2 mask reasons even though that issue doesn’t really exist anymore. At least not with short beards.
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
I may be wrong because I am inexperienced, but I thought it was basically by the GOM. UPS, for example, allows beards. So do some other cargo operators, some in Europe, and I *think* even some Canadian carriers.
Shouldn't matter. I know it does. But it shouldn't.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
We allow beards. Technically they have to be neatly trimmed but we have a few guys who don't seem to get that concept.
GroundPilot
Well-Known Member
I always try to jump seat when flying. I love meeting the crews and having a better working connection with them. Always find us both learning a lot from the other side.
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
That's right! I forgot about you guys.
My wife is annoyed that my airline won't let me wear a beard. Perhaps I can convince her to move to one of y'all's bases....
EDIT: I mean, I'd move with her, too...
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
The cargo flying allows you to live pretty much anywhere. The pax flying... not many options.
F9DXER
Well-Known Member
As a regular commuter, prefer to ride upfront, especially if there are only middle seats way in the back. Other advantages, you get off the plane first, may get a crew meal and you aren't sitting between bigger people nor do you have to listen to the screaming kid in back.
Even if I am riding in back, I will always say "Hi" to the crew. I try to catch them before they get on so as not to delay the boarding process.
It also keeps the lines of communication open.
Even if I am riding in back, I will always say "Hi" to the crew. I try to catch them before they get on so as not to delay the boarding process.
It also keeps the lines of communication open.
🦈💜
All dragon~
So much this. Including ATC.
fholbert
Mod's - Please don't edit my posts!
You’re correct, it was never required, it was a PATCO generated perk.
Technically you were limited to 8 rides a year and paperwork was submitted via the FAA in advance, but no one did that.
I had a long distance girlfriend, my work week ended at 2:00 pm on Thursday, I’d walk to the terminal and find an empty jump seat. Simply show my FAA badge along with a flight deck access card. As the last of the PAX loaded the gate agent would escort me to the flight deck. If airline A didn’t have an empty jump seat, I walk over to airline B, there was a flight to LAX every hour or less. Maybe 1 in 20 flights the jump seat would be occupied.
Sometimes I’d go to the turboprop guys. They didn’t have a jump seat so I’d ride in the back of a CV580 or Metroliner.
A couple of bad things happened and PATCO would remind us it was a privilege.
- One crew busted an altitude pretty bad and the ATC’er in the jump seat felt the need to inform the FAA.
- More than once an ATC’er had their family in the back heading for vacation. The jump seat was occupied and the dumb ass had a hissy fit at the gate.
