jumpseat question

captainphil

captainphil

Well-Known Member
I'm sorry if this sounds stupid and I probably already know the answer but I was just curious because iv'e never done this yet.Is it at all possible with me being a student pilot that if it was properly arranged the next time I go flying on on airline that i could have a jumpseat being the pilot and just watch.Now especially after 9/11 I doubt they'd still let people jumpseat the back even if they were in training, but what about if I were to ask the stewardess(after landing) if i could go up to the cockpit to see the cockpit and say hello to the pilots, would I be permitted to do that as a student pilot.Sorry for the weird questions.and let me know if id be allowed to do either of the twwo . Thanks for your time.
 
You won't be able to sit up there. Even most non flying employees of an airline aren't allow to sit up front. However, most airlines have no problem with you stopping by after a flight. Just ask the FA or the pilot if they are already up and standing in the door.
 
Oh , but they can still let me in the cockpit though after landing? IS that permitted though or if I asked would I get them in trouble. That's still very cool all the same.
 
captainphil said:
what about if I were to ask the stewardess(after landing) if i could go up to the cockpit to see the cockpit and say hello to the pilots, would I be permitted to do that as a student pilot.
Click to expand...

Of course. Anyone with some curiousity can, student pilot or not.

As for the jumpseating, the airlines have never in recent years allowed jumpseating and the number of pilots willing to break that rule to lose their job is probably zero. Your only chance is with a foreign carrier, but I've heard many of them have banned passengers from the cockpit in flight. If you do happen to fly a foreign carrier and want to try, write a letter to the captain before the flight, give it to the flight attendant at the door, and maybe you'll get lucky if the airline still permits it. I got a really cool Christmas present some years ago when traveling to England on a marching band trip; we flew British Airways and me the 16 year old got to sit up front for pushback to nearly the NAT track in the brand new 777. BA has since outlawed cockpit access for pax.

If you're thinking longer term jumpseat access, a few airlines have internships that include nearly unlimited jumpseat access during the time they run for.
 
captainphil said:
the next time I go flying on on airline that i could have a jumpseat being the pilot and just watch.
Click to expand...

Nope. In fact, even pre-9/11 all major pax airlines did not allow pax to EVER ride in a J/S. Maybe many, many years ago, but not recently.

captainphil said:
ask the stewardess(after landing)
Click to expand...

You'll make much better friends with the flight attendants if you do not refer to them as stewardesses. Especially if they're guys.

captainphil said:
if i could go up to the cockpit to see the cockpit and say hello to the pilots, would I be permitted to do that as a student pilot
Click to expand...

Cockpit visits are generally welcomed after gate arrival, and sometimes before gate departure, workload permitting.
 
dude i always go up there before and after flights and talk to the pilots.

I still remember some of the questions I asked when i was like 9...

"What happens if you pull the gear up when you're on the ground?"

--- "why the hell would you wanna do that?!"

"can we switch seats in cruise while you're napping?"

In reference to the FI thread... I have never popped up and asked, "you boys drinking?!?!" ... "y'all save some beer for me?!!?" ... "y'all sobered up yet?!"
 
Thats amazing. That still sounds like alot of fun.I think most airline pilots would respect that someone wants to follow them in their foot steps seeing them at teh cockpit door might brighten their day aswell as mine because I feel pilots are under appreciated.I always give the pilot a friendly applaud when we arrive to our destination because I know its not easy to do and it requires alot of work.I'm usually the only one clapping while the other people are complaining lol. And the best person of course to ask for airline college reccomendations in person would be an airline pilot. Yes I normally don't refer to the flight attendant as a stewardess but i think it would better my chances of calling them a flight attendant.That reminds me of the movie aAnger Management when Adam Sandler has trouble on the plane with the flight attendant lol.
 
frog_flyer said:
dude i always go up there before and after flights and talk to the pilots.

I still remember some of the questions I asked when i was like 9...

"What happens if you pull the gear up when you're on the ground?"

--- "why the hell would you wanna do that?!"

"can we switch seats in cruise while you're napping?"

In reference to the FI thread... I have never popped up and asked, "you boys drinking?!?!" ... "y'all save some beer for me?!!?" ... "y'all sobered up yet?!"
Click to expand...

A better question would've been can I fly this airbus the first leg of the trip .?could you work the rudders though and I steer my feet still can't reach :). What did the pilot say when you asked what would happen if you switshed the gear up on the ground? He probably went easy on you because your nine.
 
frog_flyer said:
I have never popped up and asked, "you boys drinking?!?!" ... "y'all save some beer for me?!!?" ... "y'all sobered up yet?!"
Click to expand...


Gosh, reminds me of a few months ago when a passenger stopped up and made that sort of remark. Then he looked at me and stated that he felt reassured that someone was there that was under 21...uhhh, RIGHT!

Strange people around...
 
I just flew some open time with a captain who looks like he is about 25 (I think he is actual in his late 30s). Anyhow, a passenger stuck their head up front and asked if either of us had even graduated highschool yet. He was kidding, but I deadpanned "no, but he just got his GED last month". The guy must of thought I was serious goes he started to say something but didn't and just sort of backed out of the cockpit. Score one for the good guys.
 
It is possible on a part 91 ferry flight. But it can not be part 91 with any revenue pax onboard.

I have been able to do that twice now and both were times that I will never forget. Once was on a 753 that my dad wad flying and the other was a CRJ for the company That I work for (as a ramper). Both times required permision from the crew (the first one was not too hard:;))
 
captainphil said:
Oh , but they can still let me in the cockpit though after landing? IS that permitted though or if I asked would I get them in trouble. That's still very cool all the same.
Click to expand...
I would say if you want to talk to them, visit them before the flight as you board or something because if they have a quick turn, they typically fly out of the cockpit before everyone else....

the hard part is getting to them after you take your seat and everyone else is still boarding, i've tried that before and it can be difficult moving in the opposite direction as everyone else! haha
 
frog_flyer said:
In reference to the FI thread... I have never popped up and asked, "you boys drinking?!?!" ... "y'all save some beer for me?!!?" ... "y'all sobered up yet?!"
Click to expand...
could you imagine what would happen to the person who actually decided to do something like that?? sucker would be hauled off to jail and then beaten by the pax for holding up the flight due to the pilots having to go thru all the paperwork and testing before taking off!!!

from what i've heard, if anyone ever says that to you in the cockpit or on the plane, your supposed to ask them if they're serious about hte question they just asked and then proceed with halting the flight because the last thing you want is suspicion by the pax....or something like that! haha

doug describes it much better than I! haha :)
 
I got to ride in the jumpseat for a moment when my dad was flying. I was going to LAX to visit my grandparents. It was from IAD to ORD to LAX. He had the ORD to LAX flight and it was pretty empty that day so he asked me to come up for a bit. It was cool at first then got really boring and I went back to my seat. Not a lot going on after the AP is set, just some chit chat on the radio. That was a long time ago.
 
Kristie said:
from what i've heard, if anyone ever says that to you in the cockpit or on the plane, your supposed to ask them if they're serious about hte question they just asked and then proceed with halting the flight because the last thing you want is suspicion by the pax....or something like that! haha

doug describes it much better than I! haha :)
Click to expand...

We're really supposed to do that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top