BA cockpit visit policy?
Discussion
KrazyIvan said:
LimaDelta said:
Thanks, I've heard it announced on some services I've flown, but not very often. Don't know whether it is at the discretion of the flight crew. Are you BA?
A very close friend is ba, and said is very much a no no now, you can ask, the worse they can say is noFlying to San Fran a couple of years ago, during flight I was showing my youngest the area where they prep drinks and food, when the stewardess asked if he'd like to see the flight deck when we landed in around 4-5 hours time.
True to her word, as we were about to get off the plane, she steered us up the stairs so that me, my wife and 2 boys could go see the pilots.
They were happy to have their pictures taken, questions asked and were all round top guys.
It really made for a great start to the holiday we had on the west coast.
That was flying with Virgin
True to her word, as we were about to get off the plane, she steered us up the stairs so that me, my wife and 2 boys could go see the pilots.
They were happy to have their pictures taken, questions asked and were all round top guys.
It really made for a great start to the holiday we had on the west coast.
That was flying with Virgin
It's a real shame now, pre 9/11 most flights I got to land in the jumpseat just by asking when being show round the cockpit, I guess it helped I was <18 but it was everything from easyjet to ba, I even got to sit in on a landing into Kai Tak which I'll never forget.
I have been in the cockpit a few times since, the most recent big plane was a Singapore airlines A380 in 2008 on the way to changi.
I have been in the cockpit a few times since, the most recent big plane was a Singapore airlines A380 in 2008 on the way to changi.
Still one of the greatest experiences I've ever had.....
On a BA 'junket' to HKG around 1993. 10 Travel Agents spread around Business Class in a 747 (FOC!...the good old days!). I asked politely if it might be possible to go up to the flight-deck at some point during and was told that they would ask the Captain if that might indeed be possible. Didn't hear anything more until I was woken by the Steward approx 45 minutes out.....
''The Captain wonders if you might like to take the Jump-Seat for landing into Kai-Tak?''
I s
t you not, I thought I was still sleeping/dreaming. Anyhoo, I go forward and into the cockpit, shake hands with the Crew (2) and am asked with a smile to strap in and politely told to shut-up unless spoken to. Landing is at dusk and for anyone that's seen footage of one at KT it's probably one of the all-time great views. You flew at a Mountain and then hard-banked for approach FFS! I was speechless and I DID have grit in my eyes! Captain said it's many a Pilots favourite and I could see why.
Yet to top that one and really doubt I ever will. Truly immense experience!
Sorry if the above sounds a bit 'braggy' but thought you lot might like to hear about it!
On a BA 'junket' to HKG around 1993. 10 Travel Agents spread around Business Class in a 747 (FOC!...the good old days!). I asked politely if it might be possible to go up to the flight-deck at some point during and was told that they would ask the Captain if that might indeed be possible. Didn't hear anything more until I was woken by the Steward approx 45 minutes out.....
''The Captain wonders if you might like to take the Jump-Seat for landing into Kai-Tak?''
I s
t you not, I thought I was still sleeping/dreaming. Anyhoo, I go forward and into the cockpit, shake hands with the Crew (2) and am asked with a smile to strap in and politely told to shut-up unless spoken to. Landing is at dusk and for anyone that's seen footage of one at KT it's probably one of the all-time great views. You flew at a Mountain and then hard-banked for approach FFS! I was speechless and I DID have grit in my eyes! Captain said it's many a Pilots favourite and I could see why.Yet to top that one and really doubt I ever will. Truly immense experience!
Sorry if the above sounds a bit 'braggy' but thought you lot might like to hear about it!
NDT said:
Somewhat amazingly my 9 year old was invited into the cockpit mid flight two weeks ago.
Not a British airline.
She told a cabin crew member how much she loved planes while I was in the loo.
I come out and the crew member tells me she's just off to check with the captain whether my daughter can have a quick look at the cockpit.
2 mins later she gets beckoned forward - She must have had 5 minutes in there, somewhere over Africa. Sadly it was dark so she couldn't see anything.
I'm amazed nobody commented on this - because I thought they were breaking every rule in the post 9/11 book.Not a British airline.
She told a cabin crew member how much she loved planes while I was in the loo.
I come out and the crew member tells me she's just off to check with the captain whether my daughter can have a quick look at the cockpit.
2 mins later she gets beckoned forward - She must have had 5 minutes in there, somewhere over Africa. Sadly it was dark so she couldn't see anything.
When I was a youngster I was invited up into the business end of a Virgin 747 over the Atlantic, I still vidily remember it.
A few years down the road and now I'm in their shoes, however between now and then 9/11 occured and there is absolutely no way I'd have anybody other than the crew in the flight deck during flight. IIRC, my company rules are that the flight deck door must remain shut and locked whenever the main cabin entry door is closed. There are one or two exemptions but I wouldn't post those details on the internet.
However during the loading/offloading of passengers, if the flight attendant notices a child who looks interested, they may be invited for a quick look inside the flight deck. This is much easier however after landing, as it's easier and quicker to shut an airliner down than get the systems online and running the checks as you would before departure.
I'm flying BA to the Caribbean in the new year as a passenger, very tempted to ask the guys at the other end if I can have a little look, see how much of it I can recognise.
A few years down the road and now I'm in their shoes, however between now and then 9/11 occured and there is absolutely no way I'd have anybody other than the crew in the flight deck during flight. IIRC, my company rules are that the flight deck door must remain shut and locked whenever the main cabin entry door is closed. There are one or two exemptions but I wouldn't post those details on the internet.
However during the loading/offloading of passengers, if the flight attendant notices a child who looks interested, they may be invited for a quick look inside the flight deck. This is much easier however after landing, as it's easier and quicker to shut an airliner down than get the systems online and running the checks as you would before departure.
I'm flying BA to the Caribbean in the new year as a passenger, very tempted to ask the guys at the other end if I can have a little look, see how much of it I can recognise.
Just an update, TD had a great day and managed to squirm his way onto the flightdeck after both flights, though getting him back out was harder. Especially as he insisted he was going to fly the return leg himself. Thanks for taking the time and for your patience guys! Daddy needs to finish building his aeroplane now.
Apologies for the poor iPhone pics.
Apologies for the poor iPhone pics.
Edited by LimaDelta on Wednesday 14th January 21:36
As a young boy I visited the cockpit as was the norm years ago.
The pilot asked me to address the passengers over the microphone telling me what to say such as 'we are now flying at 35K feet, weather good, etc'.
I dread to think what the reaction would be nowadays if a young voice came over the tannoy.
The pilot asked me to address the passengers over the microphone telling me what to say such as 'we are now flying at 35K feet, weather good, etc'.
I dread to think what the reaction would be nowadays if a young voice came over the tannoy.
I'm old and as such, have memories of how things used to be.........
I was lucky enough to be allowed to stand at the back of the flight deck (as they used to call it), on an approach to JFK on Concorde. I had to take my seat at the last moment though. There used to be a competition amongst the Concorde pilots, about how far they could coast in from. I think the benchmark was around 225 miles!
Also, I managed to grab a jump seat, going into Bermuda, which was a great approach.
Ahhh, the old days.
I was lucky enough to be allowed to stand at the back of the flight deck (as they used to call it), on an approach to JFK on Concorde. I had to take my seat at the last moment though. There used to be a competition amongst the Concorde pilots, about how far they could coast in from. I think the benchmark was around 225 miles!
Also, I managed to grab a jump seat, going into Bermuda, which was a great approach.
Ahhh, the old days.
My dad was senior captain for BA until his retirement about 15 years ago. As kids, my sister or I often sat in the jumpseat for good portions of a transatlantic flight, booted out only for takeoff & landing. I think my mum was probably in back enjoying the relative peace & quiet!
It's a great shame that kids aren't allowed up front in flight any more - it's a unique experience, even if it is completely baffling to a small child!
It's a great shame that kids aren't allowed up front in flight any more - it's a unique experience, even if it is completely baffling to a small child!
I was lucky to have a plane spotting father who served in the RAF reserves (pre 9/11, of course). I think I was used as his access card to the cockpit a few times on our way to Spain on holiday, but I definitely wasn't complaining. Kids are definitely missing out these days.
The most memorable was a special event his squadron were putting on for some sort of anniversary, the highlight of the day was a special RAF Tri-star flight for family that did a little lap around parts of around the UK, I don't think the cockpit door was ever even closed!
The most memorable was a special event his squadron were putting on for some sort of anniversary, the highlight of the day was a special RAF Tri-star flight for family that did a little lap around parts of around the UK, I don't think the cockpit door was ever even closed!
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