BA cockpit visit policy?

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Discussion

LimaDelta

Original Poster:

6,507 posts

217 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
What are the chances of getting the little one a look at the pointy end once shut down at the gate these days? We are doing a little NCL-LHR-NCL round trip in January for his first taste of a big aeroplane.

Cheers!

KrazyIvan

4,341 posts

174 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
I would have thought pretty much zero. Take him here
http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com

Lots of plane and car stuff smile

LimaDelta

Original Poster:

6,507 posts

217 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
KrazyIvan said:
I would have thought pretty much zero. Take him here
http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com

Lots of plane and car stuff smile
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?

Bradgate

2,819 posts

146 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
No chance, at least not when the aircraft is operational.

The flight deck is only accessible to the crew for security reasons. 9/11 etc.

KrazyIvan

4,341 posts

174 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
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 no

ecsrobin

17,019 posts

164 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
No chance these days for obvious security reasons. And once shut down on the ground they'll be going straight into turnaround so need you off quick. Your best bet is a museum although it won't be a glass cockpit.

wolfracesonic

6,940 posts

126 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
I remember going into the cockpit a Laker Airways DC10 (I think) in the early 80's when I was about 13 or 14 coming back from the family hols in Tenerife. Pretty exiting it was too, as I seem to remember we were over Paris or thereabouts. Were cockpit visits allowed right up to 9/11 or were they being clamped down on before that?

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
The steward on my last Thompson flight back from Girona offered my little ones (1 and 3) to see the cockpit when we landed at Gatwick a few months ago. They coincidentally had 2 captains flying back as well.

They both (as they always do) fell asleep on finals.

Bugger.

I wanted to ask if they flipped a coin to see who'd fly which bit!


pushthebutton

1,096 posts

181 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
The answer is 100% yes.

I'm sure they'll be glad to see you. Ask the Cabin Manager as you get on and they'll either see if you can pop in there and then or they'll do their best to arrange something after landing. If you see one of the pilots on boarding, ask them, I'm pretty positive they won't mind at all.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
They might let you come up before the engines start or after they have been shut down depending on what's going on, after the flight is more likely than before as there's no time pressure after the flight.

The no flightdeck visit policy is only whilst the engines are running in most airlines.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
KrazyIvan said:
A very close friend is ba, and said is very much a no no now, you can ask, the worse they can say is no
It's only a no no in flight. On the ground with engines shut down, it's fine.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
pushthebutton said:
The answer is 100% yes.
How can you possibly say that? There are any number of reasons (up to and including the very obvious and much discussed security issues) which mean the flight deck could be off limits.
The answer is 100% maybe.

pushthebutton

1,096 posts

181 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
How can you possibly say that? There are any number of reasons (up to and including the very obvious and much discussed security issues) which mean the flight deck could be off limits.
The answer is 100% maybe.
As long as the engines aren't running I've never turned anybody down and I haven't ever witnessed any colleagues doing it either.

But, you're right, 100% is a bold statement. I guess I'll have to stand by it now biggrin

LimaDelta

Original Poster:

6,507 posts

217 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
Thanks to the guys in the know.

Maybe after the flight will be better then, in case he starts fiddling with the FMC... scratchchin

Edinburger

10,403 posts

167 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
If you politely ask the cabin crew and/or pilot as you disembark, they'll often welcome you and your kids into the cockpit.

My kids have been in several BA and FlyBe cockpits over the last few years. Pilots are great and let them wear hats/sunglasses and press a few buttons.

We've been refused but I'd imagine that's not always the case.

rs4al

925 posts

164 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
TIGA84 said:
The steward on my last Thompson flight back from Girona offered my little ones (1 and 3) to see the cockpit when we landed at Gatwick a few months ago. They coincidentally had 2 captains flying back as well.

They both (as they always do) fell asleep on finals.

Bugger.

I wanted to ask if they flipped a coin to see who'd fly which bit!
Lol, where the two Captains close to retirement by any chance !? Had a few guys fall asleep on finals but not both at the same time...

In all seriousness though, please do ask the cabin crew if you want to stick your head in after landing, before take off is always a bit manic so recommend after landing.

Such a shame that you can't do flight deck visits anymore whilst in the air, used to make the longer flights go much quicker, especially the young ladies who wanted to play with the "joystick"...

AlexIT

1,482 posts

137 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
I still remember when I could stay in the cockpit of an Alitalia MD-80 to Prague back... well... a while back smile

But last year my son has been more than welcome on an A320 flight deck after landing (was actually invited in by FO when he saw him with an airplane on his t-shirt)


Zed Ed

1,103 posts

182 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
Real fun BA cockpit visits for older kids can be had here.

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/baft/fly-a-sim...

Highly recommended and you fly it too ( I did 3 hours on the 777 ) ; Carnarsie visual approach into JFK anyone?




NDT

1,753 posts

262 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
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.



z4RRSchris99

11,220 posts

178 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
used to fly as an unaccomanied minor loads as a kid. got to go in the cockpit 8 times a year was great.