Ask The Pilot

[Flyingaroundincircles]

For the 737 pilots, are the 737 coughpits really as cramped as you see people saying? I've never been into the front end of one to have a look, & am wary about taking peoples photos for gospel; lenses & angles can warp perceptions quite a bit.
It certainly doesn't look like a lot of headroom for the taller folks, but the way some people go on, you'd think its a glider coughpit where you can barely wriggle.

Is it a hangover from when the original design was not a long haul design, so the coughpit was simply not designed for many hours' occupation? Or is it all a storm in a teacup, so to speak?

 

[jb747]

That was exactly my initial reaction too. Not a whole lot of compensation going on there. There is even active left rudder applied early on in the touchdown too, instead of just holding in the right rudder in the rollout. This to me shows it’s a case of “dancing on the rudder pedals”.

That's what I'm seeing too. No real attempt to correct it as it starts to turn towards the edge. You cannot let an aircraft get away from you and then just fix it. Much easier to nip anything in the bud.

For the 737 pilots, are the 737 coughpits really as cramped as you see people saying? I've never been into the front end of one to have a look, & am wary about taking peoples photos for gospel; lenses & angles can warp perceptions quite a bit.
It certainly doesn't look like a lot of headroom for the taller folks, but the way some people go on, you'd think its a glider coughpit where you can barely wriggle.

Whilst I was never a 737 pilot, I've jump seated in them plenty of times. It's a tiny cramped coughpit. It can't be wide for obviously reasons, but also has no depth.

Is it a hangover from when the original design was not a long haul design, so the coughpit was simply not designed for many hours' occupation?

It was never a long haul aircraft, and it shouldn't be now.

 

[AviatorInsight]

For the 737 pilots, are the 737 coughpits really as cramped as you see people saying? I've never been into the front end of one to have a look, & am wary about taking peoples photos for gospel; lenses & angles can warp perceptions quite a bit.
It certainly doesn't look like a lot of headroom for the taller folks, but the way some people go on, you'd think its a glider coughpit where you can barely wriggle.

Is it a hangover from when the original design was not a long haul design, so the coughpit was simply not designed for many hours' occupation? Or is it all a storm in a teacup, so to speak?

I am not a tall guy (only 5'7) and even I find it tough to sometimes get in and out of the seat. I definitely can't fully stand up in the flight deck.

3 hours is probably my limit for being cooped up in there before I have to come out and stretch the legs.

 

[mjt57]

Thank you, I hope so too. It's been quite stagnant for a very long time so I'm hoping next year could be the year that I get my shot.

Best of luck. And forget us po-folk when you do transition to the left seat...

 

[Rabs97]

For the 737 pilots, are the 737 coughpits really as cramped as you see people saying? I've never been into the front end of one to have a look, & am wary about taking peoples photos for gospel; lenses & angles can warp perceptions quite a bit.
It certainly doesn't look like a lot of headroom for the taller folks, but the way some people go on, you'd think its a glider coughpit where you can barely wriggle.

Is it a hangover from when the original design was not a long haul design, so the coughpit was simply not designed for many hours' occupation? Or is it all a storm in a teacup, so to speak?

“Coughpit”? Interesting Boeing has always referred to the front of their jets since the 707s flight decks, not coughpits.

Yes it is a small flight deck and wouldn’t be comfortable for very large or tall pilots. But it’s alright for most averages sized pilots. On any jet for a flight over an hour you’re going to want to get up out of the seat to stretch out anyway.

 

[jb747]

On any jet for a flight over an hour you’re going to want to get up out of the seat to stretch out anyway.

And where do you do that? And really, especially for that over an hour flight, they should include their own toilet.

 

[Flyingaroundincircles]

Well I'm 6'1, so sounds like if I ever set foot in a 737 coughpit (doesnt sound grand enough for the Flight Deck title!) I'll be stooped over & trying to avoid knocking switches - sounds like getting into a Cessna 152!

I agree re the 737 not being a long haul plane - but its equivalent for Airbus, the 320 series - that flies a lot of trans-tasman and pacific routes in this part of the world; are they fundamentally any different?
These aren't long haul routes per se, but I wouldn't call 3-4hrs short haul exactly, either.