PAX in coughpits ? Truth or fiction?

[malmacdowall]

Growing up i used to hear stories of PAX with their kids occasionally being let into the coughpit during takeoff or landing..... I used to sit hoping that maybe I would get a go (But given we were never seated at the pointy end it was unlikely). Even pre 9/11 I was traveling regularly for work and wondered if it would still happen (But had no kids to ask for.... ). Has anyone ever seen it or done it ? is it truth or fiction? Just an urban myth?

 

[markis10]

I have done it many times before I had an ASIC and seen it done many times when I was a passenger. Usually it was kids and always during cruise although sometimes after we had landed. I have also been lucky to ride the jumpseat on a UA flight SYD-LAX as well as an American West flight to LAX from LAS when I was in ATC, approach into LAX on both occasions was an eye opener for the traffic that could be seen from the coughpit. Sadly now its no longer permitted, and of course there is the famous incident where an aircraft went down while a coughpit visit was in progress, but in that case it was a relative of the captain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroflot_Flight_593

 

[munitalP]

I have flown Auckland to Nelson and return in the coughpit (door seat) on Air NZ Link SAAB's many times pre 9/11. Also Wellington to Napier. Since 9/11 zilch!

 

[straitman]

Even CASA FOI's have to now be on 'business' to be allowed into the coughpit.

It may be possible to get a look after landing. Not quite the same but better than nothing.


Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[NM]

My first flight deck visit was as a child in 1974 on a VC-10.

As an adult, and pre-2001, I would regularly (and politely) as the CSM if they would ask the Captain if it was possible to visit the flight deck. Most such requests were granted. Sometimes I was invited up for the take-off, sometimes during cruise, and occasionally for landing.

Sadly, its not going to happen again .

 

[kpc]

I used to visit the coughpit regularly when I was teenager and found it very interesting....this was well and truly prior to 2001:shock:

 

[Danger]

I was fortunate several times as a child in the late 80s/90s to be able to see the coughpit during cruise. My Father frequently asked an FA. A lot of the visits were with Ansett.

In January this year I flew JNB-PER on SA. I had the captain's three young children (about 8, 10 and 12) in the same row as me. One of them was in the coughpit for the takeoff and the start of the cruise.

 

[flyingsyd]

...Has anyone ever seen it or done it ?

For sure. I used to go Mel to HKG regularly and I've been in the coughpit for landings and takeoffs from the old Kai Tak airport many times. Wild ride.

 

[tuapekastar]

Another who has visited the coughpit during cruise, but as a child and a long time ago.

 

[SimonM]

Eagle Air in New Zealand used to operate planes so small (Piper Chieftain) that the co-pilot's seat was used for pax. I'd always try to get it on flights from HLZ to WAG.

Also, I have landed at WLG airport in an ANZ 767 during a storm while sitting in a jumpseat behind the pilot. I had headphones on and heard ATC say that was the shortest they'd ever seen a 767 stop.

Those were the days!

 

[Kendall Roy]

YouTube - Inside coughPIT with CREW during NAD, Fiji to SYD, Australia Flight 747 sydney australia

Post 9/11 apparently

 

[samh004]

As a youth (and frequently a UM) I have been in the coughpit during cruise, and when on the ground, but never during take-off or landing.

As far as access goes after 9/11, a few years ago on a flight to HKG (BNE-CNS-HKG) a boy next to me was invited to the front (and not to a higher class) before landing into CNS, and I didn’t see him till the next leg, so I assumed he was the pilots son and was treated to a landing.

Will have to try ask nicely for a look in the coughpit the next time I’m on Air Pacific although I got the impression the guy in that video slept with an FA to get into the coughpit

 

[LiamR]

I've overheard Virgin Blue staff saying that if you have an ASIC, you are allowed to sit in the jumpseat if your flight is oversold (or if you just ask). However the captain has to approve this of course, from what I've heard, most usually do not permit it, unless they work for the airline.

 

[Meggsy]

I have had quite a few visits to the flight deck over many years through the late 80's, 90's and into the 00's. Some of my favourites were on a SYD to DWN flight in the mid 90's, the pilot asked me if I wanted to sit in the jump seat of the Ansett 727 on the Alice Springs to Darwin leg and on an East West BAe 146 flight in the late 80's from SYD to HTI (magnificent view for the last 30 minutes of flight). My most recent jump seat experience was on an oversold QF flight from OOL to SYD in 2004. I do hold an ASIC and was well known to most of the QF ground staff at OOL so obviously that helped but it did still happen post 9/11, but things have tightened up even more in recent times so I am not sure how it works any more. Is it the pilots decision when in the air?

 

[niemann]

Growing up i used to hear stories of PAX with their kids occasionally being let into the coughpit during takeoff or landing..... I used to sit hoping that maybe I would get a go (But given we were never seated at the pointy end it was unlikely). Even pre 9/11 I was traveling regularly for work and wondered if it would still happen (But had no kids to ask for.... ). Has anyone ever seen it or done it ? is it truth or fiction? Just an urban myth?

It still happens for airline staff when a) there are no seats left in any class and b) the ground staff check with the pilot and he/she says it's ok.The skipper gets asked if the seat's available. If so, the onload priority determines who gets it. I've never heard of non-ID people getting a jumpseat. It's most definitely against QF's rules at least. Loads of fun on a short domestic flight, wears extremely thin on long haul!

 

[serfty]

Last century (about 15 years ago), I was invited to watch a 763 "autoland" from the Jump seat on a mid morning MEL-SYD flight.

 

[drron]

I have been in the flight engineer's seat on a QF 747 on take off from Sydney in the 90s.Also was in the Co pilot's seat on a Solair flight from Auki to Honiara back in 69-now that was an experience-especially seeing the fuel gauges were reading empty!Told dont worryt about that,they haven't worked for ages.:shock:
Back in 2006 grandson was taken up to copilot's seat on an AA MD80 whilst on the ground in MIA.

 

[Ikara]

During the 80's and early 90's I did many a trip in the jump seat (both take-off and landing) - usually ADL/DWN or return. All with TAA or Australian - maybe early Qantas. In the late 80's my wife and I spent about an hour in the coughpit of a 747 LAX/SYD. Was fascinated when shown the "How to fly a 747" (or something) handbook which included the Shell Fuel Card for the aircraft. Asked if it was ever used and apparently in those days it was quite the norm to flash the card and say fill 'er up!

JB

 

[Reggie]

In the 90's, I used to regularily sit in the copilots seat of a Skywest Kingair on charter flights from Broome to a minesite.

It was also on one of these flights where experienced the worst turbulence of all my flying. On this trip I was at the back of the plane, and all pax were pushing against the roof to keep ourselves in our seats. Flying into Broome on a small plane in the wet season is an interesting experience, especially when you do it every week.

 

[Sifor]

Prior to 2001 as a teenager I ventured up to the flight deck on every flight.

Those where the days!