Can You Nonetheless Go to Cockpits On Airways? Sure, Sometimes, And This is How To Ask
Many people within the miles & factors world aren’t simply into touring, however are additionally aviation geeks. As an avgeek, there aren’t many locations which might be cooler to see than the cockpit of an enormous jet. On this publish, I wish to handle a query I see on occasion — can you continue to go to the cockpit when flying on an airline?
Do airways permit airplane cockpit visits?
For many airways, lengthy gone are the times the place you may go to the flight deck inflight, and presumably even sit within the cockpit for takeoff and touchdown. The excellent news is that for probably the most half you may nonetheless go to cockpits, no matter whether or not you’re touring with a little bit child, or just a bit child at coronary heart.
There are some things to remember:
- It will possibly by no means harm to ask should you can go to the cockpit; simply clarify you’re an aviation geek and are fascinated by the aircraft, because the worst they will say is “no”
- For probably the most half, cockpit visits are on the captain’s discretion, so it’s all a perform of how busy the pilots are, and what their consolation stage is; they might be prepared to allow you to go to earlier than the flight, after the flight, or under no circumstances
- When you do get to go to the cockpit, be conscious of the pilots’ time, and get the trace if they need you to go away; some pilots could also be tremendous chatty and hold you up for some time, whereas others might solely have a spare minute
- Ask earlier than snapping photos, as some airways permit cockpit visits however don’t permit photographs within the cockpit
It’s value noting, nonetheless, that the coverage for cockpit visits varies by airline. For instance, final I heard:
- Qatar Airways has a strict coverage in opposition to passengers visiting the cockpit, together with earlier than and after the flight
- Emirates has a coverage the place you may go to the cockpit on the captain’s discretion, although solely after the flight, since they’re busy earlier than departure
- Different airways (like American, British Airways, Delta, and so forth.) permit cockpit visits at anytime whereas on the gate, on the captain’s discretion
Typically I’ve discovered airways in the US and Europe to be extraordinarily accommodating of cockpit visits. Heck, Delta even provides pilots buying and selling playing cards that they will distribute to passengers, clearly supposed to encourage this sort of interplay. In different components of the world, I’ve discovered it to be a bit extra hit-or-miss, as typically there’s confusion about why an grownup would wish to go to the cockpit.
Some enjoyable airline cockpit visits I’ve had
Personally, I don’t often ask to go to the cockpit, since at this level I’ve been within the flight deck of most forms of planes. Nonetheless, I figured I’d share a few enjoyable experiences I’ve had.
Perhaps 15 years in the past, I used to be on a Thai Airways flight, and requested the flight attendant if I would have the ability to go to the cockpit after touchdown. To my shock, she returned 10 minutes later and stated “how would you want to go to now?” I used to be floored, and spent about 20 minutes within the cockpit whereas we have been enroute to Bangkok. It virtually felt scandalous, provided that I used to be so used to the post-9/11 safety mentality.
Additionally, this goes again loads longer than that, however my cousin was a captain for a German airline that not exists. Once I was an adolescent, he as soon as invited me to fly together with him for all the day within the jumpseat (and for the document, this was completely throughout the service’s guidelines — the captain might invite somebody to take a seat within the jumpseat). We flew a complete of 4 segments, and suffice it to say that as an avgeek, that was presumably my coolest flying expertise ever.
Backside line
Regardless of all the safety procedures in place these days, cockpit visits are nonetheless very a lot attainable on most airways. Simply ensure you ask the flight attendant first, and be able to take “no” for a solution if the pilots are busy and/or not very social. In case you are invited, be conscious of the pilots’ time, and ask earlier than snapping photos.
What has your expertise been with visiting cockpits on flights?
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