AC773 From Canada, joined Nov 2005, 1730 posts, RR: 3 Posted (7 years 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3795 times:
When you fly, do you always make a point of visiting the flight deck and chatting with the crew?
I ask this because generally, I don't. Travelling as a child, I used to visit all the time back when they allowed it during flight. These days however, I feel that I wouldn't have anything worthwhile to ask / say to the crew, and I know what a cockpit looks like from all of the pictures on A.net.
I may do it more often once my digital camera arrives, but for now I just keep walking.
-AC773
[Edited 2006-04-22 18:43:30]
Better to be nouveau than never to have been riche at all.
MADtoCAE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 3770 times:
Yes, I usually ask the F/A if I can take a look.
You can see pictures , but you can't get the feeling of sitting in the seat and grabbing the yoke and throttle at home
Thepilot From Canada, joined Jan 2010, 5 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 weeks ago) and read 3767 times:
When I am traveling with my parents, one of them tells the flight attendant that I am a licensed pilot, and I usually get to chat with the pilots. I have not been rejected yet (knock wood)
Jm017 From Jamaica, joined Jun 2002, 1221 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3760 times:
Do flight crews allow it or even welcome it? In the post 9/11 world i am afraid to ask. Curious as hell, but am afraid because I am thinking for security reasons they may not allow me to visit the cockpit.
"It's okay to cheat, if you just really don't like to lose."
WILCO737 From Greenland, joined Jun 2004, 8473 posts, RR: 78 Reply 6, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 3757 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD MODERATOR
Hello guys,
i am a pilot and when someone asks me I usually let them into my 737 cockpit! I Like it when people are visiting us (on the ground only, not allowed during flight ).
And if people dont ask questions, thats fine with me! they can just look and enjoy! Usually I ask questions then hehe, so better be prepared
UAalltheway From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 3756 times:
I usually do when I'm on an aircraft I've neverbeen on before. I've already seen all the 737 and express a/c cockpits, so I usually don't visit them unless there's something special about the certain aircraft. However, if it's something new like the 767-400 or my first 777 than absolutely, I'll be up there taking pics.
Quoting Jm017 (Reply 5): Do flight crews allow it or even welcome it? In the post 9/11 world i am afraid to ask. Curious as hell, but am afraid because I am thinking for security reasons they may not allow me to visit the cockpit.
Of course you can. The captain might be extremely busy because the flight was delayed or something and the F/A say "you can't, sorry" or something, but that's very unlikely to happen.. asking never hurts!
Jm017 From Jamaica, joined Jun 2002, 1221 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 3731 times:
Quoting WILCO737 (Reply 6): i am a pilot and when someone asks me I usually let them into my 737 cockpit! I Like it when people are visiting us (on the ground only, not allowed during flight Sad ).
Quoting UAalltheway (Reply 7): Of course you can. The captain might be extremely busy because the flight was delayed or something and the F/A say "you can't, sorry" or something, but that's very unlikely to happen.. asking never hurts!
Thanks. The next time i fly, i will ask. No harm can come from asking, right?
"It's okay to cheat, if you just really don't like to lose."
YYZflyer From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3636 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 3725 times:
I used to go every time before 9/11. I have a flight on Westjet in 19 days, so I'm going to ask and see what happens. Are some pilots of airlines more likely to allow you than others?
Ryanair737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3708 times:
I ask on every flight after engine shutdown, normally I get a yes. Some pilots are more accommodating than others, but you definitely get a thrill from seeing a flight deck whether it be night or day.
YVRtoYYZ From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 633 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 3694 times:
I ask for every flight I take. Airlines include UA, AA, AC, WS, and BD. Have only been denied on FlyBe for some unknown reason and BD citing "security", yet on my connecting flight beforehand, I had visited and taken photos of the flight deck.
The only place I have been questioned is at YTS, but after explaining that I'm an amateur photographer and enjoy aviation, there are no problems and they are very accomodating.
SDLSimme From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 436 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 3682 times:
If the plane in question is a plane that I haven't seen the cockpit on or don't have a photo of the cockpit, I usually ask if I can have a quick look. I usually ask one of the crew members when they walk down the aisle for the last time before landing. The only airline that has denied me so far is KL and QF. On QF, I ended up visiting the cockpit anyway, cause me and my dad went upstairs (744) to have a look and the pilot invited us to the cockpit. Got a picture of me sitting in the captain's seat, unfortunately not digital though.
Hoppe777 From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 142 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 3680 times:
Christmas Day 2005 United Airlines Flight 935. I was upgraded to business class which was great as they made a mistake with my boarding pass.
Upon Landing i asked the F/A if i could go have a look up front and she came back and said the pilot will see you now.
Got a photo of me in the cockpit of the 777-200 and was chatting away with the pilot and oh what a feeling it was to sit there in that seat albeit a little cramped.
These guys have the best job in the world
Wrighbrothers From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 1875 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3669 times:
I almost always ask, and so far every-time, I've been allowed to visit the flight deck, the pilots always seem to be accomodating and very welcoming, suprisingly enough, especialy after long flights, I think they just like the though of someone being interested in what they do, or perhaps the pilot is glad to talk to someone else, other than the first officer !
Personaly, I always enjoyed the 3-man flight-decks slightly better (with a F/E), because firstly, there's more to see, but also, it was always interesting to hear what the flight-engineer had to say about his interesting job
So yes, don't affraid to ask to take a visit, most of the time the flight-crew will be happy to let you visit them, even when they don't have much time, but usualy they only allow visits when they're on the ground, unless you're lucky .
My last flight deck visit was last wednesday (12/03/06 ,or for the Americans, 03/12/06), on a BA A320 from ABZ-LHR.
Cheers
Wrighbrothers
Always stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone..
N801NW From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 741 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3655 times:
Did it once on a Northwest A319 back in February. I don't know if it was the Captain of F.O. I talked with. Nice enough guy, but I didn't want to overstay my visit, not did I get in the Captains seat.
September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 18, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3653 times:
Absolutely, on multiple occasions. Never hurts to ask for cockpit visits. Cockpit visits are unforgettable for everyone, I would imagine...
CruzinAltitude From United States of America, joined May 2004, 415 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (7 years 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3628 times:
Every time, without fail. The only time I have been denied was due to the fact that the aircraft was having thrust reverser problems that needed to be resolved.
Americanairfan From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 397 posts, RR: 3 Reply 21, posted (7 years 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 3609 times:
I ask all the time. I always get a "yes" as an answer. Whenever I try to bring up aviation chatter they don't treat me as if I'm very knowledgeable and they kind of rub me off... I guess that's what I get for being only 15 years old. Hopefully as I get older that wont happen.
-AmericanAirFan
"American 1881 Cleared For Takeoff One Seven Left"
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hehe, so better be prepared 
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