Eajpecrca From United States, joined Jul 2006, 37 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1473 times:
I'm new to a.net so this question may have been discussed before.
I was on a US flight SFO-PHL, seated in first class. About half-way through the flight the door to the flight deck was opened and the attendant entered with trays of food. The door remained open for 3-4 minutes while the pilot/copilot stood and chatted with her. Then the door was closed. It occurred to me that anyone crazy/crazed could have easily jumped up and 'invaded' the cockpit.
Question: in this post 9/11 world isn't that door supposed to be shut and locked during the entire flight?
DeltaFFinDFW From United States, joined Sep 2003, 1211 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 1415 times:
I have seen this MANY times on NW flights. I have been surprised that there is not a second flight attendent to act as a lookout. On all these flights, the FA handed the meals to the flight crew and kept on chatting for a couple of minutes. Also, I have noticed the flight crew leaving the deck to go to the bathroom, and again standing around chatting with the FA with the door opened. I haven't seen this very much on CO, DL or AA, but I have seen it on the last five flights I've flown from DFW to either MSP or DTW.
EWRCabincrew From Canada, joined May 2006, 4852 posts, RR: 54 Reply 3, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 1401 times:
It is supposed to be opened, if at all, for the least amount of time possible. Pilots need to come out to use the lavs and receive food, if on longer flights.
Each airline has their cockpit door entry procedures, all of them tied in with what the TSA and the Dept. of Homeland Security require.
DTManiac From Germany, joined Aug 2004, 671 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 1394 times:
From my experience a flight attendant normally blocks the cockpit door when one of the pilots comes out, for example to go to the restroom. At least I witnessed that behaviour on several flights on American carriers. Furthermore, the door is normally closed immediately as soon as the pilot went out or in the cockpit.
Evan767 From United States, joined Aug 2005, 2547 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (2 years 1 month 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 1354 times:
Yeah it happens all the time on DL. On transcon flights they block off the aisle with a cart and the flight attendant serves them the food. There is also a second flight attendant on lookout to make sure there are no terrorists. If there is no flight attendant on lookout, I still wouldn't worry as air marshalls are sure to be on a transcon flight.
The proper term is "on final" not "on finals" bud...
Gr8Circle From Canada, joined Dec 2005, 2057 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (2 years 1 month 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1137 times:
We hear about all these requirements and practices on American carriers....what do the foreign airlines like those from Europe or Asia do, in the post 9/11 era, regarding opening of the cockpit door inflight..?
Gokmengs From United States, joined Mar 2005, 840 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (2 years 1 month 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1089 times:
I fly DL across the pond very often in the front and they have a standart procedure everytime the pilot leaves the cockpit for Lav or when they need to take rests or when they have food brought in. As soon as the captain calls the F/A especially for lav visits the F/A blocks the galley with the cart and waits there facing the Bizelite cabin when the pilots open the door etc. Obviously the other entry to the galley is not protected during this time but since the FA is facing the rather small Bizelelite cabin she could see if anything unusual happens.
Modesto2 From United States, joined Jul 2000, 2260 posts, RR: 11 Reply 10, posted (2 years 1 month 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 863 times:
Per company policy, we minimize the time that the cockpit door is opened. If one of us needs to exit the cockpit, we first coordinate with the flight attendant to make sure all customers are seated and that the rear lavatory is available. The pilot exits the cockpit, and then the flight attendant occupies the cockpit to ensure that two people are always in the flight deck (assuming no jumpseat rider). Upon re-entry, the pilot rings the cockpit and we verify the person at the door. Many times, we crack the door open so the F/A can pass drinks and food - that's important! However, she keeps her body in front of the door to prevent access to the flight deck.
1011 From United States, joined Feb 2001, 278 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 1 month 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 834 times:
I was on a UA 733 ORD to PHL 2 yrs ago. When we rotated the cockpit door opened fully. And was open till we got to a altitude where it could be shut. So much for the reinforced door!
F9fan From United States, joined Jan 2004, 447 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (2 years 1 month 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 735 times:
On my last flight on F9, LAX to DEN, I was seated in 1C. About halfway through the flight, one of the F/As took the service cart and parked it sideways across the aisle. Then, the cockpit door opened, and one of the pilots went to the forward lavatory. After he was done, he returned to the flight deck, the F/A served them some refreshments, the door was closed, and the cart returned to its normal position. During the whole time, except when the F/A was serving the pilots, she (a female F/A) watched the cabin from behind the service cart.
Noelg From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2002, 2245 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (2 years 1 month 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 659 times:
I've seen it happen all the time on most of my flights (although I don't have to go to the USA often).
The flight deck door is opened when they're serving drinks or if the captain needs a whazz, they don't block the door though. There's normally an F/A in the galley area around the flight deck, but it's certainly not blocked or anything.
On a couple of flights in NZ the flight deck door was never closed - once on a Saab 340 and once on a Beech 1900C - simply left open the entire flight! It's great to be able to see the crew at work during takeoff and landing, all from the comfort of your seat!
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