Tony1477 From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 14 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 4993 times:
I'm sure this is a dumb question for most of you out there but I really want to know. I am really new to all this , I really just loved looking at the planes, but seeing the cockpit pics on this site I wonder how pilots get into their seats without having to step over the controll pannel.Please be help ( and don't laugh at me for asking )
Jdwfloyd From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 837 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 4985 times:
Most seats slide back enough to get your foot in. If not the center console is less than a foot off the ground, making it fairly easy to step over.
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 4978 times:
You climb over.
I'm not a pilot, but I have visited the cockpit of several planes. Each time the pilot was delighted to give me a tour (especially when I have a bit of knowledge of exactly what kind of plane I'm on!!) and take my picture sitting in the pilot's seat.
I may be 40, but each time, I'm a seven year old at Disneyland for the first time.
And yes, one must climb over the console to get in. Ingress/egress takes a back seat to functionality.
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CRGsFuture From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 536 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 4947 times:
We pilots don't sit down, we just set the buttons and then bring in blowup dolls found under every cockpit seats to look like we are in the cockpit.
In seriousness the seats move back or just a nice slide step over the console does it.
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Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7421 posts, RR: 65 Reply 4, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4903 times:
the seat often times can be moved or readjusted. Otherwise, climb over and watch your head.
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Alibo5NGN From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 772 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4878 times:
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 2): one must climb over the console to get in
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KYAir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 362 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 4805 times:
Sounds alot like boarding an Arrow-brand multiloop rollercoaster - step over the side and watch that your head doesn't bump the horsecollar restraint.
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113312 From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 537 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 4504 times:
One of the requirements for being a pilot is being a contortionist with acrobatic training. Getting the chart bag in and out of position, in airliners, also is a trick and one of several reasons why many older pilots develop back and shoulder problems.
But, most modern airliners are far and away better designed for the pilots than early planes where it seems that the pilot was an afterthought. Take a look at the cockpit of a DH 104 Dove some time!
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15873 posts, RR: 66 Reply 8, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 4493 times:
As some have said, seats slide back. In most widebodies, there tends to be more space and the seat will slide back and then to the side (sometimes in a mechanized fashion).
BTW if you think pilot seats are hard, try some jump seats. On the DC-9/MD-80 the jump seat comes out of the left wall in the passage behind the center console. It then blocks off the entirety of the passage. On the Avro/BAe-146 you have to stand with your feet pressed up to the console while leaning over the throttles and holding on for dear life to the glare shield. The F/O will then reach behind his seat and slide the jumpseat out behind your ass. After it is unfolded, you can lean back and place your posterior in it.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
SlamClick From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 10062 posts, RR: 71 Reply 9, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 4491 times:
Board the airplane. Put your suitcase in an overhead rack near the forward end of the cabin. Stop at the galley and grab a trashbag. Explain to the flight attendant that he/she will have galley power in just a moment once you flip a few switches. Ask for a cup of coffee.
Step onto the flight deck. Hang the trashbag on the appropriate knob or switchguard. Walk to the inboard corner of your seat and set your flight bag on the outboard side of it, on the narrow bit of deck between the seat and the sidewall.
Slide the seat all the way aft, if it isn't already. Almost all airliner pilot seat tracks have a turn outboard at the aft end. When the seat goes all the way aft it will also go three to five inches away from the center pedestal.
Step between the seat and center pedestal with your inboard leg. (right leg for left seat - left leg for right seat) Lean over the seat and grab one of the installed handles for support. Step over the seat with your outboard leg and place that foot on the deck just outboard of the control column.
Bring your inboard leg over and you are now standing in front of the seat.
Sit down! (This is important.)
Not a dumb question at all. It is not obvious how one does this and you might assume we don't walk on the seats. When I was about 13 I sat in the right seat of an EC-121 at a USAF open house. On my way in I kicked a knob on the center pedestal and shattered it. The crew were a bunch of nice guys but I saw them roll their eyes. Sorry guys, size ten shoe, size four hat. What can I say?
Happiness is not seeing another trite Ste. Maarten photo all week long.
Ilikeyyc From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1373 posts, RR: 22 Reply 10, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 4485 times:
AirWillie6475 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2448 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 4443 times:
Everybody's talking about the nice cockpits of airliners but most planes are not that nice and it takes a whole lot to get in without breaking something. Have you ever tried to go from the back seat of your car to the front seats? Kind of like that. One plane that comes to mind, is the Lear, if you waist size is more than 34 inches the FO is going to have to ease your fat through the openings.
FLY2HMO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 4421 times:
As for GA planes, a C172 is pretty much like getting a seat in a tall SUV, step on the foot rest in the landing gear strut, step up and place your posterior in the cushion.
On something like a PA-44, which only has one door, and in the wrong side of the plane (damn you Piper!!!) It takes a lot more aerobic skill. You have to somehow slide all the way to the left seat, without banging your head on the door frame, without kicking the flap lever, cowl flap levers and destroying the throttle quadrant. The most annoying plane to get into an out of...
AirWillie6475 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2448 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 4415 times:
Quoting FLY2HMO (Reply 12): and in the wrong side of the plane
Not for the CFI I like the BE76 myself, the plane has three doors!
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5936 posts, RR: 4 Reply 16, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 4251 times:
If anyone else knows how to get into the cockpit of a Grumman AA-5 series plane without leaving a size 10 indentation in the lower seat cushion, I'm all ears... So far the only method I've discovered that works is to take one step on the lower seat cushion, and I'm sure that that can't be good for the upholstery on the said part.
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
SlamClick From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 10062 posts, RR: 71 Reply 17, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 4231 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 16): If anyone else knows how to get into the cockpit of a Grumman AA-5 series plane without leaving a size 10 indentation in the lower seat cushion, I'm all ears...
That is why you rent. Had a choice one year between the AA-5 and a Rockwell 112 to go to a family event. Door on both sides was pretty nice but steerable nosewheel - mandatory!
DeHavilland of Canada DHC-2 Beaver. Yes, that is the entire pilot door on the left side. Try that with a parachute on some time. Oh! And a yoke on the left side and seats in it.
Happiness is not seeing another trite Ste. Maarten photo all week long.
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5936 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 4215 times:
Quoting SlamClick (Reply 17): DeHavilland of Canada DHC-2 Beaver. Yes, that is the entire pilot door on the left side. Try that with a parachute on some time.
So how was the dude able to get out the door, onto the left float, and fix the engine in flight in Never Cry Wolf
You know, if Hollywood thunk it, it had to have happened
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15873 posts, RR: 66 Reply 19, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 4213 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 18):
You know, if Hollywood thunk it, it had to have happened
Of course, just like the escape pod in Air Farce 1. That movie also used other well known elements such as green instrument lighting in the bad side fighters to make sure you knew those pilots were evil.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
AirWillie6475 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2448 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 4211 times:
The Hawkeye probably has the toughest cockpit to get into. The flight deck is higher than the cabin and you actually have to pull yourself up to get into the cockpit. And the passage way into the cockpit is only about two feet wide.
TimT From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 168 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 4145 times:
All the DETAILED descriptions!! You guys missed the simple stuff. Into and out of the cockpit seat can be described in a single word!!
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15873 posts, RR: 66 Reply 23, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 4081 times:
Quoting AirWillie6475 (Reply 20): The Hawkeye probably has the toughest cockpit to get into. The flight deck is higher than the cabin and you actually have to pull yourself up to get into the cockpit. And the passage way into the cockpit is only about two feet wide
What happens if you have to leave the plane in a hurry while in flight?
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
Vzlet From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 4063 times:
29 SlamClick: Well remove that "DO NOT ENTER" sign and it would be a piece of cake!
30 2H4: The Extra 300L requires the occupant of the front seat to roll a rug out onto the wing, climb up onto it, carefully lower him/herself down into the f
31 DeltaGuy: At least they give you some little foot rests on either side of the pedistal for something to prop up on. Getting one pilot out to use the john while
32 Starlionblue: Those are indeed nice. But you have to remember to keep your feet firmly planted. They spring back up with vicious force and make a loud "CLANG!" whe
33 Turbonytro: I used to love watching a 310lb FO getting into one of the Lear 35s I used to take care of....unless it involved replacing bent fuel panel switches (o
34 HAWK21M: What about the Escape Hatches thru the Windows.How many can fit thru them. regds MEL
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From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15873 posts, 
I like the BE76 myself, the plane has three doors!
I think you mean "acrobatic". Aerobic has to do with muscle use/exercise.
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