US Airways Dividend Miles - VX Pilot in US Cockpit?

I was just on US 466 from SFO to CLT. Much to my surprise, there was a pilot wearing a Virgin America ID on his lanyard coming out of the cockpit when I was deplaning. I also overheard the FA asking him who he worked for and him saying VX.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? Does US ever get pilots from other airlines (when they have a shortage?)?

Very curious,
OM

Most likely just commuting crew. It happens quite a bit and many carriers have agreements with each other to allow it.

Maybe the VX pilot was deadheading and riding cockpit jumpseat?

Seen it multiple times on AA SFO-ORD, seated both inside and outside of the cockpit. One time the poor guy had a normal seat, but they needed to make room for one more, so he got put in the cockpit jump seat to make room.

Saw it recently from PHX-SFO. They were sitting in back and were asked to stand guard at the cockpit door because a first class passenger was so drunk that he would not follow directions and kept getting out of his seat. We were sitting behind that passenger and when we arrived at the gate, he was arrested.

It is normal across most airlines. The protocol is that the guest (often commuting) pilot makes him/herself known to the host crew. If the cabin is full and a jump seat is available, it's of course the Captain's discretion whether or not to allow the guest to occupy the jump seat.

VX pilot riding jump seat.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? Does US ever get pilots from other airlines (when they have a shortage?)?

As others have said, it was almost undoubtedly a commuting VX pilot riding the jumpseat. A pilot from another airline, even if qualified on the airplane, couldn't legally work a US flight or vice versa. Each airline has it's own training program which is approved by the FAA and no one who hasn't been through that training program can work one of their flights. Except for emergency situations like an incapacitated pilot where the other airline's pilot could assist in the cockpit, but that falls under the exemption from the rules in an emergency.

Jim

I think it would be valuable at this point to add that it was probably a deadheading VX pilot riding the jumpseat.

But has anyone mentioned that it might have been a commuting pilot who was offered the use of the cockpit jumpseat?

I think it would be valuable at this point to add that it was probably a deadheading VX pilot riding the jumpseat.

Technically, per US lingo, a commuting pilot - probably heading home. A deadheading pilot, who VX had to provide transport for, would have a seat in the back.

So it wasn't a day laborer pilot who was picked up in the parking lot of the San Mateo Home Depot? Cause I could swear I've seen some pilots sitting on overturned shopping carts there looking for flight crews that are short a pilot.

frank abagnale jr. Traveled the world for free doing this pretending to be a Pan Am pilot and flying other airlines. Be sure to rent Catch Me if You Can sometime.

So it wasn't a day laborer pilot who was picked up in the parking lot of the San Mateo Home Depot? Cause I could swear I've seen some pilots sitting on overturned shopping carts there looking for flight crews that are short a pilot.

Ya know it's really bad when pilots stand at intersections with hand-written signs saying "Will fly for food."

Jim

So it wasn't a day laborer pilot who was picked up in the parking lot of the San Mateo Home Depot? Cause I could swear I've seen some pilots sitting on overturned shopping carts there looking for flight crews that are short a pilot.

I am literally laughing out loud at this one in my hotel room. I saw an Airtran flight crew walk in earlier when I was drinking at the hotel bar with some friends; they're probably the only ones who would understand why I found the responses to this thread so funny.

OM

As others have said, it was almost undoubtedly a commuting VX pilot riding the jumpseat. A pilot from another airline, even if qualified on the airplane, couldn't legally work a US flight or vice versa. Each airline has it's own training program which is approved by the FAA and no one who hasn't been through that training program can work one of their flights. Except for emergency situations like an incapacitated pilot where the other airline's pilot could assist in the cockpit, but that falls under the exemption from the rules in an emergency.

Jim

Jim, I haven't said it before, so let me take this opportunity to say that your posts are fantastic. I love the knowledge and experience that you bring to this merry band of flying people.

OM

Ya know it's really bad when pilots stand at intersections with hand-written signs saying "Will fly for food."

Jim

I thought it was bad when the 'will fly for food' sign ends up in the cockpit window (recall seeing a picture like this several years ago...)

1. If this were UA, it would be blamed on SHARES.
2. If this were AA, it would be blamed on the Chapter 11.
3. Since it's US, it's a cost-cutting measure. The guy was actually a US pilot, but US now buys random lots of unies from other carriers.
4. It's a stealth merger simply not publicly reported and will be paid for by devaluing miles.

As Jim said the VX pilot could be commuting (not deadheading). Or the pilot could be jumpseating for a pleasure trip. When we go on vacation, I buy a ticket (since non-revving is impossible these days) and DH gets the jumpseat. He always travels in uniform in case there are no seats in the back and he has to take the actual jumpseat (which happens often). And, for me it's a bonus because I get to jump to the front line in security when I'm with him--my one perk since I can never non-rev anymore.

As long as the pilot is in the CASS system and their airline has a jumpseat agreement with said carrier, they are allowed to occupy the flight deck jumpseat. Captain's discretion of course.

Ya know it's really bad when pilots stand at intersections with hand-written signs saying "Will fly for food."

Jim

I was recently had a flight delay in CLT. The GAs said they were trying to find a pilot. The way they said it, it sounded like someone was trying to round them up day laborer style.

In a way, they could have been doing that - trying to rob Peter to pay Paul. While in theory there are reserves, it could be that on that day and airplane type there were no reserves available in CLT. The next step would be either get someone from another base or take someone off another trip to fill in and shorten the delay. There's also the possibility that scheduling was calling blockholders trying to find someone to fill in on their off day(s).

And the whole thing could have involved the east/west flying split, making it harder to find a quick replacement.

Jim