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VIPs on the flight deck for take off and landing

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VIPs on the flight deck for take off and landing

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Old Jun 26, 2017, 6:53 am
  #1  
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VIPs on the flight deck for take off and landing

I just arrived on LY02 from JFK today (a couple of hours delayed, but that's another story).
I was sitting in row 10 in business class and in the row in front of me (First class), was a famous American politician and former US presidential candidate. Before the flight took off the chief steward spoke to him and he left his first class seat and only returned to the seat about 45 minutes after take off. The same thing on landing, he left his seat a half an hour before landing and had not returned even once we had arrived at the gate.

I can only conclude that he was offered a special VIP visit to the flight deck for take off and landing.
Am I mistaken in thinking this is a violation of both FAA and Israeli CAA flight safety rules?

Should I report this?
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 7:05 am
  #2  
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Who would you report and why? What do you expect/hope to be the outcome?
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 7:12 am
  #3  
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Report to the FAA and the Israel CAA the pilot for allowing a non pilot onto the flight deck during take off and landing.

This flight was delayed for 2 hours because there was a concern that an unauthorized person had access to the food catering for this flight so they had to run "checks" on the food to ensure the safety of the flight.

But they were not concerned about safety by allowing an unauthorized Person on the flight deck?
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 7:18 am
  #4  
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FAA rules 121.547 Admission to Flight Deck

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-2009-title14-vol3/CFR-2009-title14-vol3-sec121-547
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 7:22 am
  #5  
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Why the secrecy? Who was this US politician? If you are concerned, may as well identify him.
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 7:44 am
  #6  
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I'm not sure it's relevant to name him here - I didn't hear that specifically requested the visit, and ultimately it's the pilot's responsibility who gets in the cockpit.
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 12:40 pm
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Honestly, you really shouldn't be reporting an incident based on speculation and assumptions. You didn't actually see the violation occur first hand.

But please do tell us who these VIPs were. What's wrong with telling? This was a commercial flight, not a private jet.

Was it Al Gore / Joe Lieberman?!

Last edited by moe8555; Jun 26, 2017 at 12:45 pm
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 2:31 pm
  #8  
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It was Rudy Giuliani (flying in for the Cyber week conference).
You are correct I didnt see him enter the cockpit - But - where else could he have gone during takeoff and landing? He wasnt in First class where his seat was. He wasnt in the lower level business class where i was sitting.

Do you think he wanted to downgrade himself to Economy for take off and landing? I guess theoretically he could have moved up the upper level business class, however all the seats were full in Business. So its not hard to guess where he went.
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 2:42 pm
  #9  
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Originally Posted by nombody
It was Rudy Giuliani (flying in for the Cyber week conference). You are correct I didnt see him enter the cockpit - But - where else could he have gone during takeoff and landing? He wasnt in First class where his seat was. He wasnt in the lower level business class where i was sitting.
Do you think he wanted to downgrade himself to Economy for take off and landing? I guess theoretically he could have moved up the upper level business class, however all the seats were full in Business. So its not hard to guess where he went.
Perhaps aliens abducted him, or maybe the Russians hacked the plane and cyber-transported him out.
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 4:04 pm
  #10  
 
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Sitting in the upper deck of the 747 I ALWAYS see people going into the flight deck for take off and landing. If this is against the rules, than it is a rule that is never followed.
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 5:30 pm
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Ridiculous post. Plus, he may have had a jumpseat authority pass. Those can be issued on an ad hoc basis, provided the airline and chief pilot approve.
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Old Jun 26, 2017, 10:57 pm
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Originally Posted by nombody
FAA rules 121.547 Admission to Flight Deck

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CF...ol3-sec121-547
Read the rule. Seems pretty clear that it's pilot's discretion, rendering this whole post irrelevant.
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Old Jun 27, 2017, 1:17 am
  #13  
 
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What thread does the OP think he [posed by being on the flight deck?
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Old Jun 27, 2017, 1:32 am
  #14  
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Originally Posted by nombody
Report to the FAA and the Israel CAA the pilot for allowing a non pilot onto the flight deck during take off and landing.

This flight was delayed for 2 hours because there was a concern that an unauthorized person had access to the food catering for this flight so they had to run "checks" on the food to ensure the safety of the flight.

But they were not concerned about safety by allowing an unauthorized Person on the flight deck?
He was authorized if the pilot allowed it.

Regardless, you are simply speculating. You don't know he was there. Perhaps there was an issue with the seat for take-off/landing but not cruising, and he did indeed move to Biz for just that.
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Old Jun 27, 2017, 1:52 am
  #15  
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Maybe he was sick and spent takeoff and landing in the lavatory, but that shouldn't have been allowed either.
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