FlyerTalk Forums - Is a child allowed in the cockpit while the plane is in flight?

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- - Is a child allowed in the cockpit while the plane is in flight? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/807984-child-allowed-cockpit-while-plane-flight.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbrower (Post 9503278)

I am tired of these April Fool's jokes. No one would really believe that someone is worried about hitting a button at 36,000 feet.

What if the child hit the large, unprotected, and extremely sensitive self destruct button??

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoGiants (Post 9503719)

Then he'd probably get pulled over by an alert state trooper enforcing the cell phone ban. :D

Doubtful that the trooper would notice, since he'd probably be talking on his cell phone too. I see at least as many cops, per capita, talking on their cell phones while driving as other drivers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by closecover

After the Aeroflot accident referenced in this thread, how could anyone justify allowing minors in the cockpit?

Read the report. It wasn't just that they were in the cockpit, it was that they were at the controls. There's a big difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mre5765

That can't be true. I learned on FT that ``odds of a kid falling into a "button" or something to that effect are almost nil.''

See above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gofast (Post 9516725)

It is not a false dichotomy. It's a sentence containing two factually accurate statements. No causation or association was ascribed.

I'm a libertarian, so I completely agree with the general precept of resisting government expansion, however, I just don't think that a rule restricting access to the flight deck is in any way irrational, expansive, or remotely restrictive of civil liberties. I have spoken with literally several hundred commercial pilots and hundreds of other civil aviation professionals in the past few years and without exception they all agree that a closed and secure cockpit door is the single most important element in securing the flight deck. If you actually think they are all sheeple and that it's more important for little Johnny to get a pin from the pilot while in flight, then your sense of entitlement is really overinflated.

I won't disagree with you - locking and securing the flight deck IS the single most basic and important thing which can be done to prevent a successful hijacking - however - the doors are opened frequently (especially on long flights) for restroom breaks and crew swaps, so it's not like the door is never opened.

Part of the deal here is assuming the crew has sufficient common sense to know who to let in and when. The Aeroflot tragedy was NOT a result of letting a child into the flight deck - it was the result of exceptionally poor judgment on the part of the crew who allowed the boy to actually get near the seat and touch things. Even my closest friends who fly, and who know my own flying skills, would never let me touch a thing on their flight, nor would I want to. The only button I ever touched, under instruction from the Captain, was enabling and disabling the O2 flow to my jumpseat mask.

It should be left up to each country to decide how to handle this issue - and as customers, we can choose to patronize or avoid airlines which have rules we're not comfortable with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbc1969 (Post 9503497)

No, a child, or any other non-crew (except official business authorized, such as say an FAA inspector) should be on the flight deck during flight. I believe a foreign carrier has to abide by all U.S. regs when flying to a U.S. destination as well.

based on recent news reports and Congressional hearings, I'm thinking a 5 year old in the cockpit is better than an FAA inspector...but I could be wrong : )