imverge

July 21 TP259 flight from Lisbon to Toronto.

Flying in Business Class, just prior to taking off one of the cabin crew (an older gentleman with a tablet who was wearing glasses and was not a flight attendant - I believe he was the person in-charge) came and spoke with the passenger seated in 3E and he took him into the cockpit. A few moments later the passenger (3E) came and spoke with the passenger in 1B (they appeared to be related father and son) and they both entered the cockpit and didn't emerge from the cockpit until the aircraft had taken-off and the seatbelt sign was turned off.

I believe this action to be illegal and can’t understand why TAP would allow this serious security breach to happen.

Can anyone confirm if this is against aviation security regulations?

I have filed a complaint with TAP along with Portuguese and Canadian aviation authorities.

Fredrik74

Why would it be illegal?

imverge

I'm not certain if it is or isn't. Was hoping someone would shed some light on that.

I am certain it's against TAP corporate policy for security reasons, especially during take-off and landing.

sbm12

I find it impressive that you've filed a complaint without knowing that something is actually a violation.

imverge

Well, I'll soon find out.

IAN-UK

The time to voice your concern as publicly spirited individual was when the the incident happened, or when the flight landed.

Raising the issue now, through an internet chatroom, while seeking to out the flight attendant through his description is .. well, not very nice.

imverge

Outing the FA would be posting their name or better yet a photo.

Silver Fox

Is there a grown-up around that you can get to explain the point to you then?

Let's make it simple: you should have opened your mouth at the time instead of hiding behind the internet like a little kid peeping out from behind their mother's skirt.

NYTA

There's a similar thread on the El Al forum right now. Not sure about Portuguese aviation law but in most countries that sort of thing is at the Captain's discretion. I have been invited into the cockpit on El Al by the captain who was a friend of a friend. I sat in the jump seat for landing at JFK. I have a friend who's a captain on AA and I'm sure if I ever ended up on one of his flights that I'd be invited up there too.

That said, I'm glad you're not my neighbor as you seem like the type who would call the city to complain if my grass got too long.

Ldnn1

To be fair to OP, he does say he has filed a complaint with both TAP and the aviation authorities, so it's not like he's simply moaning on FT.

Whether or not there are any grounds for complaint I don't know.

LondonElite

Um, how do you know he/they weren't other TAP pilots?

Palal

I believe this is not illegal and is purely at the captain's digression - usually reserved for friends and family of TP pilots/mechanics.

There was no security breach, as only authorized people may be in the cockpit, and the captain has the authority to make this authorization. Other (mostly legacy) airlines in Europe also allow this sort of thing.

In the US, this is expressly prohibited, and pilots will lose their license if an unauthorized person enters the cockpit. A captain flying a US-based airline does not have the authority to make this sort of authorization.

Nothing to see here, moving right along.

SFO777

Seriously?
You don't have a clue about Portugese aviation regulations nor TAP corporate policy.
You just ignorantly assume that they are the same as Canada and Air Canada.

NYTA

Is that true? If so must be a relatively recent rule change. When I was doing pilot training the pilot pretty much had discretion to do whatever he/she wanted - hence the often crazy stories you hear about pilots removing pax from flights before takeoff because a crew member complains.

imverge

I'm not hiding behind the internet. I contacted TAP about my concern and I have heard of a FAA term called Sterile Cockpit when below 10,000FT.

In contacting TAP they have full disclosure of who I am and what my concern is.