Awesome !!!

Deja vu. Check out this picture of me and my son.
http://www.mileageworkshop.com/logan.html



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eastwest - what a great report!

I have many fond memories of my first jumpseat ride as well. These are not things you ever forget.

It was in the early 1980s and I was around 7 years old at the time aboard an AI 747-237B on the BKK-HKG-ITM-NRT run (we were travelling BKK-NRT). I remember my dad calling me into the cockpit around 30 minutes before we were scheduled to arrive and asking me if I wanted a special treat. Expecting that it would be something like candy, I jumped at the chance.

I was placed in the cockpit jumpseat, strapped in tightly (my first time in a 3 point harness) and told to be quiet. I remember being more than a little confused, but the 3 point harness made me feel quite important.

As we came in on approach, I remember being fascinated by the forward view as opposed to the sideways view that I was used to from the passenger cabin. I had been in cockpits many times before, but those were all inflight, where the only visible features were clouds!

As we approached checkerboard, I remember the fear and panic rising in my throat, but my dad's stern warning to remain silent served to keep any sound from escaping my lips. Onward and onward we plowed, seemingly to our destruction on this grassy hillside.

Suddenly, just as I had decided that I would not live to see my eighth birthday, we banked sharply to the right and a runway came into view. I was spellbound as we aligned ourselves perfectly and touched down safely.

As soon as we taxied off the active runway, my dad turned to me to check how I was doing. The tears had been streaming down my cheeks minutes before, but the broad grin that my face was sporting gave away my true emotions.

I was hooked. I was fortunate enough to experience three more cockpit landings at Kai-Tak over the years, two in 747-200s and one in an A310-300. When they finally shut down Kai Tak, I shed a tear for an old friend that had gone on to better things, but would still be missed.

I have probably flown well over a million miles since that gloomy afternoon in Hong Kong, but the memories of those few magical moments are etched on my retina forever.

Wow, wish I'd have been in your place!

I normally ask for a visit in the cockpit when crossing the Atlantic on Swissair and always am granted my wish - although only when cruising. I also had a chance to experience a take off in Geneva once, in a Balair A310. But that was when I was 10 so I don't really remember too much.

MileageAddict, I assume that you are the one wearing the hat, but who's the guy on the right http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

After I cheerfully agreed to change business class seats on a Qantas flight between Los Angeles and Sydney to help him resolve a problem for a grumpy passenger, the purser escorted me to the flight deck, where I chatted with the captain and first officer for about an hour over the Pacific. I was amazed at how "unoccupied" the cockpit crew was in mid-flight. Memorable experience.

Wow, amazing! I have never had the guts to ask, but now I know I should do so in the future. I once flew BA from LHR-BKK and was in the first row of the upper deck...the guy next to me (Boeing engineer?) was in the cockpit at takeoff and landing so I know there wasn't room up there then, but maybe I could have visited during flight.

Note to self: fly OneWorld carriers more often.

I mentioned my KLM adventure a few posts above. The only other inflight cockpit visit I have ever had was w-a-a-a-y back when Allegheny Airlines was flying (renamed USAir...). I was 10 years old (1974), flying between Philadelphia and Providence with a stop in Hartford. During the stopover, I visited the flight deck and asked the BAC 111 (a plane that is now in the history books...looks like a mini-DC9) crew a million questions. After we took off for the short flight to PVD, the captain asked over the PA system for me (by name!) to proceed to to the forward galley. I guess he informed the FA of his invite in advance as I was quickly pushed into the cockpit. No place to sit but I got to stand for about 5 minutes, watching the lights of the Providence area grow closer. They were busy with communications and asked me to be very quiet but it was a fantastic memory, indeed.

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Your great report brought back memories of my flight deck ride: 5 years ago, we were boarding Lacsa in SCL for a 5 stop trip to Miami (didn't have any ff miles at the time, and the airline was offering a two for one special). As everybody was boarding, I stuck my head into the cockpit to say good morning. A couple of minutes later, the captain asked if I'd like to stick around for take off. I allowed that I'd love to stay, but had my wife in back. Captain said I should bring her up as well. Take off in the A320 was awesome. A few minutes later, my wife decided to go back to our seat. I stuck around for the remainder of our SCL - LIM - PTY - SJO flight. In SJO, we chained planes and continued on to Liberia, Costa Rica, then Managua and finally Miami. I learned a ton about airplanes and aviation that day.

Flighte deck: the ultimate upgrade.

My 747 cockpit experience came when I flew Ansett back from Hong Kong to Sydney in July 1997. The FA on the upper deck had been on the upper deck on our flight to Hong Kong. At that stage I was very keen to join the Air Force (my profile will tell you I have since been lured to other things) and had gone through many of the tests etc. My love of aviation has not abated, but my intertest in the Air Force certainly has. Anyway, I chatted to the FA (who was based in Hong Kong) for quite a while, telling her of my flying experiences and how much I loved aviation and everything that goes with it. She then told me to take a seat and she would ask if I could go to the cockpit.

I took a seat and she returned, telling me the crew were having dinner and to wait a few minutes. After a short while she collected me and we went to the cockpit.

Let me set the scene. The aircraft was a 747-300 and therefore had three crew. It was a night flight and there was a full moon. At that stage we were just crossing over the eastern Indonesian archipaelago on our way to intercept the Australian coast about an hour later. The crew welcomed me, and I would end up staying for about 2 and a half hours. The reason is this: I believe there care generally two types of pilot. The first treats their aircraft like a sports car. They are immensely proud of it, and are keen to show you how everything little things works. This stems from their love and awe for the machine which they fly. These are your pilots who are in love with flying. The other type of pilot treats the cockpit as their office space. As such it is private and any person who is there without a valid reason is seen as an intruder and tolerated for only a short period of time.

On my fight the flight engineer was the sports car driver and the first officer was the office type. Luckily for me the Captain was also the sports car type, so I stayed. To watch the crew at work was fascinating, and I too asked a great many questions about any and everything I could find to ask about. The scenery was stunning.

After a while it was time for them to have their breakfast, and I had to leave. Certainly no landing for me! However I do know that to be privy to such an experience is breathtaking even for those with no interest in aviation whatsoever, and jaw dropping for those that do.

Mine was on Ansett! Thanks! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

There may have been room. 747s generally have two cockpit jumpseats.

The 5th cockpit seat is a customer option on the 747. As someone who has spent many hours on those, they are not particularly comfortable.

Which would explain the generally.

But they beat the heck out of the jumpseat on a 737 (actually, the legroom w/the 747 jumpseats make them a better seat than most coach seats). But somehow I just don't think comfort is a big consideration for many here if given the option to sit in the cockpit.



[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 05-28-2001).]

I've visited the cockpit twice inflight. Each time for about 25 minutes. Once on BA from MIA to LHR and the other QF enroute from SYD to LAX but never during take-off or landing! On BA, however, the FA did bring me a gin and tonic!

Great story... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif