dchristiva

My previous employer had a NetJets account that we used for travel between HPN and Bermuda. The jet wasn't all that big, and I was sitting in the seat closest to the cockpit and struck up a conversation with the pilots. They invited me to sit in the jump seat for the flight and we had a good chat. I, too, play too much FSX, so I had lots of questions. They were good-natured about it and seemed impressed that FS offered so much detail that I was able to talk somewhat intelligently about flight. The landing at HPN was pretty cool. There's nothing like seeing it all first hand and out the cockpit window.

caolfhionn

My six year old in the captain's seat of an Aloha Ailrine's 737-700 SMF-SNA:

http://bucketchild.net/~patrick/phot...CF0012.JPG.php

egoods

The only time I've ever been in the "cockpit" of an airplane was when I chartered a 4-5 seater Cessna (Skylane?) and I sat next to the pilot. I even got a few minutes with the stick (most amazing flying expiereince of my life!) this was pre-9/11 of course... and on a 4 seater airplane. It was for wineing and dineing some buisness folk that I was taking to northern Michigan for my father's buisness... they joked with me big time at dinner later, said I was "as giddy as a schoolgirl"

MKEbound

Just two weeks ago, taking the family to San Juan from DTW. While boarding,I asked if I could get a photo of my 1 year old, and was offered to take the captian's while the captian took my camera and snapped a couple of photos!

rkkwan

At the Flyertalk CO DO II at IAH in 2006, we had our big Q&A session and subsequent BBQ inside a hanger with a freshly repainted 752. Every attendee was free to visit the cockpit, including sitting in the pilots' seats.

hangpilot

Similarly: I managed the right seat of a small Cessna 206 out to the Dry Tortugas ..... and back! 500 feet cruise.

seaplanesofkeywest.com

Well worth it if you're in that area!

DillMan

I'll do my AOPA duty I guess.

If you are willing to spend a trite $5-$8k (or less!), you can become a pilot and sit in the cockpit anytime you want! Think about it, less than the cost of a TATL business class r/t

dcutcher

>I< got to sit in the pilot's seat at the controls of a simulator *several times* when my friend's husband was training pilot for 737's. Yes, one of those behemoths that requires one to cross a bridge separating one from any other support other the piston-stilted cockpit.
I never once "crashed" my several flights,--no, I'm not a pilot, ("tho I played one on TV")-- but one of the real Garuda pilots qualifying for re-certification did. acK!

LarryJ

You can still charter Skylanes, even after 9/11.

B747-437B

Its wonderful to read these threads and realise that there still is a magic associated with flying and that adults can experience it too.

I'm lucky (sic) enough to have spent more time in jumpseats than I can remember and to have a position that makes jumpseat access pretty easy. I've built up a small collection of jumpseat videos of takeoffs and landings (most pilots love having me film up there 'cos they never get to watch their own work critically!), some of which I've got uploaded to youtube. I'm still kicking myself for forgetting the camera on my trip to Barbados a few weeks ago - that was a picturesque approach and departure in perfect light conditions at dawn.

Some of my better videos :

London Gatwick : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xoov8k95Z8
Paris CDG (Rainstorm) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4DSdIzSEFY
Paris CDG (Night ILS) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ1M9bPXOgE
Accra, Ghana : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBphmu5o5mY
Malta : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T74RrRXNeUs

My full collection can be found here. (will try to upload some more in the next few days!)

warheel

I was lucky enough to sit in the jumpseat for takeoff and landing for a BRU/DME flight last year. The pilots were great, and it was fun listening to them bust on DME ATC.

abegail

My 14yr old son just started taking flying lessons, he is on his 2nd lesson and was allowed to take off and land the cesna plane. I guess all of his years playing flight simulator are now beginning to pay off.

bocastephen

I've been up front for partial flights on an Eastern L1011 (still my favorite airplane) and AC 762, up front for the last 30 mins and landing on a Ward Air A310, and spent the entire flight YYZ-PBI in the jumpseat of a Canadian Airlines B732 - and boy what literal pain in the butt and back I got from that trip, although it was a lot of fun.

It's still possible to do this on some foreign airlines - it's a matter of luck and connections. A friend of a friend flies for SQ, and we planned on taking one of his trips so we could sit up front for his flight segment, but he was rotated to another aircraft and away from US routes before we could take the trip

MCOFlyer

On his first flight, as we boarded, my nephew was allowed to sit in the pilot's seat and wear his hat for a pic. It was an absolute highlight for him.

Every now and then I will chat with the pilots myself; as a paranoid flyer, it reassures me to meet them and see that they don't seem overly suicidal.

szg

Thanks for sharing the links !!

I know a lot of pilots from OS, where I am allowed to sit on the jump seat and yes, it is always a nice experience.