Visits to the cockpit in the US
 

While reading through the numerous trip reports here on FT, I have noticed that a surprising number of people seem to visit the cockpit. I, being a much more infrequent traveler than most of you (although, to be fair, I am entering my sophomore year of high school), believed such visits were impossible. I am flying a CRJ Thursday on my way to FRA, and a long layover in DTW. Do any of you know Delta's policy for such visits when on the ground, and disregarding policy, is it worth asking? Thanks
Sorry if this is in the wrong section

Can't hurt to ask. But please...ask before the flight door closes, not after! Maybe even ask the boarding agent long before boarding and s/he might ask the pilot for you.

Best time to do it is after a plane has landed and everyone had deboarded.. But ask FA before the doors closed during departure..

Got 1 from UA, but on US the pilots had to turnaround the aircraft so that one didn't happen.. :(

Ask any of the F/A's if you can visit the cockpit right after you board the plane. (But stow your carry-on first.) Been doing that for more than 15 years. :)

Thanks for the advice! When I flew Lufthansa last year, they let me step, and now it might happen in the US! Either way, I'll let you know in my trip report (first one:D), but don't expect to hear the champagne corks popping, since I'm a minor flying in Y!

I have received permission to show the cockpit to a young man; of course, when the plane was on ground and with the request in advance. The pilot even chatted with him and suggested he think about becoming a pilot. :)

I've visited numerous flight decks (on the ground) over the years, there really isn't much to it really. Just ask the FA right after you board.

Of course this was in 2000 (before 9/11)... But I got a chance to visit the cockpit AND land (jumpseat) when flying AF between MUC and CDG. What a treat that was!

HTSC

Pilot must not have liked the kid ... most don't recommend their profession anyone else as a career.

I make a habit of saying hello to crew on United flights, I find them friendliest and I'm familiar with the routine. More importantly, the stop is to ask them to turn on Channel 9 (ATC Broadcasts). If you're seated way in the back of the plane, swimming upstream after stowing your stuff can be difficult so waiting until after you've landed is best. If you board without a crowd or just have a backpack, ask the FA doing the greeting if you can say hello in the cockpit. Sometimes they'll let you leave your bag in the galley right there while you go say hello to the pilots.

Every crew I've spoken to was welcoming and friendly, it was more a matter of timing. By the time passengers are boarding, the "work' is close to complete, so if they are just bs'ing among themselves, they are much more open to chitchat with you.

For some reason, when I saw this thread, all I could think of was Peter Graves and gladiators.

I have a few friends who are pilots and as long as you ask nicely the FA's will be more then happy to show you and even let you take a picture or two. The only thing to note is that they only do it for a few people on each flight so might be nice to ask before boarding as that person might be on the flight itself.

I think that some European airlines still allow passengers in the jumpseat for landing/takeoff when they aren't enroute to the USA. I know that it was true on LH for MUC-SIN (takeoff and landing) and LX ZRH-YUL on landing so the dream is still alive.


To the OP - sometimes they'll let you in after landing, but make sure to ask the FA before takeoff or at least well before the cockpit goes sterile during approach.

Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?

Unless you're a pilot, that would be a violation of Canadian law.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Regserv/Affairs/exemptions/docs/en/2025.htm

On a recent EZY flight from LGW to MAD we had to wait on the stand for 45mins before getting a take off slot - after announciung this, the pilot invited passengers to come up to the flight deck and look around / talk to the flight crew

To ask it after landing is the most recommendable. Just let everyone de-board and then ask the FA. I was happily allowed entry in the cockpit for a quick chat and photo by the FA (she directed me to the pilot to ask).

Although not in the US, see my TR (link in signature)