determined2fly

...Have any of you...had a family member in the cockpit while you were working?...

Yes, many times, but be aware that in the UK, prior to 9/11, the CAA regulations in this area, applicable to UK carriers, were very different to the FAA regulations applicable to US carriers.

At that time, broadly speaking, CAA regulations, allied with my own airline's regulations, permitted anyone over the age of twelve, deemed suitable by the Captain, to ride on a flight deck jump seat.

I've carried every member of my family on my flight deck, several times, throughout flight, in the not-so-distant past. Sometimes because they wanted to be on the flight deck and watch, sometimes because there wasn't a seat in the cabin.

On my previous fleet, I can literally hardly remember a time when there wasn't somebody sitting on the flight deck jump seat for take-off or landing, even when there were seats available in the cabin; many of them were US airline pilots!

However, since 9/11, that has all changed, and such visits are no longer permitted. Access to the flight deck is strictly controlled and we operate a secure locked door policy. The chances of a (non-crew) family member being allowed on the flight deck of a UK registered airliner, whilst the engines are running, are virtually nil.

There are even rumours that the UK security services have considered asking for a ban on any family member (other than rostered flight crew) being on the same aircraft as an operating flight crew family member.

Many of us got our first taste of aviation through being allowed on a flight deck during flight, but sadly those days have gone, and they are not coming back.