So I guess that means that mechanics, management, and FAA/NTSB individuals without a pilot cert. cannot jumpseat. Things must have really changed in the past year.

When I started with ASA we were encouraged to jumpseat before we even got to our "CPT's". I have heard from newhires that they are telling them you cannot sit up front for 30 days after DOH. No one had said anything about that when I was in training. The whole class pretty much started jumpseating home the first weekend of indoc. on both mainline and ASA airplanes. It was really helpful experience in the way of seeing flows, techniques and just what to expect when you get out there.

I think jumpseating is really based on company policy exclusively. ASA "used" to be pretty relaxed but from what Im hearing they may be restricting it somewhat.

When I worked for jetBlue I was working in their Technical Operation dept. and there were many times in which I sat in the jumpseat and I was far from a pilot. Sometimes there were seats in the back and sometimes there weren't. Their FOM allowed guys from Tech Ops (maintenance) to sit up front at the captains discretion.

Your best bet in accurate info is to ask the chief pilots down in Ops. They are pretty good with that. Really the best guy for that kind of info is Dave over in the overflow lounge. That guy is a really go to guy. He'll always lead you in the right direction. Goodluck.