I have wanted to say thank you to your crews for a while now. I use Compass to commute both to and from every trip and I can honestly say that I have not had a bad experience yet. Your pilots and flight attendants have all been very friendly and very accommodating. I have never been left behind if there was any way possible that I could fit on the airplane.

Thank you for everything you do to make a fellow pilots life a little easier.



This being said, I have a question about one of your policies. At the end of the summer, I used to the flight attendant's jumpseat to get home from a trip. At the time, the captain said that it was ok for any pilot in the Northwest system to do so. I have been told since then that the policy has changed and I was wondering if that is true??? Can pilots still use the flight attendant's jumpseat??? Thought I would ask since I am trying to get home tomorrow and the flights look a little full.

Thanks again

 

Yes, the policy has changed. They used to allow anyone in the NW system to ride in the FA JS (we have 2 extras), but now they changed it so that only CZ pilots can. Ridiculous, I know, but it is possible that you may find a captain that will put you in the JS. Some just don't like the rule (or those who make them, for that matter) and will exercise their PIC authority.

 

I don't think it changed never got a memo just an e-mail. I spoke to JK and he told me to call the duty chief and he can authorize to ride. I personally do not care. Around the holidays I will take your grandmother on our jumpseat. If you talk to the Captain he will probable let you ride.

 

Thanks for the kind words, we have always done everything possible to get jumpseaters and passriders on whenever we can.

Company policy is only Compass pilots and flight attendants are allowed to occupy the flight attendant jumpseats (we have two extra F/A jumpseats). The confusion months ago was if Northwest pilots or flight attendants could occupy the extra f/a jumpseat. Company sent out an email saying only Compass pilots and flight attendants are allowed to occupy flight attendant jumpseats. And that cleared that up quickly.

Some jumpseaters and non-revers since then have been confused because they used to occupy that jumpseat.... so most pilots have had to explain what the policy says. You might find someone now and then that will allow other offline pilots or F/A's to occupy it, but I would say that is rare from my experiences since the new email was sent out. Dont take it out on the pilots, it's just more rules handed down to us from up above.

 

That's still better than at Mesaba. We have the spare FA JS on the 900s and even our own pilots and flight attendants are not authorized to use it. I've been told it's because of a ****in match between the unions and the company but can't confirm. Though I'd say that is likely because there is no good operational reason to not allow its use.

 

Have they strapped you on to the wing?

 

Not yet, but if it gets me home tomorrow and they are willing