USMCFLYR

Maybe it is because of instances like tonight.

I was boarding a flight on a CRJ-700; my first time I think on this particular aircraft.
There was no rush and I took an extra second standard standing right intside the door and peered into the cockpit to see the nice cockpit.
When I turned left to head to my seat and caught the very disapproving look of the FA. I got the feeling that if I had tried to even say hello to the crew that she would have called TSA on me or something.
From an outside view - the cockpit doesn't seem to be a very friendly place nowdays.

USMCFLYR

tomgoodman

USMCFLYR,

You may have committed, from her point of view, a "turf violation". Giving the F/As "face" by asking permission, even when you don't need it, makes their day.

USMCFLYR

Oh I understand your point. I would never take a step TOWARDS the cockpit, and God forbid try to stick my head in to say hello, without getting permission from the FA; but just looking left and getting such a reaction was a little much I thought.

USMCFLYR

vagabond

If ever the day comes when I fly Alaska and it's my friend in the left seat, I expect the Red Carpet treatment and a personal tour of the cockpit! Otherwise, someone is going to get hurt in places where ... well, you know.

8-capt

Vag, I hope your not making threats to a crewmember. The feds frown upon that stuff
I hope you get your wish!

RadarContact

Sorry, but somebody has to do it...



"Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?"

Rnav

I once was sitting in the cockpit(ERJ) with the captain shooting the crap during a turn once and noticed out of the corner of my eye a kid holding a toy standing right at the cockpit door looking inside. He must've been 3 or 4 years old. I turned around and said "hi", he just stood there with a blank stare(presumably in awe of the cockpit). The Captain turned around also and started yapping with the kid. The kid's dad finally comes into the aircraft and sees us talking to his son and has a big smile on his face. The captain invites the kid into the cockpit but he's either too scared or mesmorized to come in. Even his dad can't get him in there. Anyhow his dad says that was the first time any pilots had invited his son into the cockpit and that none had ever talked to his son before. He told us how his son loved planes and that they did this trip alot. He pulls out a camera, has his son turn around and we take a pic with his son in the cockpit. They thank us and we go back to our checklist and do the trip.

After landing, me and the Captain tell the FA about the little kid. She goes on to tell us how she found out the kid had a terminal illness and that he was infact 4 or 5 years old. He had stopped growing because his body had no energy and that his parents thought he didn't have much longer. It turns out that he did this trip alot because he was coming from treatment at the hospital. She almost went to tears telling us this information.

I usually don't share personal experiences, but hopefully this reminds us how taking a quick moment out of your busy day can make a difference in someone else's and your life...

74plb

Over New Years we had a charter flight to MCO with the Michigan State football team. One of the coaches young sons got on the airplane with a Captains hat on. We invited him up as they were boarding, put him in the Captains seat and his Dad got a couple of pictures. If I would have thought to ask I'm sure he could have emailed me a copy.
As far as when I'm jumpseating etc, I always ask the FA by the door if He/She minds if I stick my head in the cockpit. I Jumpseated on WN once years ago and asked the Captain and FO for a ride to work. The Captain told me to check with the boss. His wife was the lead FA! (She said if I behaved myself, I could ride. Even Captains have SWMBO's)

timman19

I welcome visitors, especially kids, and I like it when they visit and look around the cockpit in awe. My father was a Pan Am 747 captain and I can still recall the visit I made to his cockpit on a flight to London from JFK.

Years later, I found out how he felt. Last year, my wife was taking the kids to Florida to see her mother and I happened to be working the flight. She knew that so I made arrangements with an FA to bring them to the cockpit when they boarded. They got a real kick out of it. The youngest even asked me if he could stay up there with me for the entire flight.

UpThere

Whenever a kid is staring up front I always ask them if they want to come up. Depending on the situation, I'll have push buttons and flip switches for the APU, Generator, and so on... most of them run back to tell their parents they helped start the plane, etc. Not only does it make the kid's day, it's a good image to portray on behalf of your airline and pilots in general.