So I'm an employee of an airline. I work ramp. I fly pretty often. Planning on starting back to college and finish up a degree. Been with the Civil Air Patrol for the past 7 years and until now never really pursued getting my private license until here recently. I'm seriously considering going after a commercial career.

My question is, do any of the flight crews allow you to sit in the jump seat and observe or is there some regulation that prevents it? I'd like to sit in on a flight if I can do that. I figured since I was employed by the airline it might be a little easier.

 

When I worked Operations, we were allowed to ride up front on charters.
It is, of course up to the Pilot in Command, regardless of the situation. I believe.

 

§ 121.547 Admission to flight deck.

(a) No person may admit any person to the flight deck of an aircraft unless the person being admitted is—

(1) A crewmember;

(2) An FAA air carrier inspector, a DOD commercial air carrier evaluator, or an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board, who is performing official duties;

(3) Any person who—

(i) Has permission of the pilot in command, an appropriate management official of the part 119 certificate holder, and the Administrator; and

(ii) Is an employee of—

(A) The United States, or

(B) A part 119 certificate holder and whose duties are such that admission to the flightdeck is necessary or advantageous for safe operation; or

(C) An aeronautical enterprise certificated by the Administrator and whose duties are such that admission to the flightdeck is necessary or advantageous for safe operation.

(4) Any person who has the permission of the pilot in command, an appropriate management official of the part 119 certificate holder and the Administrator. Paragraph (a)(2) of this section does not limit the emergency authority of the pilot in command to exclude any person from the flightdeck in the interests of safety.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a)(3) of this section, employees of the United States who deal responsibly with matters relating to safety and employees of the certificate holder whose efficiency would be increased by familiarity with flight conditions, may be admitted by the certificate holder. However, the certificate holder may not admit employees of traffic, sales, or other departments that are not directly related to flight operations, unless they are eligible under paragraph (a)(4) of this section.

(c) No person may admit any person to the flight deck unless there is a seat available for his use in the passenger compartment, except—

(1) An FAA air carrier inspector, a DOD commercial air carrier evaluator, or authorized representative of the Administrator or National Transportation Safety Board who is checking or observing flight operations;

(2) An air traffic controller who is authorized by the Administrator to observe ATC procedures;

(3) A certificated airman employed by the certificate holder whose duties require an airman certificate;

(4) A certificated airman employed by another part 119 certificate holder whose duties with that part 119 certificate holder require an airman certificate and who is authorized by the part 119 certificate holder operating the aircraft to make specific trips over a route;

(5) An employee of the part 119 certificate holder operating the aircraft whose duty is directly related to the conduct or planning of flight operations or the in-flight monitoring of aircraft equipment or operating procedures, if his presence on the flightdeck is necessary to perform his duties and he has been authorized in writing by a responsible supervisor, listed in the Operations Manual as having that authority; and

(6) A technical representative of the manufacturer of the aircraft or its components whose duties are directly related to the in-flight monitoring of aircraft equipment or operating procedures, if his presence on the flightdeck is necessary to perform his duties and he has been authorized in writing by the Administrator and by a responsible supervisor of the operations department of the part 119 certificate holder, listed in the Operations Manual as having that authority.


Basically, you are not getting inside. Also, on a side note, as an American Airlines Flight Intern we recently lost our jumpseat privilege along with all other non-pilots because of some stupid stuff.

 

What about dispatchers????

 

no, pilots only

 

I know at American that dispatchers are allowed to jumpseat on their own carrier but not on others. The old way used to allow them free jumpseat on anyone just like pilots. But, after 9/11 everything has gotten so much more difficult to get into the flightdeck during operation.

 

It is possible to jump through hoops and get a jump seat pass, but it takes a lot jumping. Since you work for an airline, talk to a chief pilot who might be able to point you in the right direction for where to go.

 

what will be his reasoning to be awarded access to the flightdeck? I mean just like you said....jump through lots of hoops to get there.

 

At SWA interns, dispatchers, and instructors (classroom and simulator) are all allowed to ride up front. The intern riding is regulated, and is not unlimited as the rest are.

 

Also,

In Flying magazine a few months ago, Dick Carl was allowed to ride up front for an entire trip with an AA crew. His jumpseat pass had many signatures on it including the chief pilots, director of flight ops and I believe Carney (or whatever his name is), the CEO.

The FAA had a signature on there too, I think from one of the high ups.

The picture of the jumpseat pass is included in the story.