Have any of you (captains or FO's) had a family member in the cockpit while you were working?

 

In today's world, I'll assume you mean a flight crew member in the cockpit, not just junior?

 

Probably not going to happen in today's world (at least in the 121 world), unless your family member is another airline pilot that has CASS status and can jumpseat.

There are a few occassions of where I've heard of a family team working together on the same flight (such as brothers or father/son or husband/wife).

I've had my wife in the cockpit of my corporate aircraft on a few occassions when the company has allowed me to take her along on a trip, and she's sat in the jumpseat of my airliner during the preflight and post flight phases (rode in back during the flight), but never had a family member up front of my 121 ride during flight.

 

Not a chance on a 121 revenue flight.

But if you do a 91 flight for repositioning or training it would be legal (and I've done it). It would be a very good idea to get your company's approval in writing first. The hard part here is knowing far enough in advance to get permission and then get your family member in position. Talk to your CP, and try to get advance written permission and then you could volunteer to do repo flights on your days off until the stars all line.

Make sure your airplane does not require flight attendants in order to carry pax. The generic 121 rule does not apply to a 91 flight, but if aircraft certification requires FA's that could be an issue.

Also you almost have to originate from a hanger or FBO, not a commercial terminal...there is no easy legal way to get your family through TSA for a flight of this nature unless. You could always list them for some other flight just to get a security doc, but that might not go over well if you got caught.

 

Nope. But I have heard from other captains that had their sons/daughters who where working as interns ride along with them in the jumpseat. A working intern of course is sanctioned by the FAA and the company for jumpseat privileges (behind other employed crew members).

Outside of that, I've never heard of any body riding in the jumpseat other than those specifically outlined in the ops specs, even before 9-11.

 

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.

 

Actually, the FAA has taken jumpseat priveleges away from interns... nevermind the fact that they go through the same security checks as a line pilot and jumpseating was the only form of compensation they received...

Apparently interns are now an 'unnecessary security threat' - God forbid they might actually get some valuable firsthand experience or something

 

I have had my wife non-rev on a flight that I was working on (she hung out with me in San Juan, PR from JFK while I was on an overnight there). It was after 9/11, so of course no one was allowed in the cockpit while in flight, but she did come up and get a picture with me in the cockpit after the flight when all the other passengers had gotten off the plane...the captain took the picture!

 

When we flew sports team charters, I think that we were no longer under part 121, but part 91. Anyway, people from the cabin could supposedly enter the cockpit if we allowed it. Of course, that was before 9/11.

 

Yes. I have my family in the cockpit "while I'm working" before the flight. My kids help with the cockpit checks. You never said "in the air."