ATC to ride jumpseat again

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04-21-2011, 10:18 AM

#21

ToiletDuck

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Never dealt with it myself but the SWA guys I jumpseated with the other day were just talking about this program and how they wish it would come back.

Sadly he'll get paid more to sit in the jumpseat than most will to fly it!

04-21-2011, 11:30 AM

#22

odog1121

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Mechanics are next, then flight attendants. It would be a valuable experience for them.

04-21-2011, 12:28 PM

#23

cesnacaptn

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Quote:

Originally Posted by odog1121

Mechanics are next, then flight attendants. It would be a valuable experience for them.

Mechanics can't jumpseat at your airline?

04-21-2011, 12:30 PM

#24

sovt

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Quote:

Originally Posted by B757200ER

I served on an ALPA committee targeting jumpseat abuse in '99/'00, and the number #1 abuser was ATC. We know the majority were following the rules, and used the program as it was intended. But, when I consistently had ATC jumpseaters on my trips to Cancun/Nassau/San Juan/Honolulu/Maui, from Podunk Airport towers, you can see the problem. We came out with a rule at TWA that ATC could only fly on domestic flights.

I support this program, and think it would benefit all parties. But, rules and restrictions to access/frequency must be established.

Just curious. Why would we care what their destination was? The airline may not like the lost revenue but most of the tourist destination flights are full anyway.

Years ago we had these guys on the jumpseat going to Florida on a regular basis. To a person they were polite, respectful, well dressed and were truly interested in seeing what we do.

As far as I am concerned if they can mix leisure travel with a fam ride more power to them.

04-21-2011, 02:56 PM

#25

TonyWilliams

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ToiletDuck

I don't think ATC is going to beat out many SWA guys !!!

04-21-2011, 04:31 PM

#26

Stratosphere

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cesnacaptn

Mechanics can't jumpseat at your airline?

There are a few airlines that allow it for personal travel. FX allows jumpseats outside the cockpit only. UPS, CO, WN, Frontier are the only ones I know that allow cockpit jumps for MX for regular travel. Of course in an AOG company business situation all bets are off and mechanics get the blessing to ride up front at virtually all airlines. When I worked at NW it was pretty tough for MX to get it if the a/c was full and the jumpseat was open. There were a few pilots who made exceptions and let them ride but only with the blessing of maint control but for the most part at NW captains refused the jumpseat to MX unless it was company business/must ride situation. My personal take is that especially for line maintenance FAM rides should be required just like it is for dispatchers several times a year.

04-21-2011, 09:10 PM

#27

Sliceback

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sovt - I'm with you. Who cares where they ride to.

04-21-2011, 10:01 PM

#28

B757200ER

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Position: B-737 Pilot

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sovt

Just curious. Why would we care what their destination was? The airline may not like the lost revenue but most of the tourist destination flights are full anyway.As far as I am concerned if they can mix leisure travel with a fam ride more power to them.

I'll give you an example of what we experienced at my airline, and why we put a stop to it. A controller from Valdosta,GA trying to j/s from JFK to CDG; a controller from Lubbock,TX TRACON trying to go STL-SJU; a controller from Madison,WI trying to j/s STL-HNL. If you don't work at an int'l facility, you don't need to see oceanic position reporting procedures.

04-22-2011, 04:16 AM

#29

NERD

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Don't have a problem on domestic flights, but intl. would be a little extreme. More importantly, what is their pecking order going to be? It needs to be behind all pilots.

04-22-2011, 06:33 PM

#30

weekdaysoff

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I would also like to throw it out there that we should be able to once again visit ATC facilities. After the kid spoke on the radio at JFK, ATC hasn't been allowing visitors (at least they still weren't a few months ago when I tried). I think it's equally valuable to let pilots visit ATC facilities and see what exactly they do, and perhaps get a better idea of their procedures/policies. Just a thought.