I believe you are mistaken. Any "certificated employee of Continental Airlines" may request and receive jumpseat access. "Certificated employees" are further defined as "Pilots, Dispatchers, Maintenance Technicians." If you can show me the specific TSA regulation that denies access I'd like to see it.

Take a look at the CAL ALPA web site under MEC Committees - Jumpseat, or email the committee at [email protected] if you have a question.

 

Never meant to imply that you personally didn't want that. I just am not sure if you are correct on it being a TSA imposed thing. My understanding is any airline VP of flight can authorize anyone they want to ride a jumpseat it is more or less a company rule and the FAR's do allow for certificated airmen i.e mechanics to ride up there. But after 9/11 I know some things have changed and I don't blame you for protecting your ticket just like I tell pilots who think I should just "sign it off" I wont do that either and I am protecting my "ticket".

 

See FOM. It can't be any clearer.

 

Thanks APC, its crystal clear and very enforceable from the TSA's standpoint.

 

I received this information directly from one of the J/S Committee members. Our FOM is absolutely clear on Mechanics riding in the cockpit and it's a direct result of the TSA's involvement.

I don't like it but for now, that's the way it is.

 

Once again MX gets the shaft..Should have never got in this field in my 26 years MX has always been ***t at the bottom of the shoe in this industry. We are a necessary evil we do not make revenue and are looked at as an expense and funny thing is in virtually all airplane crashes it is either one of two things pilot error or MX. I don't think I have ever been thanked for my efforts for a repair to get an aircraft out but I have most certainly been berated and seen my counterparts get an LOI (letter of investigation) from the FAA for paperwork errors and never seen the company back up the mechanic. Not that I care about the J/S I never wanted it anyway just venting on what I perceive as abuse and a reason I never steer any young person to this as a career. I think all mechanics should absolutely refuse to go on any road trip if the J/S is their only option. Make them put you positive space. Guess I will use my ADX and get into dispatch seems like they get treated better.

 

1) There is nothing I appreciate more then good Mx guys. I wish I could buy a beer for every guy that has done a tough fix in a tight time especially when it helped get me home.

2) You are preaching to the choir about RESPECT. Nobody gives a d@mn about the bus drivers either.

 

Ba careful what you wish for. Once when flying the venerable C-5 I had a maintainer onboard who had "fixed" the pressurization problem prior to the flight. Well, fast forward a few hours and over the mid-Atlantic. The pressurization problem returned and it looked like we were going to need to come out of altitude and divert. The mainainer offered to go back and see if there was anything obvious in the environmental compartment (we affectionately call it the "boiler room"). I was dumb enough to allow "McGyver" to go take a look. A few minutes later I was directing the crew onto oxygen since the pressurization problem evolved into a smoke and fume elimination problem based on the efforts of the maintainer. Suffice to say, I got to practice my Atlantic divert scenario and spend the next few days stuck at Lajes. Every time I think I'm too smart, I think of that story to humble myself.

 

I always greet the mechanics with enthusiasm and treat them with the utmost respect. I also ALWAYS thank them for their assistance. If you ever work on my aircraft you will be certain to receive a word of thanks from me.