Do the Pilots ever allow you in the cockpit?

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flash_flotsam

If you ask while the plane is on the ground, they may allow it, as the cockpit door is usually open during this time. The visit will likely not be long, if they do allow it, given that they are busy preparing the flight for departure.

Once the plane is in the air, though, the odds are zero, because of security precautions.

ethansma24

Ask while you are on the ground, either during boarding or de-planing (for obvious reasons, you can't go in there during the flight). Most pilots do love to show off their space!! Of course, there are some out there that may not want you up there. All you can do is ask, and the worst they can say is no. I once had a passenger ask me if he could ask the pilot a question. He went up there, and ended up being in there during the whole boarding process (about 30 minutes, he was the first one on the plane). We have a lot of parents that ask if their kids can go say hi, and most pilots like this as well (Again, there are some grumpy ones.) If I know we have cool pilots, I'll tell the kids to go say hi if they want. Many of the pilots tell the parents to get their cameras out, and get a picture of them in the captains seat. The parents and the kids just LOVE it!!

Good luck, hope you have a nice captain that will let you see it! If you have never seen it before, it is pretty cool.

snvffy

Ahhhhhhh !! Your question harkens me to the memories of times past when this was an ordinary occurrence on flights long enough to allow it. Several times I've been in the cockpit, but none so memorable as the visit on a TWA Super Constellation en route to (then) Orly Field (now Charles DeGaulle) in Paris from (then) Idlewilde (now Kennedy) in New York. Transatlantic flight was wonderful in that you had no pre-board searches, rarely a policeman in sight, board at your leisure.......

At the ripe old age of 11 then, seeing all the dials and lights were a real treat, also memorable was the constant voice transmissions of the co-pilot signalling either Idlewilde or Orly. Today, I think this is done electronically and automatically.

I doubt you'll be able to get inside the cockpit, but good luck. This luxury has gone by the way of observation decks where you could visit the airport and go to the top floor of the airport building and walk out onto an open-air deck to view takeoffs and landings....

Sigh !!

jay

they allowed me to. They let me seat even in the seat. and explained a little about everything, it was cool. It was after the flight. when they shut off the engines and everything. Just ask the flight attendant if you could go see the cockpit when the flight is over.

castedlady

Not these days It is a security risk, but that does not say that you can't get a quick peek as you board.

Cali P

yes they did when i was on my first plane ride to go see my mom in hawaii

Dylan P

yes you can while they r boarding

Leafsfan29 is on the 1st tee

Frankly it depends on the situation and the mood of the pilot/flight crew (and that is a complete lottery).

From what I've seen, a mum with a young child has the best chance (they will not, under any circumstance, do this once the aircraft pulls back).

A flight crew and a pilot who are in a good mood...your chances are pretty good, but if they're in a bad mood...no chance.

Andy Biker

In 1999 I went into the flight deck as my flight from Tenerife was passing over Jersey at night. You could see a long line of lights of the south coast of England stretched out in front of you, with France on the lower right-hand side, and the Isle of Wight straight ahead. Little lights of ships and lighthouses on the darkness of the channel. The air speed indicator in the cockpit stating 500MPH and 33,000 feet.

It felt really cosy, and not at all like a passenger jet. There was no sense of speed at all, and the earth felt like a kind of christmas scene. Which it was in a way as it was coming up to Christmas.

A shame that 9/11 seems to have killed all that off, although I did think at the time I was in the cabin that if I could kill the two pilots I could fly into Big Ben lol

grumpy geezer

It's perfectly OK as long as you're parked at the gate. There are no laws or restrictions prohibiting a pre-start or post-shutdown visit.

Sally N

I think it depends on the airline, but I thought they had all banned that since 9/11

George D

not when you're in the air, but ask when you're on the ground. the last time i went in a cockpit was 1st september 2001 when i was 9 on the way back from orlado, i went in as there was hevey turbulance across the atalntic and i was scared, they switched on the outside lights and all you could see was sheets off rolling black and grey across the windows, and the floor was bouncing round a bit.

I was lucky, 10 days later , spetember 11th they said no passengers were allowed in the cockpit during flight and the door had to stay locked at all times.

Daniel Fretwell

The Captain will make the choice although some airlines do not allow it under any circumstances. Sometimes the First Officer will be training so you wont be allowed in.

I was lucky enough to sit in the jumpseat in the cockpit for the whole flight from Durban (FADN) to Port Elizabeth (FAPE) last year onboard a kulula.com Boeing 737-400. Here you can see some of the pics I took :) !

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6285048&nseq=10

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6289690&nseq=9

ADRIENNA

yes, the pilots do allow passengers n the cockpit, but only on request!!! and that is, if they are in a good mood!!! you can always request the flight stewardess and in turn, should could request the pilot!!! ( i am working with Jet Airways and so i speak through experience. )

Dan

Hot Smar, it depends on the circumstances. If the pilots have the time (as opposed to them needing to go to fly another aircraft) and there is no imminent departure for the aircraft that you are on, they may allow you to see the cockpit. I suggest that you be the last one off the aircraft, and ask them when you get to the front. If they cannot, they will let you know. Please bear in mind that there are often things going on that you will not be aware of, but if it is possible, they will take a few minutes and show you what is up there.

Regards,
Dan

Sawyl

Apparently it's against terrorism regulations these days. The pilots aren't allowed to even if they'd be ok with it.

Tim

They will say yes!! Pilots love it when you inquire to see the flight deck. Depending on how long you have on a turn, they may even let you sit in the seat!! But they will at least let you have a peak inside the flight deck. They will ONLY let you do it while the plane is on the ground though. Once airborne, the cockpit doors are closed for security.

It's not "outlawed" as the answer above suggests. I see this stuff on a daily basis. Pilots have huge egos, and they love it when customers ask about the plane. Visit www.airliners.net. There you will see tons of pictures of airplanes, and airplane cockpits. If it was outlawed, half of the pictures there would be illegal.

Don't hesitate to ask!

Father Jake

Zero. Since 911 this has been outlawed.

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