Child visiting cockpit of Aer Lingus flight

gnf_ireland

Hi all

It looks like we will be taking a flight to Faro on my child's 5th birthday early next year. I am wondering is it possible for her to get into the cockpit to meet the captain etc.

I know its something that was kind of halted after 9/11, but that was 15 odd years ago at this point so wondering if the rules have relaxed

If it is 'possible', is there any way I can contact Aer Lingus in advance to request it, or is it simply a matter of just asking the staff on the day?

thanks

maximum12

Not during the flight. If you ask the cabin crew when leaving the plane in Faro they'll probably allow it. They invited my kid to take a look before without us asking.

Wheety

I wouldn't image this happens anymore unless you know the captain.

robyntmorton

Contact Aer Lingus in advance and see if they can add it to the notes for that flight (my dad has done this with Ryanair previously for my nephews birthday) so that the crew become aware of it. Even if it can't be noted beforehand, mention it to the crew when boarding.

And while it may not be possible in flight, it may be doable at either end to visit the flight deck, but these things are at captains discretion.

Generally not a problem on the ground, most crew are human and have kids so will be more than happy to spare you 5 mins.

veetwin

I'd say your best chance would be on the return leg when the plane is on the ground in Dublin. It's usually a fairly quick turnaround in Faro and often a bus transfer meaning the bus full of passengers will have to wait on the tarmac until you complete your cockpit visit.

EI crew are usually very accommodating though for stuff like this.

Tilikum

When I was child (this was during the troubles) I was flying from Heathrow to Dublin after a family holiday.
The **** in the airport took my gunfighter guns & holster off me at security. Of course muggins here was bawling his eyes out going onto the plane

On seeing this, the pilot brought me up to the cockpit for about 30mins of the journey.

Ahhh those were the days!

Anyway, I have no advice for you. Sorry x

gnf_ireland

Thanks everyone - as I thought ! I will see what I can manage on the ground on some way over/back

Tabnabs

Happened to us by chance just recently on a EI flight from AGP to DUB. Stood waiting beside the cockpit door whilst boarding and one of the cabin crew asked if junior would like a look in the cockpit. Flight crew were exceptionally welcoming, let him sit in the captains seat with cap on for mandatory photograph. A treasured photo and absolutely full marks to the EI crew for allowing this. So it can happen OP.

billie1b

Friend of mine flying from BRU to DUB, she's not cabin or flight crew but does have a FATPL got the whole flight in the jump seat, she didn't know either pilot but the Capt. allowed it. Its at the captains owm discretion

Comhrá

It might help if you can organise your seating in the front of the aircraft for the flight so the cabin crew can have your son out of his seat and into the flight-deck while the passengers are getting their bags from the overhead and leaving. Should minimise any possible delays for the crew.

IvyTheTerrible

My son and I were the first passengers to board a Aer Lingus flight, this time last year. The cockpit door happened to be open, my son (3 years old at the time) commented and so the pilot asked him to come in and have a look! Made his holiday!

faoiarvok

Something I got to do a few times as a kid pre 9/11, and remember a former avgeek Scout leader telling us of the time he was travelling to New York in uniform and got to sit in a jump seat (penknife on his belt) for the approach and landing.

Listening to LiveATC, I have heard an airline's Operations base informing a pilot of a jump seat request, and asking if they're OK with it a couple times. Each time it sounded like the pilot knew the person making the request and that it had been organised beforehand.

Worth asking in advance I'd say, the worst thing they can do is say no. Other than that, get to the gate early and ask any member of crew and they may get a quick look during boarding.

Fattes

Pretty common as long as the planes are on the ground! Friends of mine both in their 30's and female, got photos on the flight deck of a Swiss flight this summer, another friend got one on an A350 with Finair!

I think once the plane is on the deck and stopped and the crew have time, most airlines are pretty accommodating.

Jan_de_Bakker

I remember when I was a kid being in the cockpit during that very flight ! Dub-Faro ... this was back in '86 - great days, night flight too so it was cool.

But as said im sure there is no problem just before or after flight .

martinsvi

I have to shamefully admit, that as a grown man, I have asked to have a peek in the flight deck after the flight on 3 occasions in the last couple of years and not once have I been denied the opportunity. Those were Emirates A380, Lufthansa B747 and British Airways A321. You just have to wait for people to disembark and ask the flight attendant. Doing it prior departure is not a good time as the crew prepare for take-off they are busy.. And of course no access to flight deck during the flight.

From my experience pilots looked genuinely happy that general public is showing interest in their work, in all occasions we had pleasant chats and giggles. But these were long haul flights with crew pretty much done for the day. Short haul with tight turn-arounds might be different, but I can't imagine them saying no to a child

Jan_de_Bakker

martinsvi wrote: »

I have to shamefully admit, that as a grown man, I have asked to have a peek in the flight deck after the flight on 3 occasions in the last couple of years and not once have I been denied the opportunity. Those were Emirates A380, Lufthansa B747 and British Airways A321. You just have to wait for people to disembark and ask the flight attendant. Doing it prior departure is not a good time as the crew prepare for take-off they are busy.. And of course no access to flight deck during the flight.

From my experience pilots looked genuinely happy that general public is showing interest in their work, in all occasions we had pleasant chats and giggles. But these were long haul flights with crew pretty much done for the day. Short haul with tight turn-arounds might be different, but I can't imagine them saying no to a child

Wow !
Lucky, was it a 747-8 on Lufty ?

martinsvi

Jan_de_Bakker wrote: »

Wow !
Lucky, was it a 747-8 on Lufty ?

no, 744, D-ABVW

PukkaStukka

Earlier this year on landing back in Dublin, Pukka Jnr and I were the last of a flight and he managed to charm a very attractive member of the cabin crew, and this in turn ended with him being led by the hand through the hallowed doors into the cockpit. The two guys therein couldn't have been nicer and as was said above, flight crews really do have a way with the children among us - even if some children are aged over 40!!

The story didn't end there as my son produced his mobile and showed the pilots a video him landing a 737 in the sim that was a birthday treat a few weeks before. The highlight of Pukka jnr's tale telling was that he landed the plane first go in the sim whereas his dad failed miserably....:o :P

Pinch Flat

Myself and pinch flat junior have been on an EI flight deck, while on the ground. Crew were exceptionally welcoming and called us in as we boarded - captain let him out put hat on, have a sit in the seat and took him through the "sat nav". Great experience and hats off (literally) to the crew.

I was on a 747 EI flight deck on the way to Boston in 1985. Great experience but sadly those days are gone.

A neighbour of mine flies 737 with a charter airline - tells me it's a big no no for family in the jump seat, his dad has been dying to do it.

BZ

In the late 90's I got to ride jump seat on the approach and landing into Heathrow in EI 737-400 with BZ senior. Also got to sit in for the entire journey back from pushback in LHR all the way back to pulling into the gate in SNN. It was an unbelievable experience one I will never forget. The captain and senior cabin attendant knew my father and that was the only reason we got to do this. Pre 9/11 was a different time in aviation!

pepe the prawn

I'd love to have a look/sit into an airliner cockpit.... I'm planning a career in the airlines and to this day have never set foot in an airliner cockpit, how bananas is that :pac:

Locker10a

BZ wrote: »

In the late 90's I got to ride jump seat on the approach and landing into Heathrow in EI 737-400 with BZ senior. Also got to sit in for the entire journey back from pushback in LHR all the way back to pulling into the gate in SNN. It was an unbelievable experience one I will never forget. The captain and senior cabin attendant knew my father and that was the only reason we got to do this. Pre 9/11 was a different time in aviation!

I love trips in the flight deck too but longer flights can be boring during the cruise unless you have a good crew and can have a laugh or good conversation, I often think how much id love my family/friends to be able to experience it ! It is a pity its so restricted these days but a quick visit on the ground is always welcomed! Its just so amazing to watch the take off and landings and listen to ATC from the the jump seat

cc

Coming back from Amsterdam to Cork during the summer while waiting by the open door of the cockpit the stewardess asked my 5 year old if he wanted to go in and have a look. Captain was great, nice photos and all!

cloloco

gnf_ireland wrote: »

Hi all

It looks like we will be taking a flight to Faro on my child's 5th birthday early next year. I am wondering is it possible for her to get into the cockpit to meet the captain etc.

I know its something that was kind of halted after 9/11, but that was 15 odd years ago at this point so wondering if the rules have relaxed

If it is 'possible', is there any way I can contact Aer Lingus in advance to request it, or is it simply a matter of just asking the staff on the day?

thanks

We were getting off a aerlingus flight in Italy and the captain asked my son if he wanted to in to see the cockpit. Sat him in the chair and put his hat on him and everything. I'd say that's your best bet to ask on the way out.

Think Baldonnell do tours too if your daughter is into planes she'd probably really enjoy that too

Irish Steve

The early 90's was the time for jump seat trips, or cockpit visits, especially if the visitor had a pilot''s licence, and was working towards a CPL, which was the situation I was in. So many trips, lots on the Aer Lingus commuter Shorts 360's, Saab 340's and F50's. and on the 360's, from a seeing things happening aspect they were great, as most of them didn't have autopilots, so hand flown, and being non pressurised, they stayed below 12,000 Ft unless the weather was really bad, and even then, the time above 12 was very limited. Lots of 737 jump seat time too, the best was a DC10 on the way to a flight sim conference in Dallas, we were in the flight deck before Greenland, and still there as we went over Chicago some 3 hours later. I learnt a lot during those visits, it was a time of significant change, as the CRM concept was being introduced at that time, and it was interesting to see how the different airlines managed that process.

9/11 changed everything, and not for the better, and even if things hadn't changed, with the other changes that have happened since, the flight deck environment is very different compared to the way it was 20 years ago, and the pressures are much greater than they were, between shorter turn rounds, more sectors, and busier skies, it's not as relaxed as it used to be.

It's a pity that children can't get in to the flight deck when in the air, seeing things happen makes the whole concept of flying so much more interesting and appealing to them, I know how much my two children enjoyed the visits they did back in the day,

A visit on the ground is still worth asking about, especially if the visitor has an interest in aviation, so it's worth trying to do if possible, and most flight crew are very good and if they can fit it in, they usually will.

Captain_Crash

I've been a long time lurker on this forum, but this is my first post.

I remember being in the cockpit of EI 737's and 747's in flight back in the 90's, and got a jump seat in an A330 once too. Those days are long gone. The last in flight cockpit visit I remember was a BA 734 from NAP to LHR.

Thankfully, on the ground Ive never had an issue. I assume most pilots are proud of what they do and love nothing more than sharing their passion with others wherever possible and as a result, are hoping for people to ask can they have a look. I was in the cockpit of an AA 767 in ORD recently and I couldn't shut the crew up they were so happy to have someone in to chat with.

Although, to top the lot, the most amazing cockpit experience I've ever had was sitting in the right seat of an A330 while it was under tow from the gate to the hangers in DUB.

cailinoBAC

I was in the cockpit loads of times as a kid in 80s, maybe early 90s, can't remember. Different times! I remember one time flying to Amsterdam and one pilot showing my brother a plan of the airport and asking our advice about where to go out something like that!!
Then I flew back from Vienna in jumpseat three months after September 11th( actually no direct flights i in those days so I'd taken overnight train from Vienna and flight was from Munich). It was a few days before Christmas and I was flying standby and all flights before Christmas were full.
I saw that air crash investigation about the flight in Russia where the kids were in the cockpit and actually one of them was in pilot's seat. Was it after that there was a complete ban on visits to cockpit during flights?

Comhrá

I had a memorable flight deck jumpseat flight on an EI A330 from BOS to SNN in 1995.

It was unusual in so far as we had an actual headwind Eastbound and secondly, there was the slight disappointment of Shannon being fog-bound so it was straight to Dublin and back to SNN at midday on the EI 105, a B747which was a bonus as the 747 was just finishing up with EI around that year.

Davidth88

Lucky enough to get in the jump seat twice.

Once was a BA737 going to Berlin when the air corridor was still in operation , quite interesting because you had French/German/American controllers.

It was really foggy landing and we didn't see the runway until we basically hit it ( to my untrained eye ) , that was mad because there was a check Captain in the cockpit also..... he sat on a drop down table I was in the jump seat all highly naughty !!

What also amused me was when we landed basically the crew were trying to work out where to taxi it seemed very casual , there were no automated light systems in those days ( November 1989 , yes I was flying out to see the wall coming down and I have a great big bag of said wall in my cupboard under the stairs ! )


The other time was in an ATR from Luton to Kerry, that was great fun as well. ( Manx )

zuutroy

Back in 1997 my mate's dad worked in Team AerLingus and we went up with him one afternoon. After a while in the hangar and shadowing him, he threw us a couple of Hi-Viz jackets and said 'off ye go'. We spent the next 2 hours walking around the ramp, and in and out of the terminal via various air bridges, getting mistaken for the engineer a couple times, sat in the cockpit of a BAE146, a Fokker 50, and an a321 in which my mate pressed a button that that made a 'bong' go off, so we duly left.
We met the chief pilot (Donal Foley) on the ramp and he gave us his card and wrote the number of the sim manager on it and said to give him a ring and organise a session in the 146 sim.
It seems unfathomable that you could get away with all that stuff ever! In fact if someone told me the story I wouldn't believe them.
Have been in up front for a trip to LHR and for landing coming in from Boston.