Is it possible to fly sitting with the pilot?

Question

I want to travel by air and I want to sit with the pilot. I just want to see how the adventure is, to view the sky from the pilot's window and possibly see how the operate the airplane. I'm too curious about this. Can it be possible? Can airline and airport authorities allow me this opportunity?

Answer 1

The phrase "Have you ever seen a grown man naked" comes to mind for some reason.

Answer 2

Sorry, but there's ZERO chance of riding in the flight deck on an airliner. Passengers are restricted by federal law to sitting in the cabin only. The only way you're ever going to ride in the flight deck is to become an airline pilot.

The closest you might come is in a simulator, if you've got an airline pilot friend who might let you ride along on a training session.

Someone above made an excellent suggestion about taking an introductory flight lesson in a small plane. You'll have pretty much the same view, and you'll actually get to fly the plane. The cost is pretty modest, and you'll have a great time.

The flight decks of airliners look really gee-whiz, but the majority of it is just the same stuff as a small plane, presented in a different way, and with more redundancy.

You may occasionally see a third person (and sometimes a fourth) riding in the flight deck with the pilots. 99% of the time these extra people are also airline pilots, doing what we call jumpseating. It's a professional courtesy that pilots extend to one another, so that we can all get to and from work or travel off-duty when a flight is full. You can be sure that every jumpseater's credentials are very carefully verified.

We also get FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors, members of the NTSB and company dispatchers riding our jumpseats. The Inspectors may simply be traveling from A to B, or they may be conducting a "line check", which is an unannounced operational inspection of the pilots.

Answer 3

It is possible for you to sit in the cockpit of a flying airplane in the US.

If you were in my plane, I would let you have the controls and fly it. The youngest person I did this with was 7 years old. This is not really flying though. It is just sitting in the seat and using the controls. I would still be the Pilot in Command (PIC). As the PIC, I am allowed to do anything that is safe to do. If things were to go wrong, I would have to carry the blame.
In order to be a pilot you have to have instruction from a certified instructor, pass a written test, a practical test and a medical examination by a FAA certified doctor. Periodically you have to take a practical test and be recertified medically.

Answer 4

Sorry, but on a commercial airline flight it's going to be very difficult. Since 9/11, the FAA and the airlines have gotten very serious about restricting access to the cockpit of a commercial aircraft, especially while in flight. To get cockpit access, you need to have a reason, get top-level FAA approval and make special arrangements with the airline and the captain of the flight.

A previous suggestion was a good one - get up in a general aviation airplane and see how flying is done. You can manipulate the controls and get a better view of flying than you can from a commercial airliner.

Answer 5

Assuming ur travellin in a commercial aircraft...no way jose!!!
In todays day n age aircrafts r being used as missiles....however if b4 9/11 u woulda had a chance to sit opposite the captain...with the pilot assisting u...u woulda only gotten a chance to fool around with the steering wheel(with the plane on auto-pilot therefore all manual steering controls are locked)...

If u r travellin in a private jet u'll definitely get a chance based on the captains decision.
i know bcoz i had a personal experience with the captain and co-pilot 8 yrs back.

Answer 6

I especially doubt you will discover absolutely everyone who might permit you are trying this via fact the airplane and all the controls interior the cockpit are very, very high priced for criminal duty motives. i do no longer think of it is unlawful, (except the airplane is flying, then it is quite unlawful) yet i do no longer think of you will ever hit upon a pilot prepared to permit you, exceedingly no longer a pilot employed with Delta and so on you will in basic terms could desire to ask. perhaps attempt craigslist to make certain if there is an self sustaining pilot prepared to permit you sit down in certainly one of their chairs.

Answer 7

Even before 9/11 NO ONE was allowed in the flight deck during flight without FAA credentials and prior permission from the captain. So there is no chance on a commercial flight. If they are not too busy, they may let you take a look inside during the boarding process.

Answer 8

Nope, not at all. Its the FAA who made the rule. You can go to your local airport and ask for a discovery flight. Cost $90 or so for an hour and you will get to fly the aircraft. Do it, it is well worth it.

Answer 9

try some of the really small commuter planes that act as a bus, often taking just four or five passengers on short inter-island hops, one person usually sits next to the pilot

Answer 10

You can sit in the cockpit for the whole flight if you want in a private plane. You can find out more about it at the link below. i don't think you will be disappointed.