forget to turn off your cell phone as soon as you enter the cockpit, and cease text
messaging. Remember, 10,000 feet and below is a sterile cockpit environment (airline
definitions of sterile cockpit may vary and be more restrictive), and reading, talking,
and other non-pertinent activities are prohibited when jumpseating. Your best
behavior ensures maintaining jumpseat agreements in the future.
International Jumpseating
In 2012, TSA lifted the restriction on off-line pilots occupying the jumpseat on
international flights. As of this writing, ALPA is working to address a number of
logistical hurdles, and they anticipate that international jumpseating will again be a
reality in the future. Until then, an off-line pilot may only occupy a seat in the
passenger cabin when traveling internationally. Some airlines may offer you a first-
or business-class seat. Keep in mind that most airlines that allow jumpseating in the
cabin internationally require check-in 75 to 90 minutes prior to departure to satisfy
TSA requirements. Individual airline requirements are listed in each airline’s
procedures, which are available on ALPA’s Jumpseat website:
http://jumpseatinfo.org.
Current U.S. rules prohibit any foreign-certificated pilot access to the flight deck.
Again, this policy does not prohibit a foreign-certificated pilot from sitting in the
cabin. Canadian carriers reciprocate jumpseat travel by offering available cabin seats.
At this time, no system like CASS exists in Canada for Canadian or U.S. pilots.
Boarding Priority for the Flight Deck
Certain individuals, such as government or company officials in the performance of
their duties, may require higher priority to the flight deck in accordance with
government regulations (i.e., FARs 121.547 and 121.583) or company policy. Seniority,
first come/first served, or a reservation system may be used for company and off-line
pilots. Extending preferential boarding to specific carriers will be addressed by the
Jumpseat Chair/Coordinator, the MEC, and the Company, as appropriate.
Within boarding priority, most airlines accommodate off-line jumpseat riders on a
first-come/first-served basis. Some airlines give priority to pilots of code-share
partners ahead of other off-line pilots. Keep in mind that reciprocal jumpseat
agreements are in place primarily to assist pilots commuting to work. These
agreements should be considered when determining priority for flight deck access.
Any problems that arise should be quickly referred to the Captain to resolve. Also,
carriers may have different policies regarding priority for access to the flight deck
than they do for cabin seating.
The FAA has reinstated a jumpseat program—called the Flight Deck Training Program—
for air traffic controllers, which allows them to ride in the flight deck. ATC personnel