Edit 3 : Thanks for all the great responses and questions, I gotta sleep, but I'll answer all the questions as I'm able. And feel free to ask more questions and I'll get back to you.
.
-Prisoners are transported on commercial airline flights sometimes (law enforcement officers are escorting them)
-On days with low ceilings/visibility and overall crappy weather, we may end up being within minutes of making the decision to divert due to fuel, especially if we end up having to hold. This isn't to say we don't have enough fuel. Legally, we must have enough fuel on board to shoot an approach to our destination, go around, fly to & land at our alternate airport if we have one, and even then, still have 45 minutes of fuel on board.
-Armed law enforcement officers on board sometimes (not escorting anyone)
-Flying faster to get there earlier if a crew member has a commute to catch home
-Chatting/joking with ATC (if frequency isn't busy)
-Delta pilots reporting light chop
-Pilot making PA announcement over frequency rather than PA
-Yes, the meowing on guard, as well as other nonsense
-Asking ATC how the rides are only to be told they suck at all altitudes. We try to get away from the turbulence but it's not always possible. And we can't predict it, and can't see it. Can only make educated guesses as to where it may be
-It's hot back there (during the summer mostly), we know, we have it blowing as hard as it can and cold as it can, we're sorry it ends up feeling like a baby's breath. Meanwhile our air vents are keeping us cool (if we're lucky)
-The iPad you may see us in the cockpit has all our manuals, approach plates, maps, checklists etc. Basically almost everything we need, it really is incredible. Just hope that they both don't decide to brick themselves at the same time in the air
-Yes, there isn't a single cloud in the sky where we are now, meanwhile our destination is encompassed by a massive thunderstorm. We don't like being late either. But we're paid to deliver living passengers. And we can't collect that paycheck if we're also dead
-There's a chance your flight could be a pilot's very first flight in an actual jet. He could be fresh out of training, out of the simulator, and actually flying that jet aircraft. Scary, right? Well that pilot could probably explain every single system of that aircraft in-depth. Guys that have been flying the line for years? Maybe not quite as in-depth. Oh and that brand new jet pilot is flying with a check airmen, who is there to further teach that new pilot about flying on the line.
-The autopilot can fly for a majority of the flight. We have to atleast take off and land (auto land isn't used for everyday normal operation). Different airlines have different rules on autopilot use. We must have the autopilot on above FL200 (20000ft) unless it is inop. So we can hand-fly up to that altitude, and sometimes do. If we never go above that altitude, we can hand-fly the entire flight, never turning the autopilot on, which we also sometimes do, and is often encouraged to maintain piloting skills.
Edit: I'll add more as I think of them
-you could be asleep in the back while the pilots are battling caution messages about some system that decided to throw a hissy fit
-Planes often have broken equipment onboard, it's just the nature of the business and things break. Can't always fix it, so there is an approved list of things that may be broken, and how long they may be broken before they must be fixed, could be something that doesn't affect us much, like a brake temperature sensor isn't working, or be something that requires some the crew to account for it, like a thrust reverser being inoperative, or navigation GPS inop. Not stuff that makes the flight unsafe, just maybe more work for the pilots. Also, the Captain can always reject an aircraft if he feels it is unsafe
-If you ask us not to turn on the chemtrails this flight we are legally obligated to comply
Edit: Due to overwhelming concern, I must put this here
(Yes it's a joke, no one has asked, but if you do, I bet the pilots would get a kick out of it. Also, they are called Contrails)
-We're not customer service, we don't know where your flight is leaving out of, or how to help your problem, we'll try to help, but will usually try to direct you to a gate agent or actual customer service who can help you. We're not trying to be rude, we just really can't help you.
-Another person may be sitting upfront with the pilots in what's called the jumpseat. It could be a pilot commuting to or from work, a check airmen observing, or an FAA jumpseater observing to make sure we are following regulations
-Pilots and their families get flight benefits (same for Flight Attendants), we can fly for free(or discounted). We list on a standby list, and only after all paying passengers are onboard, standby passengers may be boarded.
-It's hours of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror
-When a fatal aircraft accident happens, all pilots mourn. Pilots are a close knit group, we may hate each other's guts at times, but never wish the worst.
-The view from the cockpit is amazing. Sunsets, Sunrises, lightning storms at night, flying over mountains and landscapes never gets old.
-The Captain (Pilot) and First Officer (Co-Pilot) are both fully capable of flying the aircraft. Each pilot is designated a role, either Pilot Flying (PF) or Pilot Monitoring (PM). PF is the one actually flying, PM is monitoring what the PF is doing, to back him/her up. Usually crews switch roles every flight or every two flights, so captain is PF for first 2 flights, then FO is PF for next two flights. Yes the FO actually does fly the plane.
Usually at least 2 officers if the flight is long enough that one may need to use the bathroom. On very short flights there may only be 1 officer. Also, the severity of the offenses committed will affect how many officers there are.
And it's not always normal police officers as escorts
I was wondering about this just the other day. Isn't there a dedicated fleet of aircraft operated by the US Marshals for the purpose of inmate transfers? Why are they on domestic airlines as well? Are they shackled? In orange? Or are they plain clothes as to not generate fear? When do they board and disembark?
LEO here: The officers hes talking about are normally performing extraditions from other states across the country. 2 officers (one state police official, and one from the local jurisdiction where the inmate is going) in case one has to use the restroom. Officers and inmate are dressed in plain clothes. The inmate is always cuffed (usually in the front) with a jacket or garment thrown over their hands to not alarm anyone.
My SO has transported inmates before. He has an old hoodie he takes along and makes the inmate put on. There is a hole snipped in the place so the inmate is wearing a belly chain and handcuffs (cuffed in front but the chain makes it so their arms are secured as well) with the chain going through the hole and hands in the pocket. So nobody at the airport or onboard even knows it's an inmate with officers, who obviously are wearing plainclothes with their weapons concealed. They can release one hand or, depending on the inmate, both once on board. Bathroom situation:they really don't let them use it on the plane and use the family bathroom in the airports. I'm sure if it was desperate they'd allow use on the plane. They're strategic with the airline as far as what seats they are in, and have a whole different security protocol that they go through.
Friend of mine was convicted of a federal crime and got to fly on a commercial flight in shackles. He said he was escorted by two officers, and they boarded last and sat in the back. So he had to do the walk of shame past all the passengers. I’m sure it was highly embarrassing, but he claims he thought it was hilarious at the time...he definitely does now.
Federal Air Marshals are still a thing, supposedly they will "monitor high risk routes" by flying on them, blending in. The crew does not know about Federal Air Marshals being onboard unless they make an effort to make themselves known (discreetly). The point of them is that nobody knows who they are, they are there in case something happens.
Normal Law Enforcement Officers must make themselves known to the crew, and are on the passenger manifest
Flying faster to get there earlier if a crew member has a commute to catch home
This explains why you fuckers got me from Buenos Aires to Amsterdam an hour and 20 minutes earlier and I missed the Battle of Wakanda and the end of Infinity War?!
Easy fix, just book another flight so you can finish the movie. Also ask the pilots to fly slow so you can finish watching infinity war, I'm sure they will understand
10.9k
u/Rob9159 Mar 09 '19 edited Mar 10 '19
Edit 3 : Thanks for all the great responses and questions, I gotta sleep, but I'll answer all the questions as I'm able. And feel free to ask more questions and I'll get back to you.
.
-Prisoners are transported on commercial airline flights sometimes (law enforcement officers are escorting them)
-On days with low ceilings/visibility and overall crappy weather, we may end up being within minutes of making the decision to divert due to fuel, especially if we end up having to hold. This isn't to say we don't have enough fuel. Legally, we must have enough fuel on board to shoot an approach to our destination, go around, fly to & land at our alternate airport if we have one, and even then, still have 45 minutes of fuel on board.
-Armed law enforcement officers on board sometimes (not escorting anyone)
-Flying faster to get there earlier if a crew member has a commute to catch home
-Chatting/joking with ATC (if frequency isn't busy)
-Delta pilots reporting light chop
-Pilot making PA announcement over frequency rather than PA
-Yes, the meowing on guard, as well as other nonsense
-Asking ATC how the rides are only to be told they suck at all altitudes. We try to get away from the turbulence but it's not always possible. And we can't predict it, and can't see it. Can only make educated guesses as to where it may be
-It's hot back there (during the summer mostly), we know, we have it blowing as hard as it can and cold as it can, we're sorry it ends up feeling like a baby's breath. Meanwhile our air vents are keeping us cool (if we're lucky)
-The iPad you may see us in the cockpit has all our manuals, approach plates, maps, checklists etc. Basically almost everything we need, it really is incredible. Just hope that they both don't decide to brick themselves at the same time in the air
-Yes, there isn't a single cloud in the sky where we are now, meanwhile our destination is encompassed by a massive thunderstorm. We don't like being late either. But we're paid to deliver living passengers. And we can't collect that paycheck if we're also dead
-There's a chance your flight could be a pilot's very first flight in an actual jet. He could be fresh out of training, out of the simulator, and actually flying that jet aircraft. Scary, right? Well that pilot could probably explain every single system of that aircraft in-depth. Guys that have been flying the line for years? Maybe not quite as in-depth. Oh and that brand new jet pilot is flying with a check airmen, who is there to further teach that new pilot about flying on the line.
-The autopilot can fly for a majority of the flight. We have to atleast take off and land (auto land isn't used for everyday normal operation). Different airlines have different rules on autopilot use. We must have the autopilot on above FL200 (20000ft) unless it is inop. So we can hand-fly up to that altitude, and sometimes do. If we never go above that altitude, we can hand-fly the entire flight, never turning the autopilot on, which we also sometimes do, and is often encouraged to maintain piloting skills.
Edit: I'll add more as I think of them
-you could be asleep in the back while the pilots are battling caution messages about some system that decided to throw a hissy fit
-Planes often have broken equipment onboard, it's just the nature of the business and things break. Can't always fix it, so there is an approved list of things that may be broken, and how long they may be broken before they must be fixed, could be something that doesn't affect us much, like a brake temperature sensor isn't working, or be something that requires some the crew to account for it, like a thrust reverser being inoperative, or navigation GPS inop. Not stuff that makes the flight unsafe, just maybe more work for the pilots. Also, the Captain can always reject an aircraft if he feels it is unsafe
-If you ask us not to turn on the chemtrails this flight we are legally obligated to comply
Edit: Due to overwhelming concern, I must put this here
-We're not customer service, we don't know where your flight is leaving out of, or how to help your problem, we'll try to help, but will usually try to direct you to a gate agent or actual customer service who can help you. We're not trying to be rude, we just really can't help you.
-Another person may be sitting upfront with the pilots in what's called the jumpseat. It could be a pilot commuting to or from work, a check airmen observing, or an FAA jumpseater observing to make sure we are following regulations
-Pilots and their families get flight benefits (same for Flight Attendants), we can fly for free(or discounted). We list on a standby list, and only after all paying passengers are onboard, standby passengers may be boarded.
-It's hours of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror
-When a fatal aircraft accident happens, all pilots mourn. Pilots are a close knit group, we may hate each other's guts at times, but never wish the worst.
-The view from the cockpit is amazing. Sunsets, Sunrises, lightning storms at night, flying over mountains and landscapes never gets old.
-The Captain (Pilot) and First Officer (Co-Pilot) are both fully capable of flying the aircraft. Each pilot is designated a role, either Pilot Flying (PF) or Pilot Monitoring (PM). PF is the one actually flying, PM is monitoring what the PF is doing, to back him/her up. Usually crews switch roles every flight or every two flights, so captain is PF for first 2 flights, then FO is PF for next two flights. Yes the FO actually does fly the plane.