Can a passenger on a flight sit in cockpit?
Well, purely depends on the pilot’s discretion, mood and the current security measures and status. A national holiday or some security risk reasons may dampen the chances.
Although it is strictly illegal, pilots do allow passengers to enter the cockpit and sit on the seat, only when the plane is parked at the gate.
This can happen during boarding, after landing, or when a plane is stranded at the gate for long. If ever one sees the chance to, approach the on board staff politely and ask for it. If they say no, do not insist, they have a job to lose if some security measures are broken.
If you wish to visit the cockpit, you need to go the airhostess present. Be polite and don’t push her to talk to captain. Just tell her you wish to get a look inside the cockpit after landing and that you will appreciate it if she could make it work. Be polite and courteous.
After landing, wait for everyone else to exit the aircraft and walk to up to that airhostess and ask if captain’s granted you permission or not. If not, just move on and try your luck some other time. But if you do get a chance to enter the cockpit, make sure whatever you have to ask or see is done real quick. Get a photo or two and don’t be pushy if pilots decline to allow it. And while leaving, be thankful to all the crew members. That’s it. Being well dressed and groomed will help in this case. You have a better chance of visiting the cockpit in a short haul flight rather than a long haul one as pilots are usually tired when flying long distance at a single time.
Such polite requests were being considered by pilots off-course at pilot’s sole discretion during cruising stage, prior to 9–11 attacks. But after the attacks, cabin as well as cockpit rules were made more stringent and also enforced very meticulously. No one other than crew is allowed to enter cockpit once doors are armed. Even Cockpit door is supposed to be locked for entire duration of flight unless pilots want to exit cockpit for breaks or for other permitted reasons. As per Indian Civil aviation rules, in case one of the pilot exit cockpit, a senior cabin crew member is supposed to seat inside till he/she is back, as cockpit needs to be manned by minimum 2 members at any time during the entire flight duration.