Odd NJ question

[labbats]

I'm unfamiliar with fractional flying, so I got to wondering about flying without a cockpit door separating you from the pax. Can you read the newspaper while flying at cruise? I'd have to assume that the paying customers can see right in and would object.

 

[Guitar Guy]

We usually have the curtain open unless the folks in back want it closed. Sometimes, we may shut the curtain at night in order to cut down the light from the back. As for reading with pax onboard, it's a no-go item, if you will.

Sometimes you just have to chat with the person sitting next to you.

 

[gunfyter]

If you are on the X you have no time to read. To busy checking in on new Center frequencies in rapid succession.

If you are on the Falcon you are too busy eating a hot meal.

 

[fischman]

I'm unfamiliar with fractional flying, so I got to wondering about flying without a cockpit door separating you from the pax. Can you read the newspaper while flying at cruise? I'd have to assume that the paying customers can see right in and would object.

I'm curious. Does your current employer allow you to read the paper in the cockpit?

 

[av8tor4239]

I used to read entire novels when I was flying at the Airlines because I would be so freaking board flyiing to the same airports over and over and over and over and over again! Now there is no time (at least on the XL) I am too busy learning about where I am going, what FBO, how to get to the FBO once we land... PAX tranfers, class B airspace and if we will be below it.. calling inrange..... all the stuff you did not have to do at the airline..

 

[labbats]

I'm curious. Does your current employer allow you to read the paper in the cockpit?

No, I'm supposed to be doing a steady instrument cross check and scan outside for other aircraft for our CLE-MIA flights. So of course that is exactly what I do for 3 hours. I also update my jepps the very day they are released, even if it's my day off and make certain that every gate we come into has lit wands by two people during daylight hours.

I'm not here to say what is and isn't expected at an airline, I'm simply curious about a certain fractional situation.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Not to be blunt, but NetJets wants their pilots to follow the guidance provided in their FOM. Reading a newspaper to pass the time while flying isn't permissible as it's considered a distraction.

Which is sort of what Fischman was getting at.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

I think every company wants their employees to follow the FOM. I also feel that if NetJets had locking doors as a procedure their would be a lot more reading going on up there. So IMO its just the nature of the beast that you cannot read in the cockpit there. Personally I feel its a small trade off for the rewards.

However, You guys can't honestly tell me that on an empty leg someones not reading the USA today from the hotel.

 

[Box-Hauler]

What is the policy of clients riding up front. Is there an observers seat, and if so can a PAX ride in it, (with crew approval of course).

 

[CA1900]

However, You guys can't honestly tell me that on an empty leg someones not reading the USA today from the hotel.

We aren't.

We're reading the New York Times from the FBO.

 

[likeitis]

Not to be blunt, but NetJets wants their pilots to follow the guidance provided in their FOM. Reading a newspaper to pass the time while flying isn't permissible as it's considered a distraction.

Which is sort of what Fischman was getting at.

Zoning out into infinity is more of a distraction than someone who is reading. If you are reading then your brain is obviously engaged. How many times have you driven through a stop light and had no idea if it was actually green? How many times have you driven home and you have no idea of the last 10 miles? Many guys wouldn't be able to stay awake unless they had something to do even though they are well rested. Reading during cruise is more safe than watching the altimeter bounce between 37,000 and 36,990. Though you aren't really watching it. Perception is reality for the benefit of following the FOM I guess.

 

[Guitar Guy]

If you are reading then your brain is obviously engaged.

The company's belief is that if your eyes are reading a paper, they aren't watching outside for traffic or weather up ahead.

How many times have you driven through a stop light and had no idea if it was actually green? How many times have you driven home and you have no idea of the last 10 miles?

Not certain how that ties into reading in the cockpit. Do you read while you're driving?

Perception is reality for the benefit of following the FOM I guess.

I'm not certain that I understand what you mean with that statement.

 

[gunfyter]

We aren't.

We're reading the New York Times from the FBO.

I am listening to Rush and Hannity on ADF ...

 

[av8tor4239]

Zoning out into infinity is more of a distraction than someone who is reading. If you are reading then your brain is obviously engaged. How many times have you driven through a stop light and had no idea if it was actually green? How many times have you driven home and you have no idea of the last 10 miles? Many guys wouldn't be able to stay awake unless they had something to do even though they are well rested. Reading during cruise is more safe than watching the altimeter bounce between 37,000 and 36,990. Though you aren't really watching it. Perception is reality for the benefit of following the FOM I guess.

best post of all time!

 

[fischman]

No, I'm supposed to be doing a steady instrument cross check and scan outside for other aircraft for our CLE-MIA flights. So of course that is exactly what I do for 3 hours. I also update my jepps the very day they are released, even if it's my day off and make certain that every gate we come into has lit wands by two people during daylight hours.

I'm not here to say what is and isn't expected at an airline, I'm simply curious about a certain fractional situation.

Your sarcasm and lack of professionalism will rid you of the need of understanding what it is like in our corner of aviation. Grow up.

I suppose you didn't think about the fact that many of us fly for FAR 91 owners who MAY allow reading while in cruise?

How do you think it would look if we were flying our owner around and he spots the red light on the annunciator panel before we do? Not too professional.

 

[jaybird]

i've been busted a couple times playing brickbreaker.

 

[JungleJett]

What if you are one of the few owners that actually is checked out to fly the airplane....can that person read on the flight deck while you sit in the back? And if you are sitting in the back, can you read?

 

[NJAowner]

Hey, sometimes when I fly commercial (unfortunately no all of us have an unlimited supply of $$ and hours), I have seen a PIC or SIC with their iPod headphones on. Makes me wonder.

 

[gutshotdraw]

What is the policy of clients riding up front. Is there an observers seat, and if so can a PAX ride in it, (with crew approval of course).

The FOM specifically prohibits a passenger, even if rated in the aircraft, from sitting in a pilot seat. However, the cockpit jumpseat is frequently occupied by a passenger on the Gulfstream fleet. Ironically, it's usually the white-knucklers who most often request to sit on the jumpseat for takeoff and landing.

 

[Jafo73]

The FOM specifically prohibits a passenger, even if rated in the aircraft, from sitting in a pilot seat. However, the cockpit jumpseat is frequently occupied by a passenger on the Gulfstream fleet. Ironically, it's usually the white-knucklers who most often request to sit on the jumpseat for takeoff and landing.

But we do have some owners who are typed and do fly the airplane with an instructor.