Can passengers enter the cockpit?

For the most part even pilots can’t freely enter and exit the cockpit inflight anymore. For the most part, cockpit visits are at the pilot’s discretion, so it’s all a function of how busy they are; they may be willing to let you visit before the flight, after the flight, or not at all.

Do pilots hang out with flight attendants?

Abacaxi: As a former flight attendant who recently resigned: Yes, they do hook up with flight attendants frequently… Not only do pilots hook up with the attendants but also passengers they meet on the flights, random women at bars hotels etc.

Can pilots listen to music while flying?

Yes, the FAA permits pilots to listen to music as long as it’s not distracting. Some headphones have the ability to have two inputs, one for comms and one for music, and can silence the music whenever audio is detected on the comms input.

Do airline pilots sleep on long flights?

The simple answer is yes, pilots do and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.

Why don’t pilots talk about what they do in the cockpit?

Instead, the pilot would appease them by saying the flight is proceeding normally. Some of what they do in the cockpit violates protocol, so those are things they won’t share too. For example, pilots are up in the air for a very long time, mostly between 14-16 hours, and that makes them very tired.

Do pilots know who they are flying with before boarding?

Yes, pilots have no idea whom they are flying with until they are literally seated in the cockpit. Pilots board the plane first but they necessarily have to deplane last. Even before the boarding starts, your pilots are already in the cockpit doing pre-flight checks.

Why do pilots put planes on autopilot within seconds of taking off?

To lessen the fear of passengers, pilots don’t want you to know that in the cockpit, they put the plane on autopilot within seconds of taking off. That’s because modern computer technology in the cockpit makes the pilots feel unnecessary. The computer is such an integral part of the flight that it doesn’t need human intervention.

Why do pilots have to confirm that the other pilot is awake?

The regulation states that before one of the pilots can get some rest, he or she has to confirm that the other pilot is awake by soliciting a verbal confirmation. Following numerous unsolicited cockpit intrusions by passengers, all airplane cockpits are now closed off to passengers during the duration of the flight.