V-Flyer

Should Virgin Atlantic be looking at putting 3 crew members in the cockpit, after the German Wings accident. I think this idea would kwell some passengers worries. Virgin have such a good safety record.

wouldnt need to put a 3rd person in.
Just get a Cabin Crew member to go in when one goes out.
ie make it a rule that 2 crew must be in the cockpit at all times.

I don't I know anything about flight deck manning, but with Virgin's routes and aircraft wouldn't it be likely that there's more than 2 cockpit crew on duty anyway?

nkp85uk wrote:I don't I know anything about flight deck manning, but with Virgin's routes and aircraft wouldn't it be likely that there's more than 2 cockpit crew on duty anyway?

I have only ever heard an announcement of more than Captain and First Officer on the flight deck the once, when on a double drop.

When I was waiting for the VS3048 this afternoon there were a load of crew heading into London to work the long hauls and they were talking about the new procedures about them going into the cockpit so obviously VS are joining the ranks of those airlines that are changing their policy.

Virgin have changed their flight deck procedures as of today:
Without going into details for obvious reasons, a cabin crew member must be on flight deck if one pilot leaves for a toilet break etc.

I was speaking to a friend who works for an orange lower cost airline about this last night. They've had cabin crew trained for some time in door opening procedures and how to be a 2nd in the cockpit when one goes for a toilet break. They hadn't changed their operating procedures until yesterday.

Remember the "2nd Man" isn't necessarily there for anything sinister, could be heart attack for instance.

Given that VS operate long haul routes do they not have a 3rd pilot on board as standard? I use to fly United transatlantic for work and every time seat 4A was occupied with crew.

vscss wrote:Virgin have changed their flight deck procedures as of today:
Without going into details for obvious reasons, a cabin crew member must be on flight deck if one pilot leaves for a toilet break etc.

Just wanted to say thanks for the info. - peace of mind given the regularity with which many of us fly.

There were 3 in the cockpit of the 744 I flew to Cuba in last Oct.

G-VROS....

abraxias wrote:Given that VS operate long haul routes do they not have a 3rd pilot on board as standard? I use to fly United transatlantic for work and every time seat 4A was occupied with crew.

The 3rd relief pilot is only required on flights with a duty block time longer than 10.5 hrs, generally west coast USA, South Africa, Asia. Shorter flights would only have a 3rd pilot if it was a training flight.