For real? Outrage after woman posts photos from cockpit

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/internet-outraged-after-woman-posts-photos-from-113169074757.html

Quite shocking. When I clicked on the article, i did not expect to see CX as the airline in question

Perhaps US centric paranoia here but I cant see how seating a pax in the cockpit for 2 hrs in flight, is a wise move under any circumstances. Visiting a deck is one thing – while on the ground, but once the cockpit doors are locked – only flight crew should be permitted. Wasn’t the co-pilot of the MH370 criticized widely after it was found out that he had invited guests into the cockpit on previous flights? Unwise, unsafe, and not in line with most international standards, and I wouldn’t be surprised if CX takes action (that said, the report in the link above indicates that a CX rep defended the action saying “relatives of crew” were allowed in the cockpit seat- whatever for?. Let a surgeon bring their kids to watch an operation? I doubt it. Indefensible.

Surely “something” need not have happened for this to be inappropriate? Just because a Pilot may not trust a co-pilot (for whatever reason), does not give the crew carte-blanche to invite abject strangers (race, gender, ethnicity, national origin notwithstanding) to the cockpit in-flight – in a “what difference does this make” attitude. Gosh – if this were true, lets do away with all forms of security and make it a free for all. I doubt many would sign up for that. CX crew should have known better and the airline coming to the defense of such irresponsible behavior is even worse. In the US, the crew would have been sacked – no question about it.
Sorry, but have to disagree with you. Would love to hear from the BA crew and others on this forum on this.

I witnessed this a number of times on the now-defunct Cyprus Airways, including take off and landing, which I thought wasn’t allowed even before the post 9/11 restrictions. There was also the case of the pilot sacked for allowing ex-footballer/now pundit onto flight deck, although it was charter flight where all passengers knew each other.

Martyn makes some valid points, especially about flightdeck visits in a controlled environment. Perhaps CX should have taken possession of her ‘phone until they arrived at destination and she should have exercised more commonsense.

Each countries aviation regulatory body will set the law as applicable to flight deck access. The individual company is then also able to set a more restrictive policy if they wish.

In this case, it seems that Cathay was following the conditions set down by the Hong Kong aviation authority. The passenger in the flight deck was either CX staff or an immediate family member.

At BA the policy is a bit more restrictive – only flight or cabin crew travelling on leisure can travel in the flight deck. Although other staff and staff travel nominees can travel on jump seats in the cabin.

A 100% sterile cockpit is almost impossible. Short of installing a mini galley, rest and toilet facilities in every flight deck there will always be an opportunity to gain access.

it was an off duty flight attendant for CX and she was fired for putting the pictures on the web

TheRealBabushka
As you asked me Do you honestly believe the tech crew is going to keep the cockpit door locked if a perpetrator is intent on taking control of the aircraft? – Yes, I do believe that (just as Handbag does).

Yes, there are several ways in which aircraft safety can be compromised, but inviting trouble (literally and otherwise) by having tourists in the cockpit, undermines the seriousness of the the job. There is no way a US airline would allow this. Also, sterility of the cockpit is broken several times in-flight – rest room breaks, meal service, etc, but the US airline crew do a good job of blocking the access to the cockpit during those times by having 2 crew members on guard and a heavy trolley blocking the entryway. I had no idea, CX was this lax in their policies – makes me (and others who are outraged on other sites as well) question their other protocols.