For lengthy taxis or the occasional ground delay, crews often taxi out with only one engine running, both to conserve fuel and reduce noise. As such, passengers can tell when the engines are running by simply noting whether or not the propeller is turning. You see, the Jetstream 32 is a turboprop aircraft. On a humorous note, passengers have been known to assist the flight crew with “inoperable engine” problems. These tactics prove useful to combat night glare and preserve night vision, but are usually unnecessary for daytime flights. In some instances, crewmembers opt to shut off the passengers’ reading lights using the overhead cockpit switch. To deal with this, the best strategy is simply to close the curtain. The cabin lights, when reflected off the windscreen, can be distracting and sometimes temporarily blind the pilots. After such a request, most passengers promptly return to their seats, content to observe the crew fly the aircraft and manipulate the multitude of flight deck equipment.įor night flights, closing the curtain is a prudent choice, particularly during the descent and landing phases. On occasion, passengers tend to come forward and ask for a temperature adjustment. In fact, during their preflight briefing, Jetstream crews even encourage passengers to let them know if the cabin temperature becomes uncomfortable or if any developments require crewmember attention (with just 19 seats, Jetstream 32s don’t require a flight attendant). Thankfully, such instances appear to be VERY rare and usually quite minor. With such an unrestricted boundary between the cockpit and passenger cabin, many of you are probably wondering what sort of problems pilots have with passengers coming up to the cockpit. This open curtain policy allows passengers a glimpse into the cockpit operations that very few airline travelers get to see.įlight insights: Capt Stephens describes a typical flight from takeoff to landing For these reasons, many Jetstream 32 crews fly with the curtain open. While company Operation Specifications (OPS Specs) usually state that the curtain should remain closed for all “critical phases of flight,” pilots usually have the option to fly with the curtain open to facilitate passenger cabin supervision and communication. As such, the aircraft achieved certification with the curtain approved as an adequate divider between the cockpit and passenger cabin. This aircraft’s small size makes the installation of a cockpit door a burdensome and unrealistic expectation. Containing just 19 passenger seats, the Jetstream 32 is among the smallest of the puddle jumpers an air traveler is likely to come across. Why just a curtain? Well, one such aircraft, the British Aerospace Jetstream 32, is very small. ![]() Not all commercial aircraft have secured cockpit doors Curtain-equipped commuters have continued to operate in the post-9/11 skies of American commercial aviation. Before you ask, the aircraft in question are not from half a century ago. On some smaller commuter aircraft, the cockpit door consists of nothing more than a curtain. However, not all commercial aircraft shut passengers off from the world of the pilots. Once aboard, Federal Air Marshals and reinforced cockpit doors serve as additional reminders of Uncle Sam’s dedication to necessary safeguards.
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