Have you ever flown on an empty aircraft? I dare say there will be a few of these stories floating around after COVID19. My experience was prior to the pandemic. I turned up to work as normal unawares of what this day would behold! My senior flight attendant was unwell and unfit to operate and unfortunately there were no crew available to replace her for our first flight. The aircraft was required at another airport to continue the remaining flights for that day, so what did that mean? My first ferry flight! This means flying an empty aircraft (yep zero passengers) super strange right! I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to see if I could sit in the jump seat of the flight deck. To my surprise the Captain was more than happy to allow me to invade the flight deck for the flight. I remained cool, calm and collected on the outside but I was secretly super excited!!
We boarded the aircraft and the flight crew went into the flight deck to complete all their checks as per normal procedures. I then realised that I was solely responsible for completing all the safety and security checks in the cabin, que panic. Of course we get trained on all of the checks in our ground school but we always have another person to confirm everything with if ever in doubt. Not this time it was all me. So off I went and completed all the checks. Everything checked out and there were no issues. But in the back of my mind there was that little bubble of doubt creeping in making me question if I’d actually checked absolutely everything! So what did I do? Check again of course to be absolutely sure.
The Captain gave the all clear to close the door and head down the front to take my seat. Um I’ve never closed the door on my own before! Again, we do get trained on this so I did know what I was doing and everything was completely safe. I checked that door about a thousand times before I went down the front. Still didn’t pop that doubt bubble though!
Anyway I took my seat and put on the headset. Ooo so exciting! And all those screens and buttons, I’m thinking how on earth do they know what they’re pushing and turning?!
We’re ready for take off, the speed picks up and I start freaking out (on the inside). My mind was going crazy, did I lock the door properly? Was it actually shut? Omg did I secure the carts after doing my security checks? Turns out I did everything perfectly and I had checked everything multiple times. There was absolutely nothing to be freaking out about! But I still did!
Despite my freaking out, sitting in the flight deck was an amazing experience! First of all as a flight attendant I was able to see how everything operates beyond that flight deck door. To see what the flight crew workloads are like, when it is high and when it is low. It provided a whole new context to our procedures. And secondly it was just super fun! Flying through clouds and seeing what it looks like to land an aircraft from the front windows. It kind of looked like a video game!
I certainly have a new appreciation for pilots, you guys and girls are amazing at what you do, it’s certainly not something I could do. I’ve actually heard many pilots say the same about being a flight attendant!
In our operation we are super lucky, the flight attendants and flight crew have a really great professional relationship. If you’re a flight attendant, get to know your flight crew. I can’t tell you how much of a difference building these relationships makes, especially when faced with difficult situations in the air.
Fly heigh my winged friends and if you have questions or comments you know what to do!
XOXO
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