JUMPSEAT
GUIDE July 2018
Schedule with Safety
THE ALPA JUMPSEAT GUIDE
The Mission of ALPA ASO AVIATION JUMPSEAT
Is to Ensure that:
1. Pilot-in-command (PIC) control over flight deck access and use of the jumpseat is not abrogated or
undermined in any manner or under any circumstances.
2. Flight deck jumpseats are made available to all individuals authorized to use them, in accordance with
PIC approval and federal requirements.
3. Appropriate procedures, equipment, and training are used to protect the safety and security of the flight
deck and jumpseat.
This guide has been prepared to inform and assist all ALPA members regarding jumpseat policies and proce-
dures. New technology and the integration of security and boarding systems and procedures have combined
to hamper PIC authority regarding flight deck and cabin access by jumpseaters. Proper use of the flight deck
jumpseat is a time-honored enhancement to safety and security that must remain under the control of the PIC.
We urge all PICs to review and decide upon each jumpseat request and not delegate that authority to any
other individual or system. We encourage the PIC to always question gate agents regarding boarding informa-
tion at show time, and check with the gate agent regarding jumpseat requests prior to departure to protect the
jumpseat privilege and ensure that jumpseaters are properly accommodated and no pilot is left behind.
To ensure the proper administration of policies impacting access to the jumpseat, please save this guide in
your flight kit for future reference.
Thank you for your assistance in protecting our jumpseat privileges.
See you on the line!
A gathering of the Aviation Jumpseat Group in February 2017.
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THE ALPA JUMPSEAT GUIDE
ALPA ASO AVIATION JUMPSEAT Website
ALPA maintains http://jumpseatinfo.org and the Jumpseat tab on the ALPA smartphone app to assist jump-
seating pilots. There you will find airline-specific policies and procedures as well as general jumpseat informa-
tion and other useful resources.
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The Captain’s Role
ALPA policy encourages all pilots to extend the use of their jumpseats
to eligible flight deck crewmembers as a professional courtesy and as a
resource to enhance the safety and security of flight. ALPA does not sup-
port denying jumpseat privileges as a means of punishing, coercing, or
retaliating against other pilot groups or individuals.
In the United States, jumpseat authorization and admission to the flight
deck is governed by federal aviation regulations (FARs), TSA security
directives, and company policies. The captain is, and shall always be, the
final authority over matters relating to admission to the flight deck.
FAR 91.3 (a) states, “The pilot-in-command of an aircraft is directly re-
sponsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.”
FAR 121.535 (d) states, “Each pilot-in-command of an aircraft is, during
flight time, in command of the aircraft and crew and is responsible for the
safety of the passengers, crewmembers, cargo, and airplane.”
FAR 121.547 and 121.583 specify who may be admitted to the flight deck and set forth requirements for oc-
cupying a flight deck jumpseat.
The PIC of the aircraft also serves as the In-Flight Security Coordinator (ISC) per TSA regulations. As a criti-
cal link in the security chain, captains have the responsibility to verify each jumpseater’s identity and authority
to occupy a flight deck jumpseat. When a jumpseat request is made, whether for a seat in the cabin or in the
flight deck, the PIC is responsible for performing the following procedures:
1. Verifying company ID by means of face/name match
2. Verifying FAA flight and medical certificates
3. Verifying Cockpit Access Security System (CASS) approval—if questions arise regarding an individual’s
CASS approval, it is recommended that the gate agent recheck CASS while the PIC observes. CASS
serves only to meet the employment and identity verification requirement necessary to occupy a flight
deck jumpseat. It has no bearing on eligibility to ride in the cabin.
4. Briefing the jumpseater on any relevant items. If a jumpseat rider is to remain on the flight deck, the
captain should ensure that he or she is properly briefed on safety, security, communication, and
evacuation procedures. Security procedures, as they are very fluid, should always be briefed verbally.
Other procedures may be done verbally or by means of a printed, aircraft-specific briefing card in
accordance with applicable government regulations and company procedures.
A jumpseater who will be occupying a cabin seat does not need to be CASS approved. If the CASS request is
denied—and there may be many reasons—that denial should be used as a way to ask a few relevant questions
to determine the individual’s actual status. A few simple questions about the airline or union affiliation that only
someone on the inside of a company would know work well for this purpose. We must be proactive to keep un-
authorized, and potentially dangerous, individuals off the flight deck.
A fraudulent jumpseat rider is an individual who attempts to gain access to the aircraft by intentional decep-
tion, such as through use of counterfeit IDs, inadequate or nonexistent medical certificates, or after dismissal
by an employer; these acts constitute fraudulent representation. Off-line jumpseat rider abuse includes, but is
not limited to, individuals who occupy a jumpseat at their company’s request (or on a ticket) and for reasons
other than commuting to or from work or on personal travel. In addition to denying access to the jumpseat, you
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should immediately report suspected or known instances of jumpseat fraud to your MEC Security chair or coor-
dinator, as appropriate. You should report jumpseat abuse to the MEC Jumpseat chair as soon as practical.
Jumpseating, Safety, and Security
While exercising the privileges of FAR 121.547 as a jumpseater, whether you are seated in the flight deck or in
the cabin, you are considered an additional crewmember and should conduct yourself accordingly. Keep your
eyes and ears open if you are sitting on the flight deck; an additional crewmember can be a valuable safety
asset. Wear a headset and observe sterile cockpit rules, but speak up when necessary. Jumpseaters may also
serve as a security asset by helping with flight deck door openings and, in an extreme case, protecting the
flight crew from an assault on the flight deck. Don’t forget to turn off your cell phone as soon as you enter the
cockpit. Remember, 10,000 feet and below is a sterile cockpit environment (in some cases, above 10,000 feet
also), and reading, talking, and other nonpertinent activities are prohibited when jumpseating. Your best behav-
ior ensures maintaining jumpseat agreements in the future.
International Jumpseating
In 2012, TSA lifted the restriction on off-line pilots occupying the jumpseat on international flights. As of this
writing, ALPA is working to address a number of logistical hurdles and we anticipate that international jump-
seating will again be a reality in the future. Until then, an off-line pilot may only occupy a seat in the passenger
cabin when traveling internationally; some airlines may offer you a first- or business-class seat. Keep in mind
that most airlines that allow jumpseating in the cabin internationally require check-in 75 to 90 minutes prior to
departure to satisfy TSA requirements. Individual airline requirements are listed in each airline’s procedures,
which are available on ALPA’s Jumpseat website: http://jumpseatinfo.org and on the ALPA’s smartphone app’s
Jumpseat tab.
Current U.S. rules prohibit any foreign-certificated pilot access to the flight deck. Again, this does not prohibit a
foreign-certificated pilot from sitting in the cabin. ALPA is aggressively offering assistance to international air-
lines to establish a jumpseat system. Canadian carriers reciprocate jumpseat travel by offering available cabin
seats. At this time, no system like CASS exists in Canada for Canadian or U.S. pilots. ALPA will maintain its po-
sition of PIC authority regarding access while establishing and maintaining international jumpseat agreements.
ALPA is also working with Canadian carriers and has established a Canadian subject-matter expert within the
ASO Aviation Jumpseat.
Boarding Priority for the Flight Deck
Certain individuals, such as government or company officials in the performance of their duties, may require
higher priority to the flight deck in accordance with government regulations (i.e., FARs 121.547 and 121.583)
or company policy. Seniority, first come/first served, or a reservation system may be used for company and
off-line pilots. Extending preferential boarding to specific carriers will be addressed by the Jumpseat chair/co-
ordinator, the MEC, and the company, as appropriate.
Within boarding priority, most airlines accommodate off-line jumpseat riders on a first-come/first-served basis.
Some airlines give priority to pilots of code-share partners ahead of other off-line pilots. Keep in mind that
reciprocal jumpseat agreements are in place primarily to assist pilots commuting to work. This should be con-
sidered when determining priority for flight deck access. Due consideration should be given to union affiliation.
Any problems that arise should be quickly referred to the captain to resolve. Also, carriers may have different
policies regarding priority for access to the flight deck than they do for cabin seating.
The FAA has reinstated a jumpseat program—called the Flight Deck Training program—for air traffic control-
lers which allows them to ride in the flight deck. ATC personnel are not FAA inspectors. They must be verified
for flight deck eligibility through CASS and they do not share the same priority as FAA inspectors. An air traffic
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controller does not have priority over any pilot for the flight deck jumpseat. The ATC PIV card must be verified.
Current TSA Security Restrictions
The Cockpit Access Security System (CASS) satisfies the electronic employment and identity verification re-
quirement to allow pilots of a participating airline to ride in the cockpit jumpseat of another CASS airline (do-
mestic U.S. only). ALPA, in conjunction with respective airline Jumpseat Committees, vets a CASS airline for
viable reciprocity. In other words, just because a carrier is in CASS, it may not necessarily be authorized for a
reciprocal jumpseat agreement with your airline. If you would like ALPA to look into adding a specific carrier that
you would like to use, please contact your airline’s Jumpseat Committee.
The TSA no longer requires passports when using CASS, but individual airline policy may require them.
Jumpseat Etiquette and Courtesy
Jumpseating is a privilege and not a right! Please observe
the following etiquette guidelines and restrictions while ex-
ercising jumpseat privileges:
• Dress code is uniform, business, or business casual.
• Jumpseating is not the same as nonrevving. You are
considered an additional crewmember and should
conduct yourself accordingly.
• Jumpseat availability is usually first come/first served;
however, most airlines give their own pilots, and in
some cases pilots of subsidiaries, a higher priority.
Most, but not all, airlines allow multiple jumpseat
riders when unoccupied cabin seats are available. By
regulation, the captain makes the final decisions, not the gate agent or CASS. Due consideration of
union affiliation may also be recognized when conflicts arise.
• Check-in procedures vary by airport and airline. Allow sufficient time to check in at either the ticket
counter or gate—or in some cases both. You may review each airline’s policies and procedures at
http://jumpseatinfo.org.
• Jumpseating requires professional conduct at all times. Be courteous to agents when requesting
the jumpseat. Always ask the captain’s permission and offer thanks for the ride, even if given a seat
assignment and occupying a cabin seat; never let an agent rush you past the cockpit without asking
the captain’s permission. FARs require that the captain authorize you and know you are on board.
Identify yourself as a jumpseater to the flight attendants when boarding. If in the cabin, protocol
requires nonrevenue passengers and jumpseaters to board last and also deplane last.
• Leave your bags on the jet bridge (or otherwise out of the way) while you are introducing yourself.
Limit your carry-on bags to a minimum when jumpseating. This benefits you because you are most
likely one of the last to board—when overhead space is quite limited.
• Employees and other nonrevs will have priority over jumpseaters who may be offered a cabin seat.
Jumpseaters generally have the lowest priority of anyone. You may be asked to deplane at the last
minute. Airlines will not delay flights for jumpseaters. If a jumpseater causes delays on other airlines,
this could jeopardize reciprocal agreements.
• If offered a seat in first class by the captain, inform the lead flight attendant of this permission. A first-
class seat does not automatically entitle you to the same first-class benefits as revenue passengers.
If seated in first class, do not drink alcoholic beverages. While you are exercising the privileges
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afforded you by FAR 121.547 or 121.583 (i.e., jumpseating regulations), you are considered an
additional crewmember and the alcohol limitations of FAR 91 apply. Having a seat in the back does
not relieve you of this responsibility. Even when not in uniform, remember that you are still considered
an additional crewmember and you may be required to assist on the flight deck or in the cabin in case
of unusual or emergency circumstances. You must remain prepared to assists the flight crew should
the need arise.
• Be considerate of revenue passengers and provide any assistance, if necessary. Use your best
judgment, especially if you stowed your bags farther aft than your seat.
• Be polite and courteous to gate agents. Remember that they do not get the same benefits of riding on
other carriers, but never, ever let them talk you into taking the jumpseat or becoming a jumpseater on
a flight for which you are ticketed no matter how nicely they ask or what type of favor you may think
you are doing them. They may even offer you vouchers, but this practice has resulted in lost reciprocal
jumpseat agreements. The jumpseat belongs to the captain, not the gate agent. It is not just another
seat!
• If you have any questions, suggestions, comments, and/or complaints, please contact your MEC
Jumpseat chair/coordinator. Be prepared with detailed information such as the date, time, gate,
and name of the gate agent so it can be accurately tracked through CASS. If you are unsure how to
contact your MEC Jumpseat chair/coordinator, visit http://jumpseatinfo.org and select “Contact your
jumpseat rep” from the links at the top. Completion of the form will generate an e-mail to your MEC.
Always conduct yourself professionally while jumpseating. It is one of the most valuable career privileges we
have earned!
Participating Airlines and CASS
CASS allows airline gate agents to quickly determine whether an airline pilot from a participating airline is
authorized to access an aircraft’s cockpit jumpseat. CASS does not approve anyone to ride in the jumpseat—
again, that responsibility lies with the captain.
The use of biometrics, security-enabled kiosks, and protected databases provides effective, positive identifica-
tion and background data to allow crewmembers to move safely through the system. The most up-to-date infor-
mation about airlines’ jumpseat policies and CASS compliance is available at http://jumpseatinfo.org and the
ALPA smartphone app’s Jumpseat tab. Please refer to them for this information.
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