You are at the airport, having worked through security, perhaps stopped for coffee, and now you are about to reach your gate. You arrive an hour or so before departure, right on schedule. You notice a few pilots walking hurriedly towards a nearby gate, which causes you to wonder what their experience through an airport is like before a flight and how it might differ from yours.
Let’s walk through a pilot’s typical pre-flight journey through an airport based on my experience as an airline pilot. My answer cannot be one size fits all, as every airline has differing processes and rules for pilots – like how early before a flight they must report.
Arrival at the airport
Pilots and cabin crew typically work away from their home base airport for at least a few days, often 3 or 4 days at a time. When I report to the airport on the first day of a trip, I arrive in my vehicle. Suppose it is a subsequent day on the trip; in that case, the pilots and cabin crew typically arrive in a van staffed by the hotel we stayed at the night before, being dropped off as any other passenger would, curbside at the appropriate airline departure area.
Security
Once at the airport, we proceed straight to security. Getting over to the secure side of the airport is an important and necessary step as, at least at the airline I fly for, we must report at least 45 minutes before the flight’s departure, having made it through security.
This is where the pilot and passenger’s airport experience differ, as at most airports, pilots and other cabin crew members can access a program called Known Crew Member, or KCM, allowing known, verified crew members to access the secure part of the airport without going through the traditional security lanes under the control of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Not every airport has this service, and even at airports with Known Crew Member, we are still subject to random security screenings through TSA’s normal security lanes.
Personal pre-flight and crew room
Once through security, pilots proceed toward the gate where their first assignment will begin. If time permits, a restroom break or stop for coffee or food is in order, a time I refer to as the personal pre-flight. Often, on the first flight of the day for the crew, time is limited for this, and we are more likely to take advantage of a personal pre-flight in between flights throughout the day, where more time might allow for such a break.
Many airlines, especially in airports with a crew base, will provide space for the crew, known as a crew room. These are non-public portions of the airport where pilots can rest, review paperwork, work at a computer station, and perform other personal and preflight activities. My experience is that these spaces are utilized less than they were in the era before the iPad, as now the pilot has all the needed information about the flight available on his or her iPad virtually.
With any personal pre-flighting or crew room visits complete, it is time to walk to the gate.
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Arrival at the gate
Once at the gate, the pilots will talk briefly with the gate agent about any known issues with the flight, such as passengers requiring wheelchairs or other special services and the number of passengers expected. The gate agent will verify the credentials of the crew members, making sure it matches their records, and then the gate agent opens the door to the jet bridge for the crew. This is typically fifteen to thirty minutes before boarding, rarely more.
Arrival at the plane
Arriving at the plane, we stow our luggage and set up our work area in the flight deck with iPads, headsets, note pads, and other objects we’ll utilize during the flight. The first officer – or second in command – heads outside to walk around the airplane, inspecting it for any damage or potential maintenance issues. At the same time, the captain reviews the aircraft’s maintenance records and airworthiness.
A busy time of weather review, flight plan review, and planning for the takeoff and departure begins because, in just a few short minutes, the captain will grab the microphone and say, “Welcome aboard.”