Here's why pilots leave the cockpit door open during boarding
When you step onto a plane and look to the left, it's likely that you'll get a clear view straight into the cockpit.
There you'll see the pilots and the many controls and blinking lights, preparing for the flight ahead.
But why is the door wide open during boarding, when it's usually such a locked-down area of the plane?
READ MORE: Tiny detail on your boarding pass could determine if you get a good plane seat
The cockpit door is typically open during boarding. Getty Images/iStockphoto
It all comes down to one thing: communication.
While passengers are boarding, the pilots and the flight attendants are buzzing with energy, getting all the final details sorted before the plane can take off.
READ MORE: All the new cruise ships coming to Australia this cruise season
It's crucial for the cabin crew to be able to relay details to the pilots in real time - which is a lot easier to do when the door is open.
"Pilots and flight attendants are actively communicating about flight details, passenger count, fuel status, weather, and any last-minute changes," Corry Lane, director of safety at private jet charter company Cirrus Aviation Services, told Travel + Leisure.
There's a lot happening during the boarding process. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Ground crew, dispatchers, and maintenance workers might also need to enter the cockpit to deliver paperwork or perform final checks.
Once everything is sorted and the plane is good to go, then the cockpit, also known as the flight deck, is sealed up. By law, the door must be locked before pushback.
On very special occasions, passengers may be able to enter the cockpit - like if you're travelling with young kids who are particularly keen to have a look inside.
READ MORE: Luggage tag mistake travellers are making every day
Sometimes maintenance workers need to get in the cockpit. Getty
It's at the crew's discretion and subject to strict security rules, so if you ask for a peek, don't get too disappointed if the answer is no.
The best time to ask is not during the boarding process when everyone is busy, but once you've landed at your destination and passengers are deplaning.
On long-haul flights, there are typically four pilots on board, former Qantas captain, Jeremy Burfoot, previously told 9Travel.
If you're lucky, you could get a tour of the cockpit. Getty Images/iStockphoto
This is so that pilots can get some downtime on long flights.
If they're flying from Singapore to Sydney, Jeremy says they would work the whole time, as there would only be two pilots.
But on a longer trip, such as Sydney to Dallas, a team of four pilots would mean they have more time off to leave the flight deck.
He says they would "go and have a rest in the bunk, or watch a movie on the book."
