Children are no longer allowed in the cockpit after terrorism closed off that fun experience
. But what's the rest in letting kids in the cockpit?
Sadly children are no longer allowed to go the front of a plane and see the cockpit. There was a time, especially on transatlantic flights when this would be permitted but increasingly it been disallowed by authorities. But why has this began to happen, even on flights from New York to Cancun that you'd assume are not going to be subject to much terrorist activity.
Since 9/11 airline authorities have taken extra measures to defeat the potential for hijackers over taking planes. This includes doors that can only be opened from the pilot's side. This precaution prevents hijackers from taking over the cockpit. It seems a little silly for this to happen though since hijackers have just as easily take hostages inside the plane and force the pilot to open the door. However, the new reinforced doors have become industry standard on flights from Atlanta to Pensacola through to flights from Detroit to Puerto Vallarta.
It's a sad state of affairs because I remember how exciting it was to see the cockpit when travelling to America as a charge. On both the outward journey we were permitted to see the cockpit. The pilot would explain what the various systems were for, and they allowed us to sit in one of the seat that are for reserve pilots. Seeing out of the front window was a very exciting experience. But it makes sense now to end that practice. Children can fly planes on computer games and it is simply too risky to allow children to go up to the flight deck of a plane where someone could barge in and hijack the plane.