![view from cockpit view from cockpit](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RPWRQ4xT_JA/maxresdefault.jpg)
Some airlines have held their pilots to stricter rules than required by regulators. All of the photos in this story appear to have been posted by commercial pilots, but it wasn’t possible to determine if there were passengers on all of the flights in question. The FAA rule doesn’t apply to general aviation and planes with no commercial passengers.Personal devices can be used while sitting in the jump seat of an aircraft, typically occupied by an off-duty crew member but sometimes by pilots who are just taking a break.
![view from cockpit view from cockpit](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/de/b6/2f/deb62fd3d77837222e969bae8f7a2de7.jpg)
(But if that iPad were used to take a photo, it would be considered a personal device and thus not allowed under FAA rules.) Pilots are allowed to use an “ electronic flight bag,” which is usually an iPad or other tablet containing the aircraft’s operating manual, maps, and other important documents that were previously kept in an actual bag.There are some exceptions to the FAA rule: Hoban, the veteran American Airlines pilot, said he doesn’t even approve of reading books while the plane is on autopilot. ”In a sense, you’re a systems manager at cruise altitude,” he said. ”It happens more often than you think that you have to correct what the plane is doing.” Their front-of-the-plane vantage leads to beautiful photos of sunsets and other planes zipping by. The Instagram photos also make clear why it’s so tempting for pilots to snap photos while flying. Many images appear to have been captured during critical phases of flight, like takeoff and landing. To gauge the extent of violations, Quartz has monitored hundreds of Instagram accounts over six months and collected a trove of photos and videos taken by people clearly sitting in the pilot or co-pilot seat on commercial flights. He added, “Someone holding a camera or a device, is a big no-no.” “In commercial aviation, the primary concern is safety, and that doesn’t have any area for compromise,” said Charles “Bud” Bernat, who recently retired after flying for United Airlines for 29 years. While restrictions on using electronics have been loosened for passengers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US has actually strengthened its rules for pilots in recent years. Pilots are prohibited from using most personal electronic devices, even at cruising altitude when the plane is on auto-pilot, to ensure they stay focused on flight duties. These few take it all in, appreciating the views and have even made it a habit of photographing the things they see while flying aircraft.Experienced pilots, safety experts, and airlines say the rules are important. Some know this and don’t succumb to the regularity of being in the sky so often, not allowing themselves to become jaded about flying. With pilots spending years at cruising altitude, it stands to reason that at some point they are going to take in some stunning views from the cockpit. The people who practically spend their entire lives in the air would be the first to say that views from the sky can be absolutely magnificent and spellbinding if you get enough glimpses. One flight or a handful under your belt simply might not yield the incredible views that one might get to experience if you practically lived in the air… like pilots for instance.
![view from cockpit view from cockpit](https://www.airlive.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/maxresdefault-50.jpg)
Those who find themselves saying it wasn’t that incredible simply don’t have quantity on their side. Some find themselves in amazement as they gaze down at the planet beneath while a few find the view a bit underwhelming when they finally get their glimpse, expecting more. Almost every first-time flier is eager to get the window seat in hopes that they can finally see what it’s like to look down at the Earth from an altitude of thirty-five thousand feet up in the air. Most people have boarded an airplane at some point in their lives and everyone remembers how exciting it was the very first time.