The jump seat in aviation is an additional seat located either in the cockpit or the cabin of an aircraft. In the cockpit, it is an auxiliary crew station intended for check airmen conducting line checks, FAA observers, or relief pilots in an augmented crew. In the passenger cabin, jump seats are utility-area foldable stations near emergency exits or crew rest areas; flight attendants must occupy them during takeoff and landing.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
What is a jump seat on a plane?
A jump seat in aviation refers to an auxiliary seat located in the cockpit or cabin of an aircraft, which provides seating for additional crew members and facilitates safe and efficient flight deck and cabin management.
A jump seat is an auxiliary seat in an aircraft, typically a folding seat for temporary use. It is not designated for passengers but for specific personnel under certain circumstances. On the flight deck, the extra seat is intended for use by relief pilots in an augmented crew, by additional pilots or trainees to observe operations, by check airmen conducting line checks, and by FAA observers. These flight-deck jump seats are officially termed auxiliary crew stations and are a privilege afforded to pilots and others who are allowed to ride them. The predominant reason every airliner must have such a seat is to allow an observer to occupy the flight deck during a checking event.
Whether in the cockpit or the cabin, a jump seat is often spring-loaded to fold away when not in use, maximizing space during normal service operations. The term originated in the United States for a movable carriage seat, and it was retained in aviation because the temporary seat ‘jumps’ up out of the way when not in use.
Who are jumpseats made available to?
Flight deck jumpseats are made available only to individuals authorized under federal requirements and with PIC approval. The Captain must verify each jumpseater with two forms of identification, one government-issued photo ID, and confirm CASS approval for all other-airline crewmembers and dispatchers. A jumpseat user must present a boarding pass or Jumpseat Authorization, company ID, FAA airman certificate, and current Airman Medical Certificate. Foreign nationals must add a photocopy of a U.S. visa showing C1/D1 classification. Jumpseaters must arrive at the gate no later than thirty minutes prior to departure, occupy the next available jumpseat a working crewmember uses, and be physically able to independently egress the airplane. They must also maintain annual currency by viewing the safety briefing and evacuation training video, wear pilot uniform or business-casual attire, and refrain from distracting the flight crew. As a courtesy they introduce themselves to the flight deck.
Flight attendant jumpseats are placarded ‘crew members’ only for takeoff and landing and are addressed in the electronic Flight Attendant Operations Manual (eFAOM). Each seat is equipped with seat belts or harnesses, an audio control panel, headset, and an oxygen mask positioned for rapid depressurization. A flight attendant using a jumpseat must display a crew-member ID badge until the aircraft door is closed, whether in uniform or not, and must be physically able to egress independently. If no cabin seat is available, unoccupied flight-attendant jumpseats will be assigned to other airline employees traveling operationally, provided the same identification, CASS confirmation, and conduct rules are satisfied.
Where is the jump seat located on a plane?
A jump seat is an auxiliary seat located in the aircraft's cabin and cockpit. In the cockpit it is officially termed an auxiliary crew station and is typically positioned behind or adjacent to the pilot and co-pilot seats. Every plane has at least one jumpseat on the flight deck. In the cabin, jump seats are installed near exit doors or galley areas and are mounted to the floor or a cabin bulkhead at the crew station. Cabin crew jump seats are normally located near emergency exits so that flight attendants can quickly open exit doors in an emergency and aid in evacuation. Additional flight attendant jumpseats are in various locations throughout the cabin, often near crew rest areas, cabin PA/handset systems, and emergency equipment like passenger safety demo kits, crew life vests, smoke hoods, and cabin torches.
How big is a jump seat on a plane?
Jump seat configurations depend on aircraft type and on cabin location. A jumpseat is two on A320s, and every narrowbody like the Airbus A320 family has two flying seats. Every widebody likewise has two flying seats. Because design engineers must be concerned with space for pilot seats, the unit is small: the Boeing 737 has a cramped flight deck, so the folding seat bolted to the cockpit wall is only a minimalist canvas triangle about forty centimetres wide and thirty deep, offering just enough depth for a restrained spine and no leg stretch. The aft jump seat mounted on the rear galley bulkhead is small, yet the frame must still meet crash-load rules.
How to sit in the jumpseat on a plane?
To sit in the jumpseat on a plane follow the instructions given below.
- Tell the captain for a briefing on how to deploy and stow the jumpseat
- Adjust the jumpseat fully down
- Watch the instructional video for proper deployment and sitting in the central cockpit observer jump seat
- Wait for the Captain to clear you
- Push down on the bottom seat cushion near the back
- Stand in the flight deck facing aft
To sit in the jumpseat, stand in the flight-deck facing aft, fold the armrests up, and push down on the bottom seat-cushion near the back. The seat drops fully down and locks. Once the jumpseat is deployed, adjust it and sit behind the captain or first officer. You are now deemed part of the crew and will observe standard operating procedures and MCC dynamics for the duration of the flight.
Can you use a jump seat on a private plane?
You can use a jump seat on a private plane only if you are an approved crewmember or the aircraft commander re-certifies the seat for passenger use. On most charter or corporate jets, the cockpit jump seat is ‘placarded’ crew only for takeoff and landing, so a passenger must not occupy it unless the captain re-designates it as a passenger seat. Super-midsize and large-cabin jets often carry one flight attendant. When that attendant is not required, the jump seat is removed or folded, reducing the passenger complement by one. There is no public ‘jump-seat ride’ program comparable to the airline system. Companies do not provide such rides, and Europe and North America apply the same crew-only rule.
