The FAA is reinstating its Flight Deck Training program, letting air traffic controllers apply to ride in the jumpseat on eligible flights to see pilots' workload firsthand.
This will be helpful for some controllers to understand how things work in the cockpit. Unfortunately, pilots don't get the same opportunity to sit side by side w/ a controller, although visits to ATC facilities have been done.
There is still a sterile cockpit so there might be a lot less discussion that might otherwise be possible; flying in/out of busy airports provides little time for chit chat anyway.
Since alot of pilots use the cockpit jumpseats to commute on full flights, they might or might not be excited to see another group of people vying w/ them
Sterile cockpit is below 10k ft.
Have taken 57 FAM flights, all back in the good old days.
yes...but that is when the most activity occurs including interacting w/ ATC.
Departures are more likely to "follow the script" (flight plan) than arrivals.
I would also say that most controllers have a pretty good knowledge of what pilots want and do their best to accommodate requests. Although a bad interaction here and there shows up, most controllers and pilots interact well together.
Neat new technology like digital releases and ATIS eliminate a lot of voice interactions not just for airline pilots but also for general aviation; they just are being rolled out first in predominantly air transport airports.
Nice that ATC can deliver pilots that phone number to call in person.
Good. Now everybody practice the King's English!