Sn-appy landings with British Airways pilot photo app

British Airways pilots have developed a new photo app for customers to take away a souvenir cockpit picture from their flight – with actress Denise Van Outen the first to be sn-apped.All British Airways' 4,000 pilots will have the 'View From The Flight Deck' app loaded onto their iPads from the start of August to take photos of customers visiting the cockpit before take-off or after landing.The app automatically sends this special photo, which includes graphic showing facts from their flight, to customers so they have an instant, unique memento of their trip.

The information on the photo includes the Captain's name, route travelled and distance flown, as well as the aircraft type and registration. There is also an image of the aircraft to help budding young future pilots to recognise individual plane types the next time they fly.Customers are encouraged to share their flight deck photos with the airline's social media channels using the hashtag: #BAUpClose.

Describing the new British Airways app, Denise Van Outen, said: "I love travelling with my family and want to remember all those precious moments with Betsy as she grows up.I think this a great new way to create another fun holiday memory, and it's a bit different to the photos you'd normally bring back from a trip,” she said.

British Airways' head of flight operations, Captain Charlie Maunder, said: "As pilots we love flying and naturally want to share that with everyone, so we all enjoy welcoming customers up to the cockpit whenever possible.We're always looking for new ways to make sure everyone has a memorable flight every time they fly and our new souvenir photoflight app is a great way to help us do just that,” he said.

The special app was developed by one of British Airways' own pilots and is another initiative in the airline's bespoke 'Beyond the Flight Deck' programme, which is designed to help its flight crew best serve customers before, during and after their flight.