diff --git a/docs/APPLICATION.md b/docs/APPLICATION.md
index d3ca6ffce..af2d4c94c 100644
--- a/docs/APPLICATION.md
+++ b/docs/APPLICATION.md
@@ -228,3 +228,81 @@ view name is an error. A host that does not initialize Core's locale passes
 `localePicker: false` to `createApplicationControls` instead of editing the
 markup. Node tests that import application modules register the component
 loader with `node --import=<core package>/build/register-vue`.
+
+### Cockpit subjects
+
+Core's Cockpit rides a tracked aircraft, the tracked satellite and the
+selected AIS vessel. An application adds kinds of its own with
+`services.cockpitSubjects` on `createApplicationControls`: a list of
+providers, checked once when the controls are built
+(`src/cockpitSubjectProviders.js`). A malformed provider is left out with a
+warning. Entry rides the most recently selected subject of all kinds and needs
+the provider's `layerId` on; the provider then holds its subject, hands the
+camera a frame and the generic HUD a view model on every update, and releases
+it on exit. Provider methods are synchronous; one that throws or returns a
+promise is treated as having failed.
+
+```js
+import { getLocale, onLocaleChange } from '@gods-eye-view/core/i18n/locale';
+import { pointAtS } from '@gods-eye-view/core/layers/rail/paths';
+
+const words = {
+  en: { view: 'Ride view', exit: 'Exit ride view', exitText: 'EXIT RIDE' },
+  de: {
+    view: 'Fahrtansicht',
+    exit: 'Fahrtansicht verlassen',
+    exitText: 'VERLASSEN',
+  },
+};
+
+/** Ride the Rail layer's selected train; `rail` is its layer instance. */
+const ride = {
+  kind: 'example-ride',
+  layerId: 'rail',
+  entryFace: { icon: 'train', label: 'RIDE' },
+  // A function is read again when the page's language changes.
+  labels: () => words[getLocale()] ?? words.en,
+  candidate() {
+    const train = rail.getSelectedTrain();
+    return (
+      train && {
+        id: train.key,
+        name: train.label,
+        selectedAt: train.selectedAtMs,
+      }
+    );
+  },
+  hold: (id) => rail.setCockpitSubject(id),
+  read(nowMs, ctx) {
+    const train = rail.getCockpitSubject();
+    if (!train?.path) return null; // ends the view
+    const point = pointAtS(train.path.line, train.path.s);
+    return {
+      id: train.key,
+      latitude: point.lat,
+      longitude: point.lon,
+      heightM: train.position.railHeightM, // null stands it on the shared floor
+      headingDeg:
+        train.path.direction < 0 ? point.bearingDeg + 180 : point.bearingDeg,
+      eye: { upM: 3.5 },
+    };
+  },
+  hud: (frame) => ({ title: frame.name }),
+  release(id, { restore }) {
+    rail.setCockpitSubject(null);
+    if (restore) rail.focusTrain(id);
+  },
+};
+
+createApplicationControls({ /* ... */ services: { cockpitSubjects: [ride] } });
+```
+
+`@gods-eye-view/core/i18n/locale` gives `getLocale()` and `onLocaleChange()`:
+Core translates only its own strings, so a provider words its labels, entry
+face and HUD for the page's language (labels may be functions, as above; the
+HUD is read again on a change). `@gods-eye-view/core/layers/rail/paths` is the
+Rail layer's pure path module (`createRailPath`, `pointAtS`, `projectOnPath`)
+for a provider placing a train along its line. The frame, HUD view and
+candidate fields are documented in `src/cockpitSubjectProviders.js`; the Rail
+and Transit read APIs in `src/layers/rail/cockpitSubject.js` and
+`src/layers/transit/cockpitSubject.js`.
diff --git a/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md b/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md
index 6b86534a8..0fbf6119c 100644
--- a/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md
+++ b/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md
@@ -1696,7 +1696,9 @@ and portal cleanup follows that restoration.
 
 ### Ship bridge view
 
-With no aircraft tracked, Cockpit can ride the selected AIS vessel instead.
+Cockpit can also ride the selected AIS vessel; when other subjects are
+selected too, entry takes the most recently selected one (see Application
+subjects below).
 Entry needs only the layer of the vessel it rides, Live AIS Vessels, and a
 selected vessel; Contacts and every other layer may be off, before or during
 the bridge (`bridgeEntryAllowed` in `src/contextModePolicy.js`). A Context mode
@@ -1782,9 +1784,9 @@ satellite instead. Entry needs only the Satellites layer
 layer may be off. A Context mode change in flight blocks entry until it
 settles. Debris (rocket bodies, fragments and dead satellites; see the
 satellite class toggles) can be tracked but never entered: no ORBIT entry is
-offered and double-click refuses it. A tracked aircraft still takes
-entry first, and a tracked satellite
-takes it before a selected vessel. Double-clicking the tracked satellite
+offered and double-click refuses it. When an aircraft or a vessel is also
+tracked or selected, entry takes the most recently selected subject (see
+Application subjects below). Double-clicking the tracked satellite
 enters it, and the entry button reads
 ORBIT with a satellite icon in Contacts (`#cockpit-entry`) and under the Intel
 HUD readout (`#cockpit-entry-readout`). Voice (`control_cockpit`) stays
@@ -2001,13 +2003,15 @@ the reason, while a provider's view is in use.
 
 Entry rides the most recently selected subject of all kinds: a tracked
 aircraft, the tracked satellite, the selected vessel or a provider's
-candidate, by when the Cockpit first saw it; subjects first seen together keep
+candidate, by when the Cockpit first saw it, or saw it selected again (a
+provider candidate's `selectedAt` changing); subjects first seen together keep
 the fixed order (aircraft, satellite, vessel, then providers by priority). The
 newest decides alone: when its gate is shut there is no entry rather than an
 older subject's.
 
 A frame places the eye `eye.upM` above `heightM` (the shared floor where the
-frame gives none), slews toward `headingDeg` at the provider's rate, and may
+frame gives none, or where it last stood while that floor is cold; with
+neither the camera waits where it is), slews toward `headingDeg` at the provider's rate, and may
 turn off the floor clamps (`groundClamp: false`, for a subject inside a
 structure) or keep the anchor exactly on the subject (`anchor: 'exact'`, for a
 layer that already moves it smoothly); `cameraIntervalMs: 0` updates the
@@ -2022,19 +2026,23 @@ motion), arrow-key look-around when the provider asks for it, and a progress
 line along the bottom edge (`src/cockpitProgress.js`: close ticks merge,
 labels never overlap). Core translates none of the provider's text: a host
 words it for the page's language (`@gods-eye-view/core/i18n/locale`:
-`getLocale`, `onLocaleChange`).
+`getLocale`, `onLocaleChange`). Its entry face, labels and look may be
+functions, read again when they are shown and on a change of language, as the
+HUD view is.
 
 The Rail layer offers a read API for such a view: `getSelectedTrain()` and
 `getCockpitSubject()` (a snapshot of the train: where it is along its line,
 which way it runs (`pathBinding.js` learns it), its rail height, speed as
-reported or derived, position source, feed credit and stops),
+reported or derived, position source, feed credit and stops, and
+`selectedAtMs`, when the user last selected it, even again),
 `setCockpitSubject(key)` (its marker and card hidden, the selection kept, its
 feed held, clicks and Escape left to the view) and `focusTrain(key)`; its pure
 path module is exported as `@gods-eye-view/core/layers/rail/paths`. Transit
 offers the same for a vehicle (`getSelectedVehicle`, `getCockpitSubject`,
 `setCockpitSubject`, `focusVehicle`): a held vehicle keeps playing when it is
 out of the camera's view, and its sprite, card, trail and detection box are
-hidden. `src/ui/cockpitSubjectView.test.mjs`,
+hidden; released, it is out of play until a visibility sweep finds it in
+view. `docs/APPLICATION.md` (Cockpit subjects) shows a minimal provider. `src/ui/cockpitSubjectView.test.mjs`,
 `src/cockpitSubjectProviders.test.mjs`, `src/cockpitProgress.test.mjs`,
 `src/layers/rail/cockpitSubject.test.mjs` and the Transit lifecycle tests
 cover them.
diff --git a/src/cockpitMath.test.mjs b/src/cockpitMath.test.mjs
index 845bcce42..b6b6f5849 100644
--- a/src/cockpitMath.test.mjs
+++ b/src/cockpitMath.test.mjs
@@ -47,11 +47,7 @@ test('cockpit anchor correction cannot turn a forward step into a reversal', ()
   const speedMps = 200;
   const dtSec = 0.1;
   const forwardStepM = speedMps * dtSec;
-  const backwardCorrectionM = cockpitAnchorCorrectionStep(
-    1000,
-    speedMps,
-    dtSec,
-  );
+  const backwardCorrectionM = cockpitAnchorCorrectionStep(1000, speedMps, dtSec);
   assert.ok(backwardCorrectionM > 0);
   assert.ok(backwardCorrectionM < forwardStepM);
 });
@@ -87,7 +83,10 @@ test('cockpit Context scope distinguishes radius-complete feeds from viewport in
 });
 
 test('cockpit Context scope preserves zero and replaces missing values intentionally', () => {
-  assert.equal(formatCockpitContextScope('', 0), '— · 0 KM AIR/SEA WINDOW');
+  assert.equal(
+    formatCockpitContextScope('', 0),
+    '— · 0 KM AIR/SEA WINDOW',
+  );
   assert.equal(
     formatCockpitContextScope(undefined, Number.NaN, {}),
     '— · — KM AIR/SEA WINDOW',
@@ -224,29 +223,26 @@ test('relative bearing stays on the shortest signed arc', () => {
 });
 
 test('HUD rail layout centers between intersecting upper and lower obstacles', () => {
-  assert.deepEqual(
-    resolveHudRailLayout({
-      viewportHeight: 1000,
-      panelHeight: 200,
-      laneLeft: 50,
-      laneRight: 410,
-      baseTop: 280,
-      baseBottom: 940,
-      gap: 10,
-      obstacles: [
-        { left: 40, right: 240, top: 320, bottom: 460 },
-        { left: 300, right: 1000, top: 780, bottom: 930 },
-        { left: 900, right: 1100, top: 300, bottom: 700 },
-      ],
-    }),
-    {
-      top: 520,
-      maxHeight: 300,
-      safeTop: 470,
-      safeBottom: 770,
-      constrained: false,
-    },
-  );
+  assert.deepEqual(resolveHudRailLayout({
+    viewportHeight: 1000,
+    panelHeight: 200,
+    laneLeft: 50,
+    laneRight: 410,
+    baseTop: 280,
+    baseBottom: 940,
+    gap: 10,
+    obstacles: [
+      { left: 40, right: 240, top: 320, bottom: 460 },
+      { left: 300, right: 1000, top: 780, bottom: 930 },
+      { left: 900, right: 1100, top: 300, bottom: 700 },
+    ],
+  }), {
+    top: 520,
+    maxHeight: 300,
+    safeTop: 470,
+    safeBottom: 770,
+    constrained: false,
+  });
 });
 
 test('HUD rail layout constrains an oversized panel to the safe corridor', () => {
@@ -300,10 +296,7 @@ function contextSnapshot(subject, extra = {}) {
 }
 
 test('Contact panel hides only when there is no snapshot at all', () => {
-  const readout = resolveCockpitContextReadout({
-    snapshot: null,
-    info: TRACKED_INFO,
-  });
+  const readout = resolveCockpitContextReadout({ snapshot: null, info: TRACKED_INFO });
   assert.equal(readout.visible, false);
   assert.equal(readout.mode, 'standby');
   assert.equal(
@@ -319,22 +312,14 @@ test('Contact panel survives NEXT onto a vessel or installation subject', () =>
   // camera: "click next... whole left panel disappears").
   for (const subject of [
     { layerId: 'ais-live-vessels', id: '353136000', label: 'MAERSK DETROIT' },
-    {
-      layerId: 'military-installations',
-      id: 'fort-hood',
-      label: 'FORT CAVAZOS',
-    },
+    { layerId: 'military-installations', id: 'fort-hood', label: 'FORT CAVAZOS' },
     { layerId: 'military', id: 'ae01ce', label: 'RCH451' },
   ]) {
     const readout = resolveCockpitContextReadout({
       snapshot: contextSnapshot(subject),
       info: TRACKED_INFO,
     });
-    assert.equal(
-      readout.visible,
-      true,
-      `${subject.layerId} subject must keep the panel up`,
-    );
+    assert.equal(readout.visible, true, `${subject.layerId} subject must keep the panel up`);
     assert.equal(readout.mode, 'foreign');
     assert.equal(readout.subjectMatchesTracked, false);
   }
@@ -342,11 +327,7 @@ test('Contact panel survives NEXT onto a vessel or installation subject', () =>
 
 test('a foreign subject dashes the aircraft-relative fields and keeps the rest live', () => {
   const readout = resolveCockpitContextReadout({
-    snapshot: contextSnapshot({
-      layerId: 'ais-live-vessels',
-      id: '353136000',
-      label: 'MAERSK DETROIT',
-    }),
+    snapshot: contextSnapshot({ layerId: 'ais-live-vessels', id: '353136000', label: 'MAERSK DETROIT' }),
     info: TRACKED_INFO,
   });
   assert.equal(readout.visible, true);
@@ -355,20 +336,12 @@ test('a foreign subject dashes the aircraft-relative fields and keeps the rest l
   // frame while every other row value is measured from the subject; rendering
   // both live would present one mixed-frame reading as a single measurement.
   assert.equal(readout.aircraftRelative, false);
-  assert.equal(
-    readout.contactLost,
-    false,
-    'subject-frame values still refresh',
-  );
+  assert.equal(readout.contactLost, false, 'subject-frame values still refresh');
 });
 
 test('the tracked aircraft as subject keeps every field in its own frame', () => {
   const readout = resolveCockpitContextReadout({
-    snapshot: contextSnapshot({
-      layerId: 'flights',
-      id: 'aaa077',
-      label: 'SWA1234',
-    }),
+    snapshot: contextSnapshot({ layerId: 'flights', id: 'aaa077', label: 'SWA1234' }),
     info: TRACKED_INFO,
   });
   assert.equal(readout.visible, true);
@@ -387,11 +360,7 @@ test('a fast-culled subject keeps the panel up as CONTACT LOST instead of collap
       snapshot: contextSnapshot(subject, { subjectPresent: false }),
       info: TRACKED_INFO,
     });
-    assert.equal(
-      readout.visible,
-      true,
-      'a lost contact must not take the panel down',
-    );
+    assert.equal(readout.visible, true, 'a lost contact must not take the panel down');
     assert.equal(readout.mode, 'lost');
     assert.equal(readout.contactLost, true, 'last-known values stay on screen');
   }
@@ -399,10 +368,7 @@ test('a fast-culled subject keeps the panel up as CONTACT LOST instead of collap
 
 test('an explicitly present subject is never reported lost', () => {
   const present = resolveCockpitContextReadout({
-    snapshot: contextSnapshot(
-      { layerId: 'flights', id: 'aaa077' },
-      { subjectPresent: true },
-    ),
+    snapshot: contextSnapshot({ layerId: 'flights', id: 'aaa077' }, { subjectPresent: true }),
     info: TRACKED_INFO,
   });
   assert.equal(present.contactLost, false);
@@ -421,36 +387,20 @@ test('the tracked flight layer is resolved by normalized tracked identity', () =
   // Both layers describe a tracked aircraft during a cross-layer handoff;
   // civilian-first precedence would hand the cockpit the wrong aircraft.
   assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({
-      civilian,
-      military,
-      trackedId: 'military:ae01ce',
-    }).layerId,
+    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ civilian, military, trackedId: 'military:ae01ce' }).layerId,
     'military',
   );
   assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({
-      civilian,
-      military,
-      trackedId: 'military:ae01ce',
-    }).icao24,
+    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ civilian, military, trackedId: 'military:ae01ce' }).icao24,
     'ae01ce',
   );
   assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({
-      civilian,
-      military,
-      trackedId: 'flights:aaa077',
-    }).layerId,
+    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ civilian, military, trackedId: 'flights:aaa077' }).layerId,
     'flights',
   );
   // Case-insensitive: layers stamp lowercase hex, callers may not.
   assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({
-      civilian,
-      military,
-      trackedId: 'MILITARY:AE01CE',
-    }).layerId,
+    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ civilian, military, trackedId: 'MILITARY:AE01CE' }).layerId,
     'military',
   );
 });
@@ -460,56 +410,28 @@ test('tracked-identity resolution falls back to layer precedence', () => {
   const military = { icao24: 'ae01ce' };
   // No stamped identity (or one that matches neither layer) keeps the historic
   // civilian-first order so tracking paths without gevTrackedId still work.
+  assert.equal(resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ civilian, military }).layerId, 'flights');
   assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ civilian, military }).layerId,
+    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ civilian, military, trackedId: 'satellites:25544' }).layerId,
     'flights',
   );
-  assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({
-      civilian,
-      military,
-      trackedId: 'satellites:25544',
-    }).layerId,
-    'flights',
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ military, trackedId: '' }).layerId,
-    'military',
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ trackedId: 'flights:aaa077' }),
-    null,
-  );
+  assert.equal(resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ military, trackedId: '' }).layerId, 'military');
+  assert.equal(resolveTrackedAircraftInfo({ trackedId: 'flights:aaa077' }), null);
   assert.equal(resolveTrackedAircraftInfo(), null);
 });
 
 test('cockpit emergency wording states the broadcast code, not a conclusion', () => {
   assert.equal(
-    formatCockpitEmergency({
-      label: 'General emergency',
-      squawk: '7700',
-      source: 'squawk',
-      severity: 'emergency',
-    }),
+    formatCockpitEmergency({ label: 'General emergency', squawk: '7700', source: 'squawk', severity: 'emergency' }),
     'SQUAWK 7700 · GENERAL EMERGENCY',
   );
   assert.equal(
-    formatCockpitEmergency({
-      label: 'Downed aircraft',
-      squawk: '1200',
-      source: 'ads-b',
-      severity: 'emergency',
-    }),
+    formatCockpitEmergency({ label: 'Downed aircraft', squawk: '1200', source: 'ads-b', severity: 'emergency' }),
     'ADS-B EMERGENCY · DOWNED AIRCRAFT',
     'an unrelated squawk is not quoted beside an ADS-B status',
   );
   assert.equal(
-    formatCockpitEmergency({
-      label: 'Minimum fuel',
-      squawk: null,
-      source: 'ads-b',
-      severity: 'priority',
-    }),
+    formatCockpitEmergency({ label: 'Minimum fuel', squawk: null, source: 'ads-b', severity: 'priority' }),
     'ADS-B PRIORITY · MINIMUM FUEL',
   );
   assert.equal(formatCockpitEmergency(null), null);
diff --git a/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.js b/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.js
index 4f044fd6d..46b588ebe 100644
--- a/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.js
+++ b/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.js
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@ export const COCKPIT_SUBJECT_TONES = Object.freeze([
   'alert',
 ]);
 
+/**
+ * The heights a frame may give (m, ellipsoidal): below the deepest dry
+ * ground, above anything ridden near it; outside, the frame stands on the
+ * floor.
+ */
+export const COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MIN_HEIGHT_M = -1_000;
+export const COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MAX_HEIGHT_M = 50_000;
+
 /** The most readouts, sources and signals a HUD view shows. */
 export const COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MAX_READOUTS = 4;
 export const COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MAX_SOURCES = 4;
@@ -77,6 +85,34 @@ function faceOf(raw) {
   return Object.freeze({ icon: raw.icon, label });
 }
 
+/** The labels a provider gives, normalized, or null without the required. */
+function labelsOf(raw) {
+  if (!isObject(raw)) return null;
+  const labels = {
+    view: cockpitSubjectText(raw.view, 48),
+    exit: cockpitSubjectText(raw.exit, 48),
+    exitText: cockpitSubjectText(raw.exitText, 24),
+    kicker: cockpitSubjectText(raw.kicker, 48),
+  };
+  return labels.view && labels.exit && labels.exitText
+    ? Object.freeze(labels)
+    : null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A provider's worded member as it reads now: the value, or what the
+ * function it is returns (so it can follow the page's language); undefined
+ * when that throws.
+ */
+function wordedNow(value) {
+  if (typeof value !== 'function') return value;
+  try {
+    return value();
+  } catch {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+}
+
 /** Why `provider` cannot be kept, or null. */
 function refusal(provider, kinds) {
   if (!isObject(provider)) return 'not an object';
@@ -96,19 +132,13 @@ function refusal(provider, kinds) {
     typeof provider.isEntryAllowed !== 'function'
   )
     return 'isEntryAllowed is not a function';
-  if (!faceOf(provider.entryFace)) return 'malformed entry face';
-  const labels = provider.labels;
-  if (
-    !isObject(labels) ||
-    !cockpitSubjectText(labels.view, 48) ||
-    !cockpitSubjectText(labels.exit, 48) ||
-    !cockpitSubjectText(labels.exitText, 24)
-  )
+  if (!faceOf(wordedNow(provider.entryFace))) return 'malformed entry face';
+  if (!labelsOf(wordedNow(provider.labels)))
     return 'labels need view, exit and exitText';
+  const look = wordedNow(provider.look);
   if (
     provider.look != null &&
-    (!isObject(provider.look) ||
-      !cockpitSubjectText(provider.look.aheadLabel, 64))
+    (!isObject(look) || !cockpitSubjectText(look.aheadLabel, 64))
   )
     return 'look needs an aheadLabel';
   return null;
@@ -128,12 +158,20 @@ function refusal(provider, kinds) {
  * - `look` (optional): `{restPitchDeg?, aheadLabel}`, arrow-key look-around as
  *   on a bridge, resting at `restPitchDeg` (default 0, -90..90), its Look
  *   ahead button named `aheadLabel`;
+ *   `entryFace`, `labels` and `look` may each be a function returning the
+ *   object: it is called again whenever they are shown and when the page's
+ *   language changes, so its words can follow it (`./i18n/locale`). A read
+ *   that throws or is malformed keeps the last good one; `look` is on or off
+ *   and `restPitchDeg` fixed as first read;
  * - `cameraIntervalMs` (optional): 0..1000, null for the Cockpit's default; 0
  *   updates the camera every rendered frame;
  * - `headingSlewDps` (optional): how fast the view turns to a new heading,
  *   positive or Infinity, null for the Cockpit's default;
  * - `candidate()`, `isEntryAllowed(candidate)` (optional), `hold(id)`,
- *   `read(nowMs, ctx)`, `hud(frame, ctx)` and `release(id, {restore})`.
+ *   `read(nowMs, ctx)`, `hud(frame, ctx)` and `release(id, {restore})`, all
+ *   synchronous (createCockpitSubjectCaller). `isEntryAllowed` allows entry
+ *   only by returning `true`. A `hold` that throws is followed by
+ *   `release(id, {restore: false})`.
  *
  * A provider that is not so is left out with one warning naming it.
  * @param {unknown} list
@@ -157,28 +195,40 @@ export function cockpitSubjectProviders(
       return;
     }
     kinds.add(provider.kind);
-    const look = isObject(provider.look)
-      ? Object.freeze({
-          restPitchDeg: finite(provider.look.restPitchDeg)
-            ? clamp(provider.look.restPitchDeg, -90, 90)
-            : 0,
-          aheadLabel: cockpitSubjectText(provider.look.aheadLabel, 64),
-        })
-      : null;
+    // Worded members are read again on each use (see above); the last good
+    // read stands in for a bad one.
+    let face = faceOf(wordedNow(provider.entryFace));
+    let labels = labelsOf(wordedNow(provider.labels));
+    const firstLook = wordedNow(provider.look);
+    const lookOf = (raw) =>
+      Object.freeze({
+        restPitchDeg: finite(firstLook.restPitchDeg)
+          ? clamp(firstLook.restPitchDeg, -90, 90)
+          : 0,
+        aheadLabel: cockpitSubjectText(raw.aheadLabel, 64),
+      });
+    let look = isObject(firstLook) ? lookOf(firstLook) : null;
     kept.push(
       Object.freeze({
         kind: provider.kind,
         layerId: provider.layerId,
         priority: finite(provider.priority) ? provider.priority : 0,
         order,
-        entryFace: faceOf(provider.entryFace),
-        labels: Object.freeze({
-          view: cockpitSubjectText(provider.labels.view, 48),
-          exit: cockpitSubjectText(provider.labels.exit, 48),
-          exitText: cockpitSubjectText(provider.labels.exitText, 24),
-          kicker: cockpitSubjectText(provider.labels.kicker, 48),
-        }),
-        look,
+        get entryFace() {
+          face = faceOf(wordedNow(provider.entryFace)) ?? face;
+          return face;
+        },
+        get labels() {
+          labels = labelsOf(wordedNow(provider.labels)) ?? labels;
+          return labels;
+        },
+        get look() {
+          if (!look) return null;
+          const raw = wordedNow(provider.look);
+          if (isObject(raw) && cockpitSubjectText(raw.aheadLabel, 64))
+            look = lookOf(raw);
+          return look;
+        },
         cameraIntervalMs:
           finite(provider.cameraIntervalMs) &&
           provider.cameraIntervalMs >= 0 &&
@@ -204,25 +254,38 @@ export function cockpitSubjectProviders(
 }
 
 /**
- * A provider's candidate: `{id, name, face}`, or null without a usable id.
- * `name` falls back to the id; `face` is null unless well formed.
+ * A provider's candidate: `{id, name, face, selectedAt}`, or null without a
+ * usable id. `name` falls back to the id; `face` is null unless well formed;
+ * `selectedAt` (a number or a short string, else null) is a token the
+ * provider changes each time its subject is selected, even again: entry
+ * takes the most recently selected subject (entryCandidates).
  * @param {unknown} raw What `candidate()` returned.
  */
 export function cockpitSubjectCandidate(raw) {
   if (!isObject(raw) || typeof raw.id !== 'string') return null;
   const id = raw.id.trim();
   if (!id || id.length > 128) return null;
+  const selectedAt =
+    finite(raw.selectedAt) ||
+    (typeof raw.selectedAt === 'string' && raw.selectedAt.length <= 64)
+      ? raw.selectedAt
+      : null;
   return Object.freeze({
     id,
     name: cockpitSubjectText(raw.name, 64) || cockpitSubjectText(id, 64),
     face: faceOf(raw.face),
+    selectedAt,
   });
 }
 
 /**
  * One camera frame from a provider, normalized, or null when it cannot place
  * the camera (the view then ends): not an object, an id other than `heldId`,
- * a position that is not finite, or an eye with no valid `upM`.
+ * a position that is not finite, or an eye with no valid `upM` (0..1000).
+ * A `heightM` that is not finite or lies outside
+ * COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MIN_HEIGHT_M..COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MAX_HEIGHT_M reads as null:
+ * the eye then stands on the shared floor, or where it last stood while that
+ * is cold.
  * @param {unknown} raw What `read()` returned.
  * @param {string} heldId The subject the view holds.
  * @returns {object|null} `{id, name, latitude, longitude, heightM, headingDeg,
@@ -245,7 +308,12 @@ export function cockpitSubjectFrame(raw, heldId) {
     name: cockpitSubjectText(raw.name, 64) || cockpitSubjectText(heldId, 64),
     latitude,
     longitude: ((((longitude + 180) % 360) + 360) % 360) - 180,
-    heightM: finite(raw.heightM) ? raw.heightM : null,
+    heightM:
+      finite(raw.heightM) &&
+      raw.heightM >= COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MIN_HEIGHT_M &&
+      raw.heightM <= COCKPIT_SUBJECT_MAX_HEIGHT_M
+        ? raw.heightM
+        : null,
     headingDeg,
     courseDeg: heading(raw.courseDeg) ?? headingDeg,
     speedMps: finite(raw.speedMps) && raw.speedMps >= 0 ? raw.speedMps : null,
@@ -429,25 +497,48 @@ export function cockpitSubjectHudView(raw) {
  * A guarded caller for provider methods: `call(provider, method, args,
  * fallback)` returns what the method returns, or `fallback` when it throws,
  * warning once per provider and method.
+ *
+ * Provider methods are synchronous: the Cockpit calls them on its render
+ * cadence and uses the answer at once. One that returns a promise (an async
+ * function, say) breaks that contract: the promise is refused as a throw
+ * would be (its rejection, if any, is swallowed), with one warning.
  * @param {{warn?: (message: string, error: unknown) => void}} [options]
  */
 export function createCockpitSubjectCaller({
   warn = (message, error) => console.warn(message, error),
 } = {}) {
   const warned = new Set();
+  const warnOnce = (provider, method, message, error) => {
+    const key = `${provider.kind}:${method}`;
+    if (warned.has(key)) return;
+    warned.add(key);
+    warn(
+      `[Cockpit] subject provider ${provider.kind} ${method}() ${message}`,
+      error,
+    );
+  };
   return function call(provider, method, args = [], fallback = null) {
+    let result;
     try {
-      return provider[method](...args);
+      result = provider[method](...args);
     } catch (error) {
-      const key = `${provider.kind}:${method}`;
-      if (!warned.has(key)) {
-        warned.add(key);
-        warn(
-          `[Cockpit] subject provider ${provider.kind} ${method}() failed`,
-          error,
-        );
-      }
+      warnOnce(provider, method, 'failed', error);
       return fallback;
     }
+    if (
+      result !== null &&
+      (typeof result === 'object' || typeof result === 'function') &&
+      typeof result.then === 'function'
+    ) {
+      Promise.resolve(result).catch(() => {});
+      warnOnce(
+        provider,
+        method,
+        'returned a promise; provider methods are synchronous',
+        null,
+      );
+      return fallback;
+    }
+    return result;
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.test.mjs b/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.test.mjs
index 487d5d261..b49545eb2 100644
--- a/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.test.mjs
+++ b/src/cockpitSubjectProviders.test.mjs
@@ -147,7 +147,22 @@ test('a candidate needs an id; its name and face are read with care', () => {
     id: 'a1',
     name: 'a1',
     face: null,
+    selectedAt: null,
   });
+  // A selection token is a number or a short string.
+  assert.equal(
+    cockpitSubjectCandidate({ id: 'a1', selectedAt: 5 }).selectedAt,
+    5,
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    cockpitSubjectCandidate({ id: 'a1', selectedAt: 'click-2' }).selectedAt,
+    'click-2',
+  );
+  for (const selectedAt of [Number.NaN, {}, 'x'.repeat(65)])
+    assert.equal(
+      cockpitSubjectCandidate({ id: 'a1', selectedAt }).selectedAt,
+      null,
+    );
   const read = cockpitSubjectCandidate({
     id: 'a1',
     name: '  Example   12 ',
@@ -213,6 +228,13 @@ test('a frame is the held subject at a finite place with an eye height, else nul
   );
   assert.equal(full.longitude, -170);
   assert.equal(full.heightM, 412.5);
+  // A height outside any plausible ground reads as none.
+  for (const heightM of [-6_400_000, 1e9, Infinity])
+    assert.equal(cockpitSubjectFrame(frame({ heightM }), 'a1').heightM, null);
+  assert.equal(
+    cockpitSubjectFrame(frame({ heightM: -400 }), 'a1').heightM,
+    -400,
+  );
   assert.equal(full.headingDeg, 350);
   assert.equal(full.courseDeg, 5);
   assert.equal(full.speedMps, 22);
@@ -385,3 +407,69 @@ test('a provider method that throws returns the fallback and warns once', () =>
   assert.equal(warnings.length, 1);
   assert.match(warnings[0], /example-kind read\(\) failed/);
 });
+
+test('a provider method that returns a promise is refused as a throw is, warning once', async () => {
+  const warnings = [];
+  const call = createCockpitSubjectCaller({
+    warn: (message) => warnings.push(message),
+  });
+  const asynchronous = {
+    kind: 'example-kind',
+    hold: async () => true,
+    read: () => Promise.reject(new Error('late')),
+  };
+  assert.equal(call(asynchronous, 'hold', ['a1'], 'refused'), 'refused');
+  assert.equal(call(asynchronous, 'hold', ['a1'], 'refused'), 'refused');
+  assert.equal(call(asynchronous, 'read', [], null), null);
+  assert.equal(warnings.length, 2, 'once per method');
+  assert.match(warnings[0], /hold\(\) returned a promise/);
+  // The rejected promise is not left unhandled.
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+});
+
+test('labels, entry face and look given as functions are read again on each use', () => {
+  let lang = 'en';
+  const words = {
+    en: { view: 'Ride view', exit: 'Exit ride view', exitText: 'EXIT RIDE' },
+    de: { view: 'Fahrtansicht', exit: 'Verlassen', exitText: 'VERLASSEN' },
+  };
+  const { kept, warnings } = keep([
+    provider({
+      labels: () => words[lang],
+      entryFace: () => ({
+        icon: 'commute',
+        label: { en: 'RIDE', de: 'FAHRT' }[lang],
+      }),
+      look: () => ({
+        restPitchDeg: lang === 'de' ? 40 : -3,
+        aheadLabel: lang === 'de' ? 'Nach vorn' : 'Look ahead',
+      }),
+    }),
+  ]);
+  assert.deepEqual(warnings, []);
+  const [ride] = kept;
+  assert.equal(ride.labels.exitText, 'EXIT RIDE');
+  assert.equal(ride.entryFace.label, 'RIDE');
+  assert.equal(ride.look.aheadLabel, 'Look ahead');
+  lang = 'de';
+  assert.equal(ride.labels.exitText, 'VERLASSEN');
+  assert.equal(ride.entryFace.label, 'FAHRT');
+  assert.equal(ride.look.aheadLabel, 'Nach vorn');
+  assert.equal(ride.look.restPitchDeg, -3, 'the rest pitch is as first read');
+  // A read that fails or is malformed keeps the last good one.
+  lang = 'xx';
+  assert.equal(ride.labels.exitText, 'VERLASSEN');
+  assert.equal(ride.entryFace.label, 'FAHRT');
+  // Functions that are malformed from the start leave the provider out.
+  const bad = keep([
+    provider({ kind: 'bad-labels', labels: () => null }),
+    provider({
+      kind: 'thrown-face',
+      entryFace: () => {
+        throw new Error('no face');
+      },
+    }),
+  ]);
+  assert.deepEqual(bad.kept, []);
+  assert.equal(bad.warnings.length, 2);
+});
diff --git a/src/layers/rail/cockpitSubject.js b/src/layers/rail/cockpitSubject.js
index b9b2d16cc..56078b37b 100644
--- a/src/layers/rail/cockpitSubject.js
+++ b/src/layers/rail/cockpitSubject.js
@@ -14,8 +14,11 @@ import { displayMotion } from '../transit/movement.js';
  * selection. The hold ends with `setCockpitSubject(null)`, and on its own
  * when the train is removed or the layer is turned off. A train removed while
  * held leaves its feed polled until the next `setCockpitSubject` call, so a
- * view that waits for it holds it again if the feed lists it again. `focusTrain(key)` selects a train and
- * hands it the camera, as a click does.
+ * view that waits for it holds it again if the feed lists it again.
+ * `focusTrain(key)` selects a train and hands it the camera, as a click does.
+ * A snapshot's `selectedAtMs` is when the user last selected the selected
+ * train, even again (null for any other), for a view's entry to tell a
+ * re-selection.
  *
  * @param {object} context The layer's state, parts, services and timetable.
  * @returns {{methods: object}}
@@ -98,6 +101,8 @@ export function createRailCockpitSubject({
     return Object.freeze({
       key: entry.key,
       feedId: entry.feedId,
+      selectedAtMs:
+        state._selectedKey === entry.key ? state._selectedAtMs : null,
       id: String(record.id ?? ''),
       tripId: record.tripId || null,
       routeId: record.routeId || null,
diff --git a/src/layers/rail/index.js b/src/layers/rail/index.js
index 4a4e6d6ab..21077c0d0 100644
--- a/src/layers/rail/index.js
+++ b/src/layers/rail/index.js
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ function createState({ services }) {
     _stopAnchors: new Map(),
     _categories: { ...DEFAULT_RAIL_CATEGORY_VISIBILITY },
     _selectedKey: null,
+    /** When the user last selected a train, even the selected one (ms). */
+    _selectedAtMs: null,
     _selectedCardAt: 0,
     _selectedCardText: null,
     /** The camera's follow of the selected train (follow.js), or null. */
diff --git a/src/layers/rail/selection.js b/src/layers/rail/selection.js
index 644775961..8818ae195 100644
--- a/src/layers/rail/selection.js
+++ b/src/layers/rail/selection.js
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ export function createSelection({ state, services, parts }) {
    */
   function selectAndFocusTrain(key) {
     if (!state._trains.has(key)) return;
+    // A selection by the user, even of the selected train (cockpitSubject.js).
+    state._selectedAtMs = Date.now();
     const following = parts.follow.isFollowing(key);
     // Another train's follow lets go first, so this is never taken for a
     // move between two copies of one train.
diff --git a/src/layers/transit/cockpitSubject.js b/src/layers/transit/cockpitSubject.js
index 33f215cf3..93927c63f 100644
--- a/src/layers/transit/cockpitSubject.js
+++ b/src/layers/transit/cockpitSubject.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
-import { getRegisteredTransitFeed } from '../../data/transitFeeds.js';
-import { transitRouteLabel } from '../../data/transitFeeds.js';
+import {
+  getRegisteredTransitFeed,
+  transitRouteLabel,
+} from '../../data/transitFeeds.js';
 import { displayMotion } from './movement.js';
 
 /**
@@ -14,7 +16,9 @@ import { displayMotion } from './movement.js';
  * camera's view, its feed stays polled, and clicks and Escape no longer
  * change the selection. The hold ends with `setCockpitSubject(null)`, and on
  * its own when the vehicle is removed or the layer is turned off.
- * `focusVehicle(key)` selects a vehicle, as a click does.
+ * `focusVehicle(key)` selects a vehicle, as a click does. A snapshot's
+ * `selectedAtMs` is when the user last selected the selected vehicle, even
+ * again (null for any other).
  *
  * @param {object} context The layer's state, parts and services.
  * @returns {{methods: object}}
@@ -26,9 +30,12 @@ export function createTransitCockpitSubject({ state, parts, services }) {
   const finiteOrNull = (value) =>
     typeof value === 'number' && Number.isFinite(value) ? value : null;
 
-  function feedOf(feedId) {
-    const feed =
-      state._activeFeeds.get(feedId) || getRegisteredTransitFeed(feedId);
+  /** The feed in use, else the registry's entry for it. */
+  function feedEntry(feedId) {
+    return state._activeFeeds.get(feedId) || getRegisteredTransitFeed(feedId);
+  }
+
+  function feedOf(feed) {
     if (!feed) return null;
     return Object.freeze({
       id: feed.id,
@@ -46,9 +53,7 @@ export function createTransitCockpitSubject({ state, parts, services }) {
     if (!entry?.record) return null;
     const record = entry.record;
     const sample = entry.sample ?? null;
-    const feed =
-      state._activeFeeds.get(entry.feedId) ||
-      getRegisteredTransitFeed(entry.feedId);
+    const feed = feedEntry(entry.feedId);
     const reported = finiteOrNull(record.speedMps);
     const derived = finiteOrNull(sample?.segmentSpeedMps);
     const status = state._feedStatus.get(entry.feedId);
@@ -57,6 +62,8 @@ export function createTransitCockpitSubject({ state, parts, services }) {
     return Object.freeze({
       key: entry.key,
       feedId: entry.feedId,
+      selectedAtMs:
+        state._selectedKey === entry.key ? state._selectedAtMs : null,
       id: String(record.id ?? ''),
       routeId: record.routeId || null,
       routeLabel:
@@ -68,7 +75,7 @@ export function createTransitCockpitSubject({ state, parts, services }) {
       label: record.label || null,
       mode: entry.mode ?? null,
       modeInferred: entry.modeInferred === true,
-      feed: feedOf(entry.feedId),
+      feed: feedOf(feed),
       position: Object.freeze({
         latitude,
         longitude,
@@ -131,6 +138,12 @@ export function createTransitCockpitSubject({ state, parts, services }) {
       const previous = state._vehicles.get(state._cockpitSubjectKey);
       if (key === null || key === undefined) {
         state._cockpitSubjectKey = null;
+        // The hold kept it in play out of view: it leaves until the next
+        // visibility sweep finds it in view again.
+        if (previous) {
+          state._visible.delete(previous);
+          parts.rendering.requestVisibility();
+        }
         repaint(previous);
         parts.selection.refreshSelectedCard(true);
         return true;
diff --git a/src/layers/transit/lifecycle.test.mjs b/src/layers/transit/lifecycle.test.mjs
index e4b9cce69..7467f65d7 100644
--- a/src/layers/transit/lifecycle.test.mjs
+++ b/src/layers/transit/lifecycle.test.mjs
@@ -4235,12 +4235,15 @@ test('a held vehicle hides, keeps moving out of view, and lets go when it goes',
 
   assert.equal(app.layer.setCockpitSubject(null), true);
   assert.equal(app.layer.getCockpitSubject(), null);
+  // Let go, it is out of play until a sweep finds it in view.
+  assert.equal(app.state()._visible.has(entry), false, 'out of play');
   app.lookAt({
     west: -71.2,
     south: 42.2,
     east: -70.9,
     north: 42.5,
   });
+  app.advance(250);
   app.settle();
   assert.equal(entry.marker.show, true, 'shown again');
   assert.equal(app.layer.focusVehicle('mbta:nope'), false);
diff --git a/src/layers/transit/selection.js b/src/layers/transit/selection.js
index f28067f13..cc9098cbb 100644
--- a/src/layers/transit/selection.js
+++ b/src/layers/transit/selection.js
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ export function createSelection({ state, services, parts }) {
     const entry = state._vehicles.get(key);
     if (!entry?.marker) return;
     state._selectedKey = key;
+    state._selectedAtMs = Date.now();
     state._detectRevision += 1;
     parts.rendering.paintSelected(entry, true);
     parts.trails.select(entry);
diff --git a/src/layers/transit/state.js b/src/layers/transit/state.js
index 7f442872e..47016ba98 100644
--- a/src/layers/transit/state.js
+++ b/src/layers/transit/state.js
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ export function createState({ services }) {
 
   /** @type {string|null} */
   state._selectedKey = null;
+  /** When the user last selected a vehicle, even the selected one (ms). */
+  state._selectedAtMs = null;
   /**
    * The vehicle a first-person view holds (cockpitSubject.js), or null: its
    * sprite, card, trail and detection box are hidden, and it keeps moving
diff --git a/src/ui/cockpitCamera.js b/src/ui/cockpitCamera.js
index ce2a8dae5..847efa429 100644
--- a/src/ui/cockpitCamera.js
+++ b/src/ui/cockpitCamera.js
@@ -343,8 +343,20 @@ function updateSubject(nowMs) {
       frame.latitude,
       frame.longitude,
     );
-    heightM = Number.isFinite(floorM) ? floorM : 0;
+    // A frame with no height stands on the shared floor; while that is cold
+    // it keeps the height it last stood at.
+    heightM = Number.isFinite(floorM) ? floorM : this.subjectHeightM;
   }
+  if (!Number.isFinite(heightM)) {
+    // Nothing to stand on yet, from the first frame: the camera stays where
+    // it is while the floor is acquired, as the built-in views wait for the
+    // surface, rather than standing on the ellipsoid (kilometres underground
+    // on a plateau).
+    this.surfaceAcquiring = true;
+    return;
+  }
+  this.surfaceAcquiring = false;
+  this.subjectHeightM = heightM;
   const target = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(
     frame.longitude,
     frame.latitude,
diff --git a/src/ui/cockpitController.js b/src/ui/cockpitController.js
index 301515b42..34ba0a341 100644
--- a/src/ui/cockpitController.js
+++ b/src/ui/cockpitController.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   toggleTrackedTr3b,
   syncTr3bToggle,
   syncEntry,
+  refreshSubjectWords,
   publishPresenceView,
   navigateContext,
   _adoptTrackedEntity,
@@ -185,6 +186,10 @@ export class CockpitViewController {
     this.surfaceWaitStartedMs = 0;
     this.surfaceAcquiring = false;
     this.surfaceFallback = false;
+    /** The height an application subject's frame last stood at (m). */
+    this.subjectHeightM = null;
+    /** The ground clamp's eased lift under that subject's eye (m). */
+    this.subjectLiftM = null;
     /**
      * Where the bridge view is turned to (`lookTarget`) and where the camera
      * looks on its way there (`lookView`): yaw off the bow, starboard
@@ -581,6 +586,9 @@ export class CockpitViewController {
   syncEntry() {
     return syncEntry.call(this);
   }
+  refreshSubjectWords() {
+    return refreshSubjectWords.call(this);
+  }
   navigateContext(direction, options) {
     return navigateContext.call(this, direction, options);
   }
@@ -783,6 +791,9 @@ export class CockpitViewController {
     this.relocalizeBrief();
     this.publishVision(createVisionState(this.visionMode));
     this.routeSignature = null;
+    // A provider's words, ridden or on the entry, follow the language.
+    this.refreshSubjectWords();
+    if (!this.active) this.syncEntry();
     if (this.active && this.lastSubjectInfo) {
       this.rewordingSignals = true;
       try {
diff --git a/src/ui/cockpitEntryGate.test.mjs b/src/ui/cockpitEntryGate.test.mjs
index 85f82d6bb..25a38bcb2 100644
--- a/src/ui/cockpitEntryGate.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/cockpitEntryGate.test.mjs
@@ -56,8 +56,10 @@ function fixture(
     dataManager: suppliedManager = null,
     readContext = null,
     subjects = [],
+    vessel = null,
   } = {},
 ) {
+  let selectedVessel = vessel;
   document.body.replaceChildren();
   const host = document.body.appendChild(document.createElement('div'));
   const pinia = createPinia();
@@ -102,7 +104,13 @@ function fixture(
     services: {
       flightsLayer: { getTrackedInfo: trackedFrom('flights') },
       militaryFlightsLayer: { getTrackedInfo: trackedFrom('military') },
-      aisLiveVesselsLayer: { getCockpitSubject: () => null },
+      // Like the layer, no subject while Live AIS Vessels is off.
+      aisLiveVesselsLayer: {
+        getCockpitSubject: () =>
+          selectedVessel && layers.has('ais-live-vessels')
+            ? { ...selectedVessel }
+            : null,
+      },
       // Like the layer, no subject while Satellites is off.
       satellitesLayer: {
         getCockpitSubject: () =>
@@ -174,10 +182,35 @@ function fixture(
     viewer.trackedEntity = entityFor(subject);
     entities.add(viewer.trackedEntity);
   };
+  /** Select a vessel on the map, or none. */
+  const selectVessel = (info) => {
+    selectedVessel = info;
+  };
   const $ = (selector) => document.querySelector(selector);
-  return { $, coordinator, cockpit, store, layers, disable, retrack, pinia };
+  return {
+    $,
+    coordinator,
+    cockpit,
+    store,
+    layers,
+    disable,
+    retrack,
+    selectVessel,
+    pinia,
+  };
 }
 
+/** A selected vessel as the AIS layer gives it to the bridge view. */
+const VESSEL = Object.freeze({
+  id: '211000001',
+  name: 'EXAMPLE',
+  latitude: 54,
+  longitude: 10,
+  headingDeg: 90,
+  courseDeg: 90,
+  speedMps: 5,
+});
+
 test('a civilian aircraft enters with Live Flights alone: no Contacts, no Military', (t) => {
   const { coordinator, cockpit } = fixture(t, {
     enabled: ['flights'],
@@ -570,6 +603,32 @@ test('the readout entry reads BRIDGE for a selected vessel', async (t) => {
   assert.match(readoutEntry.textContent, /BRIDGE/);
 });
 
+test('without providers too, the later selection takes entry: a vessel after an aircraft reads BRIDGE', async (t) => {
+  const { $, cockpit, store, selectVessel } = fixture(t, {
+    enabled: ['flights', 'ais-live-vessels'],
+    tracked: { layerId: 'flights', info: CIVIL },
+  });
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'aircraft');
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2));
+  selectVessel(VESSEL);
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  await nextTick();
+  assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'vessel');
+  assert.match($('#cockpit-entry-readout').textContent, /BRIDGE/);
+  // And the other way round: an aircraft tracked after the vessel.
+  const later = fixture(t, {
+    enabled: ['flights', 'ais-live-vessels'],
+    vessel: VESSEL,
+  });
+  later.cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(later.store.presence.entryKind, 'vessel');
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2));
+  later.retrack({ layerId: 'flights', info: CIVIL });
+  later.cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(later.store.presence.entryKind, 'aircraft');
+});
+
 test('a tracked satellite needs Satellites on for the ORBIT entry', async (t) => {
   const { $, cockpit } = fixture(t, { satellite: SATELLITE });
   cockpit.syncEntry();
@@ -730,6 +789,60 @@ test("a provider's view reports its subject, refuses voice entry and ends with i
   assert.deepEqual(released, [['a1', false]]);
 });
 
+test("a provider's guards: a throwing candidate, gate or release, and a gate that is not true", async (t) => {
+  const warned = [];
+  t.mock.method(console, 'warn', (message) => warned.push(String(message)));
+  const entered = (provider) => {
+    const { cockpit } = fixture(t, {
+      enabled: ['example-layer'],
+      subjects: [provider],
+    });
+    cockpit.syncEntry();
+    return { cockpit, entered: cockpit.enter() };
+  };
+  const { provider: base } = exampleSubject();
+  // A candidate() that throws offers nothing.
+  const noCandidate = entered({
+    ...base,
+    candidate: () => {
+      throw new Error('candidate failed');
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(noCandidate.entered, false);
+  assert.equal(noCandidate.cockpit.resolveEntry(), null);
+  // An isEntryAllowed() that throws, or answers anything but true, shuts
+  // the gate.
+  for (const isEntryAllowed of [
+    () => {
+      throw new Error('gate failed');
+    },
+    () => 1,
+    () => 'yes',
+    () => ({}),
+  ]) {
+    const gated = entered({ ...base, isEntryAllowed });
+    assert.equal(gated.entered, false, String(isEntryAllowed));
+    assert.equal(gated.cockpit.active, false);
+  }
+  // A release() that throws still ends the view.
+  const { provider } = exampleSubject();
+  const releasing = entered({
+    ...provider,
+    release: () => {
+      throw new Error('release failed');
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(releasing.entered, true);
+  assert.equal(releasing.cockpit.exit(), true);
+  assert.equal(releasing.cockpit.active, false);
+  assert.equal(document.body.classList.contains('cockpit-subject'), false);
+  for (const method of ['candidate', 'isEntryAllowed', 'release'])
+    assert.ok(
+      warned.some((line) => line.includes(`${method}() failed`)),
+      method,
+    );
+});
+
 test('a malformed provider is left out and the built-in kinds are unchanged', async (t) => {
   t.mock.method(console, 'warn', () => {});
   const { cockpit } = fixture(t, {
diff --git a/src/ui/cockpitOrbitalView.test.mjs b/src/ui/cockpitOrbitalView.test.mjs
index 72130a9e8..26dad341b 100644
--- a/src/ui/cockpitOrbitalView.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/cockpitOrbitalView.test.mjs
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ test('a place that lands after the exit is dropped', async (t) => {
   assert.equal(store.orbital, null, 'no HUD comes back for a stale answer');
 });
 
-test('a tracked aircraft takes entry before a tracked satellite', async (t) => {
+test('an aircraft and a satellite first seen in one sync: the aircraft takes entry, by the fixed order', async (t) => {
   const aircraftInfo = {
     icao24: 'abc123',
     callsign: 'TEST1',
@@ -1007,6 +1007,9 @@ test('a tracked aircraft takes entry before a tracked satellite', async (t) => {
   };
   const { cockpit, viewer, aircraft, store } = fixture(t, { aircraftInfo });
   viewer.trackedEntity = aircraft;
+  // The satellite and the aircraft are both new to this sync; the fixed order
+  // decides between subjects first seen together. Selected one after the
+  // other, the later one takes entry (cockpitEntryGate.test.mjs).
   cockpit.syncEntry();
   assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'aircraft');
 });
diff --git a/src/ui/cockpitSubjectView.test.mjs b/src/ui/cockpitSubjectView.test.mjs
index ed0236044..8fcc1ee10 100644
--- a/src/ui/cockpitSubjectView.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/cockpitSubjectView.test.mjs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { useCockpitStore } from './stores/cockpit.js';
 import CockpitView from './views/CockpitView.vue';
 import ContextView from './views/ContextView.vue';
 import { cockpitSubjectProviders } from '../cockpitSubjectProviders.js';
+import { getLocale, setLocale } from '../i18n/index.js';
 import { vesselCockpitInfo } from '../layers/vessels/cockpitSubject.js';
 
 const LAT = 47;
@@ -500,6 +501,115 @@ test('entry fails, releasing nothing it did not hold, when hold or the first fra
   assert.equal(app.cockpit.enter(), false);
   assert.deepEqual(lastRelease(blank.calls), ['release', 'a1', false]);
   assert.equal(app.cockpit.active, false);
+  // A hold that throws may have half happened: it is released.
+  const thrown = subjectProvider({
+    hold: (id) => {
+      thrown.calls.push(['hold', id]);
+      throw new Error('hold failed');
+    },
+  });
+  app = fixture(t, { providers: [thrown] });
+  app.cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(app.cockpit.enter(), false);
+  assert.deepEqual(lastRelease(thrown.calls), ['release', 'a1', false]);
+  assert.equal(app.warned.length, 1);
+  // So is one that answers with a promise: provider methods are synchronous.
+  const later = subjectProvider({
+    hold: async () => true,
+  });
+  app = fixture(t, { providers: [later] });
+  app.cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(app.cockpit.enter(), false);
+  assert.deepEqual(lastRelease(later.calls), ['release', 'a1', false]);
+  assert.match(app.warned[0], /returned a promise/);
+});
+
+test('a frame with no height and a cold floor never stands the eye on the ellipsoid', async (t) => {
+  const clock = manualClock(t, 10_000);
+  const ride = subjectProvider();
+  ride.subject.frame = { ...ride.subject.frame, heightM: null };
+  const { cockpit, shots, setFloor } = fixture(t, { providers: [ride] });
+  // Nothing to stand on from the first frame: the camera waits where it is.
+  setFloor(undefined);
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(cockpit.enter(), true);
+  const before = shots.length;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i += 1) {
+    clock.advance(16);
+    cockpit.update();
+  }
+  assert.equal(shots.length, before, 'no camera placed');
+  assert.equal(cockpit.active, true, 'the view waits');
+  // The floor arrives: the eye stands on it.
+  setFloor(FLOOR_M);
+  clock.advance(16);
+  cockpit.update();
+  assert.ok(Math.abs(shotHeight(shots) - (FLOOR_M + 3.5)) < 0.01);
+  // It goes cold again: the eye keeps the height it stood at, never 0 m,
+  // with the ground clamp off too.
+  setFloor(undefined);
+  ride.subject.frame = { ...ride.subject.frame, groundClamp: false };
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i += 1) {
+    clock.advance(16);
+    cockpit.update();
+    assert.ok(Math.abs(shotHeight(shots) - (FLOOR_M + 3.5)) < 0.01);
+  }
+  // A height out of any plausible range reads as none.
+  ride.subject.frame = { ...ride.subject.frame, heightM: -6_400_000 };
+  clock.advance(16);
+  cockpit.update();
+  assert.ok(Math.abs(shotHeight(shots) - (FLOOR_M + 3.5)) < 0.01);
+});
+
+test('a provider’s labels, entry face and look follow a change of language', async (t) => {
+  t.after(() => setLocale('en'));
+  setLocale('en');
+  const clock = manualClock(t, 10_000);
+  const words = {
+    en: { view: 'Ride view', exit: 'Exit ride view', exitText: 'EXIT RIDE' },
+    de: {
+      view: 'Fahrtansicht',
+      exit: 'Fahrtansicht verlassen',
+      exitText: 'VERLASSEN',
+    },
+  };
+  const german = () => getLocale().startsWith('de');
+  const ride = subjectProvider({
+    labels: () => words[german() ? 'de' : 'en'],
+    entryFace: () => ({ icon: 'commute', label: german() ? 'FAHRT' : 'RIDE' }),
+    look: () => ({
+      restPitchDeg: -3,
+      aheadLabel: german() ? 'Nach vorn sehen' : 'Look ahead',
+    }),
+  });
+  const { $, cockpit } = fixture(t, { providers: [ride] });
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  await nextTick();
+  assert.match($('#cockpit-entry').textContent, /RIDE/);
+  // On the entry, before the view.
+  setLocale('de');
+  await settle();
+  assert.match($('#cockpit-entry').textContent, /FAHRT/);
+  setLocale('en');
+  await settle();
+  assert.equal(cockpit.enter(), true);
+  clock.advance(16);
+  cockpit.update();
+  await settle();
+  assert.match($('#map-view-switch').textContent, /EXIT RIDE/);
+  // While riding.
+  setLocale('de');
+  await settle();
+  assert.match($('#map-view-switch').textContent, /VERLASSEN/);
+  assert.equal(
+    $('#map-view-switch').getAttribute('aria-label'),
+    'Fahrtansicht verlassen',
+  );
+  assert.equal($('#cockpit-hud').getAttribute('aria-label'), 'Fahrtansicht');
+  assert.equal(
+    $('#cockpit-look-ahead').getAttribute('aria-label'),
+    'Nach vorn sehen',
+  );
 });
 
 test('a read that throws ends the view once; a hud that throws keeps the last', async (t) => {
@@ -567,6 +677,21 @@ test('the most recently selected subject wins entry', async (t) => {
   selectVessel({ ...VESSEL, id: '211000099', mmsi: '211000099' });
   cockpit.syncEntry();
   assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'vessel');
+  // The same subject selected again comes back to the front.
+  clock.advance(500);
+  ride.subject.candidate = { id: 'a1', name: 'Example 12', selectedAt: 2 };
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'example-kind', 're-selected');
+  clock.advance(500);
+  selectVessel({ ...VESSEL, id: '211000098', mmsi: '211000098' });
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'vessel');
+  clock.advance(500);
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'vessel', 'an unchanged token');
+  ride.subject.candidate = { id: 'a1', name: 'Example 12', selectedAt: 3 };
+  cockpit.syncEntry();
+  assert.equal(store.presence.entryKind, 'example-kind');
   // The newest decides alone: its shut gate leaves no entry.
   clock.advance(500);
   ride.subject.candidate = { id: 'a3', name: 'Example 3' };
diff --git a/src/ui/cockpitTrackingController.js b/src/ui/cockpitTrackingController.js
index 139ca67a3..0b50f6343 100644
--- a/src/ui/cockpitTrackingController.js
+++ b/src/ui/cockpitTrackingController.js
@@ -104,9 +104,11 @@ const BUILT_IN_ENTRY_ORDER = Object.freeze({
  * Every subject entry could ride now, the most recently selected first: a
  * tracked aircraft, the tracked satellite, the selected vessel and each
  * provider's candidate. A candidate's time is when this controller first saw
- * it (it looks on its entry cadence and on tracking changes); candidates
- * first seen together keep the fixed order (aircraft, satellite, vessel, then
- * providers by priority). Each carries `allowed()`, its kind's entry gate.
+ * it (it looks on its entry cadence and on tracking changes), or saw it
+ * selected again: a provider candidate whose `selectedAt` changes, the same
+ * subject clicked again, moves to the front. Candidates first seen together
+ * keep the fixed order (aircraft, satellite, vessel, then providers by
+ * priority). Each carries `allowed()`, its kind's entry gate.
  * @param {number} [nowMs]
  * @returns {Array<{kind: string, id: string, seenAtMs: number, order: number,
  *   allowed: () => boolean, provider?: object, candidate?: object}>}
@@ -114,9 +116,10 @@ const BUILT_IN_ENTRY_ORDER = Object.freeze({
 export function entryCandidates(nowMs = performance.now()) {
   const seen = (this._entrySeen ??= new Map());
   const list = [];
-  const note = (kind, id, entry) => {
+  const note = (kind, id, entry, selectedAt = null) => {
     const last = seen.get(kind);
-    if (!last || last.id !== id) seen.set(kind, { id, atMs: nowMs });
+    if (!last || last.id !== id || last.selectedAt !== selectedAt)
+      seen.set(kind, { id, selectedAt, atMs: nowMs });
     list.push({ kind, id, seenAtMs: seen.get(kind).atMs, ...entry });
   };
   const aircraft = this.readAircraftInfo();
@@ -149,12 +152,17 @@ export function entryCandidates(nowMs = performance.now()) {
   this.subjectProviders.forEach((provider, index) => {
     const candidate = this.readSubjectCandidate(provider);
     if (candidate)
-      note(provider.kind, candidate.id, {
-        order: 3 + index,
-        provider,
-        candidate,
-        allowed: () => this.isSubjectEntryAllowed(provider, candidate),
-      });
+      note(
+        provider.kind,
+        candidate.id,
+        {
+          order: 3 + index,
+          provider,
+          candidate,
+          allowed: () => this.isSubjectEntryAllowed(provider, candidate),
+        },
+        candidate.selectedAt,
+      );
   });
   // A subject gone and back counts as selected again.
   for (const kind of [...seen.keys()])
@@ -268,6 +276,20 @@ export function syncTr3bToggle(info) {
   this.publishPresenceView();
 }
 
+/**
+ * Word the ridden provider subject's labels and Look ahead button again,
+ * after a change of the page's language: a provider may give them as
+ * functions (cockpitSubjectProviders).
+ */
+export function refreshSubjectWords() {
+  const provider = this.subjectProvider;
+  if (!this.active || !provider) return;
+  this.presence.subjectLabels = { ...provider.labels };
+  const look = provider.look;
+  this.presence.subjectLook = look ? { aheadLabel: look.aheadLabel } : null;
+  this.publishPresenceView();
+}
+
 export function syncEntry() {
   if (this.destroyed) return false;
   if (this.active) return;
@@ -376,8 +398,14 @@ function enterSubject(provider) {
   const candidate = this.readSubjectCandidate(provider);
   if (!candidate || !this.isSubjectEntryAllowed(provider, candidate))
     return false;
-  if (this.callSubject(provider, 'hold', [candidate.id], false) !== true)
+  const failed = {};
+  const held = this.callSubject(provider, 'hold', [candidate.id], failed);
+  if (held === failed) {
+    // A hold that threw (or broke the contract) may have half happened.
+    this.callSubject(provider, 'release', [candidate.id, { restore: false }]);
     return false;
+  }
+  if (held !== true) return false;
   const frame = cockpitSubjectFrame(
     this.callSubject(
       provider,
@@ -419,6 +447,7 @@ function enterSubject(provider) {
   this.surfaceAcquiring = false;
   this.surfaceFallback = false;
   this.cockpitAnchorValid = false;
+  this.subjectHeightM = null;
   this.lookRestPitchDeg = provider.look?.restPitchDeg ?? null;
   this.resetLook({ immediate: true });
   this.active = true;