Airlines adopt new rules for two crew members to be in cockpit
Airlines have announced radical changes which will ensure two crew members are in the cockpit at all times following the Germanwings crash which killed 150 people.
Black box recordings have found that the pilot of the Germanwings flight 4U-9525 flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf had been locked out of the cockpit with co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashing the plane into the Alps on Tuesday.
As a result many European airlines have agreed new rules which ensure that two crew members are in the cockpit at any one time – a procedure that was already compulsory in the US but had not been in Europe.
EasyJet confirmed that from today it would be changing its procedure to ensure two crew members will be in the cockpit at all times.
A spokeman said: “easyJet can confirm that, with effect from Friday 27 March, it will change its procedure which will mean that two crew members will be in the cockpit at all times. This decision has been taken in consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority.”
Thomas Cook and Virgin followed suit with Ryanair, Flybe and Jet 2 saying it was already standard practise.
A Ryanair spokesman said it was a long standing policy, adding: “Ryanair requires two people to be in the cockpit at all times. If a pilot needs to visit the bathroom the cabin crew supervisor is required to stand in the cockpit for these brief periods.”
British Airways would not confirm its policy, saying that it never discusses security issues.
Norwegian Air Shuttle and Air Berlin were among other carriers to adopt the policy and the German aviation association BDL said all German airlines, including Germanwings and parent company Lufthansa, had agreed to discuss possible new rules requiring two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times following the crash.
The CAA said: “Following the details that have emerged regarding the tragic Germanwings incident, we are co-ordinating closely with colleagues at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and have contacted all UK operators to require them to review all relevant procedures.”
A spokesman for IATA said: “Individual carriers around the world are no doubt looking at their procedures in light of yesterday’s shocking revelations. And topics emerging from this tragedy will be on the agenda of IATA’s Operations Committee when it meets in Los Angeles in mid-April.”
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