VIDEO – The two people in the cockpit is already mandatory for US companies like Ryanair and Finair. Canada announced yesterday that the measure will be applied. Easyjet and Icelandair also made that decision. Europe is addressing the issue.
In the wake of recent revelations about the crash of the A320 Germanwings where the most likely scenario is the suicide of the copilot, the issue of security rules in the airliners arises. The accident that caused the death of 150 people on Tuesday in the French Alps has indeed revealed a gaping security hole and the rules that allow a co-pilot to lock it up in the cockpit. The solution to prevent such a tragedy from happening again could be imposed permanently the presence of two people in the cockpit.
Required in the US
C ‘is already the rule in force in the United States. According to the regulations of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the US authority for civil aviation safety, two people should always be present in the cockpit. Pilot and copilot must remain there from takeoff to landing, and during flight unless one of them has to come out “to perform tasks in conjunction with the unit’s operations (or) to physiological needs” according to the FAA texts. If an alternate driver is available, it must take place in the cockpit to enable the pilot or co-pilot to rest, otherwise it is a member of the crew that takes place in the cockpit.
Europe considering measures
In contrast, the air regulations in Europe does not require the presence of a member of the crew when one pilot leaves the cockpit, but stipulates that they remain at their posts throughout the flight except in cases of force majeure. “The regulation of the European Aviation Safety Authority does not require the driver to be replaced by a crew member when he leaves the cockpit,” said a spokesman EASA. However, the texts impose that “he who remains in the cockpit is a qualified pilot.” A pilot of a European airline tells us that so far the pilots were “allowed to leave their cockpit only to satisfy physiological needs.”
But after the drama of the new Germanwings rules could be imposed. French Secretary of State for Transport Alain Vidal found on RTL that the two people constantly solution in the cockpit was “possible” as “other solutions that would secure to be able to reopen the door to the professional staff in the cab. ” “With a number of ministers, including the German Minister or the Minister of Spain, we will ask the European Transport Commissioner to organize a debate with companies or work very fast so that the European safety agency can record the willingness of states to move forward on this issue, “he said. The German federation of the aviation sector (BDL) has announced Thursday will in the future impose this rule.
Companies are changing the rules
The airlines Ryanair and Finair already do. And several companies have decided to take this step like the Norwegian airline Norwegian Air Shuttle. “When an occupant leaves the cockpit, it will now only two people in it,” said Thomas Hesthammer, the head of flight operations for the third European low cost. British Easyjet and Iceland Icelandair also announced a change in their procedures to now require the permanent presence of two people in the cockpit
Canada. Measures with immediate effect
By Thursday the Canadian government has also decided to make this mandatory measure for all Canadian companies. The measure comes into force “immediately,” announced the Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, hours after the Air Transat and Air Canada companies have voluntarily decided to act in this direction. The Canadian company low cost WestJet immediately reported the implementation of this measure.
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