Airlines Begin Requiring Two Crew Members In Cockpit While In Air

27 March ,Ottawa

Airlines around the world have begun requiring two crew members to always be present in the cockpit, after details emerged that the co-pilot of the Germanwings Flight 9525 had apparently locked himself in the cockpit and deliberatly crashed the plane into the mountains below.

Leading European budget airlines Norwegian Air Shuttle and British EasyJet say they will now require a minimum of two crew members in the cockpit while a plane is in the air. Speaking outside of the House of Commons in Ottawa Thursday , Canadian Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt’ said this emergency mandatory directive comes with immediate effect for the airlines.

Germany’s aviation association BDL has also announced plans to introduce a two-person cockpit rule. The announcement was made by the federation’s Chief Matthias von Randow, a BDL spokeswoman said .

Whenever the door is open, flight attendants create a barrier between the cockpit and passengers. If a pilot leaves to use the bathroom, one of the flight attendants takes his or her seat in the cockpit. Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, US airlines revamped their policies regarding staffing in the cockpit.

Meanwhile, UN aviation body has asked all pilots to undergo a periodic medical examination. Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization in a statement said that if there is any concern from this medical screening then a further, more specialized, assessment can be undertaken that may include neuro psychological testing.

Earlier, French authorities said the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight appeared to have slammed his Airbus A320 into the French Alps, killing all 150 passengers and crew. The 28-year-old initiated the plane’s descent while alone at the controls and refused to open the locked cockpit door for the captain, who was believed to have gone to the toilet.