A discussion on the issue of strengthening security in the cockpit
Cockpit door design
Yoh said his engineers reviewed the FAA specification and concluded that the new doors could withstand a couple of hits by a pound man but maybe not a third. In addition to making the doors stronger, the FAA rules require that keys to the cockpit be restricted to flight crew members. Representational image. Some airlines, including Alaska and Jet Blue, already are moving ahead with hardened doors. The order also said that officials of the airline, who have been deputed for familiarization of flight for better practical understanding of cockpit instruments, can travel in jump seat if they have the approval of pilot-in-command. It also said that any other person authorised by the DGCA can travel in the cockpit's jump seat too. It also allowed any "officer of the Civil Aviation Department or India Meteorological Department, authorized by the DGCA to perform official duties" to travel in the cockpit's jump seat. It also said that any other person authorised by the DGCA can travel in the cockpit's jump seat too.Representational image. Cockpit doors will have to remain locked during flight and will be designed so they can be unlocked only from the inside. Yoh said his engineers reviewed the FAA specification and concluded that the new doors could withstand a couple of hits by a pound man but maybe not a third.
Airlines will have until April to install the hardened doors on about 6, planes.
Crew rescue procedures will be changed. Flight crew members include the cockpit crew pilots and cabin crew members flight attendants. Mike Markushewski, a Philadelphia-area mechanical engineer, said his initial conclusion was that the specifications are an improvement over the current doors but are not fail-safe.
The order also said that officials of the airline, who have been deputed for familiarization of flight for better practical understanding of cockpit instruments, can travel in jump seat if they have the approval of pilot-in-command.