system

“the FAA is studying the matter and has given some advice to proactive airlines on the topic but hasn’t come up with a rule.”

As we learned from the inability of the FAA to rectify its own screw-up in the simple issue of changing its own policy on Flight Instructors–the FAA Administrator said “4 years” to rewrite it.

The FAA has been (or should have been) “studying the matter” since the first airline hijackers and STILL doesn’t have a policy or recommendation–decades later.

Why would anyone expect “guidance” from an Administration that needs 4 years to fix its own screw-up, and can’t come up with a policy after decades of being aware of the problem?

1 reply

system

They call it a “secondary barrier.” The ultimate “secondary barrier” is the Armed Pilot program–allowing certificated and trained pilots to carry a firearm in the cockpit–to be used in the event that a crazy person tries to breach the locked and armored door ( a rare occurrence–has anyone been successful?)

Does anyone have an update on how many pilots have been issued a certificate to do so?

3 replies

system

The passenger compartment needs to be an air tight compartment that the crew can evacuate from and seal off, then pump sleeping gas into when the herd get rowdy.

system

The flight instruction rule was made by a federal courts decision on what the term ‘commercial’ meant. The problem isn’t just limited and experimental. This wasn’t what the FAA wanted, but it got, because of some non pilot lawyers working in the DOJ.
It is currently unlawful to give a biannual flight review under part 91. It is a commercial operation… think about that for a second…
The FAA never had the authority to define ‘commercial’ yet the entire book of regulations is based on what they decided commercial meant 60 years ago.

1 reply

system

Would create a vestibule into which F/As could place a cart then lock the outside barrier, pilots can then open the flight deck door to take the food.

On some aircraft, such as Original 737s, the barrier would

Airlines should be acting on their own, can’t depend on gummint which botched security leading up to the Islamic Totalitarian terrorist warrior attacks of September 11, 2001, though airlines also botched. I chronicle clear prior indications and warnings in http://www.moralindividualism.com/prior.htm.

1 reply

system

Agreed.

Even a determined Islamic militant does not need too many frangible Corbon .45’s in the face before he loses motivation for mass murder.

Lord I remember the good old days where all a pilot sitting back in 18B had to do was politely ask the flight attendant for a ride in the jump seat. The request would get relayed to the crew and most of the time above 10,000’ I’d be looking out the front rather than the side of the airplane.

system

I agree. I have a lot more confidence in a trained pilot with a firearm than a “armored door” or TSA person. Not sure I like having 2 barriers to deal with in case of an accident. Really limits crew’s escape options in case a barrier gets jammed closed. Makes me even more glad I did not get into pt121 airline flying. With a secondary barrier how does a flight attendant or a third pilot get into the cockpit when one pilot wants to use the lav. Isn’t it procedure to have at least 2 persons in the cockpit while airborne to prevent what happened in Europe when a pilot locked out the second pilot and deliberately crashed the airplane?

system

Sounds like a good idea but most gaseous anesthetics are highly flammable and could not be dosed in that manner. Also could be defeated by a gas mask.

system

Erps, On some aircraft, such as Original 737s, the barrier would restrict use of forward lavatory, but make use by pilots more secure.

system

A last defence perhaps? Awkward for pilot to turn around.

Mebbe arm selected F/As, a little pistol in their brassiere? (Well, mebbe in side pocket for guys. :-o)

system

Well, off the top of my head, they at least need a procedure to blast the door open in the event of a crash. Otherwise the flight crew might be trapped without an exit.