Germanwings France plane crash sparks rush to embrace 2 pilots in cockpit rule
Nearly a dozen foreign carriers in Canada, Germany, Great Britain and Norway confirmed Thursday that they would adopt the two-person cockpit protocol. They include the two largest German carriers: Lufthansa, which owns the low-cost carrier Germanwings, as well as Air Berlin.
German Aviation Association spokeswoman Christine Kolmar said the plan, slated to be presented Friday to German authorities, would be implemented “as soon as possible.” Other airlines moving to the two-person protocol include Virgin, Air Canada, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Air Transat, EasyJet, Monarch Airlines, Air Berlin and Thomas Cook, according to BBC News.
Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt announced that all Canadian carriers must adhere to the two-person rule effective immediately.
“Currently, there is not the requirement to have two members in the cabin,” Ms. Raitt told reporters, according to CBC News. “After this order, there will be a requirement to have two members in the cabin.”
“It could be a flight attendant. It could be a customer service person,” she said. “But they have to be members of the cabin crew.”
Pilot suicide
The case has also focused intense interest in what is known about pilot suicides, especially cases where the pilot at the controls was prepared to take his passengers to their deaths as well.
A 2012 Federal Aviation Administration report found that there were eight U.S. pilot-assisted suicides from 2003-13, but all involved small single-engine planes, not commercial jets.
“Aircraft-assisted suicides are tragic, intentional events that are hard to predict and difficult to prevent,” said the FAA report. “Factors involved in aircraft-assisted suicides may be depression, social relationships and financial difficulties, just to name a few problems.”
via NorthEast Calling http://ift.tt/1FOLuC4
No comments:
Post a Comment