BERLIN: Germany's aviation association BDL has announced plans to introduce a two-person cockpit rule after it emerged that the co-pilot on a Germanwings flight deliberately crashed after being left alone.
The announcement was made by the federation's chief Matthias von Randow, a BDL spokeswoman said yesterday. The new policy would require two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times. The second person could be a flight attendant if the pilot or co-pilot has to exit the cockpit in flight.
Separately, the head of Germanwings' parent company Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr, said the two-person cockpit rule would be discussed at an industry meeting today to be attended by the Federal Aviation Office (LBA).
The meeting will focus on "ways that could in the short term help increase security" on planes, Spohr told German public television ARD.
Earlier yesterday, the Canadian government and several European airlines, including easyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle, announced that they were introducing the "rule of two" on all their flights.
The policy changes came after French authorities said the co-pilot of the doomed Germanwings flight appeared to have intentionally 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.
Even France Decides the Same:
OTTAWA: Canada has ordered its airlines to post two people at all times in cockpits of passenger planes after it emerged that the co-pilot on a Germanwings flight deliberately crashed after he was left alone.
Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt's emergency directive was mandatory and effective immediately, she said. "If you're carrying passengers, this is going to apply to you," she said yesterday outside the House of Commons.
"You have to have two crew members in the flight deck at all times." Raitt explained that the second person could be a flight attendant if the pilot or co-pilot has to exit the cockpit in flight.
The announcement came after several Canadian airlines had already put in place new policies requiring two crew members in the cockpit in response to the tragedy on Tuesday.
Canada's flagship carrier Air Canada, Westjet and charter airline Air Transat were among the airlines that confirmed the policy change to AFP.
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.