Airplanes May Soon Get Second Flight Deck Barrier

Commercial aircraft may soon be required to have a second barrier in order to enter the flight deck. Is this development a good idea that will make flying safer or a step too far?

The FAA wants commercial airplanes in the US to have a second barrier to get into the flight deck. After the rules go into effect, aircraft manufacturers will have to install a second barrier on new planes.

The FAA was supposed to adopt this rule by the end of the year, but they haven't done so yet.

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 changed everything. reinforced cockpit doors have been introduced since 9/11.

The law was created to address situations where one of the pilots has to leave the cockpit. A flight attendant will block the aisle with a cart while the door is open.

FAA acting administrator Billy Nolen said that "protecting flight crews helps keep our system the safest in the world"

The chair of the House transportation committee questioned the FAA's delay to act.

“Today, at most airlines, the only line of defense of the cockpit when a pilot needs to exit during flight is an improvised procedure involving flight attendants and beverage carts. This is not, and cannot be, a permanent solution.”

How would this barrier work? The front of an American A321neo cabin is shown in the below picture. There would be a second door in front of the bulkhead that would be open for most of the flight and only close when the cockpit needs to be accessed.

Is a second cockpit barrier really necessary?

Everything should be done to make aviation safe. This seems to be a solution that doesn't really solve anything. Since 9/11, how many people have been able to get into the cockpit of a plane? Someone corrects me if I am incorrect.

There are a number of factors that come down to that.

• It comes down to reinforced cockpit doors, which mean that you can’t break into cockpits
• It comes down to the mentality around hijackings having changed; previously if someone threatened an airline employee with a weapon, they’d typically let them into the cockpit, while that wouldn’t happen in a post-9/11 world
• Passengers wouldn’t allow a hijacking to happen; in the past they would have probably cooperated with hijackers, thinking that would be the solution that leads to the least damage, while I think that mindset has changed post-9/11

There is a part of the cockpit door that is reinforced. In the past 10 years, how many planes have crashed due to a pilot being locked out of the cockpit and not being able to get back in?

Adding a second cockpit door is not enough to protect pilots from mental health risks. US airlines are required to always have two people in the cockpit, which is why a flight attendant has to get in when a pilot leaves. This isn't applicable to foreign airlines flying to the US.

Bottom line

A second door that extends out when the cockpit door needs to open is what the FAA is suggesting for a second cockpit barrier. After the law is enacted, this applies to new planes.

On the other hand, I think this can be done without hurting. This seems to address a very small risk.

Is a second cockpit barrier necessary?