Which airlines have two people in the cockpit at all times?
In light of the tragic news that the crash of Germanwings flight 9525 was a pilot suicide, airlines around the world are moving to enforce new rules surrounding pilots in the cockpit.
Authorities say recordings from inside the cockpit show co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, after locking the pilot out of the cockpit, initiated the plane’s descent in to the French Alps.
The revelations have prompted airlines around the world to apply a rule requiring two crew members to be in the cockpit if one of the pilots leaves for any reason.
Air New Zealand’s chief flight operations and safety officer, Captain David Morgan, said today it would make the same changes to its procedures effective immediately.
“Following the Germanwings accident earlier this week and in line with moves being made by some other international carriers, Air New Zealand has reviewed and updated its flight deck procedures,” he said.
“If one of the two pilots operating the flight needs to leave the cockpit for a short time, a crew member will be required to enter the cockpit in their place.”
This new rule, whilst quickly being adopted by other airlines, was already in place in the United States and Russia and has been for years.
Other airlines outside the United States and Russia that have adopted this new policy are
Air New Zealand (NZ)
Air Transat (Canada)
Air Canada (Canada)
Westjet (Canada)
Flybe (UK)
Easyjet (UK)
Thomas Cook (UK)
Virgin Atlantic (UK)
Ryanair (UK)
Malaysia Airlines (Malaysia)
Monarch (UK)
Jet2(UK)
Norwegian (Scandinavia)
Air Berlin (Germany)
Lufthansa (Germany)
Germanwings (Germany)
Austrian Airlines (Austria)
Swiss International (Switzerland)
Icelandair (Iceland)
Qantas (Australia)
Virgin Australia (Australia)
Jetstar (Australia)
Tigerair (Australia)
REX (Australia)
Network (Australia)
WizzAir (Hungary and Ukraine)
Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong)
A British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statement said: ‘Following the details that have emerged regarding the tragic Germanwings incident, we are co-ordinating closely with colleagues at the European Aviation Safety Agency and have contacted all UK operators to require them to review all relevant procedures.’
The authority added that it had made the change ‘in the light of the latest developments in France’ that revealed the pilot of flight 9525 was locked out of the cockpit. While the CAA said the switch will remain voluntary, an industry insider said: ‘There is some industry chatter about the policy becoming mandatory.’
