European airlines told to always have two in cockpit

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recommended Friday that at least two people be present in the cockpit of planes at all times, following the apparently deliberate crashing of the Germanwings flight this week

Transport ministries and aviation authorities in Germany, Austria and Portugal announced earlier Friday that they would be requiring the adoption of the so-called “rule of two” which is already standard in the United States.

The regulation would come into immediate effect for Portugal’s national airline, TAP Portugal, Secretary of State for Transport Sergio Monteiro said.

Air France and KLM followed suit saying in a statement that they would implement EASA’s recommendation “as soon as possible”.

Belgian companies — Brussels Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, and Jetairfly — also said they would put in place the two person rule along with Thomas Cook.

The moves came after initial investigations into the Germanwings crash indicated co-pilot Andreas Lubitz may have deliberately crashed the Airbus A320 into a mountain in France on Tuesday, killing all 150 people aboard, after locking the captain out of the cockpit.

“[The European Aviation Safety Agency] publishes today a temporary recommendation for airlines to ensure that at least two crew, including at least one qualified pilot, are in the flight crew compartment at all times of the flight,” the agency said on its website.

Strict procedures to securely lock cockpit doors have became standard since the September 11, 2001 attacks to prevent hijackers from taking control of civilian aircraft.

On Thursday, Canada ordered its airlines to also impose the two-person regulation, affecting Air Canada, Westjet and charter airline Air Transat.

The same day British airline easyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Icelandair also confirmed policy changes.

On Friday, German aviation industry body BDL and the transport ministry agreed to the rule for Lufthansa, including its subsidiary Germanwings, as well as Air Berlin, Condor and TUIfly.

The move also affects two Austrian carriers — Austrian Airlines and Flyniki — subsidiaries of Lufthansa and Air Berlin respectively.

The measure will be put into place immediately, Austrian transport ministry spokeswoman Andrea Heigl said.

“We would like European regulation to be adopted as quickly as possible,” she said.

Hungary’s low-cost Wizz Air also said it would adopt the two-crew rule.

– EU weighs rule change –

The EU said Friday it is studying whether to change the rules after the Germanwings disaster.

“We are waiting for the conclusions of the investigation underway and, if it’s necessary, the safety rules will be reviewed,” European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told a news conference.

The International Air Transport Association that represents 250 airlines said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by this week’s disaster, but that passengers should be “re-assured that flying remains the safest way to travel.”

Airlines that already adhere to a rule of two include Ireland’s Ryanair, Finland’s Finnair and Spanish carrier Iberia.

The Lufthansa Group also said Friday it had created the new position of head of safety for the group, naming Werner Maas who would have “overarching responsibility to review and further develop flight safety procedures.”

French airline Corsair and British charter airline Thomson Airways said Friday they would soon implement a mandatory two-person cockpit rule too.

A similar decision was announced by Latvian airlines AirBaltic.

The two major Japanese airlines, JAL and ANA, told AFP they were not considering such measures at this stage.

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