German airlines adopt two-person cockpit rule: aviation body

[Bosonic]

Source: AFP

Berlin (AFP) - German airlines have agreed to a new safety rule to keep two crew members in an airplane's cockpit at all times, the aviation association BDL announced Friday.

The decision came after the co-pilot of a Germanwings airliner locked the captain of the Airbus out of the cockpit and crashed the plane into the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard.

Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/german-airlines-adopt-two-person-cockpit-rule-aviation-135258126.html;_ylt=AwrBJSCwYRVVcUcAOADQtDMD

[snooper2]

1. No reason you can't piss in a cup (women can too)

Dumping it out the window at 520mph might be a bit of a trick though LOL

[treestar]

5. I wonder if it is possible

to design facilities in the cockpit. So they don't have to leave for nature's call.

[groundloop]

2. It's so sad this wasn't already in place

I agree with the 2-person rule, it's common sense and easy to implement. Sometimes though, even common sense ideas like this don't get discussed until after a tragedy.

[LiberalArkie]

4. It has been for years in the US. A flight attendant goes into the flight cabin to

allow the either of the pilots to leave. I imagine it is for this exact reason they have to do it in the US.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. They really should have 3 pilots onboard all the time.

2 in the cockpit and one spare. And some way for the pilot to open the cockpit door - a special key or something.

Probably would cost too much.

[ProudProg2u]

6. So I guess a "few sessions on the couch"..

for all pilots and crew would make the airline companies responsible..? Yes it would, to a great extent. Should be mandatory. Maybe three month evaluation periods, and friends and family involvement mandatory so this type of (was going to say "accident" but it's really not) is much less likely to happen. Of course the airlines will say "we do conduct mental evaluations".. not to the extent they should I would imagine.

[Demeter]

7. No doubt they will both be carrying handguns, too

What is the point of testing pilots for mental fitness, if they are put in the cockpit, regardless?

[truthisfreedom]

8. In the US you cannot be on antidepressants

and be a pilot. It's ridiculous.