After Germanwings crash, CAAP amends cockpit rules

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) followed various international airlines in requiring two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times, in the wake of last month’s Germanwings crash in the French Alps.

In a statement issued on Sunday, April 5, CAAP said that for aircraft certified for two pilots, a third crew member – “preferably male but not necessarily a pilot,” the agency said – is required to be inside the flight deck “should one of the pilots leave the flight deck for personal reasons.”

“The mandatory regulation means that in an event that either one of the pilots would like to get out of the cockpit for lavatory break or other reasons, [he or she] must allow another member of the flight crew to enter the cockpit that will serve as backup, preventing pilot outside being [locked out] by the other pilot who is inside the cockpit,” CAAP said.

In the wake of last month’s Germanwings crash, airlines in Europe announced new cockpit rules after it was revealed that the plane’s co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, may have deliberately crashed the Airbus A320 into a mountain after locking out the pilot. All 150 people on board were killed.

The amended CAAP rules also mandate that the cockpit doors must be closed and locked from the time all external doors are closed following embarkation. The doors may only be opened upon disembarkation or when necessary.

It also required for the entire door area outside the flight crew compartment to be monitored, in order to identify persons requesting entry and to detect suspicious behavior or potential threat.

CAAP Director General William Hotchkiss approved and signed the amendment order last April 1. The new policies will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Airline operators are also ordered to revise their operations manuals to include the amended rules. – Rappler.com