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Government Industry

Modified Cockpit Security Measures Proposed

Air Safety Week, Sept 24, 2007

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to mandate a low cost approach in addressing standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concerning flightdeck door monitoring and 'discreet' crew alerting. The plan of action was revealed as pilots continue to lobby for installation of so-called "secondary barriers" on commercial transports that would create a "secure zone" in the immediate vicinity of the cockpit door.

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In mid-August, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that outlines how the U.S. aviation agency intends to comply with a 2002 ICAO mandate for a means by which cabin crew of Part 121 commercial passenger aircraft can discreetly notify the flight crew in the event of suspicious activity or security breaches in the cabin. ICAO also said "means shall be provided for monitoring from either pilot's station the entire door area outside the flight crew compartment to identify persons requesting entry."

The FAA drafted the NPRM after reviewing comments received over the past two years from air carriers, pilot and flight attendant unions and electronics manufacturers. The aviation agency will accept additional comments through Oct. 15, 2007 at which time it intends to finalize its deliberation and give industry two years to comply from the date a final rule is adopted. It said this strategy should give industry sufficient time to consider various options, rather than require the industry to focus solely on one possible option to meet a more immediate implementation date.

The FAA said much has been put in place since the events of Sept. 11, 2001 when terrorists hijacked jetliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Flightdeck doors have been hardened. More Air Marshals are riding 'shotgun' on commercial transports and some pilots are packing pistols just in case.

A Rapid Response Team made up of government, industry and union representatives said there must be a method for immediate notification of a potential threat in the cabin. The RRT said "consideration should be given to systems that might be installed in the aircraft as well as a device that could be carried by a crew member."

Regarding video monitoring of the flightdeck area, the RRT said that video cameras "may add value" but the team added that placement of a monitor in an already cramped flight deck would be a challenge. "We have no consensus on whether or how to proceed with this technology."

The Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) said the FAA may develop and implement methods to use video monitors or other devices to alert pilots of problems in the cabin. It also said the aviation agency may revise the procedures by which cabin crews can notify pilots of security breaches and other emergencies, including providing for the installation of switches or other devices or methods in an aircraft cabin to enable cabin crews to discreetly notify the pilots of a problem in the cabin.

The Homeland Security Act amended the ATSA, saying that air carriers must provide flight attendants with "a discreet, hands-free, wireless method of communicating with the pilots."

The FAA interprets the phrase "a means to monitor" as allowing two options: a video system or a cockpit door peephole coupled with an audio confirmation that the door area is clear. It said both methods are acceptable, meeting ICAO's intent.

At the same time, the FAA believes that current, onboard interphones with FAA-approved alerting procedures will meet ICAO requirements. For example, subtly keying of the interphone in a specific manner could be used. The FAA will not mandate use of hands-free wireless alerting devices, but said air carriers could use FAA-approved devices if they chose.

The Air Transport Association (ATA) agrees with the FAA's thinking on both counts, saying that member air carriers have already spent billions of dollars to beef up aviation security. "A requirement to retrofit airplanes with separate flightdeck alerting systems or to use wireless, handheld notification devices is unnecessary and not justified by airline experiences. In view of existing, proven communications procedures and systems, wireless handheld devices would not provide additional meaningful security.

"Considering other concerns about handheld devices, such as their susceptibility to unauthorized/inadvertent use and possible interference with onboard communications systems, these devices would not provide a sufficiently reliable means to alert the flightcrew of suspicious activity or security breaches in the cabin," said ATA, adding that several member airlines already have in place FAA-approved procedures to "discreetly" notify the cockpit of problems in the cabin.

ATA also believes video monitoring systems are not necessary and too expensive, but ATA said some members still might install them voluntarily.

Government Industry

Modified Cockpit Security Measures Proposed

Air Safety Week, Sept 24, 2007

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