US airlines will have more time to deploy secondary cockpit barriers on new commercial passenger aircraft after the US Federal Aviation Administration announced a one-year delay to its August 2025 deadline.
During this one-year exemption period, existing security procedures will be used by crew members. These include the use of a trolley to block the entrance to the forward galley during those brief instances when the cockpit door is open, such as to accommodate pilots’ use of the lavatory or their meal service.
Thereafter, new commercial aircraft operating under Part 121 in the United States will have to install what’s called an Installed Physical Secondary Barrier (IPSB).
Trade group Airlines 4 America (A4A) recently sought a two-year delay to the FAA rule, citing the lack of certified hardware and the need to complete required crew training. The FAA’s decision appears to represent a compromise.
“The safety and security of our passengers and employees is always our highest priority, and airlines comply with all federal rules and regulations,” A4A tells Runway Girl Network in a statement.
“A4A’s request was simply a reflection of the practical fact that there is a current lack of FAA certification of secondary barriers which has resulted in a circumstance that temporarily prevents airlines from developing the required FAA-approved regulatory requirements to comply with the regulation.”
However, some pilots and lawmakers worry the delay leaves the commercial fleet vulnerable to a 9/11 style attack.
“The FAA’s decision to grant airlines yet another delay on the secondary barrier rule is deeply disappointing and undermines our nation’s aviation security. While we acknowledge this ruling falls short of the unacceptable [two-year] delay requested by Airlines for America, this extension still compromises the safety and security of our skies,” says Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) president Capt. Jason Ambrosi.
“This pattern of endless delays must stop. Airlines have had ample time — two full years — to comply with this congressionally mandated safety requirement, yet once again, they are shirking their responsibility to implement this critical security measure.”
André Carson, the US representative for Indiana’s 7th congressional district, earlier this month expressed dismay at the slow implementation of secondary cockpit barriers. “We shouldn’t have to rely on beverage carts,” he said. Carson also worries that the aircraft retrofit requirement contained within the FAA rule will face the same delays.
German firm SCHROTH and UK-based AmSafe Bridport are among the manufacturers bringing IPSBs to market. Each firm has showcased its respective system at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
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