Following the dramatic accident of the Germanwings flight 4U9525, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published 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. Airlines should re-assess the safety and security risks associated with a flight crew leaving the cockpit due to operational or physiological needs.
In coordination with the Luftfahrtbundesamt (Germany’s aviation authority), the other German airlines and the German aviation industry association (Bundesverband der deutschen Luftverkehrswirtschaft), the airlines of the Lufthansa Group are to adopt a new cockpit occupancy procedure as a precautionary measure. Under the new procedure, two authorized persons must be present in the cockpit at all times during a flight.
The passenger airlines of the Lufthansa Group will adopt the new procedure as soon as possible, in due consultation with their national aviation authority.
Switzerland’s national airline; Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has been adopted the new cockpit occupancy procedure in the light of recent events and an advised safety recommendation from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).