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SWISS abandons the rule of two-people in the cockpit
As of Monday, May 1, 2017, the Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will abandon the rule of two people in the cockpit. An internal audit showed that this precautionary measure, taken in 2015 after the Germanwings crash, did not improve safety, according to the company officials. (www.airlinerpulse.com) More...
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I fondly remember those days before jet aircraft when the door to the cockpit was usually open and passengers could see what was happening up there. At times, a passenger would even be allowed into the cockpit area to observe, and chat with the pilots. In my brand new navy uniform, flying from Baton Rouge to Pensacola in 1956, I was singled out and invited into the cockpit by the flight crew! I was astonished! My first view of Pensacola was from the cockpit of a DC-3, a dream made possible by two proud pilots that could see the dream in a young aviation sailor's eye.
I remember those days too. As a kid in the 60s I used to live in Cameroon (Africa) and we would always travel with Swissair on the Coronado 990 between Geneva and Douala. On every single flight my dad and I would visit the cockpit and chat with the pilots. The flight attendants also would sometimes ask my sister and I to help them distribute chocolates to the passengers, which we joyfully and proudly did. The space between seats was a lot wider then, too. And all passengers dressed up, all men wore suits then. Later as an adult whenever I would travel regardless of the airline I made it a habit to visit the cockpit in flight every single time; and I have flown a lot. On three occasions in the 90s I managed to get to fly in the jump seat from take-off to landing. The first time on SQ between Singapore and Hiroshima on the Airbus 310, then on CX between Hong Kong and Tokyo Narita (night flight) on the Boeing 777 and the third time on LH between Geneva and Frankfurt on the Boeing 737. Those old days are but nice memories now.
I remember, flying from Wash National to Seatac when in the Army in 1959, on the eastern leg on a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser (the first true double-decker) over Ohio in heavy rain, the stewardess couldn't get the strap off some trays strapped to a bulkhead. The snap on the belt was just too tight, and I was asked to help. I couldn't get it off either by fingers, so I went forward where the door was propped open, poked my head in and asked the flight engineer (on the right) for a screwdriver with which I might pry off the mounting strap. He gave me a nice American-made Stanley heavy duty screwdriver with which I performed the task and then went back and gave the flight engineer his screwdriver back. Without the cockpit door open, how can servicemen help out the stewardess?
Just yesterday on a 777-200 EU carrier, kids were in the cockpit in cruise. Great education.
I don't know what kind of "audit" would prove the two person rule ineffective. There can be no argument that it is safer to have two people in the cockpit at all times. How many other airlines have done away with this rule? I would be less inclined to fly Swiss after reading this. It's predecessor - Swiss air - was wiped out by one fatal accident. You would think Swiss would want to err on the side of safety.
Swissair was wiped out by stupid management decisions proposed by McKinsey (Hunter-Strategie, Qualiflyer Group).
This move proposed by another no nothing management advisory team will do in Lufthansa and its affiliates such as Swiss. If you are going to error you error on the side of safety. Having an F/A in the cockpit when one of the two pilots must take a break does not cost anything except on paper.
Not sure I understood first phrase. In any case, not only Swiss but the hole Lufthansa Group has decided to abandon the rule.
The decision was not based on financial arguments. Lufthansa Group thinks insecurity is bigger than benefits applying this rule.
The decision was not based on financial arguments. Lufthansa Group thinks insecurity is bigger than benefits applying this rule.
