Concerns Mount Around Secondary Flight Deck Barrier Concerns

Along with the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on the Aviation hearing about the surge in air rage and its effect on workers, airlines, and airports, Air Line Pilots Association, International President Captain Joe DePete sent Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (pictured) a letter discussing the perceived lack of action by the FAA on issuing a regulation requiring secondary flight deck barriers on all newly manufactured airliners.

The letter thanks Larsen for the hearing, “On behalf of the more than 61,000 members of the Air Line Pilots Association, I would like to thank you for highlighting the increasing safety threat posed by disruptive airline passenger incidents through your subcommittee’s hearing titled “Disruption in the Skies: The Surge in Air Rage and its Effects on Workers, Airlines, and Airports.” The data shows—and airline pilots are experiencing firsthand—a shocking rise in the frequency and severity of these incidents, which not only jeopardize the safety of individual flights but also the U.S. air transportation system,” DePete says.

DePete continues by laying out what works and doesn’t when it comes to providing a safe flying environment for passengers and flight crew.

“The most effective measure to prevent a disruptive passenger incident is keeping problem passengers off the aircraft,” DePete says. “Government and industry must do more to educate the flying public about what constitutes a disruptive passenger event and deter such behavior by making clear the certain and serious consequences. Moreover, the full force of federal law and criminal prosecution must be applied to individuals who conduct such acts, and local police must be empowered to enforce federal law once affected flights land. In addition, the regulator, airlines, and airports must increase safety by decreasing passenger alcohol use while at the airport and during flight,” he adds.

DePete concludes by thanking Larsen again for his oversight in the matter, and letting those directly involved be heard.

FMI: https://www.alpa.org