All articles tagged with #flight deck barrier
Southwest Airlines has begun operating its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 equipped with a secondary cockpit barrier, a safety feature mandated by the FAA to prevent unauthorized access to the flight deck, marking a significant step in aviation security following the 9/11 attacks. The airline plans to retrofit about 25 new aircraft with this safety feature, aligning with new regulations that extend the compliance deadline to 2026.
The FAA will require a secondary barrier on the flight deck of new commercial airplanes to ensure the safety of aircraft, flight crew, and air passengers. The final rule mandating the additional barrier will protect flight decks from intrusion when the flight deck door is open. Aircraft manufacturers are required to install secondary barriers on commercial aircraft produced after the rule goes into effect. The Biden-Harris Administration made this rule a priority in 2021, and the rule meets a requirement of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act.