(CNN Philippines) — “It’s simple aviation safety. Nothing more, nothing less.”
This was how William Hotchkiss, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), described the new aviation rule requiring commercial airlines to have two people in the cockpit at all times.
The rule came after news of a downed Germanwings flight which investigators say might have been deliberately crashed by its co-pilot after he locked the pilot out of the cockpit.
The amendment in the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations would ensure that if there is any unlikely incident in the cockpit, it can be controlled by either the pilot or co-pilot.
Hotchkiss, a retired Air Force lieutenant general, explained this in an interview with anchor Amelyn Veloso on Monday (April 6), which aired on CNN Philippines “Headline News.”
Under the amendment, a member of the cabin crew — preferably male — is qualified to remain inside the flight deck in case one of the pilots leave for personal or other reasons.
“The male of the species is still, I think, generally the stronger one,” Hotchkiss said explaining the reason why CAAP specified a preference on having a male cabin crew. “If there’s any violence that’s going to happen inside the cockpit, it’s something that can probably be controlled more easily by a male individual.”
But he clarified that this doesn’t mean that a female cabin crew isn’t qualified to enter even admitting that there are “some females who may be stronger.”
CAAP also included a provision requiring cockpit doors to be closed and locked from the time all external doors are closed following embarkation. They may only be opened upon disembarkation or when necessary to permit access of authorized persons.
Another provision directs for a means to monitor the entire door area outside the flight crew compartment. This way, persons requesting entry can be identified and suspicious behavior or a potential threat can be detected.
The amendments which were approved on April 1 will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation.
