Secondary Cockpit Barrier Now Required on New Commercial Aircraft

Pilot groups applaud the new FAA security requirement.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 02:57 PM ET

Verified

The FAA is now requiring all new commercial aircraft to have a secondary barrier on the flight deck. [Credit: Kenny Eliason/ Unsplash]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA now mandates the installation of secondary physical barriers on the flight decks of all new commercial aircraft.
This rule is designed to protect flight decks from intrusion when the primary flight deck door is open during flight, for example, during lavatory breaks or meal service.
Applying to new transport category airplanes manufactured two years after the rule's effective date, the measure has received broad support from the aviation industry and pilot unions.

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The FAA is now requiring all new commercial aircraft to have a secondary barrier on the flight deck in order to ensure the safety of aircraft, flight crew, and air passengers.

The first lockable flight deck doors were installed in response to the hijackings of September 11, 2001. The final rule mandating the additional barrier will protect flight decks from intrusion when the flight deck door is open.