[Infowarrior] - Security lessons from GermanWings incident

[Richard Forno]

If so, this provides some very important lessons in balancing security with reality, and developing appropriate solutions based on an objective understanding of risk, not on fear alone.  --rick


http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/german-plane-crash/germanwings-crash-recordings-could-yield-cockpit-door-clues-n330426


The co-pilot of the crashed Germanwings plane appears to have "intentionally" forced the jet into a descent while his captain was locked out of the cockpit, prosecutors said Thursday.

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"Banging" sounds were also heard, suggesting the captain was trying to force his way back into the cockpit.

However, the reinforced cockpit door was locked from the inside and could not be overridden, even with a coded entry panel. "If he had been able to open this door, the captain would have done it," Brice said.

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Many airlines, especially U.S. carriers, have a flight attendant come into the flight deck if a pilot leaves, for example during a bathroom break.

While Lufthansa earlier Thursday would not comment on its cockpit security procedures, it said it followed rules set out by German authorities that allow temporary absence from the flight deck.

Former pilots and aviation experts told NBC News that most planes have coded entry door controls, but these can be overridden with a double lock — a practice implemented industry-wide after the 9/11 attacks.

"The cockpit has the ultimate control of the door," said former pilot Captain John Cox. "If it is placed in the override mode then no matter what is done with the code pad, the door will remain locked. The security people were very firm on the need for the flight deck to remain the ultimate authority."

"It's likely that an airline like Lufthansa will have fitted the highest specification of security technology," said David Gleave, an aviation safety investigator based at Loughborough University near Leicester, England.

"These reinforced doors are designed to be very strong — they can't be smashed open. That's the point of them."

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