The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Wednesday it will require a secondary flight deck barrier on new commercial airplanes beginning later this year.
The rule requiring the secondary barrier, signed by Acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg, will take effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register, and will require that secondary barriers be installed on all new airplanes manufactured after that date.
The rule specifies that the secondary barrier must be closed and locked whenever the flight deck door is open during flight. The FAA said the new requirement would “ensure the safety of aircraft, flight crew and air passengers†by protecting flight decks against intrusion when the flight deck door is open.
“When the flight deck door must be opened for lavatory breaks, meal servi…
