slowjet, what you and others seem to have difficulty in grasping is that different airlines have different sops regarding this subject. Some of you blindly believe that your own airline sops reflect all airline sops worldwide. They don't. Some countries and their airlines are more under threat then others and their government regulations and airline sops reflect this. Other countries and their airlines operate with a locked FD door but nevertheless continue to give their Captains autonomy regarding FD visits.