Cockpit Door Penetration

[Capot]

The following Rule has been in force in EASA from 14th May 2015. (EU) 2015/640, Annex 1, aka Part 26, of 23 April 2015, for those who like the detail.)

26.250 Flight crew compartment door operating systems — single incapacitation

Operators of large aeroplanes used in commercial air transport shall ensure that flight crew compartment door operating systems, where installed, be provided with alternate opening means in order to facilitate access by cabin crew members into the flight crew compartment in the case of a single flight crew member incapacitation.

I has seemed to me since this was issued that it invalidates the whole point of an impenetrable cockpit door.

Here we are, nearly a year later. Has the Rule been followed? Has any EASA National Authority enforced it? Germany, for example, for obvious reasons.

If PPRune has had this discussion, already, I'm sorry. I couldn't find it under various searches.

Or does it refer to single-pilot operations? I suppose it could, although due to the "Large Aeroplanes" I read it as applying to multi-crewed aircraft with only 1 person temporarily on the flight deck.

[Cole Burner]

The rule is satisfied by having a door unlocking switch which can be operated by either pilot from their operating seat. Hence, if one pilot is incapacitated, the other can unlock the door without getting up, and allow another crew member access. A video screen allows identification of the person who wishes to gain access. :)

[Capot]

Thanks for that; appearing when it did, and with the wording it has, it seemed to me to address the case where there is one - ie single - flight crew member on the flight deck who has become incapacitated, rather than two members, one of whom has become incapacitated.

I guess that with the ruling that two 'authorised personnel' must always be on the flight deck, the Part 26 Rule shuts down the potential hazard that one of them is incapacitated while the other cannot leave the controls, or indeed that one of them renders the other incapacitated in order to commit a crime.

It's a bad world we live in.

[InSoMnIaC]

The rule is and has always been satisfied via other emergency unlocking means.