Thomson/Britannia Fault
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Thomson/Britannia Fault
I was on holiday this August and travelled with Thomson for package holiday.
Included flights on Thomsonfly/Britannia return.
On return flight back to LGW, we were taxiing out to the active runway in Turkey, and the flight deck door was still OPEN!
I am sure that this is a serious security fault and I believe that the flight deck door should be locked before boarding? This has not happened before on any airline that I have travelled on.
Included flights on Thomsonfly/Britannia return.
On return flight back to LGW, we were taxiing out to the active runway in Turkey, and the flight deck door was still OPEN!
I am sure that this is a serious security fault and I believe that the flight deck door should be locked before boarding? This has not happened before on any airline that I have travelled on.
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What a load of tosh.
95% of flights i've been on in the last few years still have the door open until just prior pushback.
The Captain is going to love opening and closing the door whilst every Tom, Dick and Harry (cabin crew, dispatchers etc) are trying to get in for signatures and coffee distribution!
95% of flights i've been on in the last few years still have the door open until just prior pushback.
The Captain is going to love opening and closing the door whilst every Tom, Dick and Harry (cabin crew, dispatchers etc) are trying to get in for signatures and coffee distribution!
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Quite right LGW15, thank you for flagging this one up. You are correct in your analysis of things - at my airline for example, the pilots receive their non-self-exploding paperwork by having it slid under the permanently locked door. Food and drink is supplied from our own special fridge next to the FMS, whilst any resultant toliet breaks are enjoyed in the flight deck potty. Egress is performed through the window - unfortunately, due to security I'm unable to tell you how one enters the cockpit.
Given that you were present on an aircraft that suffered such a major lapse in security - I do hope that you did notify the cabin crew, or presumably even the captain?
Given that you were present on an aircraft that suffered such a major lapse in security - I do hope that you did notify the cabin crew, or presumably even the captain?
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LGW15
Yes you are quite correct LGW15 it shouldn't be open while you are taxiing out to the runway. It is supposed to be locked from engine start to shutdown. However as others have sarcastically pointed out, it may be temporarily opened for other purposes, however such occurences should be applied carefully and for the minimum period necessary.
Having said that it is not inconceivable that a fault or error may have resulted in the door being opened when it shouldn't have been, and I seriously doubt the flight deck crew would have been instantly aware or condoned this action otherwise.
No airline is particulary at fault for this shortcoming as it happens to most of us at one time or another, however it is important that all crewmembers are vigilant and take corrective action as soon as any non conformity becomes apparant.
Having said that it is not inconceivable that a fault or error may have resulted in the door being opened when it shouldn't have been, and I seriously doubt the flight deck crew would have been instantly aware or condoned this action otherwise.
No airline is particulary at fault for this shortcoming as it happens to most of us at one time or another, however it is important that all crewmembers are vigilant and take corrective action as soon as any non conformity becomes apparant.
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Thanks for the replies.
I have not told airline and they will probably think it is too late to follow up at such a late date (this was in August 2005).
I believe after 9/11 all airlines had to have armoured cockpit doors that were locked at all times.
If this is not the case now or never was, then I think it should be.
There was a genuine security risk on that flight and I for one felt pretty nervous whilst the door remained open as anyone could have interferred with anything.
I have not told airline and they will probably think it is too late to follow up at such a late date (this was in August 2005).
I believe after 9/11 all airlines had to have armoured cockpit doors that were locked at all times.
If this is not the case now or never was, then I think it should be.
There was a genuine security risk on that flight and I for one felt pretty nervous whilst the door remained open as anyone could have interferred with anything.
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Fly outside FAA airspace, and on a non UK registered aircraft and you will find that there are airlines that are not required by law to have the flight deck door open
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For the safety and security of everyone on board I think the flight deck should be shut as the pilots could be distracted, could cause a safety/security breach if a passenger is stupid enough to try it.
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The locked flight deck door policy is possibly the most useless, half-arsed knee jerk reaction to the whole 9-11 tragedy.
There are many ways to down an aircraft without having to go anywhere near the flightdeck, if a terrorist wants to cause another atrocity do you really believe a locked door will have him stumped?
There are many ways to down an aircraft without having to go anywhere near the flightdeck, if a terrorist wants to cause another atrocity do you really believe a locked door will have him stumped?
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An excellent point from the_hawk.
LGW you are over-reacting big time. An open cockpit door is not an invitation to disaster, would a terrorist be on each flight waiting for the time when a door just happens to have been left open for some reason?
Get a grip. I have never been distracted by an open door. Grumpy captains maybe, loaders, engineers, refuelers and dispatchers have distracted me from looking out of the window when I should have been doing something more useful, but just having a door open when everyone else is strapped in has never bothered me.
I don't remeber any precedents where a pax has suddenly tried to fly the plane because the door was unlocked, maybe you could furnish us with details of such an incident to back up your wild assumptions.
LGW you are over-reacting big time. An open cockpit door is not an invitation to disaster, would a terrorist be on each flight waiting for the time when a door just happens to have been left open for some reason?
Get a grip. I have never been distracted by an open door. Grumpy captains maybe, loaders, engineers, refuelers and dispatchers have distracted me from looking out of the window when I should have been doing something more useful, but just having a door open when everyone else is strapped in has never bothered me.
I don't remeber any precedents where a pax has suddenly tried to fly the plane because the door was unlocked, maybe you could furnish us with details of such an incident to back up your wild assumptions.
LGW15 I classify you as a prime example of the new generation of bird-brained passengers that have been brainwashed by the idiotic post-911 restrictions imposed by authorities with an even lower IQ. These type of posts absolutely infuriate me (as you may have gathered by now).
Can life ever resume normal service again?
Can life ever resume normal service again?
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Please, let's argue his opinion, but there is not need to get personal with the guy. The fact is that flying is a novel and alien environment for most people - I for one think I was far too sarcastic to LGW15. Imagine the sort of tongue-bitten response doctors have to give patients and relatives asking naive questions.
LGW15, a more serious response, which I think may encapsulate some of our frustrations with aspects of security that seem to be window dressing - hijacking an aircraft doesn't tend to be a casual and opportunistic act invited by an open door, in the same way someone might smash a car window to nick a wallet left on a car seat. It's the preserve of the serious - and a closed door won't do much to prevent it.
LGW15, a more serious response, which I think may encapsulate some of our frustrations with aspects of security that seem to be window dressing - hijacking an aircraft doesn't tend to be a casual and opportunistic act invited by an open door, in the same way someone might smash a car window to nick a wallet left on a car seat. It's the preserve of the serious - and a closed door won't do much to prevent it.
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LGW15
If you were that concerned about the flight deck door being open during taxi, goodness knows would would happen should you have encountered turbulence.
Chill out mate, merely and oversight, hardly a major saftey concern.
If you were that concerned about the flight deck door being open during taxi, goodness knows would would happen should you have encountered turbulence.
Chill out mate, merely and oversight, hardly a major saftey concern.
mini travelled from Antananorivo to Tomasino (Madagascar) on a 73 prior to 9/11, the cockpit door was left open for the duration of the flight, it was interesting to see punters straining to get a view of the approach & touch down.
If you've ever ridden on something like a Jetstream or Beech 1900 there is no flight deck door at all.
Strangely not one of these, in all their years of service, has ever been interfered with by the passengers.
Strangely not one of these, in all their years of service, has ever been interfered with by the passengers.