Investing.com -- Major U.S. airlines are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to postpone a new requirement demanding a secondary barrier to the flight deck in new passenger airplanes. This regulation, slated to come into effect in August, aims to prevent unauthorized intrusions into the cockpit.
Airlines for America, the trade association representing major carriers such as American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL), United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), has asked the FAA to delay the implementation of this requirement, which was finalized in 2023. The airlines’ primary concern is that the FAA has not yet approved a secondary cockpit barrier. Additionally, no manuals, procedures, or training programs have been authorized to support the new requirement.
The call for enhanced flight deck security arose after the hijacking of four U.S. airplanes on September 11, 2001. In response to this tragedy, the FAA established standards to make flight decks more resistant to forcible intrusion and unauthorized entry. The upcoming requirement for a secondary barrier is a part of these ongoing security enhancements.