Source: ABC News Author: 09/10/2009
Subject Concerned: Government Aircrew Airlines
The Senate has rejected a Federal Government regulation to tighten cockpit security and make pilots criminally liable for any breaches.
The change would have banned any unauthorised people from entering the cockpit and move liability from airline operators to individual pilots.
But the Opposition, the Greens and independent Senator Nick Xenophon say the changes could jeopardise public safety because off-duty pilots will not be able to enter the cockpit in an emergency.
Senator Xenophon says pilots were not consulted about the changes and they were unacceptable.
"Fix real security problems and don't make problems by change procedures that are working," he said.
"I think everyone in this chamber trusts a pilot with their life every time they come to Canberra, surely we should trust them when they say there are practical problems with this proposal."
But Special Minister for State Joe Ludwig says the regulation would not have prevented pilots letting someone into the cockpit to protect the safety and security of passengers.
"In the unfortunate situation where there is a medical or some other emergency on the aircraft, a pilot's judgment to allow a person to access the cockpit is not unfettered by this regulation," he said.