(Washington, DC – June 15, 2023)
The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), representing over 36,000 professional pilots, would like to recognize the FAA, under the leadership of Acting Administrator Polly Trottenberg, for announcing the final rule that requires the installation of secondary cockpit barriers in our nation’s newly manufactured aircraft, will finally occur after years of delay.
With a phase-in period of two years, CAPA echoes Administrator Trottenberg’s challenge to the U.S. airlines to beat this deadline.
“While the FAA’s final rule is a welcomed step in the right direction, much work still needs to be done. Until “all” of our nation’s flight decks, including cargo, are equipped with this additional layer of enhanced security, can we take comfort in the universal protection they provide,” stated CAPA President Captain Larry Rooney.
We want to thank Mrs. Ellen Saracini for her tireless efforts to ensure this critical safety mandate is now a reality for newly manufactured passenger aircraft. CAPA will continue to champion the “Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act” (H.R. 911/S. 911), introduced by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), which requires current passenger aircraft to be retrofitted to meet the same improved safety standards.
“CAPA has been a long-standing supporter of secondary barriers,” CAPA President Rooney stated. “Our pilots require effective tools necessary to protect our aircraft, passengers, and fellow Americans from another attack on our aviation industry, such as the one our Nation experienced on September 11, 2001,” he added.
The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) is the world’s largest professional pilot trade association representing over 36,000 pilots at American Airlines, UPS Airlines, NetJets, Atlas Air, Republic Airways, Horizon Air, Omni Air International, Silver Airways and Cape Air.
