New AA Cockpit Protocol? (Captain using lav without aisle blocking)
Mar 24, 2018, 6:19 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 946
I have a pal who is an AA pilot - he says that they've timed how long it takes somebody to get to the cockpit from 1st with and without the cart - i don't recall the exact number, but it was pretty fast - something like less than 8 seconds without a cart and 20 seconds with a cart. If it were me? I'd go right over that cart and be in the cockpit pretty fast. Well, wait, let me say that again - if it were me when I was 20? Yeah, I'd be in that cockpit. If it were me today? "Sir, sir, can you hear me?" "Hello, is there a doctor onboard? We've got some fat 50+ year old dude that has collapsed on top of the drink cart. We all had no idea what the hell he was doing when he moseyed up here in slow motion and then kind of collapsed on top of the cart - maybe a heart attack? We dunno. He was mumbling something about Cuba - does anyone speak spanish?"
Mar 24, 2018, 8:41 am
#18
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, AA Platinum, National/Enterprise Executive
Posts: 26
I noticed the same thing on my CLT-DEN flights and the return last week. No cart blocking the aisle when cockpit door opened. I thought is was strange too.....
Mar 24, 2018, 10:55 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,813
Blocking the door always seemed like a pretty reasonable and effective security measure to me. When a pilot enters/exits the cockpit it only takes a few seconds, but it someone was near the door they could have a reasonable chance of getting through the door and into the cockpit. Being kept a few feet away and by a cart could easily add a couple seconds, which would be plenty of time for the pilot to slam the door shut (whether he was in or out of the cockpit).
Secure cockpit doors, cockpits with two doors and blocking the entrace to single cockpit doors seems like the best security we have for 9/11 style attacks (and treating hijackers like suicide bombers, not ransom wanters).
Secure cockpit doors, cockpits with two doors and blocking the entrace to single cockpit doors seems like the best security we have for 9/11 style attacks (and treating hijackers like suicide bombers, not ransom wanters).
Mar 24, 2018, 11:32 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TPA/DFW/K15
Programs: AA EXP, Mar AMB, HH LT DIA
Posts: 1,653
Blocking the door always seemed like a pretty reasonable and effective security measure to me. When a pilot enters/exits the cockpit it only takes a few seconds, but it someone was near the door they could have a reasonable chance of getting through the door and into the cockpit. Being kept a few feet away and by a cart could easily add a couple seconds, which would be plenty of time for the pilot to slam the door shut (whether he was in or out of the cockpit).
Secure cockpit doors, cockpits with two doors and blocking the entrace to single cockpit doors seems like the best security we have for 9/11 style attacks (and treating hijackers like suicide bombers, not ransom wanters).
Secure cockpit doors, cockpits with two doors and blocking the entrace to single cockpit doors seems like the best security we have for 9/11 style attacks (and treating hijackers like suicide bombers, not ransom wanters).
I prefer the cart.
Mar 24, 2018, 11:47 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,704
Given the Germanwings incident, I'd prefer that when a crew member leaves the cockpit, the cart blocks the lav...and the cockpit door is blocked open. 
Mar 24, 2018, 1:25 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,252
A year or so ago, the FA blocked the aisle with the cart while I was still in the F Lav (she forgot I was there). I opened the lav door at the same time as the pilot was stepping out. He and I both made eye contact, both were like "oh ...." and slammed our respective doors shut. FA then was super apologetic and let me out with the cockpit door closed.
It doesn't help that I'm brown.
It doesn't help that I'm brown.
Mar 24, 2018, 4:34 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,009
Apr 2, 2018, 1:45 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz PC, GE + Pre✓, Amazon Super Special Prime
Posts: 1,008
Apr 4, 2018, 12:04 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 906
I noticed this too on a trip a couple weeks ago. Along with the hardened cockpit doors the cart blocking the aisle is one of the few additional security measures that actually makes some sense. It may only add a few seconds to someone getting to the door but that's likely enough to slam it shut securing the cockpit with at least one of the pilots inside.
Apr 4, 2018, 12:51 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SPG/Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,193
I've definitely seen it not blocked, I think on an American Eagle flight. It doesn't bother me as long as a flight attendant steps into the cockpit. I was flying BA from ZRH to LHR and no flight attendant went into the cockpit while one of the pilots went to the lav. I definitely don't think that's protocol.