Airbus aims to offer more aircraft security products to airlines over the coming months following the recent certification of its strengthened cockpit door for the A320 single-aisle family. Topping the list of priorities after consultations with airlines and regulatory authorities are cabin video surveillance and cockpit/cabin emergency communication systems, and emergency transponder codes which cannot be cancelled.
An aft-facing video camera behind the cockpit that allows pilots to see the forward cabin is on course for certification by the end of June, says Airbus executive vice-president engineering Alain Garcia. The camera may be integrated with a future "Phase II" cockpit door which pilots will be able to open remotely when seated via a switch on the central pedestal.
The cockpit/cabin emergency communication system is at the conceptual definition phase, but would use dedicated buzzers, warning lights and controls to enable cabin crew to alert pilots to a hijacking attempt, or vice versa. Airbus wants modified transponders, designed to alert air traffic control to a hijacking in a non-reversible way, to be installed as soon as possible.
Airbus is also looking at ways to transmit cockpit conversations or videos from a hijacked airliner to the ground via a secure datalink, while ground collision avoidance/ground proximity warning system technology may be used to prevent hijackers from deliberately crashing an airliner.
The manufacturer expects European and US certification of a strengthened cockpit door for its widebodies shortly.
Source: Flight International
