Southwest Airways begins utilizing FAA-mandated cockpit limitations on new Boeing jetliners

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Southwest Airways on Friday started flying its first jetliner constructed with a secondary flight deck barrier designed to forestall intrusions in a design change that is been within the works because the Sept. 11, 2001, terror assaults.

The airline took supply of a Boeing 737 Max 8 in current days that flew from Phoenix to Denver and the flight serves as a milestone for a security function being deployed throughout new business airliners getting into U.S. service within the coming years.

Secondary limitations have been sought since Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists pressured their manner into cockpits and hijacked the 4 airliners used within the deadliest terror assault in historical past. Aviation security consultants and pilots’ unions have argued the secondary limitations will make jetliners safer.

Boeing and Airbus advised Reuters that they’ve begun delivering airplanes with the limitations in place beneath a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation from 2023 that took impact final week. 

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Southwest Airways took supply of its first Boeing 737 Max with a secondary flight deck barrier. (Kevin Carter / Getty Photos)

The FAA stated final month that it might give airways till July 2026 to start placing the limitations in newly delivered planes.

Ticker Safety Final Change Change % LUV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. 32.90 -0.08
-0.24%
BA THE BOEING CO. 234.68 -1.48
-0.63%

Most main air carriers have advised the regulator they intend to reap the benefits of the extension and will not put the limitations into instant use forward of the deadline.

Southwest has as a substitute opted to instantly start compliance and anticipates accepting the supply of about 25 extra Boeing airplanes with the limitations this 12 months.

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Southwest is the primary main air provider to start utilizing the brand new secondary flight deck barrier. ( Scott Eisen/Bloomberg by way of / Getty Photos)

“We felt like we could get it done and put it in production as soon as the aircraft was ready,” stated Justin Jones, Southwest’s government vp for operations.

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The FAA’s newly carried out rule requires plane producers to put in a second bodily barrier on new planes utilized in business passenger service within the U.S., however would not require that current planes be retrofitted.

Planemakers with out FAA certification of limitations do not but must be in compliance with the regulation.

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Reuters contributed to this report.