Well our company has started putting in new bulletproof cockpit doors on the CL-65 (i.e. the CRJ).
Just a couple little problems.
1.) In an emergency, this door is blocked by the flight attendants seat. Our F/A's have been instructed that in an emergency, they will:
a.) Face the cabin and keep positive control of the passengers to avoid panic.
b.) Ensure that at least two emergency exits are open for the passengers to escape. And, then,
c.) Retract the F/A seat so that the crew may escape.
Did you happen to notice how two people are trapped up front? Did you happen to notice that in a three man crew all of whom have specific safety training to get the passengers to safety, only one is left now?
Did you happen to notice that two pilots are now dependant on an F/A remembering to retract a seat (that he/she was previously told to ignore) in a potentially broken and burning aircraft.
2.) The door is magnificent. About 100 pounds of Kevlar, metal I've never seen before and bullet proof locks. Now I've got to account for 80 pound dogs and 25 pound bags in my W&B computations, but the maint. dept. just hung a 100lb door and didn't adjust the W&B for the airplane calling the value "insignificant". Hmmmm.
3.) This equally magnificent door is hung on the aluminum remains of the bulkhead. So I have a door that can stop bullets and bombs, but by moving a weapon about 16 inches to either side of the door, I can incapcitate the crew and the plane by shooting right through the circuit breaker panel and the backs of the pilots? Am I missing something in this? Or maybe I'm just thinking too much. Obviously we need signs directing potential threatening persons not to shoot to either side of the door.
4.) The new door removes the useful capacity of the crew closet. One of the nice things about the CRJ was that I could keep my pilot things away from the other passengers. Alas, the company has directed me to put my overnight bag in the cargo hold with all the other carry-ons. I guess my overnights are going to get interesting with my overnight bag someplace in some airport. But I shouldn't worry - an airline ramp employee has never "lost" a bag before right?
Now granted the CRJ does have a cockpit "hatch" to go out the top of the fuselage and down a rope. I've never considered that I would actually try to shimmy out a 12x12 hole on top of an airplane about 25 feet off the ground and then rappel down the side using a nylon rope. This has about the same attraction for me as parachuting. I know I'll probably break a leg doing this. And planes know not to flip over, right? I mean I couldn't find my self upside down trying to get out now would I?
People keep posting "what are pilot's worth" questions on this site. I'm starting to understand. I used to have all these concepts like the military "we can build another plane but the pilots are hard to get". Thinking that perhaps my company would think of me a somewhat valuable commodity. Alas, I guess we are worth about the same as a cockpit door.
So be nice to your underpaid CRJ pilot. He's gonna be just a little grumpy knowing that in an accident he is trapped by the new terrorist proof door. I just love this job!
PS, if your company is going to install these doors, you may just want to ask the question "Why?" before you get them.
Just a couple little problems.
1.) In an emergency, this door is blocked by the flight attendants seat. Our F/A's have been instructed that in an emergency, they will:
a.) Face the cabin and keep positive control of the passengers to avoid panic.
b.) Ensure that at least two emergency exits are open for the passengers to escape. And, then,
c.) Retract the F/A seat so that the crew may escape.
Did you happen to notice how two people are trapped up front? Did you happen to notice that in a three man crew all of whom have specific safety training to get the passengers to safety, only one is left now?
Did you happen to notice that two pilots are now dependant on an F/A remembering to retract a seat (that he/she was previously told to ignore) in a potentially broken and burning aircraft.
2.) The door is magnificent. About 100 pounds of Kevlar, metal I've never seen before and bullet proof locks. Now I've got to account for 80 pound dogs and 25 pound bags in my W&B computations, but the maint. dept. just hung a 100lb door and didn't adjust the W&B for the airplane calling the value "insignificant". Hmmmm.
3.) This equally magnificent door is hung on the aluminum remains of the bulkhead. So I have a door that can stop bullets and bombs, but by moving a weapon about 16 inches to either side of the door, I can incapcitate the crew and the plane by shooting right through the circuit breaker panel and the backs of the pilots? Am I missing something in this? Or maybe I'm just thinking too much. Obviously we need signs directing potential threatening persons not to shoot to either side of the door.
4.) The new door removes the useful capacity of the crew closet. One of the nice things about the CRJ was that I could keep my pilot things away from the other passengers. Alas, the company has directed me to put my overnight bag in the cargo hold with all the other carry-ons. I guess my overnights are going to get interesting with my overnight bag someplace in some airport. But I shouldn't worry - an airline ramp employee has never "lost" a bag before right?
Now granted the CRJ does have a cockpit "hatch" to go out the top of the fuselage and down a rope. I've never considered that I would actually try to shimmy out a 12x12 hole on top of an airplane about 25 feet off the ground and then rappel down the side using a nylon rope. This has about the same attraction for me as parachuting. I know I'll probably break a leg doing this. And planes know not to flip over, right? I mean I couldn't find my self upside down trying to get out now would I?
People keep posting "what are pilot's worth" questions on this site. I'm starting to understand. I used to have all these concepts like the military "we can build another plane but the pilots are hard to get". Thinking that perhaps my company would think of me a somewhat valuable commodity. Alas, I guess we are worth about the same as a cockpit door.
So be nice to your underpaid CRJ pilot. He's gonna be just a little grumpy knowing that in an accident he is trapped by the new terrorist proof door. I just love this job!
PS, if your company is going to install these doors, you may just want to ask the question "Why?" before you get them.
