Local aviation experts review cockpit safety after overseas crash

“This is an abomination.” and “it’s something I couldn’t imagine.”

Those the words of Ocean City aviation expert Michael Freed describing his feelings after word Tuesday that a plane crash into the French Alps was intentional.

The pilot of Germanwings 9525 flight, was reportedly locked out of the cockpit during a bathroom break when the co-pilot went on a suicide mission.

Now airlines across the globe are reviewing their flight policies .

“On the airlines in the United States when one pilot leaves the flight deck, a flight attendant goes onto the flight deck, he or she will wait for the pilot to come back so there’s always two people on the flight deck.”, says Freed.

Ocean Aviation officials tell us these procedures are the law in the U.S.

Meaning 1 person should never be alone in the cockpit, and to ensure the safe flight of everyone on board each pilot goes through high level training.

Marc Hutcheson, the assistant chief instructor at the Ocean Aviation Flight Academy shed light on the amount of training each commercial airline pilot must go through prior to flying. He said, “Everybody goes through the same training for that particular airline or operator and they go through the same training programs, they have outstanding training programs.”

If a pilot successfully completes the training program, it means that he or she has already passed a psychological exam provided by their employer.

“They want to first of all look is this someone is going to be able to deal with the stress of being away from home in different areas, especially if you travel internationally.”, said Hutcheson

As for pilots who are considered too reckless or are suspected to be flying for the wrong reasons, we’re told they are weeded out in flight school and refused further training.

Following the tragedy in the French Alps, new policies for a 2 person minimum cockpit occupancy is now being considered in Germany, Norway, and Canada.