The pilots’ union of the German airline opposes the presence of a second crew member in the cockpit and the random drug and alcohol testing.
Lufthansa’s pilot union, Cockpit, on Monday opposed the mandatory presence of a second crew member in the cabin and unannounced drug and alcohol tests recommended by the Agency’s report European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) made last July.
This had been tasked by the European Commission to highlight the flaws that allowed Andreas Lubitz to rush the A320 of the Germanwings carrying 150 passengers in the French Alps. The investigation then revealed that the young co-pilot was suffering from severe depression and had consulted about forty doctors.
Strengthen psychological monitoring
In its report, EASA therefore recommends strengthening the psychological monitoring of pilots. A measure supported by the union. “The establishment of a support network for pilots (in difficulty) in particular, is a positive development. This is the only way to ensure that those concerned do not want to go into hiding, but rather seek help in due time, ”said Markus Wahl, a spokesperson for the union quoted in a statement.
A point on which the German union and the international one disagree. In a press release dated August 5, IFALPA criticized the establishment of a psychological and psychiatric evaluation during the routine medical follow-up. The international union justified its position by explaining that “these evaluations are a flagrant invasion of privacy and cause more stress and anxiety among crew members”. However, they spoke in favor of a systematic assessment before hiring.
The denounced screening tests
On the other hand, the Lufthansa pilots’ union strongly criticized the presence of a second crew member in the cockpit. For EASA, this measure, already applied voluntarily since the tragedy, must be maintained. But for the union, this second person presents risks and does not guarantee that a tragedy cannot yet happen, especially if this second person is an accomplice. He also claims that this presence increases the risk that the armored door will be opened.
Finally, Cockpit denounced the random drug and alcohol tests. Tests “do not remedy the problem in any way and which could even prove to be counterproductive,” said Markus Wahl. The union also insisted on the importance of preserving medical confidentiality while the European Agency wants the establishment of a medical database on pilots.
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