S'pore adopts new cockpit guidelines

S'pore adopts new cockpit guidelines

SINGAPORE (AP): Airplane cockpit doors must be "closed and
locked at all times" under new flight safety guidelines issued in
Singapore, officials said Friday.

The new rules took effect on Tuesday, the Civil Aviation
Authority of Singapore said in a statement.

Singapore's move follows Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in which
U.S. passenger planes were hijacked and crashed in New York,
Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.

The new regulations say that flight commanders "shall not
admit any unauthorized persons into the flight deck," the
aviation authority statement said.

Passenger and cargo flights for national carrier Singapore
Airlines will be affected by the new rules, civil aviation
authority spokeswoman Constanze Chia said.

The rules also apply to SilkAir, Singapore Airlines' Asian
regional carrier, Chia said.