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.