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Ottawa imposes new airline cockpit rules in wake of Germanwings crash 

Effective immediately, any Canadian airline carrying passengers will be required to have two crew members in the cockpit at all times, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said Thursday.

The federal government imposed the emergency directive in the aftermath of the Germanwings plane crash in France.

“If you’re carrying passengers, this is going to apply to you,” Raitt said in a surprise announcement outside the House of Commons.

 

Video: Aviation safety expert on what could have been done to prevent Germanwings crash

Raitt said the directive requires two members of the cabin crew — not necessarily both licensed pilots — to be on the flight deck at all times.

“All we’re saying is there must be two members of the cabin crew on the flight deck at all times.”

Air Canada, WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Transat announced new policies on Thursday after cockpit voice recordings in the Germanwings crash showed the pilot was locked out of the cockpit as it began a descent that led to the crash.

Air Canada pilots are subject to medical exams every year, which increases to twice a year once they reach age 60, the airline said in a statement.

French investigators have concluded that the co-pilot deliberately crashed the Germanwings plane, killing all 150 people on board.

With a report from Greg Keenan