A task force led by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which was set-up after the Germanwings disaster, has recommended measures for better checks on crew members.
EASA was assigned to establish a team to investigate the incident and also evaluate the findings of the French Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority’s (BEA) preliminary report.
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The team analysed the insight provided by the BEA, to determine the competency of European air safety and security rules.
Among the recommendations for change was included mandatory psychological screening for all pilots, a database with details of medical visits to be shared, and random drug and alcohol testing of pilots.
The guidelines also suggested keeping the rule of two persons in the cockpit at all times and a robust programme for oversight of aeromedical examiners, as well as implementation of pilot support systems within airlines.
EASA executive director Patrick Ky said: "Key players in aviation and medical science worked closely together within the task force.
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By GlobalData"This report is the result of a thorough analysis with practical recommendations, so that such a tragic event does not happen again. EASA is ready to take the next necessary steps, applying the lessons learned."
The European Commission will evaluate these recommendations and rule on future action.
EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said: "If improvements are to be made in the European safety and security rules or in their implementation, in order to help prevent future accidents or incidents, we will take the necessary action at EU-level."
In March, a Lufthansa’s Germanwings Airbus A320 flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf crashed in a remote area of southern France, killing all 148 passengers onboard.
Investigations confirmed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had locked the captain out of the cockpit and steered the aircraft into a mountainside.
