Pilot Homicide-Suicide: A System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) of Germanwings GWI18G

摘要

Pilot homicide-suicides occur very rarely in commercial aviation. Nonetheless, when a crash like Germanwings flight 4U9525 has occurred, the stakeholders take action to improve current standards to help prevent new cases. The EASA-led task-force has proposed several recommendations. The System Theoretic Accident Process Analysis (STPA) of the accident investigates how European countermeasures have been improved the system at different levels. The new minimum cockpit occupancy of two personnel was tied to a safety and risk assessment by the operator whereas the cockpit door design was not changed. On a higher level a psychological health assessment for initial medicals class 1 has been added. Pilot support programs, an improvement of aeromedical services and a random drugs/alcohol screening complement the actions is being undertaken. Conflicts with privacy laws and medical confidentiality could not be solved entirely and are still being debated.