Astraeus Selects FlightVu Cockpit Door Video Security - July 2003
Astraeus Selects FlightVu Cockpit Door Video Security
Astraeus, one of the UK's leading independent charter airlines, has chosen FlightVu cockpit door monitoring systems for flight crew video security across its fleet of B-737s.
AD Aerospace of Manchester UK, and Aircraft Engineering & Installation Services Inc. (AEI) of Orlando USA are providing the FlightVu video security system and installation design respectively for Astraeus. The system satisfies cabin surveillance mandate requirements by enabling the flight crew to monitor in real-time the area outside the cockpit door and adjacent galleys without leaving their seats. The pilots can visually identify anyone requesting entry onto the flightdeck and take appropriate action should an incident arise.
"Astraeus selected FlightVu cockpit door monitoring systems to improve the security of our aircraft and the safety of our passengers and crew," said Phil Rushton, Technical Director of Astraeus. "Our passengers' safety is our top priority and the inclusion of camera systems adds a further layer to the steps we already take to ensure our aircraft security."
Security measures have been, and are continuing to be, increased throughout the airline industry. This is a response to the heightened awareness of risks from terrorism and air rage over the last few years. The introduction of intrusion resistant cockpit doors has made the pilots, and the aircraft, safer but has isolated them, leaving them unaware of what is happening in the cabin. This is where Close Circuit Television (CCTV) systems such as FlightVu come into use.
The FlightVu cockpit door monitoring system consists of three CCTV cameras linked to a LCD monitor or LCD monitors strategically mounted in the cockpit pedestal. The system's monitor(s) provide the flight deck crew with clear, forward viewing, real-time video of the area outside the cockpit door. All three CCTV cameras are flush mounted, in color coordinated housings, to the aircraft interior outside the secure cabin door and in the galley area. The system also includes Infra Red Illuminators that allow the area to be viewed even with the cabin lights extinguished.
"The FlightVu cockpit door monitoring system, by allowing flight crews to easily observe the area outside of the cockpit door from their seats, is a major step forward in cabin security and airliner safety," said Mike Horne, Managing Director, AD Aerospace. "We believe that the existence of secure flight deck doors and efficient CCTV surveillance will act together to reduce the occurrence of major incidents."
FlightVu cockpit door monitoring systems have been or are being installed on aircraft for Astraeus, Britannia, easyJet, GB Airways, MyTravel and bmi.
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