Narrative:

Report submitted as a result of an unauthorized individual on the flight deck while airborne. During cruise flight; first officer called lead flight attendant (flight attendant#1) to request a trip to the lavatory. A few minutes later; lead flight attendant called flight deck to advise that it was set up. The first officer got up; verified that the area outside of the flight deck door was clear and that the isle was barricaded; then opened the flight deck door. As I was adjusting the oxygen mask and setting up the comm panel; the lead flight attendant asked if 'so-and-so' could enter the flight deck (instead of the lead flight attendant entering the flight deck) while the first officer was gone. In our crew; we had a new flight attendant (flight attendant#2); who I had not previously worked with. When the lead flight attendant asked if 'so-and-so' could enter the flight deck; I assumed that he was asking about the new flight attendant as I could not recall her name. I answered that she may. As I was testing the interphone function of the oxygen mask; I heard the flight deck door close and looked up and was shocked to see an employee of my airline standing on the flight deck with the door closed! This individual is employed by my airline as a customer service representative (csr) in my base. She was wearing her airline uniform and had her identification displayed on an armband. I was stunned and somewhat shaken to see her and not a flight attendant. I considered having her exit the flight deck immediately; but choose to minimize the flight deck door opening and closing by waiting for the first officer to return. Total time with this individual on the flight deck was approximately 3 to 4 minutes. During this time; she stood in the aft part of the flight deck; adjacent to the flight deck door. When the first officer called the flight deck for entry; I had the csr visually identify the first officer through the peep hole. I unlocked the flight deck door and the csr exited and the first officer returned and the flight deck door was secured. At no time did I intend to permit access to the flight deck an individual who was not authorized. It was my understanding that the lead flight attendant had asked if it would be allowable for flight attendant #2 to enter the flight deck instead of the lead flight attendant as prescribed. It was my intent to allow flight attendant#2 to enter the flight deck as this was her second trip and I feel that it is important that the flight attendants are exposed the flight deck environment in the event of an emergency requiring flight attendant assistance on the flight deck. After this episode; I asked the lead flight attendant why he would even ask if I would allow access to the flight deck of individual who was not authorized. He stated that he didn't know that a csr was not authorized to enter the flight deck. I suggested that he review his flight attendant manual and informed him that a security breech regarding access to the flight deck is a very serious matter. He assured me that it would not happen again. This report is submitted to remind all flight crew members that flight deck access procedures are in place to protect the security of the flight crew members and the safety of the aircraft and passengers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Captain reported that his Lead Flight Attendant allowed a Customer Service Representative to enter the cockpit while the First Officer went to the lavatory; instead of a Flight Attendant. The Captain did not know that the person who was entering was not a Flight Attendant until he saw the person.

Narrative: Report submitted as a result of an unauthorized individual on the flight deck while airborne. During cruise flight; First Officer called Lead Flight Attendant (FA#1) to request a trip to the Lavatory. A few minutes later; Lead Flight Attendant called flight deck to advise that it was set up. The First Officer got up; verified that the area outside of the flight deck door was clear and that the isle was barricaded; then opened the flight deck door. As I was adjusting the oxygen mask and setting up the comm panel; the Lead Flight Attendant asked if 'so-and-so' could enter the flight deck (instead of the Lead Flight Attendant entering the flight deck) while the First Officer was gone. In our crew; we had a new Flight Attendant (FA#2); who I had not previously worked with. When the Lead Flight Attendant asked if 'so-and-so' could enter the flight deck; I assumed that he was asking about the new Flight Attendant as I could not recall her name. I answered that she may. As I was testing the interphone function of the oxygen mask; I heard the flight deck door close and looked up and was shocked to see an employee of my airline standing on the flight deck with the door closed! This individual is employed by my airline as a Customer Service Representative (CSR) in my base. She was wearing her airline uniform and had her ID displayed on an armband. I was stunned and somewhat shaken to see her and not a Flight Attendant. I considered having her exit the flight deck immediately; but choose to minimize the flight deck door opening and closing by waiting for the First Officer to return. Total time with this individual on the flight deck was approximately 3 to 4 minutes. During this time; she stood in the aft part of the flight deck; adjacent to the flight deck door. When the First Officer called the flight deck for entry; I had the CSR visually identify the First Officer through the peep hole. I unlocked the flight deck door and the CSR exited and the First Officer returned and the flight deck door was secured. At no time did I intend to permit access to the flight deck an individual who was not authorized. It was my understanding that the Lead Flight Attendant had asked if it would be allowable for Flight Attendant #2 to enter the flight deck instead of the Lead Flight Attendant as prescribed. It was my intent to allow FA#2 to enter the flight deck as this was her second trip and I feel that it is important that the flight attendants are exposed the flight deck environment in the event of an emergency requiring Flight Attendant assistance on the flight deck. After this episode; I asked the Lead Flight Attendant why he would even ask if I would allow access to the flight deck of individual who was not authorized. He stated that he didn't know that a CSR was not authorized to enter the flight deck. I suggested that he review his Flight Attendant Manual and informed him that a security breech regarding access to the flight deck is a very serious matter. He assured me that it would not happen again. This report is submitted to remind all flight crew members that flight deck access procedures are in place to protect the security of the flight crew members and the safety of the aircraft and passengers.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.