Do U.S. Airlines Require Two People in Cockpit at All Times?
No, but what happened on the Germanwings flight is less likely to happen here.
http://pjmedia.com/blog/do-u-s-airlines-require-two-people-in-cockpit-at-all-times/
I figure I flew on over 200 flights in 2013 and 2014 — a good portion of those in the first class cabin so know the routine used if one pilot needs to exit the cockpit, usually to use the head. Here are the steps: sCaptain turns on the fasten seat belt sign and asks passengers to remain seated (something about turbulence ahead). The front galley crew next rolls a service cart so that it blocks entry to the forward galley area. One of the flight attendants will stand behind the cart facing aft. Once the forward galley area is thus secured, one of the pilots will open the cockpit door and move toward the head. As this is done a second flight attendant will enter the cockpit and close/lock the cockpit door behind her. Any passenger who gets out of their seat is told to return to it; trying to approach the blocking service cart will elicit an order from the flight attendant behing the cart to return to one’s seat immediately. Once finished with the head, the previously exited pilot will return to the cockpit (he knows the code). He then trades places with the flight attendant who earlier entered the cockpit and closes/locks the door. The service cart is then removed from blocking the isle, captain turns off the seat buckle light and announces everyone’s free to move about the aircraft. And you never know if one of the men sitting in an aisle seat toward the front of the first class cabin is in fact an armed Air Marshall.