Comment from Walter Flint

During the preparation, acceptance and delivery of Horizon Air A/C #670 from the Embraer Factory in Brazil, I had the opportunity to observe and participate in a detailed evaluation of the proposed Inflight Physical Secondary Barrier (IPSB), including its deployment, removal, and stowage procedures. Based on those observations, I do not believe the current design is ready for operational use as intended. More concerning, it appears to introduce several potential safety risks that may outweigh its intended security benefits. During our evaluation, an exceptionally capable and experienced Flight Attendant whose physical strength and abilities are well above average, encountered difficulty during both the deployment and removal of the barrier. The greatest challenges occurred during the takedown process, which required significant overhead strength as well as sustained effort while working in awkward positions on hands and knees in the forward galley area. Based on these observations, I believe the current design presents a meaningful risk of crew injury during normal operation. On one occasion, removal of the barrier required assistance from both Embraer design team and Horizon maintenance personnel. Had this occurred during a revenue flight, the forward passenger entry doors and associated emergency evacuation slides would have remained unavailable for the flight until well after the aircraft reached the gate. Additionally, any crew members positioned forward of the deployed barrier would have been effectively separated from the passengers, cabin, and emergency equipment located in the main cabin aft of the barrier. These operational limitations raise significant concerns regarding emergency response, evacuation readiness, crew accessibility, and overall passenger safety. While I support efforts to enhance flight deck security, I believe the current IPSB design requires substantial refinement before it can be considered suitable for line operations. Given the safety concerns identified during this evaluation, I would be reluctant to authorize deployment of the system in its current configuration on any aircraft for which I was responsible. Respectfully, Walter Flint, E-175 Captain & Check Airman