Flip guard safety systems for aircraft switches

A flight deck for an aircraft, the flight deck comprising:

• an aircraft switch;
• a flip guard having a cover that pivots between guarded and unguarded positions, in the guarded position, the cover is configured to protect the aircraft switch against inadvertent actuation, in the unguarded position, the cover is configured to provide access to the aircraft switch;
• and
• a flip guard safety having a base and a gate that pivots relative to the base between closed and open positions, in the closed position, the gate retains the cover of the flip guard in the guarded position, in the open position, the gate does not retain the cover of the flip guard in the guarded position, such that the cover of the flip guard is pivotable from the guarded position to the unguarded position;
• wherein, the base includes at least one stop and the gate includes at least one tab such that the at least one stop interferes with the at least one tab to resist the gate pivoting from the closed position to the open position;
• wherein, the gate of the flip guard safety pivots from the closed position to the open position in a first direction;
• and
• wherein, the cover of the flip guard pivots from the guarded position to the unguarded position in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, thereby requiring dual opposing operation to provide access to the aircraft switch.

An aircraft comprising:

• a fuselage;
• a flight deck positioned within the fuselage, the flight deck including:
• an aircraft switch;
• a flip guard having a cover that pivots between guarded and unguarded positions, in the guarded position, the cover is configured to protect the aircraft switch against inadvertent actuation, in the unguarded position, the cover is configured to provide access to the aircraft switch;
• and
• a flip guard safety having a base and a gate that pivots relative to the base between closed and open positions, in the closed position, the gate retains the cover of the flip guard in the guarded position, in the open position, the gate does not retain the cover of the flip guard in the guarded position, such that the cover of the flip guard is pivotable from the guarded position to the unguarded position;
• wherein, the base includes at least one stop and the gate includes at least one tab such that the at least one stop interferes with the at least one tab to resist the gate pivoting from the closed position to the open position;
• wherein, the gate of the flip guard safety pivots from the closed position to the open position in a first direction;
• and
• wherein, the cover of the flip guard pivots from the guarded position to the unguarded position in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, thereby requiring dual opposing operation to provide access to the aircraft switch.