BRUSSELS — The need to have two pilots at all times in passenger airplane cockpits is being challenged by new technologies — to the dismay of pilots and their unions.
That resistance is starting to pay off.
On Tuesday, the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published its annual update of the European Plan for Aviation Safety, which sets out safety priorities while identifying risks and mitigation measures.
In the document, the agency waters down its previous openness to single pilot operations — adding an extra regulatory hurdle.
“EASA has adjusted its rulemaking program to make clear that we will focus first on evaluating the development and deployment of such advanced cockpit technologies,” said EASA spokesperson Janet Northcote.
Single pilot flying does not entail having only one pilot at the controls of an airliner for the duration of a flight. Instead, it would allow one pilot to be alone in the cockpit when the airplane is cruising, allowing the second pilot to step away from the controls.
For that to happen, aircraft manufacturers must ensure that the technology is up to snuff so safety isn’t compromised. EASA would have to approve single-pilot operations, called extended minimum crew operations (eMCOs).
An eMCO-equipped plane would tempt many airlines, which currently have to keep two pilots in the cockpit for the entire flight. Four pilots are needed if the flight lasts longer than the length of one pilot shift.
In Tuesday’s update, EASA said it will set up a study to assess the impact of “new advanced flight deck technologies” and “propose a regulatory framework that ensures the safe integration of smart cockpits in commercial air transport operations.”
That adds a new regulatory step before considering single-pilot operations.
While the previous rulemaking study, launched by EASA in 2023, was aimed at developing rules that would allow for the “safe implementation of eMCO,” the latest action announced by the regulator only looks at the smart cockpit concept.
EASA explained Tuesday’s shift as part of an effort to remove any doubt that safety is paramount.
“EASA in November last year clarified its approach to the concept of eMCO to make absolutely clear to all parties that safety comes first and must be enhanced by any changes to the cockpit or to operations,” Northcote said.
EASA’s more conservative approach to single-pilot operations comes after Florian Guillermet took over as executive director of the EU agency in April. He succeeded Luc Tytgat, who had been acting executive director for the previous seven months, and Patrick Ky, who led the agency for 10 years and was an open supporter of single-pilot operations.
Worried pilots
But pilots aren’t reassured by EASA’s new course.
“Under its previous leadership, the agency leaned worryingly toward ‘enabling’ single pilot flying, aligning too closely with industry players,” said Tanja Harter, president of the European Cockpit Association pilots union.
“But the operational concept of flying with only one pilot during cruise is still alive and [was] explicitly mentioned,” in Tuesday’s document, she added. “Manufacturers and certain airlines will keep pushing, but regulators must stay laser-focused on safety.”
The main impetus for the development of single-pilot capability comes from Europe — where the world leader in the sector, Airbus, is working on autonomous flight along with other manufacturers such as Dassault.
Unions have fought back, warning that cutting the number of pilots poses safety risks.
“Can you handle two emergencies at the same time?” asks a recent union ad, which shows a toilet in the middle of a flight deck and no pilot in the cockpit.
The sudden death of a Turkish Airlines pilot during a flight from Seattle to Istanbul in October prompted pilots to underline that the additional crew was crucial in helping the plane land safely.
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