Leaders of the associations representing pilots across the world have condemned moves by Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) to reduce the number of pilots on a flight.
They accuse Airbus and European safety regulator Easa of working together to introduce “reduced crew operations” which would allow a single pilot in the cockpit during the cruise phase of flights, leading to a reduction in the number of pilots on long-haul flights.
Leaders of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (Ifalpa), the European Cockpit Association (ECA) and the international Air Line Pilots’ Association (Alpa) warned the move would “put profits first and introduce an unacceptable level of safety risk”.
At a conference of the associations in Montreal last week, Ifalpa president Captain Jack Netskar said: “We are against any form of reduced crew operations which could negatively impact the incredible safety record of our industry. There is no replacement for the skills and experience of at least two pilots at the controls on a flight deck at all times.
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ECA president Captain Otjan de Bruijn said: “This reduced crew operations initiative is the only development we know where the manufacturers and regulator are not looking to make aviation safer. This is concerning. It looks like the manufacturer and Easa are in lock step.”
He noted Easa is looking at extending ‘minimum crew operations’, which mean only one pilot at the controls during the cruise period of a flight, and warned: “Having only one pilot on the flight deck brings unacceptable risks. There are many things that can go wrong.
“Even the most sophisticated automation and technology fails. Pilots are there to catch these failures and recover from them. It’s a gamble with safety.”
De Bruijn suggested Airbus and Easa “work so much on this together” and said: “We’ve seen in the past how the interdependency of Boeing and the FAA [the US Federal Aviation Administration] has impacted flight safety in the Boeing 737 Max. This could easily happen in Europe.”
Alpa president Captain Jason Ambrosi warned of “aggressive corporate lobbying targeting regulators around the world” and said: “Some in the airline industry would put profit before safety. To be crystal clear, removing pilots from the flight deck will increase the risks to the public.
“On the flight deck we divide responsibilities – operating the aircraft, maintaining flight operations, managing automation and mitigating risks which present in a complex and dynamic environment.
“Some argue flights should be operated with fewer pilots. As an airline captain, I can tell you that is insane. Long-haul flights, often over the ocean and at night, aren’t exempt from emergencies and abnormal occurrences.”
Easa has confirmed it is considering two types of reduced crew operations – ‘extended minimum crew operations’ for passenger flights and ‘single pilot operations’ for cargo flights – and has acknowledged Airbus is “active in this area and we are working with them”.