Single Pilot Ops 'A Profit-Driven Scheme,' Pilot Unions Say

Only one pilot on the flight deck is a "significant safety risk," the international group of commercial pilot unions said in a joint statement.

Amelia Walsh

Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 01:01 PM ET

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Single pilot operations in commercial aircraft are “a profit-driven scheme that poses a significant safety risk," the group of pilot labor unions said in a joint statement. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Global pilot unions vehemently oppose single-pilot operations in commercial aircraft, labeling it a profit-driven scheme that significantly compromises safety by removing the essential two-pilot team.
While proponents, including some countries and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), are exploring single-pilot operations by 2030 to reduce costs and address crew shortages, unions assert that technology cannot replace human pilots.
Recent incidents of pilot incapacitation in flight highlight the critical role of a second pilot for safety, reinforcing the pilot community's strong opposition and suggesting single-pilot operations will be a hard sell to the public.

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Single pilot operations in commercial aircraft are “a profit-driven scheme that poses a significant safety risk,” according to leaders of the world’s largest pilot labor unions.

In a joint statement, representatives from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), and the European Cockpit Association (ECA) called on airlines and manufacturers to rethink plans for single pilot operations.