Proposed Plan to Implement Single Pilot Flights Sparks Backlash from Airline Pilots and Lawmakers

A recent proposal by a federal advisory committee to have only one pilot in the cockpit of commercial airplanes has been met with strong opposition from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and 43 senators from both political parties.

The proposal, which was brought to light by ALPA, would require only one pilot to be in the cockpit while the other rests elsewhere on the plane. This plan has been pushed by European airline bosses through the International Civil Aviation Organization, in hopes that the corporate-friendly Trump administration would agree.

However, ALPA and the 43 senators have strongly opposed this plan, citing safety concerns. Current U. S. regulations require two pilots in the cockpit, and both parties want to keep it that way.

“Redundancy, afforded by two well-trained and well-qualified pilots on the flight deck, is a key guardrail for aviation safety standards. There is no replacement for human talent and judgment. especially for the rare instances when challenges and potential tragedies develop,” the letter from the senators states.

The senators also referenced current research from the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA, as well as the “common sense and experience” of countless pilots, to support their argument against the proposed plan.

ALPA President, Capt. Jason Ambrosi, also strongly opposes the one-pilot-in-the-cockpit idea, stating, “To prevent this risk to safety from reaching our country, we must work together with aviation regulators and stakeholders to discourage it across the globe.

The advisory committee’s recommendation for single-pilot operations was buried in a 71-page set of airline pilot flying and training recommendations. The Transportation Department has not yet indicated whether or not they agree with this proposal.

Additionally, there are concerns about how pilot switch-offs, if any, would occur on long flights. The plan also mimics the lobbying efforts of the Association of American Railroads, which has pushed for just one engineer on miles-long heavy freight trains, despite opposition from rail unions.

In conclusion, the proposed plan to implement single pilot flights has sparked backlash from both airline pilots and lawmakers, who believe that having two well-trained and qualified pilots in the cockpit is crucial for ensuring the safety of passengers. The fight against this proposal continues as efforts are made to keep the current regulations in place.