One-Pilot Flights Deemed Unsafe, EASA study Finds
Brussels – A complete three-year study by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has concluded that single-pilot operation of commercial passenger aircraft does not currently meet acceptable safety standards. The findings,released this week,directly address ongoing discussions within the aviation industry regarding potential cost reductions through reduced crew sizes.
While airlines and aircraft manufacturers have quietly explored the feasibility of one-pilot flights driven by technological advancements and decreasing operational costs, the EASA report definitively states, “It is indeed not possible to ensure an equal level of safety as in the current two-crew flight.” The study’s release comes as the industry faces continued pressure to improve efficiency and profitability, making the debate over crew composition notably sensitive.
The report identifies several key areas where current technology falls short. Advanced pilot monitoring systems, designed to detect fatigue, sleep inertia, and potential incapacitation, are not yet reliable enough to replace the redundancy and cross-checking provided by a second pilot. EASA highlighted the critical safety benefits of having two pilots in the cockpit, emphasizing the importance of mutual oversight.
The study also referenced the 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 tragedy, where a co-pilot deliberately crashed the aircraft after locking the other pilot out of the cockpit, as a stark reminder of the risks associated with a single-person flight crew. The incident underscored the security challenges introduced by locked cockpit doors implemented after the September 11th attacks.European Cockpit Association (ECA) representatives have welcomed the report as a ”reality test,” confirming long-held concerns about the safety implications of single-pilot operations. Despite the EASA findings, the ECA notes that aviation manufacturers continue to develop technologies aimed at enabling one-pilot flights.
“While the conclusions confirm our concern, the main motivation that encourages the reduction of the crew has disappeared,” the ECA stated. The report suggests that further technological advancement would be necessary before single-pilot flights could be considered, but does not indicate a timeframe for such advancements.
