Europe – The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has concluded after a three-year study that there is currently insufficient evidence to prove single-pilot operations can meet the safety levels of the current two-pilot model. The decision effectively halts regulatory progress on proposals to reduce cockpit crews in commercial airline operations.
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The EASA-commissioned project on Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO) and Single-Pilot Operations (SiPO) found that risks such as pilot incapacitation, fatigue, drowsiness, and the absence of cross-checking could not be adequately mitigated with today’s cockpit technologies.
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Even scenarios where two pilots would manage take-off and landing while one pilot managed cruise operations could not be shown to provide “an equivalent level of safety” compared to two-crew operations.
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The study noted that future “smart cockpit” technology—including health monitoring and advanced workload management—“may have the potential to set the basis for new operational concepts”, but not without addressing unresolved security risks such as reinforced cockpit doors.
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Pilot unions welcomed the findings. The European Cockpit Association described the report as a “reality check”, warning that while safety concerns have been validated, “the underlying motivations behind the push for reduced crew operations are still very much present.”
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Airbus acknowledged the conclusions, stating: “For the foreseeable future, this means having a well-rested and competent human pilot in command of a robust and flexible system, including appropriate automation. We believe that pilots will remain at the heart of operations.”
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EASA clarified that no timeline exists for changing rules, adding that single-pilot operations remain “extremely complex and not foreseeable in the next decade.”
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The report comes shortly after the Air India crash, which has intensified debate around the role of pilots in safety and the risks of reduced-crew concepts.
Source: EASA