The aviation industry is looking for solutions that will reduce costs and at the same time solve the problem of staff shortages. However, the innovative plan may come at the expense of passenger safety. And the EU agency disagrees.
The airlines wanted a revolutionary change in the rules of the air. In their opinion, only one pilot could sit in the cockpit of the aircraft, and not two, as is customary today.
The EU regulator does not agree with the flight changes. There will be two pilots at the helm.
Such a solution would not only reduce costs, but also solve the problem of the lack of crews in the cabins. The companies wanted it to come into force as early as 2027. The European aviation regulator was of a different opinion. According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), single-pilot flights may not start until 2030 at the earliest.
- The industry’s proposal for single-pilot flights was “completely unrealistic” as automation has not gone far enough and solo flights require a level of safety equivalent to current operations. said Andrea Boiardi, EASA regulator manager.
Few planes allow single-pilot flights.
In his opinion, such changes take time. Currently, according to experts, only the most modern aircraft equipped with a higher level of safety than required by certification standards can be used for single-pilot flights.
Andrea Boiardi also noted that, in particular, the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 and 777X meet these requirements. The representative of the EU agency also revealed additional details proposed by representatives of the aviation industry.
“The aviation industry claims that solo flying will reduce labor shortages as rule easing will allow pilots to rest on long-haul flights without being replaced on board.” Reuters reports.
This solution is not suitable for passengers. It will be at their expense.
The proposal also included restrictions such as the exclusion of pilots with medical conditions or with insufficient experience of being alone in the cockpit. According to experts, the attempt to introduce such changes is very alarming. Independent flights could be carried out at the expense of passengers.
Flying alone, even on a cruise, is subject to numerous regulations. This requires the approval of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization, individual airlines and their pilot associations.
Source: Wprost
I am George Brown, author at Daily News Hack. I mostly cover economy news and I have been doing this for quite some time now. I have a lot of experience in this field and I’m always looking for new opportunities to learn more.
