A Gamble with Safety Reduced-Crew Operations
Commercial aviation is the safest form of transportation in the world due in large part to the skill and experience of well-trained pilots who are ready to respond to any situation. The safety risks of removing a pilot from the flight deck far outweigh any potential benefits. Since ALPA first published a white paper on this topic in 2019 (The Dangers of Single-Pilot Operations), global discussions have evolved. The push to reduce the number of flight deck crew is motivated primarily by economic considerations, an approach that unquestionably compromises the well-established safety practices that have made air travel the safest mode of transportation in the world.