Travellers vote single pilot operations a turn off, poll shows

As Airbus continues to work on technology to allow single pilot operations, Qantas pilots have asked travellers what they think.

Qantas pilots remain strongly opposed to the concept of single pilot operations.

A poll commissioned by Qantas pilots has found most Australians would be reluctant to board a commercial flight with only one pilot at the controls.

As work continues on technology to make single pilot operations a reality, the Australian and International Pilots Association remains fiercely opposed to the concept.

AIPA president Tony Lucas, a Qantas A330 captain, said it was clear the Australian public shared their view.

The Redbridge Group poll of 1022 people aged 18 and over, found 89 per cent would feel “less safe” boarding a flight operated by a lone pilot, and 83 per cent would be hesitant to book a flight if they knew only one pilot was at the controls.

Respondents were also asked if the government should mandate at least two pilots on the flight deck at all times for commercial services in Australian airspace.

A total of 88 per cent agreed, with slightly more Labor and Coalition voters in favour (89 per cent) than Greens voters (80 per cent).

Captain Lucas said the polling showed members of the public understood that reducing the number of pilots on the flight deck would undermine safety.

“Flying is the safest mode of transport because airlines have redundancy in the form of at least two engines, electric and hydraulic systems, flight management computers, and, crucially, two pilots,” he said.

“A single pilot could become incapacitated, fatigued or simply overwhelmed in an emergency at 35,000ft and 950 km/h.”

Airbus is understood to have pitched two new freighters to FedEx capable of operating with a single pilot, either throughout the entire flight or during “low workload” cruise phases.

Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa are also believed to be exploring the potential for single pilot operations in certain periods of long-haul flights.

The European Aviation Safety Agency is considering concepts from Airbus and Dassault Aviation but has ruled out any actual flights with a single pilot until at least 2030.

A safety risk assessment framework published by EASA said the agency would only

approve such operations if it was convinced they were at least as safe as two-pilot operations.

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority has indicated it would be guided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which is yet to pass any formal resolution on the issue.

Captain Lucas said the only safe way to fly was with “at least two well-trained and well-rested pilots at the controls at all times”.