Pilots go to war with corporate-led lobby over single-pilot operations

Qantas pilots have joined a global fight to stop a ‘corporate-led lobby’ seeking to make single pilot operations a reality.

Pilots have vowed to fight moves by airlines or manufacturers to introduce single pilot operations on commercial flights.

Qantas pilots have leapt aboard a campaign by their global peers to stop “a corporate-led lobby” from introducing single pilot-operated flights.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), which represents 2200 Qantas pilots, has joined a collective action to prevent the removal of pilots from the flight deck.

They are among 145,000 pilots worldwide opposed to the change which is being explored by airlines such as Cathay Pacific in collaboration with European manufacturer Airbus.

The European Aviation Safety Agency is also considering single-pilot operations for parts of long-haul flights from 2027.

Australian airlines, including Qantas and Virgin Australia, have previously indicated single-pilot operations were a matter for the regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

CASA is guided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which is yet to pass any formal resolution on the issue.

In a strongly worded statement, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations said “an aggressive corporate-led lobbying campaign was targeting regulators around the world” to try to make single-pilot operations a reality.

“No matter what airline CEOs, aeroplane manufacturers and others want you to believe, commercial aircraft can’t fly safely without pilots and we won’t allow them to undermine the safest mode of transport in the world,” said Air Line Pilots Association president Jason Ambrosi.

AIPA vice-president Mark Hofmeyer said it was important to keep pushing the message that two well-trained, well-rested pilots was the best way to operate an aircraft.

“There is a global pilot shortage that’s starting to be felt even in Australia, so there is going to be pressure for easy solutions to the problems,” said Mr Hofmeyer said.

“The more considered solution is that this, as an industry and a profession, needs to be returned to the attractive profession it was 25 or 30 years ago, with good terms and good operating conditions including having two pilots on the flight deck.”

He said whatever economic benefits that came from single-pilot operations would be significantly outweighed by the risk to safety, and the reluctance of travellers to board aircraft with only one pilot aboard.

“If 97 or 98 per cent of the flying public wouldn’t want to travel on an aircraft with a single pilot, that’s not going to be viable for an airline,” Mr Hofmeyer said.

“Commercial reality would dictate that the number of pilots on an airline needs to be maintained at two.”

Even in the cruise phase of a long-haul flight pilots were opposed to any reduction, saying aircraft were designed for a team working together.

“Professional pilots embrace and support new technology on the flight deck that enhances safety; however, they unanimously agree that removing skilled aviators from the flight deck – so-called reduced-crew operations – will increase risk and compromise safety,” Mr Ambrosi said.

“Technology, no matter how sophisticated, is not a replacement for pilots on the flight deck.”

Originally published as Pilots go to war with corporate-led lobby over single-pilot operations