OBJECTIVES
The aviation industry continuously develops technology and automation that improve operational safety and efficiency. These technological developments have been shown to improve the aircraft systems’ resilience, and pilot tasks are better supported, increasing thus the overall performance.
The industry is currently developing technologies to enable the safe operation of large passenger aeroplanes by a single pilot during the cruise phase of the flight (extended minimum-crew operations (eMCO)). The integration of such technological developments needs to be accompanied by all the necessary measures to ensure an equivalent or higher level of safety for such operations, such as the presence of an advanced cockpit design with workload alleviation means, additional aids to improve the pilot’s decision-making, the capability to cope with crew incapacitation, effective fatigue management, and the prevention of security threats, as well as consider human factors, mental and psychological aspects.
However, transitioning from a two-pilot crew to a single-pilot one at the controls during specific periods of the cruise phase will undoubtedly require changes in operational procedures, crew coordination, use of automation, and in how the roles and responsibilities of the pilots, ATC and the operator are blended in order to maintain the expected high levels of safety. These modifications need a review of the roles and tasks that are required from the various actors in the operational environment.
From a regulatory perspective, the current EU Air Operations rules require, for CAT operations in aircraft with a maximum operational passenger seating configuration (MOPSC) above nine and for all turbojet aeroplanes, two pilots on duty at their station, meaning at the controls. The only aircraft that can be operated by a single-pilot crew under instrument flight rules (IFR) or at night are turbo-propeller aeroplanes with an MOPSC of nine or less.
This task aims at the development of a regulatory framework that allows a safe implementation of eMCO, while addressing its challenges and ensuring at least an equivalent level of safety to that ensured by today’s multi-crew operations.