The Dangers of Single Pilot Operations
Commercial aviation is the most secure method of transport, boasting an excellent track record that continues to improve as the business continues to grow. There are many reasons to be thankful for; however, at the top of the list are the highly skilled pilots who navigate the aircraft across ever-growing crowds of passengers, 24/7, regardless of the weather. However, some organizations have started to suggest reducing the number of pilots in large aircraft, possibly to just a single pilot. The advocates of single-pilot operations claim that cutting the size of crews could result in cost savings. But the current collection of research and evidence that includes more than a decade of research from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as well as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and FAA, shows that the risk to safety and challenges that come single-pilot operation far outweigh the potential advantages.
The necessity of Multiple Pilots
U.S. law and FAA rules require at minimum two pilots with a valid license in the cockpit during flights of large transport and passenger aircraft, with more crews being required to fly long distances. At any time, the pilot (the "pilot flying") usually is flying the aircraft, while the second (the "pilot monitoring") is in charge of monitoring the instrumentation, the pilot flying, and checklist management in addition to communicating with Air Traffic Control. Although the modern cockpit has numerous automated devices, the pilot operating is constantly engaged in the aircraft's flight. Automation is an instrument at his or the pilot's availability.
Workload Sharing
In typical two-pilot operations, the duties are shared, which is crucial during the work-intensive taxi landing and takeoff stages of the flight. Single-pilot operations rely on only the pilot who is flying and have to take on a certain portion of the monitoring functions for pilots as other tasks are assigned to computers and ground-based pilots. The result is a significant increase in workload for the pilot operating. Furthermore, research has shown an obvious negative relationship between the pilot's workload and safety, particularly in situations that are not normal. The performance of flight paths was superior during two-crew operations than single-screw or less-intensive operations.
Cockpit Coordination
Two pilots who sit together in the cockpit can precisely coordinate their activities through continuous communication, which includes non-verbal signals such as head nods or other gestures to indicate that the message was received or a task has been executed. Pilot monitoring can play an important role in observing the pilot's actions and looking for signs of errors or changes in capacity. If the pilot is incapable due to health reasons during a flight, pilot monitoring will quickly be in charge of the plane.
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