Are Airbus A350s operating with a single pilot?

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Can you imagine being over the Pacific knowing that there is only one pilot in the cabin of Airbus A350? Well, Airbus wants to make it possible.

It is not news that Airbus has advanced in the automation of various phases of flight such as taxiing, takeoff and landing with your program ATTOL, but there is a great goal ahead.

Although ATTOL and the Connect Project are separate, have a very close and dependent relationship with each other.

Single pilot flights

Let's put the matter in perspective, the project is long-term and what is being worked on thanks to the new automation systems and those that the plane already has are seeking to bring it to its own certification process before the European aeronautical authority EASA.

El Project Connect

This new project has the objective of reducing the number of pilots needed in long haul flights, where on average are needed 4 crew members who take turns in the cabin depending on the duration of the flight.

With the new proposal that has the backing of Cathay Pacific Already Lufthansa as an independent consultant, only two pilots are intended to be able to fly without additional support on long-haul flights.

In an initial phase, the project seeks that both pilots take turns in the cockpit during the cruise stage, while in takeoff and landing they would be both until the technology and regulatory processes advance.

The challenges

The first regulatory body consulted, which is EASA, has identified several issues that need to be resolved before green-lighting the project.

According to EURACTIV, these include dealing with a situation where the pilot(s) are incapacitated, verify the ability of the technology to manage, correct errors and address the potential for pilot fatigue.

«The EASA, as regulator, is challenging the European Union industry to ensure that the level of safety of public air transport is constantly guaranteed, while recognizing the need to explore a new concept of operations linked to technological and human advances" said Janet Northcote, spokesperson for EASA.

Is the proposal supported??

Definitely, the beneficiaries would be the airlines that would substantially reduce their operating costs, where the items for crew salaries can exceed the 25% his fixed costs, so the debate has been installed in the pilots' associations.

The groups of pilots and cabin crew have strongly spoken out against any movement to reduce operational personnel, arguing that technology cannot replace human creativity and problem solving in emergency situations.

A single pilot in command is not new and is commonly seen on private jets with capacity of up to 9 passenger and military aircraft. Nevertheless, compare the operation of a private jet versus a jet airliner 350 passengers on a cruise 10 or more hours with so many situations that could occur, calls into question the proposal on the side of security.

ATTOL automations

The ATTOL project is the basis of the new automation systems that works Airbus with its Airbus A350 fleet that after two years of testing, in july 2020 these flights were successfully completed:

Airbus completes autonomous flight tests

In this process, the European manufacturer managed to get the planes to roll, take off and land alone after more than 500 test flights where the algorithms that give life to the ATTOL system were tested:

It should be noted, that the A350 already have automatic systems that do not require pilot action, as is the case with an update to the A350 autopilot that acts by descending immediately in case of emergency situations and changes in the flight alert system.

What do you think of this proposal where it is sought that the Airbus A350 operate with a pilot? Will be approved or for security issues will not prosper, I await your comments.

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