Single Pilot Operations for commercial flights. The opening by EASA. (English version)

EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency, has started the study for a possible consent to carry out single-pilot commercial air transport operations.

The multi-pilot operations for commercial flights are well regulated by ICAO and National Regulations Worldwide, and since its establishment also by EASA for Europe.

Everyone knows that this motivation is mainly due to a fundamental and essential factor in aviation, namely SAFETY. Two eyes see better than one, 4 ears hear better than two... . In addition to this, the workload that is created in the cockpit in some particular situations such as low visibility operations (LVP), in an emergency, in urgency, is so high and critical that it requires the presence of two pilots, but especially for double checking.

In the past, variously subjects have requested the use of a single pilot, even proposing that a flight attendant plays the double role of pilot during the take-off and landing phases and flight attendant during the remaining flight period.

Following, we analyze some "critical" situations which occurred both in the presence of two pilots and in the presence of a single pilot.

On August 20, 2008, Spanair Flight 5022 shortly after rotation crashed heavily to the ground and slips for over 1kilometer. The analysis of the accident found an incorrect configuration of the aircraft with take-off flaps and slats not setted. Why did it happen with two pilots on board? During the taxi, reading of the take-off check-list step, the passage of "take-off configuration" wasn't readed; why? because in that circumstance the pilot (pnf) responded to the instructions of the air traffic controller, the pilot interrupting the execution of the check-list and the subsequent rereading of the same, effectively skipping some fundamental steps. From this event, and from other similar events occured (as NorthWest Airlines flight 255). After this incident, the following procedures are mandatory; During the execution of the check-list when any interruption occurs, it is expected that all items must be repeated. This is an example where safety has failed.

But if there were only one pilot in the cockpit, what risks could be incurred?

March 24, 2015, Germanwings Flight 9525 crashes to the ground, killing all on board. The analyzes of the event, showed that the pilot, left alone in the cockpit, while the captain went to the bathroom, putted the plane to collided with the terrain.

February 17, 2014, Ethiopian Airlines flight 702 from Addis Adeba to Rome, diverted to Geneva. The first officer is responsible for the hijacking, which was carried out as soon as the captain temporarily leave the cockpit to go to the bathroom.

March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight 370. In this case, the events are still under investigation, but there is the possible hijacking perpetrated by one of the pilots.

Here I wanted to explain some cases on which it is necessary to continue to reflect, as they have changed the operational rules for managing the cockpit and the operational management procedures.

After the Spanair case and unfortunately other similar cases, it was decided that the reading of the items in the checklist should be started and finished and in case of interruption they should be repeated. In some types of aircraft, digital checklists have been introduced, which provide for the "mark" of the single item once executed. If you skip a step, the system warns you the anomaly occured.

As for the other described situations, the constant presence of two pilots in the cabin was made mandatory. If for urgent reasons, the cockpit must be left by one of the two pilots, a third crew member must access the cockpit until the return of the pilot who has temporarily gone away. The cockpit can't left guarded by a single pilot.

Other cases needs attention are the sickness of pilots. Unfortunately, the sickness of the pilots on board and the death cases are rare.

These situations must really make us to reflect on the risks associated with carrying out commercial flights to be carried out with a single pilot on board, as well as the fact that the Flight Attendant are exchanged by "waiters" and not as employees emergency evacuation and first aid workers. To think that Flight Attendant can assist a (single) pilot in managing an emergency, in my opinion, is purely madness. The number of Flight Attendant in an aircraft is calibrated by mandatory timings for the activation and management of emergencies in the cabin for which its function cannot be diverted, just as the pilot needs to have another pilot at his side which is possible to cooperate in order to implement all possible actions for the salvation of people.

Every plane accident, serious or minor, is subject to study, in order to issue specific regulations and procedures, in order to mitigate the risk of aviation event will occure.

I sincerely hope that this proposal can only be cancel, because safety in the aviation field is always and must always be the first place.

Daniele Fazari - Aviation Consultant

www.dfaviationconsulting.eu