Air travel is the safest mode of transportation in the U.S. Let’s keep it that way.
The latest: Some airline industry groups are pushing to reduce the size of the flight crew on large aircraft to a single pilot, insisting that advances in technology make a second pilot unnecessary.
A decade-plus of research by the FAA and NASA shows that the safety risks and challenges associated with single-pilot operations far outweigh any potential benefits.
Two pilots are necessary to manage the flight deck and protect against the potential incapacitation of one pilot.
Public overwhelmingly supports two pilots: A May 2024 survey shows that nearly 80% of U.S. adults say remotely operated planes would make them feel less safe flying, and a significant majority say they would never feel comfortable flying without two pilots on the flight deck.
What’s really going on: Those pushing for single-pilot operations are really trying to save money by cutting operational costs, and are willing to gamble with safety to do so.
The bottom line: Amid a rise in near-miss collisions on airport runways across the country, now is not the time to introduce risk into the U.S. air safety system.
Dive deeper: As a FAA/NASA study points out, two pilots on the flight deck provide “four hands, four eyes, and two brains to monitor and work the problem(s).”
‘Unacceptable’ workload: The study found significant task shedding, a decrease in checklist usage, an increase in errors and an ultimately “dangerous” workload under single-pilot operations, particularly if a flight ran into problematic weather or encountered an emergency situation.
Minor issues still create a problem: In addition, even relatively minor flight divergences created notable errors and a decrease in a single pilot’s ability to successfully recover the aircraft.
Pilots’ opinions: Overall, the pilots involved in the study said “nothing can replace a pilot in the cockpit.”
It takes two for a safe flight
With two pilots on the flight deck, no one gets overtaxed in what’s often a difficult, stressful job. Two pilots divvy up their roles, sometimes swapping duties during the flight to provide the safest possible trip.
The pilot flying focuses strictly on operating the aircraft, manipulating the flight controls for takeoff and landing, and overseeing and managing operations during the flight.
The pilot monitoring manages the aircraft and flight, communicates with air traffic control, completes the checklists, monitors aircraft systems and keeps tabs on fuel, weather, pilot wellness levels and any issues that could interfere with pilot duties.
Research shows that automated systems or working with a second pilot on the ground are not as safe as two working side by side in the air. Pilots engage in multiple tasks on the flight deck, relying on nonverbal cues — head nods, facial expressions, physical actions — to confirm a task is being performed or a message was heard.
Critical moments for pilots
While highly trained and experienced pilots know how to deal with every contingency, that doesn’t mean they should fly alone: There is a lot to be done and too much at stake, especially during, but not limited to, critical moments. According to the FAA, only one out of every 10 flights conforms to its original plan.
During taxi, takeoff and landing: Pilots share tasks during these work-intensive phases of flight. When there is only one pilot, that person must fly and monitor, doing the jobs of two people.
In a challenging situation or emergency: Pilots frequently mitigate risks, adapting to changes such as direction from air traffic control, weather, equipment malfunctions, airport congestion and flight diversions.
Why technology can’t replace a second pilot
The advances that might provide the same level of safety of two pilots on the flight deck are decades away. Furthermore, efforts to implement single-pilot operations still need to overcome regulatory constraints, cybersecurity concerns, economic drawbacks and public scrutiny.
Risk of cyber threats, hacking. The enhanced air-to-ground communications and automation capabilities necessary for reduced-crew or single-pilot operations could leave aircraft vulnerable to new forms of tampering. For example, hackers could jam signals to commandeer a flight via cyberattack.
One pilot doesn’t actually save money. Some, if not most, of the savings from cutting the size of crews — fewer salaries, benefits, and other expenses — would be offset by costs associated with reduced-crew and single-pilot operations, including:
Outfitting aircraft with the necessary automation, sensor and communications systems.
Salaries and benefits for remote ground-based pilots to support single-pilot operations.
Ground infrastructure and certification costs.
Case studies highlight importance of two pilots
Two pilots on the flight deck provide a wealth of experience from which to draw on when a flight doesn’t go as planned, including adapting to unique emergencies, knowing the location of nearby underutilized airports and being able to troubleshoot outside the pilot checklist when dealing with compounding failures.
Here are a few of the many real-world examples of the importance of two pilots on the flight deck.
March 22, 2023: Just over an hour after Southwest Airlines Flight 6013 departed Las Vegas, the captain experienced a medical emergency and became incapacitated. As the captain received medical attention from a passenger, a pilot from another airline who was on board entered the flight deck to assist with radio communications as the Southwest pilot flew the aircraft. The aircraft then safely returned to Las Vegas. This incident could have been catastrophic if the captain had been the only pilot on the flight deck, and the assistance of the pilot from the other airline reinforces how critical two pilots on the flight deck are in an emergency.
Feb. 2, 2023: A FedEx 767 cleared by air traffic control to land at Austin and a Southwest 737 cleared for takeoff on the same runway narrowly missed colliding, with the planes likely coming within just 100 feet of each other. The FedEx pilots helped avert disaster by alerting the pilots on the Southwest flight to abort their takeoff while the FedEx plane quickly aborted its landing. The incident prompted NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy to say, "I have to give it to the FedEx pilot and the co-pilot, what a fantastic job especially in such extremely poor conditions, poor visibility."
Jan. 8, 2023: United Flight 1722, a Boeing 777-200, diverted to Honolulu during a scheduled flight from Kahului, Hawaii, to San Francisco after the captain became ill an hour into the trip and was unable to perform his duties. The first officer safely landed the plane, and the captain was transported to a local hospital. The presence of the first officer allowed for the plane’s safe landing despite the captain experiencing a medical emergency.
Jan. 1, 2023: The crew of AmeriJet Flight 99, a Boeing 767-300, from Incheon, South Korea, to Anchorage, Alaska, began to experience a vibration in the right engine followed by a low oil pressure indication and an engine fire warning. The crew worked to address the two issues while also turning the flight back to Incheon, where it landed safely. During periods of high stress, such as a possible engine fire, two pilots are able to share responsibilities and assist each other to prevent workloads for one pilot from becoming unacceptably high.
Dec. 28, 2022: JetBlue Flight 2034, an Airbus A321, diverted to Omaha, Neb., while enroute from San Francisco to New York when the first officer experienced a medical emergency and became incapacitated. The captain safely landed the plane in Omaha, where the first officer was taken to a local hospital. Without two pilots on board, the plane would not have been able to land safely.
Feb. 20, 2021: Shortly after United Airlines Flight 328 took off from Denver International Airport, the crew received an ENG fail light followed by a fire warning on the No. 2 engine. The first officer immediately ran through the engine checklist while the captain prepared for an emergency landing. With the two pilots working together, the aircraft was able to safely land without further incident.
May 11, 2015: The crew of ExpressJet Flight 4291 from Houston to San Luis Potosi, Mexico, were midflight when they lost both air data computers, meaning their flight instruments were unreliable and their standby airspeed indicator had stopped functioning. With multiple failures present, the captain’s experience led him to identify the most likely starting point, and he instructed the first officer to check the pilots’ handbook. The two pilots were able to act swiftly to divert to San Antonio International Airport where they touched down without incident despite extreme weather in the vicinity.
Jan. 15, 2009: Shortly after takeoff, a bird strike caused dual engine failure on US Airways Flight 1549 bound from New York to Charlotte, N.C. Because the event occurred at such a low altitude, it required two onboard pilots working in close coordination to bring the aircraft down safely in the Hudson River in what eventually became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the captain’s decision to ditch in the river rather than try to reach an airport improved the chances of a survivable outcome. Moreover, the crew’s decision to activate the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit early during the emergency, which was not in accordance with checklists, ensured the availability of electrical power and was essential to the outcome. All 155 people onboard the aircraft were rescued.
Don’t change what works
FAA rules require at least two pilots to fly large passenger and cargo aircraft flights. These important safety measures work and they shouldn’t be changed.
Today’s pilots earn the stripes on their shoulders through hard work, countless hours of study and wisdom gained through hundreds of hours of experience. No computer or remote pilot can match an onboard crew’s dedication, training, instinct and ability to solve complex problems that arise during a flight.
Strong safety standards save lives, and passengers are not willing to fly with an airline with just one pilot on the flight deck, regardless of a decrease in airfare cost.
With two pilots on board, every flight is in good hands.
