Are Airbus A350s operating with a single pilot?

¿They imagine being on the PacíI believe 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 automationón 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, they have a relationshipón very close and dependent on each otherí.

Single pilot flights

Let's put the matter in perspective, The project is long term and what is being doneá working thanks to new automation systemsón and those that the avi already countsóThey seek to take it to their own certification processón before the aero authorityáEuropean Union EASA.

El Project Connect

This new project has the objective of reducing the numberúnumber of pilots needed in long haul flights, where on average are needed 4 crew membersón who take turns in the cabin according toún the durationóflight number.

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 for both pilots to take turnsón in the cabin during the cruise stage, while in takeoff and landingístill both until technologyía and regulatory processes advance.

I challenged themíos

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

Sayún EURACTIV, These include dealing with a situationón in which the pilot or pilots areén disabled, verify the capacity of the technologyíto manage, correct errors and address the potential for pilot fatigue.

«The EASA, as regulator, Eastá challenging the Uni industryón European Union to ensure that the level of transport safetyéreo púwar is constantly guaranteed, while recognizing the need to explore a new concept of operations linked to technological advances.ólogical and human» said Janet Northcote, spokesperson for EASA.

¿Is the proposal supported??

Definitely, the beneficiaries will beían las aerolígirls to reduceíyour operating costs substantially, 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 spoken out inéagainst any movement to reduce  operational staff, arguing that technologyíIt cannot replace human creativity and resolution.ón of problems 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, comparar la operationón of a grandfatherón private versus an avión of 350 passengers on a crossingíto of 10 o máhours 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 new automation systemsón that works Airbus with its Airbus A350 fleet that after twoñtests, in july 2020 these flights were successfully completed:

Airbus concludes autonomous flight testsónomos

In this process, the European manufacturer achievedó let the planes roll, take off and land alone after meás de 500 test flights where the algorithms that give life to the ATTOL system were tested:

It should be noted, that the A350s already have automatic systemsáAttics that require no actionópilot's number, as is the case of an updateóautopilot no.áAttic of the A350 that actedúdescending immediately in case of emergency situations and changes in the flight warning system.

¿Whaté Do you think about this proposal where the Airbus A350 is intended to operate with a pilot?? To beá approved or due to security issues it does not prosperá, I await your comments.