In the doc, the company waters down its earlier openness to single pilot operations — including an additional regulatory hurdle.
“EASA has adjusted its rulemaking program to clarify that we’ll focus first on evaluating the event and deployment of such superior cockpit applied sciences,” mentioned EASA spokesperson Janet Northcote.
Single pilot flying doesn’t entail having just one pilot on the controls of an airliner throughout a flight. Instead, it might enable one pilot to be alone within the cockpit when the airplane is cruising, permitting the second pilot to step away from the controls.
For that to occur, plane producers should be sure that the know-how is as much as snuff so security isn’t compromised. EASA must approve single-pilot operations, known as prolonged minimal crew operations (eMCOs).
An eMCO-equipped airplane would tempt many airways, which at the moment need to preserve two pilots within the cockpit for the whole flight. Four pilots are wanted if the flight lasts longer than the size of 1 pilot shift.
In Tuesday’s replace, EASA mentioned it is going to arrange a examine to evaluate the impression of “new superior flight deck applied sciences” and “suggest a regulatory framework that ensures the protected integration of good cockpits in industrial air transport operations.”