The Push and Pull Over Single-Pilot Flights

The battle over single-pilot flights is far from over.

For years, the aviation industry has been flirting with the concept of removing pilots from the cockpit on commercial flights. Framed as a way to optimise pilot workload, single-pilot operations are now being actively pushed primarily by Airbus and Dassault.

The journey began officially in 2017 when the manufacturers approached EASA to discuss single-pilot feasibility. Two years later, they formally requested a regulatory review, setting the stage for what would become one of the most contentious debates in modern aviation history.

In January 2025, a Politico headline seemed to indicate a setback for Airbus and Dassault:

“EU Regulator Backs Away from Allowing Lone Pilots to Fly Airliners.”

But the reality is less reassuring.

Behind closed doors

For years, aircraft manufacturers have pushed to reduce cockpit crew, arguing that automation and modern technology can replace the role of a second pilot on long-haul flights. In 2017, Airbus and Dassault approached EASA with proposals to reduce cockpit crew from 2 to 1 in the cockpit.

By 2019, they had formally requested a regulatory review, arguing that advances in cockpit automation made a second pilot increasingly unnecessary – at least during cruise flight.

By 2021, Airbus had already signaled that they wanted to go ahead. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury hinted that the company was aligning its timeline for single-pilot cruise operations with the upcoming A350F freighter, expected to enter service around 2025. The message was clear: the technology was ready, and the industry should start preparing for the transition.

Rather than shutting this proposal down, EASA took an active role in exploring – and even facilitating – the idea:

“Typically, on long-haul flights, when you're at cruise altitude, there's very little happening in the cockpit,” former EASA chief Patrick Ky claimed in a media briefing in 2021. “It makes sense to say, ‘OK, instead of having two in the cockpit, we can have one in the cockpit, the other one taking a rest, provided we implement technical solutions that ensure there are no unsafe conditions if the single pilot falls asleep or has a problem.’”

The push continued, with an informal working group set up by EASA. While invited to participate, the European Cockpit Association (ECA) argued that the process lacked transparency and excluded key independent safety experts. This threatened to undermine public scrutiny, proper oversight, and necessary safety checks.

A growing resistance – a gamble with safety

Pilots, unions, and aviation professionals quickly saw where this was heading, who the forces pushing for it were, and how fast it is forging ahead. By 2023, the ECA, IFALPA, ALPA, and national pilot unions launched coordinated campaigns, warning of the dangers of removing pilots from the cockpit.

Our argument was simple: Single pilot operations are a gamble with safety.

Even with improved automation, a single pilot left alone on long-haul flights would bear sole responsibility for every critical decision – without a co-pilot to cross-check, assist, or take over in case of an emergency. At the very least, such a fundamental change to the entire aviation system, requires an open, transparent examination and discussion.

The indignation of the aviation community spilled over into political circles. In June 2024, the Dutch Parliament passed a resolution demanding that new technology demonstrably enhance aviation safety. The vote sent a clear message to regulators: innovation and technology are welcome, but they must be implemented to enhance safety, not simply to satisfy corporate bottom lines.

A delayed timeline, but no hard “No”

The arrival of Florian Guillermet, in spring 2024, as EASA’s new Executive Director has injected a degree of caution, and uncertainty for manufacturers. A recent Politico article suggests that EASA is now distancing itself from an outright endorsement of single-pilot flights, marking a notable departure from Patrick Ky’s earlier enthusiasm.

The European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) 2025, published in January, seems to reinforce this shift. While it still includes Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO) – as the potential final outcome – the industry’s preferred term for single pilot cruise operations – it stresses the importance of multi-crew operations and makes it clear that new technologies should improve safety, not merely maintain current standards.

Perhaps the clearest sign of change is the delay in the regulatory timeline.

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Manufacturers had initially pushed for single pilot regulations to be in place by 2027. Now, EASA has pushed the indicative timeline to 2029, signaling that increased scrutiny is ahead for manufacturers. The Agency is expected to conduct further consultations with airlines, pilot unions, and passenger safety groups before drafting any regulatory proposal. Meanwhile, ongoing research by aviation safety bodies – including NLR, DLR, Deep Blue, and ADSE – will play a crucial role in shaping EASA’s next steps. Any formal regulatory proposal would still need approval from the European Commission.

Yet, despite the shift in tone, Single Pilot Flights remain on the table. The Rulemaking Task (RMT.0739) – the official working group responsible for developing regulatory frameworks – is set to commence, and EASA is not shutting the door. Instead, the agency appears to be taking a more methodical and step-by-step approach, ensuring that the Rulemaking Task has time to assess risks before drafting any concrete proposals for regulations.

When asked by Politico for a comment, ECA President Tanja Harter captured the mixed feelings within the pilot community:

“We are still very concerned about the push for Reduced Crew Operations, even if we see a positive sign from our regulator.”

For now, single-pilot flights are still in the pipeline but under regulatory scrutiny.

The bigger question: should aviation ever go down this road?

Beyond the regulatory push, the debate over single-pilot operations highlights a deeper question: Should aviation policy and innovation be dictated by aircraft manufacturers’ and airlines’ business interests and financial motivations rather than by safety?

For many pilots and safety experts, the answer is obvious. For now, the industry’s push for single-pilot operations is far from over – but neither is the fight to stop it and to ensure that passenger safety is never compromised.