Powered by Pilots, Not AI: Why We Need At least Two Pilots on the Flight Deck

Technology can make jobs safer and more efficient. Countless examples of this exist within the airline industry, which has always been at the leading edge of innovation. From the redundant safety systems on a modern airliner to ground systems designed to keep safe distances between aircraft, today’s aviation system is heavily dependent on technology to keep millions of people and tons of cargo safe every day. However, much of this technology still requires humans at the center of the system. No technology exists that can replace even one of the two trained and qualified human pilots at the controls, monitoring these critical safety systems. Despite a mountain of evidence, some aircraft manufacturers and airlines are actively spending resources to conduct research and development of artificial intelligence-based systems for aircraft, so that they can remove one or more pilots from the flight deck.?

Commercial airline travel in North America is the safest transportation system in the world today because it has been built on redundancy. If one system fails, back-up systems keep the flight operating safely. That is why commercial airliners have two engines, and the ultimate failsafe is at least two pilots on the flight deck. Human pilots can hear, smell, or feel an impeding problem long before it registers on safety systems’ sensors. The human element can never be completely removed.

Every year, the Air Line Pilots Association recognizes airline pilots who have demonstrated superior airmanship and outstanding professionalism while carrying out their duties. Most recently, we recognized three pilots from two flights who saved hundreds of lives with their quick thinking and decisive action. In both instances, having two pilots on the flight deck was critical.

On November 19, 2022, Delta Air Lines Flight 2295 was on their descent into Omaha, Neb. While passing through 13,000 feet, there was a loud explosion, the flight deck door blew open, and the temperature inside plummeted. Capt. Stuart Smith assessed the situation, assigned duties, and declared an emergency, while First Officer Ian Augustine took control of the aircraft. Upon landing, the crew also noted that the flight deck dome light was broken and there was a basketball-sized hole in the ceiling panel. The flight had suffered a significant bird strike in which several geese had penetrated the skin of the aircraft.

Coincidentally, on the same evening, Capt. Brandon Hendrickson was serving as a check pilot on Envoy Air Flight 3556 from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Columbus, Ohio, as his fellow pilot, a recently hired captain, was completing his final training. The new-hire captain was at the controls when the aircraft departed the runway, but very quickly, Hendrickson recognized that the new-hire captain had suffered a medical event and was unresponsive. Hendrickson took control of the aircraft, declared an emergency, and requested an immediate return to the airport.

The stories of Delta Air Lines Flight 2295 and Envoy Air Flight 3556, and FedEx Express Flight 1432 are just a few of many examples where a safe resolution could not have been achieved were it not for the presence of two human pilots on the flight deck. Even this weekend’s accident on Alaska Airline Flight 1282 – NTSB Chair has pointed out that the actions of the crew were “incredible”.

Meanwhile, recent surveys conducted separately in the United States and Australia have shown that passengers understand the importance of at least two pilots on the flight deck. In the U.S. survey, 85 percent of respondents said they would not be comfortable as a passenger on a flight with no human pilots. And 80 percent of respondents also believe that two pilots working together is the best way to solve problems and troubleshoot issues during an in-flight emergency. Polling conducted in Australia revealed that 83 percent of respondents would be “more hesitant” to fly on a commercial flight with only one pilot on the flight deck.

To combat this threat to aviation safety, we’ve partnered with our global peers at the European Cockpit Association and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations on “Safety Starts With 2.” Together, we’re educating legislators, regulators, and the flying public around the world about the dangers posed by proposals to reduce the number of pilots on the flight deck. These risky proposals are just another example of companies putting their bottom line ahead of the wellbeing and lives of their workers, passengers, and all those who depend on safe, reliable air transportation.

ALPA is working to keep at least two pilots on the flight deck on all fronts—in our members’ collective bargaining agreements and in the aviation safety regulations that have kept the U.S. airline industry the safest in the world. North America’s airline network is currently the safest it’s been in history because we have worked hard to mitigate risk, but our interconnected global network is only as strong as the weakest component. If reduced crew operations are introduced in one part of the world—projected to be within the next 5 to 10 years—it’s only a matter of time before it arrives in the United States. This is why it’s important for everyone to understand the risks.

Airline pilots are not afraid of technology. We welcome enhancements and improvements that will increase safety. Innovations in our industry have saved countless lives, and ALPA has been a proud partner in developing many of them. But we will not yield when it comes to technologies that could endanger lives or the integrity of our aviation system. We will never sacrifice safety in the name of technological progress.