In the document, the agency waters down its previous openness to single pilot operations — adding an extra regulatory hurdle.
“EASA has adjusted its rulemaking program to make clear that we will focus first on evaluating the development and deployment of such advanced cockpit technologies,” said EASA spokesperson Janet Northcote.
Single pilot flying does not entail having only one pilot at the controls of an airliner for the duration of a flight. Instead, it would allow one pilot to be alone in the cockpit when the airplane is cruising, allowing the second pilot to step away from the controls.
For that to happen, aircraft manufacturers must ensure that the technology is up to snuff so safety isn’t compromised. EASA would have to approve single-pilot operations, called extended minimum crew operations (eMCOs).
An eMCO-equipped plane would tempt many airlines, which currently have to keep two pilots in the cockpit for the entire flight. Four pilots are needed if the flight lasts longer than the length of one pilot shift.
In Tuesday’s update, EASA said it will set up a study to assess the impact of “new advanced flight deck technologies” and “propose a regulatory framework that ensures the safe integration of smart cockpits in commercial air transport operations.”
