Aviation
Commercial /
Europe
single pilot
Airbus and Cathay work together on a system for long-range flights with just one pilot
Airbus A350-1000
Image: Airbus
Rafael Ramos
6/18/2021
Cathay Pacific is working on a project together with Airbus so that commercial flights with only one pilot can become viable as early as 2025.
The program is intended to certify the Airbus A350 as a single pilot aircraft for long-haul flights. One of the goals of the project is to make the A350 more interesting from the point of view of operating costs. If the project succeeds, Airbus will be one step ahead of rival Boeing, which does not have any such project.
Airbus A350 da Cathay Pacific
Li Kit Ming Jasper, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Connect project would certify the plane for single pilot flight only at cruising altitude, so that two pilots would still be required on takeoff and landing.
If the project succeeds, Cathay still does not know if it will be the launch customer of the technology, but the fact is that many companies could rethink their costs with such technology.
"While we are engaging with Airbus in developing the concept of reduced crew operations, we are in no way committed to being the launch customer," Cathay Pacific told Reuters.
Airbus had already shown the desire to fly single pilot, but the technology available at the time did not allow it. Today's systems already have the necessary technology. But, in addition to technology, there is still a need for long certification work by bodies such as EASA and FAA.
In addition, groups of pilots demonstrated against it, for safety reasons. The cost-cutting approach can lead to greater risks.
Single pilot operations are currently limited to flights with up to 9 passengers.
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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