Cathay working with Airbus on single-pilot system for long-haul
22 June, 2021
Cathay Pacific is dealing with Airbus to introduce "reduced crew" long-haul flights with a sole pilot in the cockpit most of the time, industry sources told Reuters.
This program, known within Airbus as Project Connect, aims to certify its A350 jet for single-pilot procedures during high-altitude cruise, starting in 2025 on Cathay passenger flights, the sources said.
High hurdles stick to the road to international acceptance. Once cleared, longer flights would become possible with a pair of pilots alternating rest breaks, instead of the 3 or 4 currently needed to maintain at least two in the cockpit.
That promises savings for airlines, amid uncertainty over the post-pandemic economics of intercontinental flying. But it is likely to come across resistance from pilots already hit by mass layoffs, and safety concerns about aircraft automation.
Lufthansa has also worked on the single-pilot program but currently does not have any plans to utilize it, a spokesman for the German carrier told Reuters.
Cathay Pacific Airways confirmed its involvement but said no decision had been made on eventual deployment.
"While we are engaging with Airbus in the development of the idea of reduced crew operations, we have not committed in any way to being the launch customer," the Hong Kong carrier said.
Commercial implementation would first require considerable testing, regulatory approval and pilot training with "zero compromise on safety", Cathay said.
"The appropriateness and effectiveness of such rollout as well as (the) overall cost-benefit analysis (will) eventually depend on the way the pandemic plays out."
It added: "With that said, we will continue steadily to engage with Airbus and support development of the idea."
Airbus has previously disclosed plans to add single-pilot capability to the A350, however the airlines' participation had not been reported. Work has resumed following the COVID-19 crisis paused the program, Chief Test Pilot Christophe Cail said.
"We've verified over decades we can enhance safety by putting the most recent technology in aircraft," Cail told Reuters, declining to recognize project partners. "As for any design evolution, we are working with airlines."
VITAL SIGNS
Safe deployment will demand frequent monitoring of the solo pilot's alertness and essential signs by on-board systems, europe Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has said.
If the flight encounters a problem or the pilot flying is incapacitated, the resting copilot can be summoned within minutes. Both stay in the cockpit for take-off and landing.
"Typically on long-haul flights when you're at cruise altitude there's hardly any happening in the cockpit," EASA chief Patrick Ky told a German press briefing in January.
"It makes sense to say OK, rather than having two in the cockpit, we can have one in the cockpit, the other one taking a rest, provided we're implementing technical solutions which will make sure if the single one falls asleep or has any issue, there won't be any unsafe conditions."
Pilot groups have voiced alarm.
"We struggle to understand the rationale," said Otjan de Bruijn, head of the European Cockpit Association representing EU pilots.
Invoking the 737 MAX crisis, which exposed Boeing's inappropriate links to U.S. regulators, De Bruijn said the program's cost-cutting approach "could cause higher risks".
Single-pilot operations, currently limited to planes with up to nine passengers, would want backing from U.N. aviation body ICAO and countries whose airspace they cross. China's support is paramount to any Cathay deployment.
EASA plans consultations this year and recognition work in 2022, while acknowledging "significant risk" to the 2025 launch date, a spokesman said.
In a closed-door industry briefing this season, the agency suggested reduced-crew flights would commence with an individual operator, according to notes of the meeting reviewed by Reuters.
EMERGENCY DESCENT
Airbus has designed an A350 autopilot upgrade and flight warning system changes to greatly help a lone pilot manage failures, sources near the project said.
The mid-sized plane is suitable because of its "emergency descent" feature that quickly reduces altitude without pilot input in case of cabin depressurisation.
Proponents suggest single-pilot functions could be accepted by a flying public used to crew leaving the cockpit for bathroom breaks. In addition they indicate higher error rates from human pilots than automated systems.
Both arguments skip the point, according to a source close to Lufthansa - who said the airline's executives were advised this past year that the program cannot meet safety goals.
Flying solo all night is a "completely different story", the foundation said, citing the 2009 2009 AF447 disaster for example of malfunctions occurring in cruise. The Air France A330's copilots lost control following its speed sensors failed over the Atlantic, while the captain was resting.
"Airbus could have had to ensure every situation could be handled autonomously with no pilot input for quarter-hour," the foundation said. "And that couldn't be guaranteed."
Lufthansa has not withdrawn from Project Connect and remains involved as an adviser, its spokesman said.
While the airline does not have any plans to deploy single-pilot operations, he added, "the suggestion that Lufthansa was an essential the main project and then pulled back isn't true."
Single-pilot capability would add an A350 sales argument, authorities say, and rival Boeing lacks an equivalent model with enough automation.
Filippo Tomasello, a former EASA official, said the payroll and accommodation savings for long-haul crew wouldn't normally be lost on airlines.
"COVID may finish up accelerating this evolution because it's putting tremendous financial pressure on aviation," Tomasello predicted.
"If EASA certifies this solution, airlines use it."
Source: japantoday.com
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