As someone whose work supports airline pilots, I am concerned about the future safety of air travel and troubled about the lack of transparency when it comes to the potential of single-pilot flights.  We need at least two highly-qualified and fully-rested individuals on the flight deck to protect innocent passengers and precious cargo, not just in emergencies but throughout the flight, monitoring all systems to ensure everyone can safely disembark when reaching their destination.

Airlines should be required by law to prominently display a black box warning - in advance - for any flight leg that is being flown with only one pilot - or without any pilots.  

Tickets for flights with fewer than two pilots should include prominent black box warnings before a flight is booked, requiring affirmative acceptance.  A final affirmative acceptance should be required before boarding.

Please let your government know that you support this petition calling upon lawmakers, legislatures, and aviation authorities worldwide to reinforce their commitment toward strong air travel safety standards. 

If you believe in prioritizing passenger, pilot, crew, and cargo safety over profits, please sign this petition, share your thoughts with your government representative, and share the link with others.  Thank You.

Specific examples and links appear below:

2025.01.09:  An easyJet flight from Egypt to Manchester has been forced to carry out an emergency landing after a pilot on board collapsed.

Thankfully, the remaining pilot was able to carry out the 'very rough and scary' landing safely, which allowed paramedics to enter the aircraft and provide treatment.

An easyJet spokesperson said: '   . . . 'The First Officer performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and the aircraft was met by paramedics on arrival in Athens.  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14377689/emergency-landing-easyjet-flight-manchester-egypt-pilot-collapses.html?ito=1

Soon aircraft will not need pilots to fly, says Airbus chief in The Sunday Times, Saturday, February 17, 2024, 6.11pm GMT:  

"Airbus's [CEO] Christian Scherer . . . believes commercial flights can operate with a single pilot as the industry looks to cut costs and increase safety through greater automation.  'Technologically, it is feasible,' he said.

'And bear in mind if you go to a one-man cockpit, you might as well go to a zeroman cockpit.  Because it all needs to cater for the eventuality that this one guy just ate a bad oyster and is incapacitated and the aeroplane has to take over.  So one pilot or zero pilot is effectively the same thing.'"

Do you think zero pilots are effectively the same thing?

May 13, 2024:  "European pilots have described plans for the flight deck of passenger planes to be occupied by only one pilot for long stretches as 'a gamble with safety.'  The EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is evaluating the safety of 'extended Minimum Crew Operations' (eMCO).  The idea is that one pilot would leave the flight deck to rest for several hours during the cruise portion of the flight while the other remains at the controls.  . . .

Captain Pablo Alvarez of Cargolux Airlines, based in Luxembourg, said: 'We’ve witnessed a significant reduction in crew size over the years, from five individuals including a navigator, radio operator and flight engineer, down to just the captain and first officer.  “However, this is a crucial line we shouldn’t cross.  Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable flying as a passenger on a long-range aircraft where only one pilot is left alone for hours on end.'”  (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/plans-for-planes-to-be-flown-with-one-pilot-in-cockpit-labelled-gamble-with-safety/ar-BB1mjJ93  For more information, please visit the https://www.onemeansnone.eu/

During a June 6th, 2024, hearing in Washington DC, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited several contributing factors in a February 2023 incident in which a FedEx 767 overflew a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737.  At their closest point, the two aircraft were as little as 150 - 170 feet apart.  

“This incident could have been catastrophic if not for the heroic actions of the FedEx crew,” says NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy.  “I do believe that the excellent communications between [the pilots] really saved the lives of 138 people.”  https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/incorrect-assumptions-by-controller-behind-austin-bergstrom-near-miss-ntsb/158683.article

“This incident – October 8th, 2024,  Turkish Airlines Flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul flying over the Canadian territory of Nunavut, the pilot, 59, suddenly collapsed leading the flight crew to divert the Airbus A350 to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.  Despite immediate attempts to revive him, the captain passed away before the plane could land safely. – highlights the irreplaceable role of pilots in ensuring passenger safety but also brings attention to ongoing discussions within aviation about the possible shift toward single-pilot operations.  . . .  The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has emphasized that further contingency measures are needed in scenarios such as when a pilot becomes incapacitated.

The proposal, designed to reduce the need for relief pilots on long-haul flights, has faced strong opposition from pilot unions and safety advocates globally.  More particularly, the U.S Airline Pilots Association(ECA), the Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition (OCCC), and the SkyTeam Pilots Association have expressed strong opposition to reduced-crew operations warning that such a move could compromise aviation safety in scenarios such as flight TK204.  In this case, the presence of a second-in-command and a relief pilot was crucial in achieving the safe landing of the plane and avoiding a disastrous event. 

The SkyTeam Pilots Association added:  ‘We are engaging in a worldwide campaign to ensure the current standards that have helped make aviation the safest form of transportation won’t be eroded.’“ https://travelradar.aero/turkish-airlines-pilots-death-raises-concerns-over-single-pilot-operations/

Automation helps, but two pilots are needed for safety.  November 19, 2024:  Automation has undeniably enhanced aviation safety, reducing human error and improving operational efficiency. However, the notion of reducing cockpit crews to a single pilot introduces significant risks, especially in scenarios where human adaptability and judgment are essential. Two pilots provide a vital layer of redundancy that remains crucial for aviation safety, even in this era of advanced automation. The balance between human expertise and automated systems is critical; therefore, the safest path forward is to keep two trained pilots in the cockpit, working alongside automation to ensure the highest levels of safety for all.

Ensuring the presence of two trained pilots in the cockpit is essential for preserving not just operational efficiency but also the safety and trust of the flying public in the evolving age of automation.  Jeremiah Felix https://www.avweb.com/insider/the-case-for-keeping-two-pilots/

November 15, 2024:  Public Perception and Concerns 
According to a survey, 73% of US adults would never feel comfortable flying without two pilots on the flight deck, while 80% say remotely operated planes would make them feel less safe flying. The sentiment extends beyond the US, with 83% of Australians stating they would be more hesitant to book a commercial airline ticket if they knew there was only one pilot at the controls. Globally, 76% of adults in 15 surveyed countries expressed discomfort with the idea of pilotless planes.  https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/the-controversial-push-for-ai-single-pilot-ops-airbus-vs-pilot-associations

October 23, 2024:  You might think you could handle an emergency landing as easily as this man did a bus:  https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c4gvq4qyj24o

You can’t: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/05/20/passengers-try-landing-plane-flight-simulator/

AI can't do this:  Miracle on the Hudson Mayday: Air Disaster YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Q8K6-oTfQ

While AI is rapidly developing and could potentially handle many aspects of flight, including complex maneuvers, it is currently unlikely that AI could replicate the "Miracle on the Hudson" level of skill and decision-making required to land a plane on a river in an emergency situation like Captain Sullenberger did, as it lacks the human intuition and adaptability needed for such a complex, unpredictable scenario; most experts agree that while AI can assist pilots greatly, full autonomous flight in critical emergencies is still a long way off.  

Human judgment:
The "Miracle on the Hudson" involved quick decision-making based on experience and situational awareness, which are currently difficult for AI to fully replicate.  

Unforeseen situations:
While AI can learn from vast amounts of data, it may struggle to adapt to completely unexpected scenarios like a complete engine failure at low altitude over a body of water.  

Ethical concerns:
Placing complete control of a plane in AI hands during critical situations raises ethical concerns regarding responsibility and potential risks.   https://www.google.com/search?q=Can+AI+fly+as+well+as+Miracle+on+the+Hudson%3F&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS1016US1017&oq=Can+AI+fly+as+well+as+Miracle+on+the+Hudson%3F&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgcIAhAhGI8CMgcIAxAhGI8C0gEJMjM5MjBqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8