Single Pilot Operation on Large Commercial Aircraft: Identifying Key Challenges and Providing Solution Guidelines

Abstract

The concept of Single Pilot Operation, hereafter referred to as SPO, on commercial aircraft, has been considered for a long time as a potential solution that can reduce airliner operating costs and increase overall efficiency. SPO occurs in many different contexts of aviation today, however, for large commercial aircraft such as the most common airliners of today, increased complexity, and safety considerations are the major obstacles to overcome and demonstrate the airworthiness of such airplanes in operation. This project explores and evaluates the feasibility of different SPO alternatives and their possible implication for new sustainable commercial aircraft. Using a product development process, different guidelines and recommendations are constructed which can be used for the implementation of SPO in a large commercial aircraft. These guidelines and recommendations consist of different parts and can be roughly categorized into three areas: general needs and strategies, regulation and social acceptance, as well as configurations and functions. Human factors are also an important component in the work, influencing many parts of the project. While there is overlap in the content of these areas, gaining multiple perspectives on the subject of SPO provides a more comprehensive understanding of the subject. The general needs and strategies provide important parameters for the project to which all solutions generated relate. The regulation and social acceptance area provides insight into how SPO relates to existing regulation and social perception by considering what possible opportunities and challenges there are, both today and in the future. The report’s more technical detailed part is covered by the configuration and functions where practical elements of SPO are covered These different parts are covered throughout the report in different contexts to provide insights into the feasibility of SPO. As a result of scope limitations and uncertainties, the project aims to provide a good foundation for further work and investigation on the subject.