Sheehy Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging FAA to Counter Single-Pilot Proposals, Maintain U.S. Leadership in Aviation Safety

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) today led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to oppose single-pilot operations at the International Civil Aviation Organization and maintain U.S. leadership in aviation safety. Sheehy and Duckworth were joined on the letter by 43 of their Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle.

“Despite ongoing challenges, the U.S. has long represented the gold standard in aviation safety. The FAA should continue to promote sound safety standards as new technology develops and presents challenges to existing procedures. While technology will play a critical role in shaping the future of aviation innovation, including improved safety measures, policymakers have a duty to ensure that any changes are rigorously evaluated and incorporated into evidence-backed safety frameworks. The presence of two rested, well-trained, and qualified pilots on the flight deck remains a key pillar of aviation safety,” the senators wrote.

The letter to Secretary Duffy comes as overseas aviation authorities, like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, are pursuing pathways toward reduced-crew operations via automation and new technology. NASA and FAA joint studies have observed “significant increases in workload for single pilot operations, compared to two-crew,” in addition to a decrease in pilots’ perception of safety and performance.

View the letter to Secretary Duffy HERE, or read the full text below:

Dear Secretary Duffy,

We write regarding significant concerns with extended minimum crew operations (eMCO) to enable single-pilot flights in commercial aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is charged with ensuring aviation safety as its top priority. Single-pilot operations jeopardize safety procedures, undermine established best practices, and risk putting pilots and passengers in unmanageable situations. We believe FAA should counter single-pilot proposals and help maintain U.S. leadership in aviation safety by vigorously opposing reduced crew efforts at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Despite ongoing challenges, the U.S. has long represented the gold standard in international aviation safety. The FAA should continue to promote sound safety standards as new technology develops and presents challenges to existing procedures. While technology will play a critical role in shaping the future of aviation innovation, including improved safety measures, policymakers have a duty to ensure that any changes are rigorously evaluated and incorporated into evidence-backed safety frameworks. The presence of two rested, well-trained, and qualified pilots on the flight deck remains a key pillar of aviation safety.

U.S. policy for the composition of flight crew in commercial operations is clear that “No certificate holder may operate an airplane with less than the minimum flight crew” and that “The minimum pilot crew is two pilots.”‘ This policy reflects current research and evidence. NASA and FAA joint studies have observed “significant increases in workload for single pilot operations, compared to two-crew,” in addition to decreases in pilots’ subjective perception of safety and performance. It also reflects common sense and the testimonies and experiences of countless pilots. 

Under eMCO, a single pilot on the flight deck would be responsible for all cruise operations while a second pilot rests in a separate facility. eMCO is intended to push the permissible boundaries of Europe’s maximum pilot flight limitations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is pursuing a regulatory pathway to enable this new operation with the goal of full-time single pilot operation by the end of the decade. EASA’s position could stress international aviation safety norms, but the C.S. has opportunities to defend its core safety interests.

The Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act directs the FAA to exercise leadership at ICAO and with international organizations on human factors, increased levels of automation in the cockpit, and the “extent to which cockpit automation introduces novel risks.” Additionally, the U .S.-EU Aviation Safety Agreement provides for regular consultation of aviation safety proposals or changes and “early-warning discussions of draft regulations.” The FAA should heed this direction, oppose eMCO and related reduced crew efforts at ICAO, and directly engage with European counterparts to ensure that pilot and aircraft standards meet the highest aviation safety bar both domestically and globally.

Redundancy, including the protection afforded by two well-trained and qualified pilots on the flight deck, is a key guardrail for the maintenance and promotion of effective global aviation safety standards. Technological advances can capture the imagination and sound compelling in theory, but as pilots recognize, safety standards exist for emergencies and there is no replacement for human talent and judgement. The presence of two pilots is vital not only for the overwhelming majority of occasions on which everything works fine on flights, but for the rare instances when challenges and potential tragedies develop.

U.S. inaction on single-pilot issues in international fora could allow global aviation safety standards to wither and place downstream pressure on U.S. safety regulations, manufactures, and air carriers. We urge you to take a strong stand at ICAO and with EASA on maintaining global aircraft design and flight deck redundancy with a minimum of two pilots on the flight deck in FAR 121 operations.

We respectfully request a response outlining DOT’s position on this critical safety issue and the Department’s plan for addressing these concerns at ICAO and with EASA.