European aircraft manufacturer Airbus wants to install a potty-style toilet right behind the Captain’s seat on its flagship A350 long-haul aircraft in an attempt to eliminate the need to have two pilots sitting at the controls of commercial passenger aircraft at any one time.
The potty proposal by the European aerospace giant is part of ongoing work into what the aviation industry has dubbed Extended Minimum Crew Operations or eMCO for short.
Extended Minimum Crew Operations is a euphemism for single-pilot operations in which just one pilot is at the controls of a packed widebody aircraft during the cruise phase of flight.
The hope is that eMCO will result in attractive cost savings for airlines because on ultra-long-haul flights, there will no longer be a need to have three or four pilots operating on the same flight.
At present, pilots take turns sleeping in a special crew rest compartment while two remain on the flight deck at any one time, but under eMCO, one pilot would remain alone in the cockpit for up to three hours at a time while the second pilot is sleeping.
The proposal has, perhaps unsurprisingly, alarmed unions and organizations that represent pilots around the world, although advanced work on eMCO projects is going ahead undeterred and single-pilot operations could become a reality in less than five years.
There are, however, still some pretty big hurdles to clear. One of which is dealing with the fact that pilots are human and, therefore, have physiological needs just as needing to use the toilet or deal with menstruation.
The European Air Safety Agency (EASA) has been tasked with researching how to safely implement eMCO, which includes finding solutions to the fact that pilots might need to use the can.
Suggestions considered by the pan-European agency included asking pilots to deliberately dehydrate themselves before starting a lone shift at the aircraft controls, as well as requiring them to eat a high-protein, low-residue diet to mitigate the risk of them needing to defecate.
The agency also looked at other outlandish solutions like making pilots wear adult diapers, or equipping cockpits with disposable urine collectors.
Thankfully, the authors of the EASA study discounted all of these potential solutions, coming to the conclusion that diapers, special diets and urine collectors were “not acceptable nor feasible.”
Instead, EASA suggested that in the event a pilot desperately needed to use the toilet, they would need to wake up the second pilot, and at that point, the eMCO would be terminated.
Ending the eMCO early, however, could result in a situation in which the pilots are fatigued.
To address that issue, Airbus is now developing a proposal to install an open toilet in the flight deck.
“They’re going to get rid of that second jumpseat behind the Captain and put a toilet; think about that for a minute; that’s no pilot ops,” pilots at the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) board of directors meeting were recently warned.
“So when you have to relieve yourself, there’s no one at the controls. They are even proposing a comms panel at that toilet so that you can look forward at the control and instrumentation. If ATC calls, well, you can answer it while you’re resting on the can.”
If Airbus gets its way, eMCO could be ready to test on its A350 model as early as 2027. Within the next five years, single-pilot operations could be introduced on freighter Airbus A320 aircraft.
ALPA has joined forces with other pilot unions to oppose eMCO with the battle against Airbus, Boeing, and the airline industry stepping up a gear in recent months over fears that aircraft manufacturers are secretly pushing to become the first to bring eMCO to market.
“ALPA, along with global pilot unions, are united in opposition to this concept and have made it a priority to maintain at least two pilots on the flight deck to ensure the safety and security of all airline flight operations,” the union commented earlier this month.
“No one understands better than a pilot that when an issue arises in flight, it is the pilots who are responsible for achieving a safe outcome.”
No way! Absolutely not! There are human beings piloting and onboard the aircraft. Get some sense people! Terrible idea in so many ways. Wow, it is awful thinking about what might unexpectedly occur with only one person “at the wheel” of a giant flying machine.
Just eliminate the pilots and install an auto pilot that can take off and land automatically. Why need a pilot ? Especially for cargo planes no pilots are needed and in case of emergency no pilot will die.
Don’t comment upon things you clearly have no idea about. Stick to your knitting!
Hopefully that plane doesn’t fall on your house if it develops a fault the computer can’t manage.
Better yet, why not eliminate toilets for the passengers as well? Just issue diapers to everyone on board. The saved space could be used for seating more passengers.
No shit, Sherlock
The most hellirious funny idea human can imagine???.
They would charge you for diapers on the flight, not issue them to you.
So, if one pilot has a stroke, heart attack, food poisoning, ect. even if the plane is only hauling freight.. what happens to the unsuspecting people on the ground when the aircraft crashes. I have debriefed aircraft where all of the four engines had bird strike, with only one engine still operating, but the crew managed to come in on one functioning engine. It’s not worth the risk just because of some greedy executive corporate personnel want more money.
Boeing cannot seem to make a safe plane to save themselves and now Airbus geniuses want to eliminate some of the most vital pieces of equipment on the plane (pilots). Can only imagine what the third world manufactures of airplanes are like.
Totally lost interest in flying, thanks, I’ll drive. If it requires crossing water. ships still seem pretty reliable overall.
Two engines not four. One pilot, not two….. Heck, why not just eliminate the flight crew and fly the whole thing from the ground? Introducing the all-new budget flight service, cargo class, for when it really doesn’t matter if you get there or not.
Unfortunately, no-pilot ground controled commercial flight is the ultimate goal! As a retired military/airline pilot, I can attest that the whole concept of pilotless flight is the most asenine idea ever conceived of by man since Wilbur and Orvile took flight!!!
9/11, German Wings, ???
Yes more than one pilot on all those planes and yet they still crashed. If they were full autonomous neither would have happend. In fact many crashes and hijacks wouldn’t have happened if pilots had been replaced by auto pilot which today can manage almost every element of take off, crusing, and landing.
The datalink to the aircraft can be compromised by a technical malfunction, weather, or deliberate tampering with and intercepting the signal. A wide body aircraft traveling at 400 miles per hour has enough energy to take down a 100+ story building. We’ve all seen it. Pilots are expensive. So are Doctor, attorneys, and leaders of industry. Those of use who have needed an emergency room doctor, a bail out of jail, or have ever been in an airborne emergency, will find the money spent was worth it.
The most expensive ones? Company Executives, all the CxO and VPs. Let’s get rid of them instead, as unlike the others, they will not be missed.
I flew on a three hour puddle jumper airline flight across Alaska and the mountain range with just a single pilot. Legal for flights up to 9 seats. Frankly I was more worried about the single engine than the single pilot.
I would easily fly a regular sized airliner with a single pilot on a 3 hour flight too.
Bad idea. Don’t do this
I thought this was an article from The Onion
This would be perfectly feasible on Airbus aircraft but will never happen on Boeing aircraft as pilot intervention is required every flight due to failures or inadequate automation. Boeing aircraft require at least 2 pilots at all times to stop the aircraft automation from killing everyone on-board. Boeing aircraft will always require at least 2 pilots to accomplish any flight safely. Boeing = Job security for pilots!
So do Airbus. This is a bad idea no matter what manufacturer.
So, not to put too fine of a point on this, but how many people should be killed before it is thought that this is not a good idea? If this goes into effect, then I personally believe the general population should be informed about which flights are doing this so they can choose other options if they desire not to fly with airlines doing this. Of course we have superb technology and folks can fly without worry, right? Tell that to the families of the passengers that were flying on the Boeing airplanes with the MCAS systems. I understand there were anomalies with that, but the training should have taken place, and it didn’t. (Saving money much?) Absolutely not! Part of the fare that I pay on my tickets is to pay for those pilots flying the plane, be they one or four. Cheap or inexpensive does not necessarily translate to good. I believe we trust our great technology far too much these days and I fear it may cost us dearly. I won’t be riding these planes.
You will see the flying public and transportation industry put max auto brakes on this one. No one will fly.
This is the most ridiculous attempt at “cost savings” imaginable for many reasons. Two pilots are needed to complete flight checks, verify inputs, respond to emergencies, etc. Human nature is if someone is sleeping well don’t want to disturb them. When someone wakes from their sleep, they are not fully alert in that moment. Our society has become so obsessed with making money at any cost it’s unconscionable.
Go ahead Airbus…that will leave Boeing the whole field 🇨🇦
Ridiculous – to say the least – Who thinks this nonsense up ??
Dumbest idea EVER! Two main reasons:
One: Pilots have medical issues MONTHLY! Heart attacks, strokes, and just plain natural causes. Just because you only hear about it on slow news days, does not mean it doesnt happen!
Two: Its called CRM for a reason. From Engine failures, irregular flap deployment, weather etc. Theres a reason why you have a pilot flying and an SIC to balance workload, including an extra set of EYES! Ask Sully or any pilot who had things go sideways.
Get the bean counters out of commercial aviations engineering and safety!
Adicionando un poco a lo que excelentemente han expresado muchas personas sobre este tema,; tales como que pasa cuando un piloto sufre un derrame cerebral, un ataque cardíaco, una intoxicación alimentaria, etc., o la gestión de la tripulación cuando hay una emergencia en vuelo; por ejemplo por fallas de los sistemas de la aeronave, como es el caso expresado del sistema de control de vuelo MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) del Boeing 737 MAX (Sistema de Aumento de las Características de Maniobras) que lamentablemente terminó en dos accidentes catastróficos.
Adiciono sólo un caso más, sobre tantos aspectos que se podría hablar,; es del vuelo de la aerolínea Germanwings, donde el piloto estrelló la aeronave contra los Alpes franceses, aprovechando un momento donde se quedo solo en la cabina de vuelo. ( Marzo 2015) Desde ahí, se emitieron nuevas regulaciones y procedimientos para que durante el vuelo al menos dos miembros de la tripulación estén en la cabina del avión en todo momento durante sus vuelos.
No hay más que hablar. Es simple debe existir un equilibrio entre la economía y la seguridad. No puede estar la parte económica por encima de la Seguridad.
Por tanto las Autoridades de Aviación Civil como la FAA, TCCA, la Agencia de la Unión Europea para la Seguridad Aérea (EASA), entre otras, y a partir que todos son firmante del Convenio de Chicago sobre la Aviación Civil Internacional, y de acuerdo con las normas y procedimientos recomendados por la misma (OACI), la misión de todos es fomentar el desarrollo de la Aviación Civil Internacional de MANERA SEGURA, ordenada.
Adding a little to what many people have excellently expressed on this subject, such as what happens when a pilot suffers a stroke, a heart attack, food poisoning, etc., or the management of the crew when there is an emergency in flight; for example due to failures of the aircraft systems, as is the case expressed by the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) flight control system of the Boeing 737 MAX. Which unfortunately ended in two catastrophic accidents.
I will add just one more case, out of so many aspects that could be discussed, it is the flight of the Germanwings airline, where the pilot crashed the aircraft into the French Alps, taking advantage of a moment when he was left alone in the cockpit. (March 2015) Since then, new regulations and procedures were issued so that during the flight at least two crew members are in the cockpit of the aircraft at all times during their flights.
There is no more to say. It is simple, there must be a balance between economy and safety. The economic aspect cannot be above Safety.
Therefore, Civil Aviation Authorities such as the FAA, TCCA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), among others, and since they are all signatories of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, and in accordance with the standards and procedures recommended by the same (ICAO), the mission of all is to promote the development of International Civil Aviation in a SAFE and orderly manner.
Executives will make even more $ and the safety of passengers and pilots will suffer. Airbus is taking cost cutting directions from Boeing I see…
Unacceptable!! How many safety issues have been avoided because of teamwork? Not to mention how UNSANITARY this is. Shigella and other feces related illnesses will be rampant. Domt do it!
Fine, we can do this, as soon as as all airline CEO’s have a toilet installed in their office just behind their seat, and they stay in there for a 20 hour shift and not leave! And do the same 2 days later!! Yep. As soon as that happens I’m happy to do the same.
This is a disgusting idea that can potentially place some pilots in a mental headspace that is antithetical to safety and wellbeing of the entire flight.
Moreover, doing one’s business oftentimes requires intense focus the kind that could distract attention to important operational flight details in a dangerous way especially during the onset of events
SPOF Single Point Of Failure, Murphy’s Law, what ever can go wrong will go wrong at the most inopertune time. This is why at 35,000 ft you have two in the cockpit. We call it redundancy. This why you should never dive alone. As an airline passenger I feel safer knowing two people are in the cockpit.
Human is the biggest point of failure .
Eliminated human pilot is the way to eliminate single point of failure
Is this a late (or early) April’s Fool article?
They can’t be serious
Technically, there is no need a human to be pilot.
Let automation do the job!
Pilot is the job that should be eliminated