The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) says industry efforts to move toward single-pilot airline operations have slowed but remain a concern, according to comments from its First Vice President Captain Wendy Morse, who cautioned that recent pushback has resulted in a pause — not an end — to reduced-crew proposals.
Speaking at the Skift Aviation Forum last week, Morse said ALPA’s “Safety Starts With 2” campaign was launched in response to initiatives — backed at various points by Airbus and European regulators — to explore single-pilot operations on long-haul flights. The concept, she said, was driven by cost.
“Airbus decided that it was a really good idea to have one pilot in the cockpit because it would cost less money,” she said.
Morse described scenarios explored under the proposal, such as allowing a pilot to leave the controls to use onboard facilities while the other rests. “They actually say, ‘Well, we have two pilots — one of them in rest,’” she said. “Okay, what happens when that pilot that’s got the controls needs to use the facilities? … Who’s at the controls? Oh, nobody’s at the controls.”
She said ALPA’s opposition, along with broader industry resistance, helped stall the idea. “We pushed them back,” Morse said. “But I think it’s paused and not over. So we will have to continue that fight.”
Morse added that dual-pilot operations remain essential in complex and dynamic environments. “You need two wings,” she said, referencing the union’s messaging. “Safety starts with two.”
She said the union expects future attempts to revive reduced-crew concepts as manufacturers and operators continue to evaluate cost-saving measures.
The discussion came as Morse emphasized the importance of maintaining strong manual-flying skills and foundational training, saying safety data continues to show the need for pilots to remain fully engaged in aircraft operation. She also said technological advancements — including automation, real-time turbulence tools, and terrain-avoidance systems — should support, not replace, pilot decision-making.
