A controversial concept is emerging in the realm of passenger aviation: a proposal to significantly reduce the number of pilots aboard civilian airliners by the 2030s, substituting the second pilot with artificial intelligence (AI). Experts caution that this shift could jeopardize flight safety. Traditionally, commercial airliners operate with both a captain and a co-pilot, but the new model, known as Single Pilot Operations (SPOs), would place just one human pilot in the cockpit alongside an AI, tasked with taking on critical co-piloting responsibilities.
Airlines are advocating for this change as a potential solution to the ongoing pilot shortage, which has strained the industry’s financial stability. However, concerns about the implications for passenger safety cannot be overlooked.
