SINGLE PILOT OPERATIONS

Problem Scenario Sheet for Aviation Safety: Single Pilot Operations (SPO)

Executive Summary

The following paper highlights the concern of reduced crew or single-pilot operations (SPO). An attempt to identify high workload tasks in the light of extensive literature review is presented so that those tasks could be automated for relieving the single pilot from pressure and stress. However, the need remains for the pilot to be highly skilled and trained for handling the automation and controlling the automated devices in times of emergency.

The problem statement is given in the beginning for clarification and elaboration of the issue. The goal and intent statement is cited for a better view of the overall aim of the paper. The research question is presented to reach the concerns in a systematic manner. The hypothesis is developed for reviewing the results provided later. Literature review gives the panorama of the previous studies so that high workload tasks are specified for automation in single-pilot operations (SPO). The benefits and shortcomings of the reduced crew operations are discussed for a better interpretation of the discussion. Conclusion and recommendations are submitted in the last section of the paper so that the final verdict could be understood after making a deep analysis.

Problem Scenario Sheet for Aviation Safety: Single Pilot Operations (SPO)

The number of aviation pilots has been decreasing over the past few years since technology has assumed most functions to release workload. In the preceding three decades, the number of pilots in aviation aircraft has been two (Boy, 2014); however, discussions are still emerging whether further reduction should be considered to replace human functions with system operations. This paper investigates the high workload tasks in the aviation aircraft that could be identified so that workload management for one pilot is expedited and single-pilot operations (SPO) are supported.

Problem Statement

Recently, efforts have been made to cut down the number of crewmates in the air carrier transport airlines from two to one. The reason for doing so is that automation of most tasks would allow the reduced number of pilots to manage the workload safely. However, it is imperative to identify the high workload tasks so that automation for them could be provided for better aviation management and reduced costs. The research efforts and resources would be directed towards determining the workloads to formulate technologies, procedures, and training for the pilots. The required automation for safely achieving single-pilot operations (SPO) is possible...

It would facilitate the search for information that leads to numerous workloads that could be handled by a single pilot instead of two.

Research Question

The research question for the current study would be as follows:

What tasks are considered high workload tasks so that their automation could ease the two pilots work management and reduce the number of pilots to one only?

Hypothesis

The hypothesis for the current research paper is as follows:

If the high workload tasks are specified, then automation would improve the workload management by a single pilot, and shifting to SPO would be convenient.

Literature Review

The research has shown various benefits of having at least two pilots in either passenger or cargo aircraft as they share the managing of workload. The human factor has to be taught when it comes to automation of the workload tasks since the final decisions are to be made by the pilot even in critical and emergencies. In the existence of the human factor, there are undesirable errors since there might be...

…it would be a feasible solution for reducing costs in the future. A one-time investment could yield higher profits if automated systems accurate management is double-checked and highly experienced and well-trained pilots are sitting on the pilot seat.

There are certain risks involved in high workload management since they can misjudgment the pilots situation, miscommunication when under pressure. Communication distortion happens when the pilot focuses on emergencies like weather or fire and cannot pay attention to the communicated details from the ground crew and other similar human errors. Automation of workload tasks could relieve the single pilot from these pressures; however, tackling boredom, low attention, non-compliance in less focus, and fatigue needs caution as they are hard to monitor.

Recommendation

After a detailed analysis of the literature and defining themes from the secondary data, it is suggested that high communication should be maintained between the single pilot and the ground crew if single-pilot operations are to be adopted. A machine could still not be trusted even if it is created with advanced technologies; it can malfunction at any time, especially at times of emergencies like fire when the entire aircraft is on the verge of burning with all of its automated systems; they would likely stop functioning at such critical. The lone pilot would only remain at the expense of his judgment and subjective decision-making skills.

Unbroken communication would keep the single pilot attentive throughout his flight if reduced crew operations are implemented. Certain functions could be automated such as flight path navigation, deterrence of collision, regulations of aircraft systems along with watching of its engine, and decision-making about system commands; however, solving the issue of lone pilots boredom and being prone to less attention to the automated messages from the ystem, less compliance to system prompts. Increased human errors could be handled with uninterrupted…