Let’s Get Rid Of CoPilots On Airliners And Save Bundles Of Money!

On By southwerkIn business ethics, Capitalism, ethics, Philosophy of Business

Let me speak with great sincerity to the guy spreading this idea around – “Are you out of your mind?” Some goober throws this idea out there and free market loons pick up on it. Is there anything, no matter how important that the current business philosophy in this country doesn’t consider a possible cost cutting item? Large airliners are designed to be flown by two people. Further, I am a big fan of “Seconds From Disaster” and a half dozen other programs which discuss why bad things happen. Several of the episodes involve overworked crews desperately trying to cope with too much information. I wonder how many times that second guy in the cockpit managed to save the plane because the two of them could cope with the flow of information.

But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s an actual expert –

Copilots perform just as many takeoffs as captains, and just as many landings. They are at the controls in good weather and bad. The captain has ultimate authority (and a fatter paycheck), but duties are shared more or less evenly. Due to quirks in seniority bidding, it’s not uncommon for a copilot to be more experienced than the captain sitting next to him. And if not for the number of epaulet stripes and seating protocols (captain on the left wearing four; first officer on the right wearing three), a lay observer in a cockpit jump seat would be hard pressed to figure out which of the pilots was in fact the boss.

Cost cutting is a tool, and it’s okay to cut costs if it’s a reasonable decision. But let’s work toward that standard of reason. It’s important.

James Pilant

2 thoughts on “Let’s Get Rid Of CoPilots On Airliners And Save Bundles Of Money!”

  1. Andrew's avatar Andrew

    That has got to be the stupidest thing Ive ever heard. The safety factor should be obvious! Ok, lets say that a company saves a few hundred thousand dollars a year by cutting their pilots staff in half… but how much would they lose when people find out that there is only one man operating that massive, complicated vessel?

    It makes NO sense ethically, fiscally, AND in terms of safety!

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  2. Anil Kohli's avatar Anil Kohli

    Some one has really gone off the bend. This is sheer lunacy to even suggest that aircraft be flown with 1 Pilot.

    Safety of men and machine require a minimum number of crew member on board just as there is a minimum requirement of engines on an Aircraft to undertake a transcontinental flight.

    Men in cockpit compliment each other and share the work load, besides prior to becoming commanders, requisite flying hours and much needed experience is gathered.

    How will the airline get their future commanders if they start to operate with only 1 man in the Cockpit.

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