US Senators Oppose FAA Plan for Single-Pilot Flights

A bipartisan coalition of 43 US senators is urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to oppose proposals promoting single-pilot operations in commercial aviation. In a letter addressed to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, lawmakers led by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on the FAA to push back against the “Extended Minimum Crew Operations” (eMCO) initiative supported by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), warning that it poses significant risks to global aviation safety standards.

The senators’ letter expresses concern that adopting eMCO—which would allow commercial aircraft to be flown by a single pilot during portions of long-haul flights—could undermine the two-pilot cockpit requirement that has been a cornerstone of aviation safety for decades.

“There is no safety justification for eliminating pilots from the flight deck. We fully support the Senate’s efforts to stop these initiatives. Whether a flight carries cargo or passengers, nothing can replace two pilots in the cockpit,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, President, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 77,000 pilots in North America. 

The letter calls on the FAA to:

• Oppose the eMCO framework within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO);

• Collaborate with European regulators to uphold high crew and aircraft safety standards;

• Preserve global aircraft design standards mandating cockpit redundancy and a minimum of two pilots.

Lawmakers warned that FAA inaction could set a global precedent, pressuring the United States to lower its own safety standards. They emphasized that foreign regulatory decisions favoring single-pilot operations within ICAO could influence US regulatory frameworks, aircraft manufacturers, and airline operations.

“The FAA must lead efforts on human factors and cockpit automation within ICAO to ensure that technology supports—not replaces—critical human oversight,” the letter stated.

In parallel, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) raised additional safety concerns about reduced in-flight crew requirements, particularly on widebody aircraft. APFA National President Julie Hedrick sent a letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, objecting to the reduction of minimum flight attendant staffing from eight to seven on American Airlines’ Boeing 787-9P aircraft.

“Since the 1970s, and until COVID, at least one flight attendant was stationed at every widebody emergency exit door. Our Boeing 787s typically operated with ten flight attendants to ensure readiness for emergency evacuation. During the pandemic, reduced passenger loads were used to justify permanent cuts in onboard staffing,” Hedrick wrote.

The decision to reduce crew below one per emergency exit has raised serious safety concerns.

“An unattended emergency exit hinders the ability for passengers and crew to evacuate safely and efficiently within the 90-second parameter,” Hedrick stated.

While the senators’ letter focuses on cockpit staffing, both ALPA and APFA warn of a broader industry trend: operational changes that, they argue, prioritize cost savings over safety. Their message is consistent: reductions in essential personnel—whether pilots or flight attendants—undermine the aviation system’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.