June 16, 2025
Dear Senator:
On behalf of our 38 affiliated unions representing millions of transportation workers, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) urges you to join Senators Sheehy and Duckworth on a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, urging the FAA to maintain U.S. leadership in aviation safety by opposing single piloted airline operations at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The FAA’s highest priority is safety. Under U.S. law, commercial airline operations require two pilots on the flight deck for safety and redundancy. Europe is, however, seeking to undermine global aviation safety by proposing a single-piloted aircraft for major commercial operations. The DOT must counter dangerous single-pilot proposals. A failure to address single-pilot issues internationally could undermine global aviation safety standards and exert pressure on U.S. safety regulations, manufacturers, and air carriers. The DOT and FAA must take a firm stand with ICAO and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in maintaining global aircraft design and flight deck redundancy, with a minimum of two pilots on the flight deck in FAR 121 operations.
As the nation’s largest transportation labor federation, TTD represents millions of workers who build, operate, and maintain our transportation network across the United States. We thank Members for their consideration of working people’s perspective in this matter and urge you to join this letter to make sure that two well-rested, qualified, and well-trained pilots are on the flight deck at all times.
To sign on to the letter, please use the Quill link here or contact Andrew_Downing@sheehy.senate.gov in the Office of Senator Tim Sheehy or Matthew_Weisman@duckworth.senate.gov in the Office of Senator Tammy Duckworth. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to TTD’s Senior Legislative Representative, Lianne Endo, at liannee@ttd.org.
Sincerely,
Greg Regan, President
Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
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The Honorable Sean Duffy
Secretary
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Secretary Duffy,
We write regarding significant concerns with extended minimum crew operations (eMCO) to enable single-pilot operation in commercial airline operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is charged with ensuring safety. Single-pilot operations jeopardize safety procedures, undermine established best practices, and risk putting pilots and passengers in unmanageable situations. We believe FAA should counter dangerous single-pilot proposals and help maintain U.S. leadership in aviation safety by vigorously opposing reduced crew efforts at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Despite ongoing challenges, the U.S. has long represented the gold standard in international aviation safety. The FAA should continue to promote sound safety standards as new technology develops and presents challenges to existing procedures. While technology will play a critical role in shaping the future of aviation innovation, including improved safety measures, policymakers have a duty to ensure that any changes are rigorously evaluated and incorporated into evidence-backed safety frameworks. The presence of two rested, well-trained, and qualified pilots on the flight deck remains a key pillar of aviation safety.
U.S. policy for the composition of flight crew in commercial operations is clear that “No certificate holder may operate an airplane with less than the minimum flight crew” and that “The minimum pilot crew is two pilots.” This policy reflects current research and evidence. NASA and FAA joint studies have observed “significant increases in workload for single pilot operations, compared to two-crew”, in addition to decreases in pilots’ subjective perception of safety and performance. It also reflects common sense and the testimonies and experiences of countless pilots.
Under eMCO, a single pilot on the flight deck would be responsible for all cruise operations while a second pilot rests in a separate facility. eMCO is intended to push the permissible boundaries of Europe’s maximum pilot flight limitations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is pursuing a regulatory pathway to enable this new operation with the goal of full-time single pilot operation by the end of the decade. EASA’s position could stress international aviation safety norms, but the U.S. has opportunities to defend its core safety interests.
The Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act directs the FAA to exercise leadership with ICAO and international organizations on human factors, increased levels of automation in the cockpit, and the “extent to which cockpit automation introduces novel risks.” Additionally, the U.S.-EU Aviation Safety Agreement provides for regular consultation of aviation safety proposals or changes and “early-warning discussions of draft regulations.” The FAA should heed this direction, oppose eMCO and related reduced crew efforts at ICAO, and directly engage with European counterparts to ensure that pilot and aircraft standards meet the highest bar domestically and globally.
Redundancy, including the protection afforded by two well-trained and qualified pilots on the flight deck, is a key guardrail for the maintenance and promotion of effective global aviation safety standards. Technological advances can capture the imagination and sound compelling in theory, but as pilots recognize, safety standards exist for emergencies. The presence of two pilots is vital not for the overwhelming majority of occasions on which everything works fine on flights, but for the rare instances when challenges and potential tragedies develop.
U.S. inaction on single-pilot issues in international fora could allow global aviation safety standards to wither and place downstream pressure on U.S. safety regulations, manufactures, and air carriers. We urge you to take a strong stand with ICAO and EASA on maintaining global aircraft design and flight deck redundancy with a minimum of two pilots on the flight deck in FAR 121 operations.
Sincerely,