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Ryanair CEO questions the need for the co-pilot - wants to replace them with flight attendants
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary is making the news again. And as usual, the news is controversial and absurd. O'Leary is apparently fed up with paying for two people to fly his planes, and wants to convince safety regulators that one pilot would be more than enough. In a magazine interview, O'Leary had the following to say:
Why does every plane have two pilots? Really, you only need one pilot. Let's take out the second pilot. Let the bloody computer fly it.
When asked what would happen in an emergency, leaving the plane without a pilot, he replied that specially trained flight attendants could assist:
If the pilot has an emergency, he rings the bell, he calls her in. She could take over.
Of course, pilots and their unions are furious, as it tries to paint a picture that planes fly themselves and don't really need anyone at the controls. A spokesman for the British Airline Pilots Association said:
Are there no lengths to which he will not go to get publicity? His suggestion is unwise, unsafe and the public will be horrified.
What do you think? Is this another publicity stunt, or could his airline actually save millions by removing the co-pilot?
| This is all just another Ryanair publicity stunt | |
|---|---|
| Michael O'Leary is certifiably insane | |
| Brilliant idea, anything to make tickets cheaper | |
| Good idea, but I'll never fly on a plane with just one pilot |
[Photo from AFP/Getty]
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Robert E. Coli Sep 7th 2010 2:14AM
This would never happen at Thromby Air...
Eric Sep 7th 2010 6:24AM
Honestly this is just a stunt, however it makes one think if this airline is run by this moron where else are they cutting corners? I would question there maintenance and other safety factors. I wouldnt fly on them if there tickets were free
BTDT Sep 7th 2010 10:35AM
We have found the World's greatest idiot and his name is O'Leary.
Al Schrader Sep 11th 2010 8:35AM
I worked for people like this that really believed I could be in two places at once. No I mean, they were not joking and they got mad when I couldn't do the work of 3 men at the same time. This idea wont fly when the pilot gets up to use the restroom. But lets take this all the way and bolt two planes together & use one pilot. Hey, you could save three salaries. Or better you could have no pilot & get the passengers to fly the plane by installing an automatic box in the cockpit & they simply put a quarter into it, and off they go. If you pack the passengers into shipping containers, you could get 4,000 maybe 5,000 onboard both planes.
Flight attendants can be replaced with vending machines & robots - no meals just tiny snacks. Save fuel by using the engines in only one plane. Save weight by throwing out seats, seat belts, air masks, luggage...You could fly to New Jersey for $8.95 - - Al-
Mark Sep 7th 2010 6:45AM
This guy is a genius!! Hey, Mr. Idiot-insignificant airline CEO... How'z 'bout on your next surgical procedure, we have, say, an orderly install the catherter and perhaps a first year intern do your heart transplant?
Bill Sep 7th 2010 9:49AM
Last time I had a hospital enema an orderly did it. Last time I had a catherter inserted an orderly did it.
steve326m Sep 8th 2010 10:18AM
That's the ticket (I'll buy that for a dollar!)
thewinchester Sep 7th 2010 7:00AM
Can we please get some factual reporting, rather than just reporting on this guy's publicity stunt.
The fact is that O'Leary's plans can't be done, won't be done, and aren't likely to happen in any sane universe.
Credit to the Worldmate Travelog for pointing this out - it can't happen thanks to JAR-OPS Subpart N, 1.940(A)(1) & 1.940(A)(2), set by the The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA).
JAA is a multi-national organisation that oversees safety and regulatory standards for more than 40 European countries.
JAR-OPS 1.940 Composition of Flight Crew states;
(a) An operator shall ensure that:
(1) The composition of the flight and the number of the flight crewmembers at designated crew stations are both compliance with, and no less than the minimum specified in, the Aeroplane Flight Manual (AFM)
(2) The flight crew includes additional flight crew members when required by the type of operation, and is not reduced below the number specified in the Operations Manual.
And if one reads the AFM for the Boeing 737-800, it states the aircraft requires a crew of two pilots in the cockpit to operate this type.
So - stop being part of the O'leary media machine, and start being the catalyst for stopping his idiocy. The more outlets which report on this rubbish and don't call O'leary out for trying this on - the more value Ryanair gets, and they'll keep pulling this crap.
John Sep 7th 2010 10:51AM
This discussion sounds SO familiar...like the one when the dastardly airlines proposed to eliminate Flight Engineers. Based on 'pilot error' statistics, I sometimes think a new butt in the right seat would be a good thing. In addition, the next generation ATC will dramatically reduce pilot workload. By the way it is factually incorrect to refer to all flight attendants as 'her'.
This proposal may sound extreme but is very reasonable, unless one happens to be a pilot. Another idea would to give ticket discounts on single-pilot flights to licensed or even retired pilots; military, commercial, or private, to have even more potential substitute drivers.
Ladydobermann Sep 7th 2010 1:05PM
Very easy fix. Hello Boeing? If I um.. donate.. um.. a couple million to the um.. CEO bank and trust, think we can do something about that silly line in the manual? This is not a publicity stunt. The airlines and railroads have been trying to underman crews for many years now. In fact, railroads are pushing for NO ONE behind the wheel. To the public, we view this as unsafe, and unsound. A CEO views it money out for someone to just "sit" there. In the pilots view, he now has a full array of issues he must deal with alone. God forbid they drop dead before they can notify someone as it has happened with railroads. Fatigue is ever present in these jobs. This is an issue the UTU (United Transportation Union) has been fighting for years. Keep an eye on this one. We MUST not allow this one to pass.
Ernest King Sep 7th 2010 7:01AM
There could be one pilot in the aircraft and a "Drone Control" pilot in Base Operations.
Keith J. Mohrhoff Sep 7th 2010 8:22AM
And if the communication link fails --AND THEY DO--you have an aircraft momentarily derelict or following a 'default' course until the pilot (hopefully) re-assumes control of the aircraft. Just recently, a military Predator drone on a training mission lost it's communication link and the 'default' course flew it into restricted airspace around Washington DC. Hate to say it but, considering 9/11, the response threshold for an airliner doing the same thing would be considerably lower.
garyrjas Sep 7th 2010 7:47AM
When the pilot has a massive coronary, he can ring the bell and a stewardess will come into the cockpit (if they can get in since it's locked and the pilot is passed out on the floor), and fly the plane home. Makes perfect since to me. While the plane is on autopilot she can come back and pick up the trash in the aisle.
minightowl Sep 7th 2010 12:21PM
Speaking of a massive coronary in flight, try Googling the name "Doug White." This incident happened early in 2009: White owned a King Air and was not yet certified to fly it; he had flown Cessnas. He hired a pilot to fly him and his family to and from south Florida for his brother's funeral. Shortly after takeoff on the flight home, the pilot, Joe Cabuk, died at the controls. White had to radio for help landing the plane. Thank the Lord he got down safely. Obviously, such a scenario is not far-fetched!
Marshall Sep 7th 2010 8:04AM
He is about as insane as Harding L.Lawrence was with Braniff. Doing absurd stuff.
I doubt that the pilots unions will go for it.
virginia Sep 7th 2010 8:20AM
Typical mind set of many ceo's...save that buck at the risk to anyone! Perhaps all flights could have someone with an aviation license and then they could fly the plane ..but of course autopilot knows how to fly when the plane is crashing or is it autopilot crashes the plane when pilots are on their computers??? HMMMM with current government he may get this to work.
Dan Bushey Sep 7th 2010 8:17AM
Insane idea. The freight railroads have gotten rid of their train crews down to two persons. Both of them are on the lead locomotive now. Both are "qualified" engineers. And both are "qualified" conductors. Great idea, "part-time" engineer and "part-time" conductor. Under Amtrak and Federal rules, a passenger service engineer, can operate the passenger train with just one (1) person, as engineer in the locomotive cab, for four (4) hours, without second (Fireman position) engineer. The result is, only one (1) person operating/controlling locomotive and passenger train. And is alone in cab, for four (4) hours.
Imwithst UP id Sep 7th 2010 2:06PM
I'm not sure where you've gotten your information about the major class 1 railroads. There are still 2 crewmembers in the controlling locomotive. One is a licensed class 1 Engineer and the other is a Qualified Conductor (currently there is not a Conductor certification inplace. Maybe 2011/12). Not all engineers have a Conductors qualification either. There maybe instances where both crewmembers are class 1 Engineers, but there are no allowences for "part-time" responsibilities.
While only 10% of the nations hazardous chemicals are transported by rail, that accounts for 80% of the total volume. Do you seriously want a "Robo" controller hundreds of miles away making realtime situational decisions? Think about that when you entertain the cost reduction motivation of the rail carriers.....Safety is NOT their primary concern....
lorraine Sep 7th 2010 8:45AM
remember that the world is hurting for cuts now and what make you think that they won't do it? you do not own the airlines... take a jump it will happen soon no surprise to me about nothing no more.
Observer Sep 7th 2010 11:27AM
What does the difference in pay amount to, per hour, or per flight, between what the co-pilot and the flight attendant makes? Also, how about firing the flight attendant and let the co-pilot come out and help serve drinks while he/she is not busy?