Continuing ALPA’s commitment to keep flying safe, the world’s largest nongovernmental aviation safety organization brought together pilots, government, industry, and subject matter experts on May 31 to discuss the critical role that humans serve on the flight deck.
At a time when a proposal to eliminate pilots from the cockpit was inserted into the recent U.S. House of Representatives FAA reauthorization bill, ALPA’s “Trained for Life: Human-Centered Approach to Safety” conference explored the significant safety benefits that a qualified, rested, and well-trained captain and first officer bring to our industry’s extraordinary safety record.
“Airline pilots must be able to fly an aircraft in a dynamic and constantly changing environment. We interact with air traffic control, communicate with dispatch, keep up to date on current weather and forecasts, visually scan for other aircraft, and monitor the performance of aircraft engines and systems,” remarked ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll while kicking off the conference in Washington, D.C.
Over the course of the one-day conference, more than 120 participants engaged in discussions regarding how to make certain that as automation, technology, and standard operating procedures evolve, pilots need to be factored into the process.
Commercial airlines have continuously adapted new technologies to help advance safety, make environmental improvements, and increase efficiency. ALPA has had a large role in the development of these new tools but, more importantly, has worked for decades to ensure the perspective of the pilot—the human with the primary responsibility of flying—remains an essential part of the safety equation in the flight deck.
Air transport today is the safest mode of transportation in the world, and that is due to the ability of two well-qualified and highly trained pilots in the flight deck to evaluate and manage unforeseen events. Placing human factors at the forefront of aircraft design, procedure development, and training is necessary to the continued safety of our industry.