Seems Mr O'Leary is doing the publicity rounds again.... do away with co-piots indded http://topnews.us/content/225139-why-have-2-pilots-plane-asks-ryanair-ceoJohn

... :( Aren't there regulations stating airliners must have two qualified pilots? How would this even be legally allowed?

... :( Aren't there regulations stating airliners must have two qualified pilots? How would this even be legally allowed?

It wouldn't.

It wouldn't.

I like O'Leary in a way. Most senior business types tend to speak in pre-scripted corporate-speak cliches ("Our employees are our #1 asset!"), and then they go dump on their employees.But at least O'Leary is honest: His goal is to get rid of you, and he doesn't try to hide it.

... :( Aren't there regulations stating airliners must have two qualified pilots? How would this even be legally allowed?

Some small passenger carrying aitrcraft are certififed for single-pilot operstion, for example the Eclipse EA500. Also under FAR Part 135 single-pilot operation is acceptable in commercial service provided there are no more than 9 passenger seats.

Some small passenger carrying aitrcraft are certififed for single-pilot operstion, for example the Eclipse EA500. Also under FAR Part 135 single-pilot operation is acceptable in commercial service provided there are no more than 9 passenger seats.

O'Leary knows it's not legally possible to fly 737's single pilot. But he loves publicity. Also, it's not just O'Leary but rather all airline executive when I say this... but you can assured that the day airlines can legally make the FO technologically redundant (like what happened to the Navigators, and then the Flight Engineers...), they'll be dancing in streets while they hand-out the layoff notices.I fully expect to the see the FO gone by the end of my lifetime.

Reminds me of that old joke, about the flight crew of the future."The cockpit of the future will contain a pilot and a dog. The pilot is there to feed the dog. The dog is there to bite the pilot if he tries to touch anything."From the sounds of O'Leary though, you have to wonder if he would even bother with those two. Gee, I wonder which one he would keep.

And every time O'Leary does it people pay attention and the Ryanair brand gets some free advertising. Except this doesn't appear to have got much coverage in the UK media, which will no doubt disappoint him.Of course he knows you need 2 pilots, and that you can't train cabin crew to land a plane without training them as pilots, which would defeat the object. He probably even knows that as well as being legally impossible, flying a 737 alone is not only fiendishly difficult but profoundly unsafe. If Ryanair were allowed to do this, the first accident caused by a missed checklist item or altitude call (never mind a sleepy single pilot) would do far more damage to the bottom line than they'd save. But he doesn't care because he's not being serious and I'm surprised these outbursts still get media coverage. Next up - why bother with pilots? Bus drivers earn much less and buses aren't even computer-controlled. They must be able to do it. Cabin crew? Anyone can push a trolley. Get one of the passengers to do it in return for a free sandwich. And who needs airports and landing fees? All you need is a long straight bit of road and for motorists to keep their eyes open, especially if you fit your 737s with loud horns to warn them. You heard it here first...

Seems Mr O'Leary is doing the publicity rounds again.... do away with co-piots indded http://topnews.us/content/225139-why-have-2-pilots-plane-asks-ryanair-ceoJohn

Hi John. I just came across this as well, . . . ,and some of the reader comments that were posted are interesting. (Some well informed and some definitely not so well informed.)http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/09/07/controversial-airline-boss-questions-why-planes-need-co-pilots/?test=latestnewsRegards,Mel

Reminds me of that old joke, about the flight crew of the future."The cockpit of the future will contain a pilot and a dog. The pilot is there to feed the dog. The dog is there to bite the pilot if he tries to touch anything."From the sounds of O'Leary though, you have to wonder if he would even bother with those two. Gee, I wonder which one he would keep.

LOL

Michael O’Leary, like Mark Cuban got his 15 minutes of fame. I think he'd keep the dog they work cheaper. But the SPCA would get on his case about cruelty to animals.