From crewed to single-pilot operations: Pilot performance and workload management

Higher levels of automation have come to replace human roles in the cockpit. Therefore, a further reduction of the crew size from two pilots to one has become an option. Such single-pilot operations (SPO) need to provide at least the same safety standards as today’s two-crew operations (TCO). The present study aims at identifying potential issues in pilot performance and workload during SPO as opposed to TCO. Fourteen pilots flew short ILS approach and landing scenarios in a fixed-base A320 flight simulator. A 2x3 factorial design was used with the factors crew configuration (TCO and SPO) and scenario (baseline, turbulence and abnormal). Performance data and subjective workload ratings were collected. The results suggest that workload might be problematic mostly during abnormal situations. The design of adequate support solutions for such situations will be a major challenge for the implementation of SPO