European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is planning a radical change to its A350 model in an effort to reduce costs on long-haul flights. The proposal involves eliminating the requirement for two pilots to always be in the cockpit, instead introducing an open mini toilet located directly behind the captain’s seat for use when the second pilot is on rest.
This suggestion has faced fierce opposition from pilots and unions. Pilot unions, in particular, argue that having two pilots in the cockpit is crucial for ensuring commercial flight safety and have deemed Airbus’s plan unacceptable.
Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO)
The proposal is based on a project called “Extended Minimum Crew Operations” (eMCO), which allows for planned operations with only one pilot actively managing the cockpit during the cruise phase of a flight. Many airlines advocate for eMCO, asserting that it could significantly reduce operational costs by requiring just two pilots on long-haul flights instead of three or four.
However, the plan has sparked debates about how pilots would address physiological needs in the cockpit. While seeking solutions to issues like toilet use and fatigue, some of the proposed ideas have drawn significant criticism.
Controversial Solutions
Among the suggestions reviewed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are extreme measures, such as pilots deliberately dehydrating themselves before flights or adhering to high-protein, low-residue diets. Other unusual proposals include the use of adult diapers and the installation of disposable urine collection systems in cockpits. However, EASA has deemed these ideas “neither acceptable nor feasible.”
EASA recommends that the second pilot be awakened if the active pilot needs to use the toilet, thereby terminating the eMCO arrangement temporarily. Airbus, however, is continuing to develop the concept of an open toilet in the cockpit to address this issue.
Strong Pushback from Pilots
The proposed system has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from pilot unions such as the U.S.-based Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). The union emphasizes that two pilots must always be present in the cockpit to ensure flight safety. In a statement, ALPA declared, “When something goes wrong, it’s the pilots not anyone else who are responsible for a safe outcome.”
If Airbus’s proposals are implemented, the eMCO system could begin testing on A350 aircraft as early as 2027. Furthermore, the company plans to transition to single-pilot operations for its A320 cargo planes within the next five years.
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