Let stewardesses land the plane in a crisis - Ryanair

[Alan F. 0]

Another task the MAS/AirAsia trolly-dolly's could do with some simulator time too!

 

Let stewardesses land the plane in a crisis, says Ryanair boss: Airline wants to ditch co-pilots

 

Ryanair's ever-controversial boss has called for the second pilot to be dumped from the flight deck of aircraft to save money. Michael O'Leary suggested air stewardesses could be trained to take over and land the plane in the event of a crisis.

 

The idea is the latest in a long line of cash-saving wheezes from the budget airline boss who once suggested, apparently seriously, that aircraft could fly with standing-only areas for passengers. Mr O'Leary suggested ripping up the existing safety regime in a magazine interview.

 

'Why does every plane have two pilots? Really, you only need one pilot,' he said. Suggesting flying a plane was little more difficult than playing a computer game, he said: 'Let's take out the second pilot. Let the bloody computer fly it.' Asked what would happen if the single pilot suffered a heart attack, he said one of the cabin crew would be trained to land a plane.

 

'If the pilot has an emergency, he rings the bell, he calls her in. She could take over,' he told Bloomberg BusinessWeek. But the idea was immediately ridiculed as a dangerous fantasy by pilots. Patrick Smith, a long-serving pilot, told the magazine it was 'beyond preposterous'. He accused Mr O'Leary of stoking the common misconception that planes more or less fly themselves. 'Even in routine operations, it's important to have a second person there,' he said.

 

Jim McAuslan, general secretary of 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.' Mr O'Leary has turned Ryanair into one of the world's most profitable airlines by tearing up industry conventions with his 'cattle class' operation.

 

He appears both to enjoy the controversy his remarks cause as well as being more than half serious. When he dreamed up the idea of standing only areas for passengers he suggested they would hang on to a handrail during take-off and landing. Another idea was to charge for using the aircraft lavatories.

 

Following the volcano ash cloud crisis, Mr O'Leary initially announced a cap on the support and compensation to passengers, only to be forced into a Uturn by the EU. This summer, he infuriated many by introducing a baggage charge for the summer holiday season, which brought a massive increase in the cost of putting luggage in the hold.

 

Mr O'Leary suggested there is still a long way to go and that many other costs that can be removed to make flights as cheap as possible.

 

For example, there could come a time when airport baggage handling systems are scrapped in favour of passengers loading their own cases into the hold. Airports are ludicrously complicated places only because we have this utterly useless transaction of taking your bag from you upon departure, just so we can give it back to you at arrival,' he said. 'Get rid of all that ****.'

 

Mr O'Leary said that while some may ridicule his ideas, they set the template for the way airlines will operate in future. 'For a small little Mickey Mouse Irish airline, the whole industry around the world now watches what we do,' he said. 'If you don't approach air travel with a radical point of view, then you get in the same bloody mindset as all the other morons in this industry. 'In many ways, travel is pleasant and enriching. It's just that the physical process of getting from point A to point B shouldn't be pleasant, nor enriching. It should be quick, efficient, affordable, and safe.' But Kate Hanni, the founder of FlyersRights.org, a passenger advocacy group, said:

 

'He insults the dignity of the flying public every time he opens his mouth.'

 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1308852/Let-stewardesses-land-plane-crisis-says-Ryanair-boss-Airline-wants-ditch-pilots.html

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

He's covering up for something. Why else would he come out with such a ludicrous statement like that.

[Radzi 2]

If this guy is ever convicted of something that requires a death penalty, I'm sure there will be a lot of volunteers to be the executioner.

[KC Sim 2]

This will certainly be the most compelling reason to avoid flying Ryanair ... and any airline - LCC or full service - that implements such a ridiculous scheme.

 

In a crisis, you cannot possibly find enough hands on deck in the cabin to take care of passengers and Ryanair expects someone to abandon her position to help land the plane? All the aviation regulatory bodies should withdraw Ryanair's license to operate an airline or any aircraft and ban O'Leary from ever being involved in the aviation industry.

 

Just suggesting such an idea is clearly indicative that O'Leary has lost his marbles and plot ... let's hope no Asian LCCs even considers the idea. Then again, there has been a couple of LCC's CEOs here in Asia who seem to be fans of O'Leary. Let's see.

 

KC Sim

[Naim 6]

For all you know, FAA/Boeing/Airbus are already working on pilotless commercial planes, so O'Leary is not far off.

 

See; http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-06/faa-launches-exploration-unmanned-commercial-flight

Edited September 4, 2010 by Naim

[BC Tam 2]

For all you know, FAA/Boeing/Airbus are already working on pilotless commercial planes, so O'Leary is not far off.

 

I would have thought they would try out the intermediate step first - rip out seat and equipment for the co-pilot

Saves weight and hence reduces fuel burn

Well, things moving far ahead faster than envisaged

[GeO 0]

ridiculous...take off and landing are the most important part of the flight where both pilots need to be in the flight deck during that phase of flight.

 

ridiculous...take off and landing are the most important part of the flight where both pilots need to be in the flight deck during that phase of flight.

[Hakan 2]

Please, somebody stopped to Ryanair CEO!!! God ,please help us!

 

I'm waiting next "idiotic level brillant" ideas from Ryanair on behalf aviation industry!

 

- no more older passangers! they are too slow while boarding and disembarking!

- fares shoould be calculate by your weights!

- no need to seats anymore, all passangers can be sitdown on the floor! no need safebelt! who needs a safebelts in an airplane? they already only one pilot!

- according by Ryanair Ceo, if planes flies by computers, no need to pilots anymore! even only one! all school kids can fly an airplane if they are using microsoft flightsimulator. Who cares about the flightsafety? isn't? (hey mr O'leary, may I ask how is your salary for who flies the plane?I'm available!)

- passangers can be fly "naked"! whay they are makes extra weights with their clotes!

- ahhh we forget, he can be offer over the wings for "promotion" , if you can stay at over the wings!who knows?

- another one! if O'leary restricted luggages, example "0" luggage, all cargo compartments can be use for filled up with extra passangers. As far as I know rear cargo compartments doesn't climate! who cares!!!!

[alberttky 0]

For all you know, FAA/Boeing/Airbus are already working on pilotless commercial planes, so O'Leary is not far off.

 

See; http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-06/faa-launches-exploration-unmanned-commercial-flight

 

I'll be out of job soon.

[aaronhiew 0]

I'll be out of job soon.

 

U r a pilot?

[Nik H. 3]

For all you know, FAA/Boeing/Airbus are already working on pilotless commercial planes, so O'Leary is not far off.

 

See; http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-06/faa-launches-exploration-unmanned-commercial-flight

 

I'd like to see those who approve this plan put their beloved families on board the first commercial pilotless flight. The FAA has a fleet of planes. It should be the first to use such system. After that, install it on Air Force 1.

 

Planes are definitely easier to fly now compared to the Pilot-Copilot- Flight Engineer - Navigator - Radio Operator 5 man crew teams of days gone by.

 

BUT, to advocate one pilot operations on large planes would indicate that despite his brilliance in revolutionizing air travel, there is a portion of his brain that is surely less than smart. Incredibly, most assume that the co-pilot is a 'spare' pilot. Not so. He plays a very important role in all phases of flight. To suggest the co-pilot is there just to land the plane if the Captain is incapacitated is beyond stupid.

 

Maybe he's forgotten that the assigned stewardess will be given Sim and Base checks to keep their license current, and ensure proficiency at a certain cost. Perhaps he can put a spare sidestick and throttle quadrant in Galley 1 as well.

 

Actually the occurrences of Pilot incapacitation is rare although it has happened. What he could have said was " Planes should be operated by one pilot".

 

What a brilliantly stupid man.

[BC Tam 2]

Ok, if getting rid of the co-pilot is such a big no no now, how about having one less FA and having either the pilot or his side-kick helping out in the cabin during non critical phases of the journey (if ever there is a non critical phase to start with !)

Cost savings probably not as much as desired, but could be an acceptable stop gap measure until such time the technologists and regulators deem pilotless commercial planes a feasible option. By which time, Mr O'Leary's single pilot suggestion of today will seem so much safer by comparison

[Nik H. 3]

Ok, if getting rid of the co-pilot is such a big no no now, how about having one less FA and having either the pilot or his side-kick helping out in the cabin during non critical phases of the journey (if ever there is a non critical phase to start with !)

Cost savings probably not as much as desired, but could be an acceptable stop gap measure until such time the technologists and regulators deem pilotless commercial planes a feasible option. By which time, Mr O'Leary's single pilot suggestion of today will seem so much safer by comparison

 

Good idea BC. But we will need to put looks and physique into the selection criteria when we choose Pilots next time. Of course the Flight Duty Procedures needs to be laid out to ensure that making coffee is just slightly less urgent than monitoring fuel imbalance. Meal service gets priority over engine fire warning. We obviously cannot keep passengers waiting for their dessert because the co-pilot is busy monitoring Alternate weather in anticipation of a Cat 3B Landing.

 

I once read that flying airliners is long span of boredom suddenly interrupted by moments of sheer terror. Not too bad if the moments of sheer terror comes at anticipated intervals.

 

On a lighter note, O'Leary would have been more realistic if he retains the Captain but replaces the Co Pilot with a DOG.

 

The Captain's job is to feed the dog. The dog is there to ensure the Captain does not touch the controls. After all the Pilots' job is so simple as the planes flies itself.......

[KC Sim 2]

Perhaps several times a week, O'Leary should put on make-up and a cutesey uniform ... and serve as a cabin attendant on Ryanair's flights. That will surely increase his productivity and reduce his costs.

 

Even suggesting that a cabin attendant can be trained to perform the function of the co-pilot is an insult to the professionalism of all pilots. I only wish that the travelling public can already decide to boycott Ryanair to make O'Leary pay for his blind pursuit of ancillary income and ridiculous cost savings.

 

KC Sim

[BC Tam 2]

.... retains the Captain but replaces the Co Pilot with a DOG.

 

The Captain's job is to feed the dog. The dog is there to ensure the Captain does not touch the controls. After all the Pilots' job is so simple as the planes flies itself.......

There is potential for that to be included in future pilots' training syllabus - essential reading list

That is unless it is already part of the syllabus now

[Aaron Goh 1]

cheap publicity for o'leary

[alberttky 0]

U r a pilot?

 

Just recently finished my pilot training.

[Pieter C. 5]

This will certainly be the most compelling reason to avoid flying Ryanair ...

 

 

I only wish that the travelling public can already decide to boycott Ryanair to make O'Leary pay for his blind pursuit of ancillary income and ridiculous cost savings.

 

Exactly what I was and still doing: never ever step on-board a FR plane !!!

[flee 5]

Watching "Air Crash Investigation" I could not help but notice that a lot of crashes took place when the pilot and first officer were overloaded with work. When everything goes normally on the flight the flight crew will have a relatively boring flight. However, when things do not go on routinely, the flight crew get bogged down attending to problems. So even with two people, it is not sufficient.

 

Perhaps planes will have to be modified to enable this to happen - planes will have to be flown remotely and the captain on board is there to monitor things and deal with emergencies, if they crop up. Routine flying can be done by pilots on the ground, UAV style.

[alberttky 0]

Watching "Air Crash Investigation" I could not help but notice that a lot of crashes took place when the pilot and first officer were overloaded with work. When everything goes normally on the flight the flight crew will have a relatively boring flight. However, when things do not go on routinely, the flight crew get bogged down attending to problems. So even with two people, it is not sufficient.

 

Perhaps planes will have to be modified to enable this to happen - planes will have to be flown remotely and the captain on board is there to monitor things and deal with emergencies, if they crop up. Routine flying can be done by pilots on the ground, UAV style.

 

I think that'll happen in times to come. At the moment there aren't sufficient testing done for civilian UAV to roll out on a mass scale. Sometimes aviation is a "confidence" issue. I think majority of the travelling public are not ready to accept aircraft being flown remotely at the moment. But who knows?

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

Watching "Air Crash Investigation" I could not help but notice that a lot of crashes took place when the pilot and first officer were overloaded with work. When everything goes normally on the flight the flight crew will have a relatively boring flight. However, when things do not go on routinely, the flight crew get bogged down attending to problems. So even with two people, it is not sufficient.

 

Perhaps planes will have to be modified to enable this to happen - planes will have to be flown remotely and the captain on board is there to monitor things and deal with emergencies, if they crop up. Routine flying can be done by pilots on the ground, UAV style.

 

Computers are fallible. There's no way I'll fly on a remotely controlled plane, even if there's a back-up captain on board.

 

Could a computer save this aircraft in this situation? http://jalopnik.com/5629528/how-i-saved-a-747-from-crashing

Edited September 8, 2010 by Mohd Suhaimi Fariz

[Aaron Goh 1]

I cant understand why people keep thinking that computers fly the plane......it is like computers doing work for an accountant, or telephone doing the work of a telephone operator or the tyres doing the work of a bus driver. When has work been measured by the amount of strength a person puts in? Its just pure ignorant to think like that. Yes computers do help fly the plane in a way replacing the muscles of the pilot but not the brain of the pilot. Eg, If I dont type anything in mwings, there wont be anything.....Just plain bloody ignorant. and the reason why piloting looks so easy its because the pilot has already put in a lot of prep work at home.....

Edited September 8, 2010 by Aaron Goh

[kianhong 0]

For all you know, FAA/Boeing/Airbus are already working on pilotless commercial planes, so O'Leary is not far off.

 

See; http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-06/faa-launches-exploration-unmanned-commercial-flight

 

 

If one is to read unmanned commercial flights = unmanned commercial airliners, then one probably had taken the fantasy a little too far. Even the terms itself is just oxymoron.

 

IMO, unmanned commercial flights in the articles could refer to UAVs use for commercial applications. For examples, remote sensing, banner towing, mapping, news reporting etc etc. Embraer was just talking about single pilots ops for commercial airliners. There are lotsa technical and practicality challenges which can not be solved in the near terms. One being how pilot can jump directly into Captain seat without the required experiences.

 

I don't see unmanned commercial airliners appearing anytime soon in the near future. At least not within the next 20-30 years.