Should single-pilot cargo flights be allowed to save costs?
I've been a commercial pilot for 12 years, and the recent push for single-pilot cargo flights scares me more than any turbulence I've ever hit. Proponents cite cost savings and advanced automation, but they rarely mention the countless non-standard decisions crews make daily that computers still can't handle. Would you accept a cargo plane overhead with just one pilot at the controls to save the airline a few million dollars a year? My gut says no, and I've seen too many close calls to trust the hype.