This leads on to a rather interesting rumour.
The shortage of pilots worldwide has finally caught up with the forward planning projections of sales for the Airbus 380.
A spokesman for Airbus Industries is reported to have stated that the traditional first officer seat in the new super jumbo is to be replaced by an angulated computer keyboard and screen, accessible from the traditional left hand pilot seat. This will mean that Airbus Industry will be able to market the aircraft as a single crew aeroplane, a fact which will be recorded in the aircraft flight manual. It is understood that until various aviation authorities worldwide legislate against such operations, single crew Airbus 380s will be able to be flown anywhere in the world by a pilot with a commercial licence.
A spokesperson for the CAA at Gatwick, England, stated that it could take quite some time for aviation authorities to clarify the situation but that in the meantime, there was no reason why Airbus, having designated the A380 as single crew, could not operate it as such.
It is reported that flying clubs in France have been inundated by requests from private pilots eager to offer their services during the take off and landing stages of flight when apparently, flight conditions are at their most critical
