Single pilot airline ops

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Just saw this on line

Budget airline Ryanair considers single-pilot flights

• From: NewsCore
• September 09, 2010 10:52AM

From different corners of the aviation world, there is chatter about the possibility of single-pilot airline flights, The Wall Street Journal reported overnight.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is looking to provide single-pilot operation for commercial passenger jets in the 2020-2025 time frame.

By 2020, Embraer said, air-traffic control will be modernised in both the US and in Europe, and new technology will make the possible of one-person cockpits feasible. Whether it will be acceptable to the flying public is a different question, Embraer noted.
And Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said he is going to ask regulators for permission to staff flights on his Irish airline with only one pilot - a big money-saving move.
Mr O'Leary told Bloomberg Businessweek that he does not think co-pilots are necessary on passenger planes.
"Why does every plane have two pilots? Really, you only need one pilot," Mr O'Leary said. "Let's take out the second pilot. Let the bloody computer fly it."
He suggested that in case of emergency a fight attendant on each plane could be trained to help with landing.
"If the pilot has an emergency, he rings the bell, he calls her in," O'Leary says. "She could take over."
There was outrage last year when the budget airline announced they were considering installing coin slots on toilet doors.
The airline was also criticised for charging passengers for making credit-card bookings, checking-in and putting extra luggage in the hold.
Mr O'Leary has also previously suggested "standing-only" flights.