Having Two Pilots on the Flight Deck Is Critical to Safety

As members of the Air Line Pilots Association, no one else has the flying experience, technical know-how, or industry vantage point that you do. As I recently told attendees at ALPA’s Legislative Summit, it’s critical that your voices are heard on commercial aviation policy.

After serving as a Navy SEAL officer and team leader, I founded Bridger Aerospace and built a career in aviation. Always proud to lead from the front, I served as a line pilot for Bridger, flying as a carded air attack and water bomber pilot across the American West for more than a decade. Today, I remain an FAA-certified commercial pilot and flight instructor.

Through my career in aviation, I learned that what happens on the flight deck sometimes has nothing to do with those at the controls of the airplane. Some of our most tragic accidents didn’t happen because of mistakes made on the aircraft. In many cases, the accident chain started long before due to decisions made in boardrooms of corporations, on factory floors of manufacturing facilities, or in the halls of government.

And yet, in instances when tragedy was actually avoided, the two pilots on the flight deck made split-second decisions that broke the accident chain and saved their lives and the lives of their passengers. That’s why having at least two brains and four hands working on the problem is a significant advantage over trying to manage with less.

Maintaining a two-pilot crew complement isn’t about protecting pilots’ careers, or interest groups, or political donations. It’s about keeping people safe and secure and ensuring that pilots come home to their families after doing a critical job that keeps the world connected and the global economy running.

However, overseas regulators are actively investigating reduced-crew operations and concepts like extended minimum crew operations. Single-pilot operations jeopardize safety procedures, undermine established best practices, and risk putting pilots and passengers in unmanageable situations.

Anyone familiar with aviation understands that redundancy is fundamental for nearly every aircraft system. Redundancy, including the protection afforded by two well-trained and qualified pilots at the controls, is a key guardrail for the maintenance and promotion of effective global aviation safety and security standards.

Technological advances can capture the imagination and sound compelling in theory; but as pilots are well aware, there’s no replacement for human talent and judgment. Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a game changer and has many untapped uses we’ll undoubtedly take advantage of in the coming years, but automated systems on the flight deck have their limitations.

While technology will play a critical role in shaping the future of aviation innovation, there’s no question in my mind that having two rested, well-trained, and qualified pilots flying the airplane remains a key pillar of aviation safety. I don’t care what kind of AI or magical software is invented. It will never be safer than having at least two pilots at the controls.

The bottom line is that pilots are responsible for the safety and security of their passengers, cargo, and those on the ground in the path of their aircraft. Pilots need to have the knowledge and skills to address whatever circumstances may arise. They also must have the training, experience, and authority to intervene and override aircraft automation when systems fail. Working together, two pilots are in a better position to evaluate the available system information, hear the sounds on the flight deck, witness what’s happening, and act accordingly.

I know that every time you fly, safety is your top priority and responsibility. Government’s most solemn duty is to protect its people, and that includes ensuring you have the tools and safeguards in place to do your jobs safely and efficiently.

America is the birthplace of aviation, and we must remain the world leader in aviation safety. In the Senate, I will continue to leverage my background as a pilot to represent the community proudly and fight for policies that support your critical mission.

Thank you for your commitment to ensuring that the U.S. remains the gold standard in aviation.

This article was originally published in the August 2025 issue of Air Line Pilot.