The theme of this year's EASA Annual Safety Conference was "Safety - technology - and the human dimension", emphasizing the vital role of well-trained individuals in maintaining the safety of aviation operations, as well as the importance of using technology wisely to improve aviation safety further.
“The human will be at the centre of aviation for decades,” Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA said in his opening remarks. “It is our responsibility to consider how technological developments, such as artificial intelligence, can support the human to make aviation safer still. We need to constantly ask ourselves: is aviation as safe as it can be?”
During the conference, EASA took the chance to explain its stance on manufacturer proposals suggesting the use of one pilot, instead of two, in the cockpit for certain flight phases, known as "extended Minimum Crew Operations" (eMCO). To facilitate eMCO, manufacturers are developing a "smart cockpit" that leverages technology and automation to decrease crew responsibilities, assist in decision-making, improve information handling, and identify pilot fatigue or inability to perform.
“EASA has made clear from the outset that we will only approve new functionalities once they have been demonstrated to bring safety benefits,” Guillermet said. “We are now adjusting our rulemaking tasks to make clear exactly what we mean by this.”
This subject was further explored during the initial panel of the conference, which delved into the broader perspective of technology's role in improving aviation safety. The panel emphasized the importance of all involved stakeholders witnessing the cockpit modifications first to assess if they have truly bolstered safety while upholding the existing operational procedures, such as having two pilots in the cockpit. In essence, any novel technologies or ideas introduced in aviation should consistently elevate safety standards.
Two additional panels were dedicated to discussing future measures to address existing safety concerns. The initial panel addressed the challenge of disruptions to the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) navigation in proximity to conflict areas, where interference with signals (jamming and spoofing) poses a threat to pilots operating in those regions. Although pilots currently rely on their awareness to ensure safety, it was collectively acknowledged that a more robust technological solution at the system level will be necessary in the long run to enhance decision-making protection.
The second panel focused on human factors contributing to runway incursions, specifically emphasizing the importance of avoiding a repeat of the tragic incident at Haneda, Tokyo on January 2, 2024, which resulted in the loss of five lives due to an aircraft collision on the runway. The panel deliberated on whether humans represented the "weakest link" or a crucial element in averting such events. Nonetheless, enhancing the utilization of technology to support decision-making was identified as a key measure to decrease the frequency of accidents or incidents.
The last two sections focused on the human aspect. Societal demands were identified as a key factor driving technological advancements, especially in terms of the environment, aiming to cut emissions and adhere to the climate objectives set by the European Union. Despite aviation accounting for less than 4% of the overall emissions linked to climate change, as reported by Our World in Data, there is a pressing necessity to minimize its influence. Additionally, noise mitigation was recognized as a significant catalyst for fostering innovation.
All the panels emphasized the significance of having a well-trained human workforce across all aviation sectors. The concluding conversation centred on the necessity of engaging a fresh wave of aviation personnel, some of whom will require brand-new skill sets to adapt to evolving technologies.
Speakers at the conference included representatives from national authorities, the industry, pilot associations, EU bodies, and a range of aviation experts. The event took place in Budapest, Hungary on October 30-31, 2024, hosted by the Hungarian EU presidency, and was attended by approximately 220 participants.
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