Pilots’ Role in the Critical Infrastructure of Aviation

The US government considers aviation to be a critical infrastructure as reflected in government publications developed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Patriot Act of 2001 defined the transportation systems sector as one of the assets essential to the physical and economic security of the nation. Aviation represents a large part of the US economy and pilots are integral to its operations. Some airline operators have declared bankruptcy citing the inability to hire enough qualified pilots. Concerns about pilot shortages have grown because the expected growth in air traffic in the coming decades will require many more pilots. Pilot unions are concerned that low pilot pay and the cost of training to earn a commercial license is making it unaffordable for prospective pilots. Cyber security vulnerabilities are likely to increase as the NexGen air traffic control system comes online and more automation is used in the aviation system. GPS jammers are not hard to obtain and might impact safety while a broad scale attack on the GPS satellite infrastructure would devastate an automated transport system. Cockpit crew composition has shrunk as technology was developed to reduce the number of crew required. This increased the criticality of the crew that remains when automated navigation equipment fails, reaches its design limits, or acts in a manner the crew is unprepared for a dilemma is looming where the aviation industry to both working to reduce the necessity of human pilots by increasing use of automation while at the same time developing new programs and incentives for people to make piloting a career. Will perspective pilots see this trend “too” soon and cause a drastic drop in available pilots before the industry has no need for them? With an unknowable timeline, the process leading to a pilotless airliner will continue until fully autonomous commercial passenger transports are a reality. Aviation, and humanity, will be forever changed.