EPAS Member UpdateFellow Members, Experienced Pilots Advancing Safety (EPAS) continues advancing through the next phases of our work—at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), within industry, and across all levels of our government. We understand the timeline and keep time expediency at the forefront of every effort.
We have prepared three focused narratives outlining how EPAS views today’s aviation environment and the issues that must be addressed to strengthen safety and system integrity. These articles will be released in sequence following this update to help educate policymakers, industry leaders, and the public on the critical challenges shaping our aviation ecosystem.As always, we count on you—the line pilot—as the subject matter experts (SMEs) in the field. Your perspective from the Cockpit is vital to ensure our message reflects real-world experience and practical understanding.
Your input is welcome and encouraged as we move forward.Get in the Fight!EPAS Leadership Team
Flightdeck and Operational Safety Architecture — A Systems View
Defining the Aviation Ecosystem
The aviation ecosystem is an interdependent network linking pilots, air traffic control, maintenance, digital systems, and regulation. Failures seldom occur in isolation; they arise from the interaction among human limits, procedural drift, and system design. Understanding these linkages is essential to reinforcing weak nodes (EPAS Master Talking Points, 2024).
Two-Pilot Redundancy and Abnormal Operations
Two qualified pilots remain the cornerstone of air safety. Shared cognition, cross-monitoring, and workload division prevent cognitive saturation during abnormal events. Automation assists but cannot replicate the adaptive reasoning and coordination of trained crews. Incidents involving automation confusion highlight the necessity of mutual verification (International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Working Paper 349, 2025).
Training Pipelines and Qualification Standards
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and First Officer (FO) qualification standards determine the baseline for competence. Reduced mentoring and accelerated command upgrades erode procedural stability. Continuous simulator cycles and structured Initial Operating Experience (IOE) preserve discipline and decision-making quality (EPAS Master Talking Points, 2024).
Fatigue Science and Circadian Risk
Fatigue contributes to roughly one-fifth of flight-deck incidents. Studies of the Window of Circadian Low (WOCL, 0200–0600 local) show psychomotor degradation comparable to 0.05 percent blood-alcohol impairment (National Transportation Safety Board Fatigue Report, 2023; Federal Aviation Administration Part 117 Guidance, 2022). Predictive fatigue-risk systems, adjusted duty limits, and strategic napping reduce exposure but require strict operator compliance.
Pilot Mental Health and Oversight
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Issuance (SI) pathway permits flight status for pilots stabilized on approved antidepressants. Transparency has improved, yet monitoring workloads have expanded. FAA Aerospace Medical Certification data show more than 5,000 active SIs with over 90 percent compliance. Continued individualized evaluation and peer-support engagement remain essential (FAA Mental Health ARC Report, 2024).
Cabin Air Quality and Occupational Exposure
Bleed-air contamination events remain under-reported. Standardized detection sensors, uniform reporting, and open maintenance data would close gaps affecting crew health and passenger safety (EPAS Strategic Talking Points, 2024).
Cybersecurity and Data Integrity in the Cockpit
Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs), networked avionics, and wireless maintenance systems expand the cyber-attack surface. The FAA
Cyber Safety Bulletin (2024) documented multiple attempted incursions. Layered encryption, isolated flight-deck networks, and pilot degraded-mode training are essential countermeasures (FAA Cyber Safety Bulletin, 2024).
Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program
The Federal Flight Deck Officer program adds an interior layer of cockpit defense. Participation has declined because of administrative barriers. Simplifying qualification renewal and sustaining funding would maintain this deterrent element (EPAS Strategic Talking Points, 2024).
Safety Management Systems and Data Programs
Voluntary reporting and data-analysis systems—Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)—provide early warning of procedural drift. Their value depends on confidentiality and data integration across carriers. Effective use can reveal the majority of preventable hazards before incidents occur (Federal Aviation Administration SMS Implementation Review, 2023).
Metrics and Governance
A resilient ecosystem measures what matters: unstable approach rates, runway incursions, fatigue exceedances, and cybersecurity anomalies. Transparent quarterly publication of aggregated metrics fosters accountability and public trust (EPAS Board of Directors Policy Manual, 2025).
Conclusion
Flightdeck safety is the first feedback loop in a complex system. Strengthening redundancy, training integrity, and digital resilience establishes the foundation for every other reform. This is the fastest and most direct action to address the immediate dangers to our aviation ecosystem.