There are many airlines in the past and at present that operate a two man crew
certified aircraft with a three man crew complement. United, Western, Wein and Frontier
airlines of the United States have done so in the past with the B-737.
The A-?10 of Air France and the B-767 of Ansett are persently flying with three men and in
the near future the B747-400 of UTA and the A-320 will also be flying with three men.
United Airlines had conducted a wide variety of tests on the two and three man crew
complement of the B-737 and had decided on the latter for the maintenance of safety. There
are many other unions which have fought for the crew complement issue.
Why are two man crew complement aircraft manned by three? It is because each of the unions
involve has fought for and has won that right in conviction that"the three man crew
promises a higher standard of safety."
Obstacles can be overcome if aviation workers world-over stay united and firm in the
struggle for the three man crew complement. The struggle has only begun. It is certain to
become further intensified in Japan and the rest of the world in the years to come.