Actually, after Cycle 2, it was decided that for cycle 3 and forward, the ruling would be, and was voted to be: (not direct quote)
"If a team showed up for the match with 2 pilots, those 2 pilots would pilot 3 ships between them in accordance to the PBR rules.
If a team showed up for the match with 1 pilot, it was to be a forfeit unless that pilot piloted all 3 ships."
This ruling was to give the team who actually had 3 pilots an actual accountable game while maintaining a more superior advantage. At the same time the team with 2 or 1 pilot actually could fly with a chance to win(small), but was disadvantaged for missing pilot(s).
This rule has been used in the last 2 cycles, I know because twice TSC has been short a pilot and has flown in this manner.
The other reason I know this rule is that I was the one who proposed it after several problems with 2v3 matches that were too uneven in the first 2 cycles.
hope this helps.