Pilotless planes could save airlines billions
08-11-2017, 08:52 AM
#81
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Like I said, with a few changes in PVI, it's all possible. You don't think ATC could send reroutes through ACARS or CPDLC? Or that a GPS approach could be programmed to be flown to landing?It's not as far as you think. A lot of what we do is busy work, and certainly doesn't require TWO pilots.
08-11-2017, 08:58 AM
#82
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Is it theoretically possible under perfect circumstances on highly sophisticated jets? Sure. I'll give you that. But there are so many unforeseen events that removing a pilot is just an unnecessary risk, especially considering it wouldn't really save THAT much money. You can't program away emergencies.
We're not handflying jets thousands of miles anymore. In the world of automation, one pilot is not an issue.
08-11-2017, 09:21 AM
#84
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Plenty of jets fly single pilot every day. It's a nice to have, but certainly not required. And you can program contingencies for the extremely small chance that the remaining pilot is incapacitated.
We're not handflying jets thousands of miles anymore. In the world of automation, one pilot is not an issue.
We're not handflying jets thousands of miles anymore. In the world of automation, one pilot is not an issue.
08-11-2017, 09:26 AM
#85
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No commercial airliners are flying around single pilot, obviously. Another consideration which hasn't been addressed is liability. How much would the extra insurance cost? How many people would avoid pilotless airliners? Those numbers would have to be worked out before this is even remotely viable. We all know that numbers are what runs airlines, and until they point to a gain for pilotless planes, pilots will be used. The 35 billion number they quoted was, to my knowledge, without regard to all the infrastructure, software, insurance, and passenger costs factored in.
The same argument against single pilot was used before engineers and navs were removed, and yet here we are. The more automation (and magenta line) we have, the less need there is for bodies in the cockpit.
I agree with your argument on pilotless, and I think it's a long way away if ever based on datalink capabilities and the USAF experience with drones.
08-11-2017, 09:34 AM
#86
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You don't know what a depressurization route is?
As for the rest, whatever the single pilot programs in. It's just a matter of coding at this point. We already have CAT III ILS and the ability for the aircraft to fly the entire arrival to landing. It's not a stretch by any means, especially in an EMERGENCY situation where the single pilot is incapacitated.
It's a nice redundancy to have two pilots up front, but it's certainly not required. The odds of incapacitation are extremely low and could be mitigated by a few software upgrades that have the aircraft fly the plane to an emergency landing via autoland.
As for the rest, whatever the single pilot programs in. It's just a matter of coding at this point. We already have CAT III ILS and the ability for the aircraft to fly the entire arrival to landing. It's not a stretch by any means, especially in an EMERGENCY situation where the single pilot is incapacitated.
It's a nice redundancy to have two pilots up front, but it's certainly not required. The odds of incapacitation are extremely low and could be mitigated by a few software upgrades that have the aircraft fly the plane to an emergency landing via autoland.
08-11-2017, 09:35 AM
#87
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Does that mean they can't? Do you really think it requires two people to safely operate an airliner? Why?
The same argument against single pilot was used before engineers and navs were removed, and yet here we are. The more automation (and magenta line) we have, the less need there is for bodies in the cockpit.
I agree with your argument on pilotless, and I think it's a long way away if ever based on datalink capabilities and the USAF experience with drones.
The same argument against single pilot was used before engineers and navs were removed, and yet here we are. The more automation (and magenta line) we have, the less need there is for bodies in the cockpit.
I agree with your argument on pilotless, and I think it's a long way away if ever based on datalink capabilities and the USAF experience with drones.
I think it would be impossible to address all possible contingencies by computer alone. Even a person on the ground wouldn't have the experience of actual flying to make decisions about weather diversions or be able to divvy up responsibilities in an emergency effectively. And operating a plane full of people provides an entirely different psychological barrier versus a military plane or a cargo plane. There are already lots of nervous fliers who don't like the idea of having no control, which is why we get the "are you sober, how old are you, did you sleep well" questions all the time. I don't imagine a pilotless plane would help, which is why you see current numbers are quite low for passengers who'd consider flying on a plane without pilots.
08-11-2017, 09:37 AM
#89
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I think it would be impossible to address all possible contingencies by computer alone. Even a person on the ground wouldn't have the experience of actual flying to make decisions about weather diversions or be able to divvy up responsibilities in an emergency effectively. And operating a plane full of people provides an entirely different psychological barrier versus a military plane or a cargo plane. There are already lots of nervous fliers who don't like the idea of having no control, which is why we get the "are you sober, how old are you, did you sleep well" questions all the time. I don't imagine a pilotless plane would help, which is why you see current numbers are quite low for passengers who'd consider flying on a plane without pilots.
08-11-2017, 09:38 AM
#90
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Posts: 463
Does that mean they can't? Do you really think it requires two people to safely operate an airliner? Why?
The same argument against single pilot was used before engineers and navs were removed, and yet here we are. The more automation (and magenta line) we have, the less need there is for bodies in the cockpit.
I agree with your argument on pilotless, and I think it's a long way away if ever based on datalink capabilities and the USAF experience with drones.
The same argument against single pilot was used before engineers and navs were removed, and yet here we are. The more automation (and magenta line) we have, the less need there is for bodies in the cockpit.
I agree with your argument on pilotless, and I think it's a long way away if ever based on datalink capabilities and the USAF experience with drones.
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