Planes without pilots - NYT

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Crap man, you even have to babysit the Airbus and the thing won't even initiate it's own descent.

Holy crap, that sucks!

 

[wheelsup]

No really, it was a nice run ya'll

http://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/32v00a/the_x47b_performs_worlds_first_unmanned_aerial/

Pfffft.

RC planes flying completely automatously. Pretty incredible what hobbyists are doing with off the shelf technology today.

 

[PGT]

Disclaimer: Didn't read the 7 pages in this thread.

Those who don't adapt will get left behind, think how regionals took over mainline routes. You might not want a plane without pilots but generation Z probably doesn't care. Human pilots are what's preventing airlines from having a 100% safety record, so let's eliminate that.

 

[Dan208B]

Disclaimer: Didn't read the 7 pages in this thread.

Those who don't adapt will get left behind, think how regionals took over mainline routes. You might not want a plane without pilots but generation Z probably doesn't care. Human pilots are what's preventing airlines from having a 100% safety record, so let's eliminate that.

There's still no data about how many crashes are prevented every month through pilot intervention. The data doesn't exist because not everything is worthy of an ASAP and/or some airlines don't have the culture that leads to people filing them. Beyond that, I can attest to having flown 2 airliners that are in widespread commercial service that have regular technology glitches even after years of line operations. Not to mention all of the aircraft I haven't flown, but I'm fairly certain they aren't all perfect. I just don't see it in the very near future. Sure, I agree it's inevitable at some point but we have a ways to go yet.