Secret Squirrel,
I thought all this had been amicably put to rest? Here we go again........
I did NOT say that I was particularly in favour of the idea, OR that I would gladly fly in one........
I was at one manufacturer (had better not name names I guess) in the early 1980s and at a different one in the early 1990s. At BOTH of these manufacturers, during talks with their senior engineering people, both groups stated that their personal preference would be to take pilots out of the aircraft, as they are the weakest link nowadays. Both groups also said they were confident that they could build such aircraft, but KNEW that the travelling public would NOT have it.
You would probably find the pilots at these manufacturers would NOT agree, but I didn't get to talk to them.
Now I am truly sorry IF you do NOT believe it, but that is what happened....
Best regards,
"lame"