Autoland

[Seat1APlease]

There are two questions here, can it be done and would it be wise to do it.

Modern aircraft such as the A320 are already largely flown by the computer. The pilot moves a side stick but the computer will not let them overstress the aircraft, nor stall, it nor overbank it. Many of the switches are not directly wired to the equipment controlled, but send a signal to a computer to carry out the action. This could easily be done with gear and flaps.

It could certainly be possible to program the computer to take the final decision from the pilot but would it be wise to do so?

Any system can fail, be it human, electronic or procedural, and allowance has to be made for that failure but a line has to be drawn somewhere. It is perfectly possible statistically for all four engines on a jumbo to fail, so should a fifth be fitted then a sixth etc. etc. and what should happen when your new layer of automation fails which it might eventually do?

What if your system should fail and put the aircraft in danger, will the pilot have a big red handle to switch it off or will it be like HAL in the film 2001 where the computer over-rides the pilot, and that is the ultimate philosophical question.


Either the computer takes the final decision taking the pilots wishes into account, with the pilot unable to intervene, or you have the present system whereby the systems give the pilot all the information and help possible but ultimately he can override it.