Pilotless aircraft?
There are a few steps along the way and we may see one or two before too long.
First is the ability to operate unmanned aircraft in controlled airspace, which is being worked quite hard. See-and-avoid and failure tolerance are the issues, but I would be surprised not to see this within five years.
Next, what if someone takes the brains and electric actuators out of a UAV and makes a RoboCirrus, a FBW private airplane? Might be appealing because it would be simple to fly, and electronics and electric power are getting steadily cheaper and mechanical controls are not. Cost of ownership might be competitive.
Now, add elements one and two and add a big red button on the panel, for use in the event of emergency - pilot incapacitation, mechanical problems or operational issues that have put the pilot out of his/her skill level. And an XM datalink so that there is a human on the ground supervising the recovery to nearest airport. OnStar for aircraft!
And maybe next this becomes an amber button, for contingencies - it's turned foggy at my destination but I really don't want to divert.
And at some point along the way, FedEx adopts an unmanned cargo aircraft to replace its Caravans.