Thanks MB - a balanced view. Despite your views in the last para, I suspect that 'emotions' will be high on the list of decisive factors here. I have no doubt that we have the technology to reliably automate a large part of the process.
It will take a generation or two of 'pilots' to grow out the idea of 'being there', and a major deciding factor will be the media-led public reaction. Which is more headline-grabbing?
"Pilot gets lost and flies xxx passengers into a hill" or
"Terrified passengers fly around for 3 hours before crashing into a school for disabled orphans in the middle of YYY after automatic plane control is lost."
OK, just a little bias there
