I don't know about the A350 emergency descent “button”, but some newer bizjets will descend automatically if an unsafe cabin altitude is detected. Autothrottle will engage immediately, idle, 90 degree turn, lvl off at 15000 feet, cruise at 250 kt, without pilot intervention. No button to push. This has been around a few years, in different flavors (some still require pilots to handle throttles or engage a/t, and they all engage only above 30000 feet methinks). if I recall correctly these systems were required by some countries to certify bizjets for up to 51000 feet. There is some sense to this, obviously the same size hole in an a380 at somewhat theoretical 41000 feet would leave a Gulfstream crew above a lot less time to react (and I actually see them up there, overpowered, with large wings, looking for a direct route)
... so even if potential risks may outweigh benefits in a large transport a/c, Im not surprised if avionics manufacturers, the usual suspects like Honeywell and Collins, who already have these tricks up their sleeve will tout them to Mr A, Mr B, and to airlines. Fully Automatic tcas ra execution is next...no buttons to push. “what's it doing now?”. Sorry for the massive thread drift...
Last edited by deptrai; 10th Oct 2014 at 08:39.