Originally Posted by
dlen
Africanskies seems logical
All the emergency descend actions: set FL100 or secure altitude and initiate descend with AP, deviate from course, emit emergency message 7700, set passenger belt sign, let passenger oxygen masks fall down, could be initiated by one single command.
That's it. After perhaps a delay to see if the pilots react first. If they don't then do the necessary actions. Including intelligent MSA settings as per terrain database. And avoid weather and avoid mountains and avoid other aircraft. It's aware of all of these things via its radar, GPWS & TCAS. All the data is there it just needs a macro system to link all the threads together.
If you extend that train of thought it wouldn't take much but software changes to enable a ground based pilot to set up the approach and auto land at a safe place.