Too much automation doesn't work for safety
Flying is not rocket science or AI science, whatever. The pilot needs just an operational aircraft that responds correctly to inputs and he will put it on the ground within resonable g factors. Volume wrote a very good post in page 2, he clearly shows why more automation will not improve safety.
These days, the automation is good just for profitability figures, but it erodes pilots skills. When unique event X happens the pilot has to aviate alone, while the automation is there only to pop up an enless list of ECAM message as in QF32 case or even worse as in XL888 case.
Apart the fact that a fully automated airliner is a sweet delusion, I found this thread interesting and at least a good warm up for QZ8501 final report due (again) for this month.