PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Boeing studies pilotless planes as it ponders next jetliner
Old 12th Jun 2017, 17:14
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BluSdUp
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: 60 north
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Not the next 12 years, I bet!

Why?
Think of a number , quick!
Its when I have to retire.
What is going to happen?, an educated guess!:
1
They narrow it down to 1 pilot.
2
They try it out with Cargo ops
3
Full autonomy, with a groundbased emg mode 110% secure???
4
Development of a new autoland system on top of or parallel to the old Lorenz Beam ( ILS)
5
A complete reconstruction of the architecture of the A/C for automatic switching. Normal , Non-Normal and Emergency modes.

It is not possible to modify an aircraft for this, it has to be purpose build, with a Captain ( training wheels) . After years of operation, off he goes!

I would start out with a longhaul freighter and Pax aircraft.

Now considering we already have selfdriving ships, cars , busses and trains all over the place , no problem.
What all those have in common is one thing we dont.:
Worst case: Program it to stop and drop anchor!
Pilotless aircraft is comming, but I am long gone by then.

"This is still Your Capt B speaking!
All take offs and landings will be hand made and less then perfect, but safe!"
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