sheenboy
23rd Aug 2004, 11:03
Any comments on the article below (Sunday Times yesterday...). Sounds great - surely? Or is it too expensive?
TERRORISTS could be prevented from carrying out September 11-style attacks by a device that would allow air traffic controllers to take control of aircraft and land them remotely.
The device, known as “Robolander”, is among a number of pilot aides that the American government’s Department of Homeland Security has asked Boeing to fit to new aircraft. Despite resistance to the technology from unions and airlines, the government may contribute up to £40m towards a prototype “proof of concept” aircraft to be built by 2010.
Robolander merges several modern computer systems, including a “refuse to crash” program that steers planes away from mountains and high buildings if pilots do not respond to audible warnings.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) recently flew a real Boeing 757 over a simulated version of Washington DC and tried to “crash” it into the White House, but the computer software blocked the pilot and forced him to turn away.
TERRORISTS could be prevented from carrying out September 11-style attacks by a device that would allow air traffic controllers to take control of aircraft and land them remotely.
The device, known as “Robolander”, is among a number of pilot aides that the American government’s Department of Homeland Security has asked Boeing to fit to new aircraft. Despite resistance to the technology from unions and airlines, the government may contribute up to £40m towards a prototype “proof of concept” aircraft to be built by 2010.
Robolander merges several modern computer systems, including a “refuse to crash” program that steers planes away from mountains and high buildings if pilots do not respond to audible warnings.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) recently flew a real Boeing 757 over a simulated version of Washington DC and tried to “crash” it into the White House, but the computer software blocked the pilot and forced him to turn away.