Cockpit Questions

[vin2004]

Hi all,
If anyone has the time to give there opinion on some of these questions i would be very grateful, i am carrying out a survey for a college dissertation.

1 Overall has pilot workload been reduced by the introduction of modern cockpit systems?

2.In your opinion how long will it be, if ever, will we see an Unmanned commercial aircraft.

3.Has “hands on flying” reduced with the introduction of more automation in the cockpit? Will this result in a disadvantage if manual flying is required in an emergency situation?

Thanks.

[GlueBall]

1. Yes.
2. Not in our lifetime.
3. (a) Yes. (b) Sometimes.

[Rainboe]

Perfect answers! A good way of assessing the effect of modern automation is to look at a B747 100/200 Flight deck and the changes made to the B744 Flight deck. I think it is roundabout 1/3 dials and gauges to monitor allowing a full time Flight Engineer to be grounded and far less monitoring by the pilots- most systems being largely self checking.