GA aircraft to be equipped with autoland

[OPENDOOR]

A passenger activated auto land system; what could possibly go wrong? It basically, transmitting blind, grants itself permission to enter controlled airspace and attempt a landing at what could be a major international airport.

Garmin Autoland to Permit Emergency Touchdowns for General Aviation Planes
"Once activated the system calculates a flight plan to the most suitable airport, initiates an approach to the runway and automatically lands the aircraft without pilot or passenger intervention,"

https://www.aviationtoday.com/2019/10/31/garmin-autoland-to-permit-emergency-touchdowns-for-general-aviation-planes/

[ShyTorque]

As a helicopter pilot I doubt it will ever do me out of a job.

[Fostex]

Much like the CAPS system in Cirrus aircraft this is a tool to be used in exceptional circumstances. Probably better than a passenger with no experience of handling a GA aircraft or radio-telephony sticking it into a smoking hole in the ground.

If I was a controller at a busy airport with a GA aircraft with an incapacitated pilot in the zone, I would much rather that an auto-pilot was flying a published arrival to the airfield and making radio calls, even if those calls were blind. That way the aircraft is flying in a stable and known approach and everyone else can be vectored out of the way!

[Capt Fathom]

A passenger activated auto land system; what could possibly go wrong?
Typical knee jerk reaction! You haven’t been following this in the aviation media have you!
A potential life saving device. Hopefully it will not be needed.

[BRE]

Wouldn't that require the GA airplane to have servos for control surfaces and throttle?

[JRK]

I am of a view, that these kind of things will lead to further pilot skill deterioration and more poor quality decisions. These hyper safety drives underestimate an important psychological aspect: if you know you have a failsafe like this on your aircraft - a magic bail out button - you are more likely to make reckless decisions and have a slack approach to your flying. Same thing with the GA aircraft parachute systems. Just my opinion.

[Capt Fathom]

Probably not so JRK.
In my case, despite still holding a Class One Medical, I am not prepared to fly single pilot in light aircraft, especially with family onboard.
Access to an aircraft with CAPS or Autoland could change my mind, but unfortunately not available to me at present.

Garmin Video.
It requires the aircraft to be equipped with the Garmin 3000 Avionics and Autothrottle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcVuubU4BTU

[ATC Watcher]

Great stuff for those who can afford it. Because unlike a ballistic parachute that can be fitted relatively cheaply in a Cirrus or any ultra light for less than 10.000 $ , according the website this kit is 300.000 $ on new and possibly over half a million as retrofit,
But I guess it is more PR to offer something different to new buyers, than actually a need that will be saving lots of lives . How many such cases are there per year of incapacitated single pilot in Business GA aircraft ? , not talking about C172 or PA28s.., those will never get this gadget..

[Fostex]

Keep in mind that a £400 DJI drone one can purchase from an Apple Store has more sophisticated inertial, GPS and computer vision based guidance than a multi-million missile from 10-20 years ago. These systems will come down in price.

The only paradox is that, as ATC Watcher pointed out, the aircraft most likely to suffer single pilot incapacitation, e.g. small GA aircraft with Class 2 certified PIC, are the aircraft least likely to be fitted with this system.

[cessnapete]

BRE
Read the article RTFQ. It only applies to a/c with full Garmin 3000 A/P and A/T at moment.
Tested on Cirrus Jet and Piper M600.

[what next]

It only applies to a/c with full Garmin 3000 A/P and A/T at moment.
Tested on Cirrus Jet and Piper M600.

Yes. What is the probability that one of these aircraft and an incapacitated pilot share the same moment in space and time? It may never be used in real life. Unless the pilots of these aircraft use it for their normal landings as well...
Still, it I could afford to fly around in a 2M$ aircraft privately it would probably give me some extra peace of mind to know that my passengers are cared for in the best possible way just in case.

[733driver]

Posted this yesterday in the tech log section: https://www.pprune.org/tech-log/626969-true-100-autoland-no-crew-input-needed.html

[c52]

Would have stopped the Germanwings disaster.

[Beamr]

Would have stopped the Germanwings disaster.
Can't see that, but would've saved Helios.

[physicus]

Add auto takeoff and we can do away with all those knobs and buttons. And the persons claiming to fly the things. :)

[jugofpropwash]

Can't see that, but would've saved Helios.

Would have saved the plane, but what condition were the passengers in by that point?

[Beamr]

Would have saved the plane, but what condition were the passengers in by that point?
In better condition than in current outcome?

[DingerX]

On loss of cabin pressure, it automatically kicks and requires being overridden. It also does so if it thinks the pilot is acting all VFR-in-IMC. Just hope that the guy who emergency autolanded ahead of you has a greater stopping distance.

[neilki]

My company had a nasty TCAS experience when a Corp Jet ‘auto descended’ following a loss of cabin pressure... as an active Cirrus instructor I love the technology but hopefully the airport it chooses has the capacity to handle HAL inbound...

[Longtimer]

Automatic autoland but I sure hope it also communicates with ATC etc......

[Denti]

Automatic autoland but I sure hope it also communicates with ATC etc......
Watch the videos, it does. As well as with the passenger(s) in the aircraft. It is quite chatty to be honest.

[jack11111]

That this was achieved on the 'down low' is truly amazing to me.

[Slow and curious]

How about a little music in the background, something like: „Don‘t worry, be happy...“:E

[ReturningVector]

Would have stopped the Germanwings disaster.

No it wouldn’t, because the pilot can overrule the system. It is supposed to be used in case of pilot incapacitation.

[212man]

Would have stopped the Germanwings disaster.
what a bizarre comment! How, exactly?

[hans brinker]

Would have stopped the Germanwings disaster.

Because the button would have been in the cabin, without the option to override it from the cockpit??????
Not likely!

[c52]

Let's say the technology could have stopped the Germanwings, depending on who can control what.

[Capt Fathom]

Let's say the technology could have stopped the Germanwings, depending on who can control what.
In your dreams!