Firstly, the flight plan will have the same alternative destinations as current, with the same fuel considerations for missed approaches, etc. Secondly, the decision whether to make a crosswind landing on alternate runway will be made by remote pilots with the same situational awareness as per current pilots aboard the aircraft.

Remote pilots will also be available to make critical decisions such as whether to return or land on the Hudson river if a double engine failure occurs post V1 on a JFK takeoff.

From an economic perspective, pilotless UAV aircraft are inevitable, especially with freight aircraft that wouldn't require the resiliency and crash protection of manned aircraft. If we have the technology to to unmanned freight trips to a space station orbiting at 24,000 km/h then we can certainly do it on here on planet Earth to fixed runways at known locations.

and

and finally

First, please go back and read my post #5 re security, until there is no more terrorism unmanned, ground controlled, isn't going to happen.

There are plenty of countries who have a rather relaxed approach to security as well as some who may sympathise with a terrorist cause and it is in these that an attack would occur, not Europe or the USA and as East and West bound aircraft continued uncontrolled, it would create carnage of biblical proportions.

It would only take one successful attack to cause the system to be abandoned, just think of the cost of setting the system up, abandoning it and resurrecting a viable system, i.e. pilots and ATC, so much safer and so much cheaper to stick to a system that is proven and works.

One more point, there is not one single aviation insurance underwriter that would countenance such a vulnerable system as unmanned civil aircraft, no insurance cover equals No Fly.

It is not going to happen so soon
 

It is not going to happen soon because:

*We are still screaming on HF
*We are still using old fashioned FMS systems with an Atari processor
*CPDLC is being used for only 5%
*There is NO automated taxi system invented yet
*Political issues between certain ATC sectors and/or countries are numerous
*Overfly permits are still needed almost everywhere
*Mixing remote controlled flights with conventional flights is not favourable
*The risk of unlawful seizure of aircraft becomes higher
*How are all the poor countries going to pay for this

This is my list of arguments, but OK we will see how quick things develop and how quick the worldpeace will become a fact. My guess...never!

This is the first step and US governance just passed a law to fund ADS-B progression big time, a part of it was to allow UAV's into domestic controlled class B airspace. Never, really? Follow the money trail, capitalism is a monster that wants this! It is not a question of if, is is one of when! All the rest of your points are subject to a solution, modernization will find the answers.

3mta3
 

Hopefully, may be more pleasant!

HUCK
 

I would say this is the reason why, human error and fatigue. BZ for the post anyways.

and

Dream on, in the meantime please tell us all your solution to global terrorism!:)

parabellum
 

Pull out and legalize drugs. The natural reduction in fear will reduce the need for the fearful to seek God/Allah, they will be less motivated and have a more simple desire to live peacefully. This speaks of all mankind.

A simple reply to an ignorant post, remember....... You asked.

Nothing 'ignorant' about it, your posts indicate that you have trouble understanding reality, (as well as understanding the meaning of ignorance, could it be something you are smoking?), drugs are only a very small part of the terrorist problem and had nothing to do with the World Trade Centre, for example.

At the risk of repeating myself, unmanned commercial civil aircraft are light years away, if ever.

Ok, sorry to all for making this drift but WTF! Governments have shut down financial aid to terrorists (to an extent) speaking of most groups it comes from drug production, the frickin Poppy plant funds a great portion of Al Quieda's resources for a simple example. Google it my friend. No money no infrastructure, no hatred no volunteers of mass destruction.


Now on point, "light years" really, get back to watching star trek while the world continues to advance in aviation related automation as you sleep.