future for pilots?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
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From: the clouds
future for pilots?
According to the Sydney Morning Herald:
In the next 50 years, Australian robots will control mines, patrol the coastline and negotiate our harsh agricultural environment, preventing us from risk to our lives. Unmanned aircraft will comb the skies and autonomous vehicles will conduct ground reconnaissance, making Australia a global leader in field robotics.
It looks like we may be the last generation of pilots. When do you think that the major airlines will be totally pilotless - 20 -30 years? Do they even have the technology yet or is it just a matter of people not trusting technology enough?
In the next 50 years, Australian robots will control mines, patrol the coastline and negotiate our harsh agricultural environment, preventing us from risk to our lives. Unmanned aircraft will comb the skies and autonomous vehicles will conduct ground reconnaissance, making Australia a global leader in field robotics.
It looks like we may be the last generation of pilots. When do you think that the major airlines will be totally pilotless - 20 -30 years? Do they even have the technology yet or is it just a matter of people not trusting technology enough?
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Sydney
The biggest component in any technology advance, the culture of the people is what wil determine the use of this type of technology.
I think we will find a phased implementation of this technology as some people will love to jump on a cheap flight with no pilot and other people wil want to pay the extra for the added saftey.
I think we will find a phased implementation of this technology as some people will love to jump on a cheap flight with no pilot and other people wil want to pay the extra for the added saftey.
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Melb
I don't think that having a pilotless aircraft would bring the price of tickets down. The relative cost of pilots compared to all the other costs of flying is very small.
So my question is, why would anyone want pilotless airliners? And would you trust Microsoft Windows to fly you half way round the world???
Cheers,
NK.
So my question is, why would anyone want pilotless airliners? And would you trust Microsoft Windows to fly you half way round the world???
Cheers,
NK.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Back home again after another fantastic time in Japan; once again back to the 'real world' and continuing the seemingly never ending search for a bad bottle of Red.
Pilotless aircraft carrying fare paying passengers?
Not in my great grandchildrens lifetime!!!! (If I have any that is, which is most highly unlikely!
)
Last generation of Pilots? As Disco Air inferred, I think we're safe for a while yet.
Not in my great grandchildrens lifetime!!!! (If I have any that is, which is most highly unlikely!
)Last generation of Pilots? As Disco Air inferred, I think we're safe for a while yet.
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Sydney
"...preventing us from risk to our lives."
Sorry, just found that funny. Is flying in an aircraft controlled by a robot not risking our lives?
I wonder what the machine would do if it was under circumstances it wasn't programmed to handle...
Sorry, just found that funny. Is flying in an aircraft controlled by a robot not risking our lives?
I wonder what the machine would do if it was under circumstances it wasn't programmed to handle...
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 183
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From: Sydney
tell the WWII pilots there will be pilotless bombers in just 50 years....... I think yeh it will be a while but in all honesty i have flown with some pilots that i would have prefered a Unix system to be flying, just a little more stable then Windows.
.
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Surrounding the localizer
Pilotless passenger aircraft are a long way off
What would have happened had there not been human intervention?
What would have happened had there not been human intervention?
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: @work
Hehe, Windows Aero 1.0....
"An wing has been discovered, please insert install cd 4 to continue"
"Engine number 2 has quit unexpectedly. Do you wish to send an error report?"
And of course, the dreaded primary display bluescreen on approach.
"An wing has been discovered, please insert install cd 4 to continue"
"Engine number 2 has quit unexpectedly. Do you wish to send an error report?"
And of course, the dreaded primary display bluescreen on approach.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,744
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From: Alice Springs
Nothing wrong??
Haughtny 1 . The interesting part of that is "there was no fault found in either the aircraft equipment, or the ground equipment". I think this may tell us something about our systems, both electronic, and administrative.
Grandpa Aerotart
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,579
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From: SWP
That'd be the blue screen of death. 
Only individuals who 1/. have never crewed a jet and 2/. live in a computer dreamworld existing only in another reality could dream up this !!!! and then believe it possible.
Of course the technology exists and a jet could takeoff, fly and land at it's desto sans crew...in a vacuum devoid of other traffic, weather and technical malfunctions.
Crewless jet airliners are as likely to happen as everyone flying around in flying cars...like that tw@t on discovery channel. Take a look at the average idiot driving a car and then imagine him doing 100kts 500' off the ground.
Only individuals who 1/. have never crewed a jet and 2/. live in a computer dreamworld existing only in another reality could dream up this !!!! and then believe it possible.
Of course the technology exists and a jet could takeoff, fly and land at it's desto sans crew...in a vacuum devoid of other traffic, weather and technical malfunctions.
Crewless jet airliners are as likely to happen as everyone flying around in flying cars...like that tw@t on discovery channel. Take a look at the average idiot driving a car and then imagine him doing 100kts 500' off the ground.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 658
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From: Established.
The cost of the pilots on board a -400 or A380 over the ocean for 15hrs spread across 400 or possibly 550 tickets would have no influence on the ticket price whatsoever. Everything else costs more than they do so after they remove everything else first (fuel included) then they will remove the pilots.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,382
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From: Somewhere
Messiah unfortunately I don't think the likes of Geoff Dixon and Co see it that way. If they can cut the cost of pilots they will. Even the current costs of pilots is a drop in the ocean in terms of hourly operating costs, yet they are hell bent on slashing wages/conditions.
However I cannot imagine insurance companies being big fans of this idea. Wouldn't want to be the guy who signs off that premium. Also who in CASA will be willing to sign off the computer for his 500 Multi dispensation??
However I cannot imagine insurance companies being big fans of this idea. Wouldn't want to be the guy who signs off that premium. Also who in CASA will be willing to sign off the computer for his 500 Multi dispensation??
Grandpa Aerotart
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,579
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From: SWP
Messiah and neville.
The cost of labour is the only cost in aviation GD etc can have any real chance of influencing...aeroplanes, fuel, enroute and terminal nav charges, spares etc are all out of their sphere of influence.
Not so aircrew and ground staff.
It is not about how little they cost as a % of overall costs it is about a raw number that can be saved...until such time as they back enough people into the same corner.
The cost of labour is the only cost in aviation GD etc can have any real chance of influencing...aeroplanes, fuel, enroute and terminal nav charges, spares etc are all out of their sphere of influence.
Not so aircrew and ground staff.
It is not about how little they cost as a % of overall costs it is about a raw number that can be saved...until such time as they back enough people into the same corner.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16
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From: the clouds
Remote drivers
I think the US military uses remote drivers (pilots) already where planes(albeit very small ones) are under the comand of a 'pilot' on the ground. Perhaps this will be the backup one day?
I don't think that technology gets the credit it deserves. Such technology on an aircraft would not be like that on your PC, it would mirror such technology that space crafts have been using for decades - as a lot of space flight is automated. I'm sure 'fly by wire' had just as many opponents when it was introduced. I think that this technology may be on as quicker than we think, but I'm sure we will all be nearing the end of our careers
I don't think that technology gets the credit it deserves. Such technology on an aircraft would not be like that on your PC, it would mirror such technology that space crafts have been using for decades - as a lot of space flight is automated. I'm sure 'fly by wire' had just as many opponents when it was introduced. I think that this technology may be on as quicker than we think, but I'm sure we will all be nearing the end of our careers
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 502
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From: Dunnunda
Weve had innovation replace the flight engineer. Now I think its just a matter of time before automation replaces the SO. Is it really necessary to have to pilots operating the aircraft in the cruise?
Now theres a question....
Now theres a question....