Automated Autorotation landing

[Sir Korsky]

Let's face it, pilots have crashed far more aircraft than computers ever will. Folk are happy for cars and trains to drive themselves. It's only a matter of time before commercial aircraft launch themselves - and yes, they do a far better job than the meat servos can. You'll just pick a spot on Google earth, tell it where you want to land and off it will go. Flying will be just for fun, like buying a sport's car over a regular sedan. I'm sure an auto landing using LIDAR in IMC would work much better with a computer in charge.

[Bell_ringer]

Originally Posted by SASless

During my time 13 Gear manual transmissions on big rigs was common.....now they are automatics.
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Sas, was this a period photo?

[tecpilot]

The level of automation will relatively quickly reach a level that most current pilots cannot yet imagine. This is also because pilots are the least involved in these mostly digital developments. Engineers need fewer and fewer pilots in an environment of full flight digital models.
It is being developed on computers, tested on articial full flight simulations far away from any airfield and most pilots realize it first when it's rolled out.
A lot of work is underway in small development companies and among the big players to develop automated emergency procedures which presently still need manual work and experience from the pilot.

I bet in 20 years the need for old fashion way helicopter pilots will have fallen drastically and I say that as an old fashion way 9000h pilot and development engineer.