Unnecessary first officer...
Hm...
After thinking about this for some time, here's my 0.02€... The fully automated (0-person crew) airplane gives me the jitters just thinking about it. Yes, there's unmanned trains, there's unmanned submarines - but both of these have the privilege of being able to safely stop when an unpredictable error occurs - quite easily too - stop propulsion, come to a safe stop. The UAV that the armies are also quite a different thing - for one they are a lot slower and a lot more forgiving and also if they're lost the damage is purely financial. Also - if you wish to have them remote controlled from on-the-ground controllers this means each and every airport would need to have a local "remote controlling station" (long distance remote controlling would be a no-go due to high latency issues), which I doubt would ever finance itself. Let's add to that that you would need to have these remote controllers multi-rated for all the different aircraft types (again €/$ issue). Also - since these remote controllers would probably be monitoring several aircrafts at once - their response time to an evolving situation - recognizing, taking control would introduce too much delay to make it practically feasible. Fully automated (not remote controlled) aircraft would need quite a new level of high-availability implemented as compared to the one already implemented. Where you have dual systems now I'd highly suspect you'd have to go triple systems for the most vital elements (the process of arbitration needs to end in the decision of which system is delivering the correct data in case of failure in one of the instruments - where you had the human now to pick the correct data by using his intelligence you'd rely on a pure automaton to pick the right one now - since truly intelligent AI is still in the domain of sci-fi). For true triple system HA you'd need newly developped systems again (just sticking 3 identical systems in will make them both prone to the same system error in case of a bug (which will occur given enough time)) - so again a financial issue. Without babbling too much - I really see no way that it would be financially viable to go this way. One pilot cockpits ... hm ... so how is this supposed to work with new pilots? Just stick him in with some computer support and pray he manages to do everything correctly, does not suffer any health issue and can hold his bladder for the duration of the flight? If he's incapacitated in any way we're back to the problems from the previous paragraphs. Again not a very viable option. And let us not forget that by eliminating the pilots from the cockpit we wouldn't be eliminating the human factor from flying - we would still have humans planning, building and maintaining the aircraft, so the human error possibility would still stay a part of the equation. Where I do see the potential for more technology is more proactive monitoring on the part of the computer - and after being involved in planning, implementing and maintaining computer systems for well over a decade it is still my opinion that computers in aviation should remain advisors and monitors, but never controllers that can't be overridden - of course still being careful not to saturate the crew with information overload. Many human error related accidents could have been avoided with advanced monitoring systems. Let's say Lexington - a simple "takeoff runway" data stream from the tower would've enabled the FMC to warn of incorrect heading while takeoff power was applied, just to name one (pick a random accident/incident and think how an advanced monitoring system could have prevented the situation and I'm sure you'll find that many of them could have been prevented). Sorry for being long... D.
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What about reducing the cost by flying with out cabin crew as well. It will be self service for the pax, or having venting machines.
I hope O'leary was not listening when you said that.
And who ensures they sit down and fasten their seatbelts etc etc?
I'm generally with damirc on this issue, especially as the timescale over which any significant changes to the cockpit could be implemented is so long as to be rendered superfluous by other issues.
I'm generally with damirc on this issue, especially as the timescale over which any significant changes to the cockpit could be implemented is so long as to be rendered superfluous by other issues.
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Hi guys! I have just signed up to the forums and am currently finishing my ATPLs. I am completely shocked by utterly stupid O'leary is. I hope he and the rest of you realise that it would be illegal to fly the 737 single crew on commercial operations. It is a simple fact of Aviation Law that most (not all) commercial aircraft must have a crew of at least 2. As far as I can remember this is outlined in Jar Ops, but not sure.
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I hope he and the rest of you realise that it would be illegal to fly the 737 single crew on commercial operations. It is a simple fact of Aviation Law that most (not all) commercial aircraft must have a crew of at least 2.
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Not so I'm afraid. If for example O'Leary really wanted to do something about this he would first have to inform the CAA and try to convince them that it was a viable and safe thing to do. If the CAA did agree which I highly doubt they will (as single crew IFR is highly demanding and not as safe as with 2) they would then would have to notify EASA and ICAO of the difference neither of whom would comply.
Not only this, but how would a pilot flying a 737 or any other large jet for that matter realise that he had made a mistake. There would be no cross-checks, no safety barriers. People would say "Oh well the autopilot does all the flying", that maybe but who programmes the Autopilot on the MCP? The pilot of course.
I really really believe that this is media conjencture. The whole point of having multi-crew is for safety and to eliminate the exact problems highlighted before.
Not only this, but how would a pilot flying a 737 or any other large jet for that matter realise that he had made a mistake. There would be no cross-checks, no safety barriers. People would say "Oh well the autopilot does all the flying", that maybe but who programmes the Autopilot on the MCP? The pilot of course.
I really really believe that this is media conjencture. The whole point of having multi-crew is for safety and to eliminate the exact problems highlighted before.
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Flyboy146
Welcome to the forums.
Have a good read as to what is being suggested and researched by some major players out there. This is not just MOL spouting off cost saving measures as he usually does.
This has the potential of being fact in the relatively short future, maybe 20 years off, maybe 30, who knows.
Welcome to the forums.
Have a good read as to what is being suggested and researched by some major players out there. This is not just MOL spouting off cost saving measures as he usually does.
This has the potential of being fact in the relatively short future, maybe 20 years off, maybe 30, who knows.
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damirc:
i am with you
i was also giving it a thought and came to similar conclusions: SAFE full automation is theoretically possible when we have control over EVERYTHING - so it may take some time to achieve.
PNF redundancy - interesting approach from MOL to get some free PR as sincere cost cutter. Definitely he has succeeded and got his message delivered!
i am with you
i was also giving it a thought and came to similar conclusions: SAFE full automation is theoretically possible when we have control over EVERYTHING - so it may take some time to achieve.
PNF redundancy - interesting approach from MOL to get some free PR as sincere cost cutter. Definitely he has succeeded and got his message delivered!
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Parabellum, it seems my posting which you consider an exaggeration has provoked you to a negative response. Parabellum is a noun which was coined by German arms maker Duetsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, derived from the Latin si vis pacem paru bellum, meaning if you wish for peace prepare for war.
So given your apparent passion for latin and all things of war, I would have thought that you of all would have appreciated that major advances in aviation were largely brought about as a result of major conflicts, ie wars. On the subject of bows and arrows, more important than the arrow was the use of stirrups by cavalry troops, which in the abscence of such devices were unsteady on their mounts and inaccurate on their targets. Whilst I will readily admit that I am not trying to steal Nostradamus` thunder, I cannot agree with you that my reference to robot warships is a long shot or a long bow in the discussions on this thread.
In discussing the future of aviation are we to restrict our vision to the visible horizon, should we not try and see what lies beyond it.
So given your apparent passion for latin and all things of war, I would have thought that you of all would have appreciated that major advances in aviation were largely brought about as a result of major conflicts, ie wars. On the subject of bows and arrows, more important than the arrow was the use of stirrups by cavalry troops, which in the abscence of such devices were unsteady on their mounts and inaccurate on their targets. Whilst I will readily admit that I am not trying to steal Nostradamus` thunder, I cannot agree with you that my reference to robot warships is a long shot or a long bow in the discussions on this thread.
In discussing the future of aviation are we to restrict our vision to the visible horizon, should we not try and see what lies beyond it.
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Loss of a UAV is purely economical. The army doesn't mourn loss of hardware.
Loss of a 738 is purely economical. MOL doesn't mourn loss of hardware. And he has insurance.
Loss of a 738 is purely economical. MOL doesn't mourn loss of hardware. And he has insurance.
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What an idiot!
I remember him offering "free" beds and blowjobs in business class on his future transatlantic airline during a press conference back in 2008...
German translator was blushing...
Here is the link for the curious:
Ryanair's CEO says new airline will give free oral sex | Gadling.com
I remember him offering "free" beds and blowjobs in business class on his future transatlantic airline during a press conference back in 2008...
German translator was blushing...
Here is the link for the curious:
Ryanair's CEO says new airline will give free oral sex | Gadling.com
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Whilst UAVs, no crew, submarines et al, are all riveting stuff in another context, would someone like to RTFQ, as I was taught in pilot training, and tell me how different/ more difficult it is to fly an SJ 30 [my post 162] than, say, a modified A320 single pilot? The SJ is already approved by the FAA. This is happening here and now, it's not some future fantasy. Isn't that the point!
Discuss.
Discuss.
Last edited by xrba; 24th Mar 2010 at 02:19.
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What a load of nonsense here. Automation is there to assist the crew, not take it's place. I have flown with engineers, it is not pretty. Yet they believe they can design a system to cover all contingencies from the ground? No freakin' way.
The current fascination with UAVs for combat will run it's course. The reality is, as we are seeing in Afganistan, is that you need someone on site to actually pull the trigger to prevent friendly fire or collateral damage to civillians. The new ROEs by McCrystal have made that clear. Most errant strikes have been missiles fired from Indian Springs, NV(or some other remote site).
CEOs (and engineers) dislike pilots because we dare to question their authority. The CEO we question because we are the first to see when management decisions go wrong. The engineers because we see the flaws that occur in any system and we press for corrections. Everyone would be happier if we pilots we silenced. Thank goodness for the sake of safety that we are still here.
The current fascination with UAVs for combat will run it's course. The reality is, as we are seeing in Afganistan, is that you need someone on site to actually pull the trigger to prevent friendly fire or collateral damage to civillians. The new ROEs by McCrystal have made that clear. Most errant strikes have been missiles fired from Indian Springs, NV(or some other remote site).
CEOs (and engineers) dislike pilots because we dare to question their authority. The CEO we question because we are the first to see when management decisions go wrong. The engineers because we see the flaws that occur in any system and we press for corrections. Everyone would be happier if we pilots we silenced. Thank goodness for the sake of safety that we are still here.
Psychophysiological entity
Okay, somebody must have that picture of the pilot sitting in an open cockpit - while his passengers are in the cabin behind.
What were they thinking? Had they got no imaginations?
I suppose it was because he wore a uniform hat that they had confidence in his ability to stay the right way up in cloud.
Of course, all Rapide captains had to sit in the hot-seat for the first flight.
dh rapide - Google Search
What were they thinking? Had they got no imaginations?
I suppose it was because he wore a uniform hat that they had confidence in his ability to stay the right way up in cloud.
Of course, all Rapide captains had to sit in the hot-seat for the first flight.
dh rapide - Google Search
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Well, look!..as a sim instructor I flew the 737 and the A320 many times, single pilot IFR after the crew had departed for the boozer.
Piece of cake to carry out a single pilot EFATO, S/E ILS, rapid descent etc, you name it.
Just one big computer game...easy as pie. Airplanes only need one pilot who knows what he's doing!...
or a sim instructor!!
Piece of cake to carry out a single pilot EFATO, S/E ILS, rapid descent etc, you name it.
Just one big computer game...easy as pie. Airplanes only need one pilot who knows what he's doing!...
or a sim instructor!!