And then there was only one
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
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single/no pilot aircraft deliveries
The cost of R & D for pilotless aircraft and an ATC environment to match is way, way beyond the financial capabilities of companies like Boeing and Airbus and therefore not in their interests beyond a bit of small budget dabbling to examine a concept. Have any ATC establishments delved seriously into the pilotless sky scenario and how they would handle it?
My longest commercial sector was 15hours and five minutes, SFO to HKG in mid winter, how is one pilot going to handle this? We were a crew of four with horizontal bunk rest and all dog tired by the time we got to HKG. If such a duty was split between two pilots and a higher level of automation the level of continuous concentration is still a very big ask.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
A bit of a simplistic precis, but basically "the days of the manned fighter and bomber are over" (British Government White Paper 1957). Sixty-one years ago.
Join Date: Sep 2017
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When;
As with most fairy tales, Elon Musk will be on Mars sometime soon!
Anyone could be forgiven for thinking 'contract season' is open!
- Threats
- Personal intimidation
- Outsourcing
- Transfer to group entities
- Or in the case of Qantas 'terminal decline'
As with most fairy tales, Elon Musk will be on Mars sometime soon!
Anyone could be forgiven for thinking 'contract season' is open!
I will repeat what I have said before, when manufacturers commit to building a single pilot/no pilot airliner and an airline commits (not EOI but cash for production line slots), then and only then will pilots need to be concerned for their future. Until then I will continue to go to work assured in the knowledge that my job and that of my F/O are safe, now and into the future. The horizon that the tech geeks see for their pilotless prophecy is that generated by their VR goggles.
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Join Date: Apr 2010
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I will repeat what I have said before, when manufacturers commit to building a single pilot/no pilot airliner and an airline commits (not EOI but cash for production line slots), then and only then will pilots need to be concerned for their future. Until then I will continue to go to work assured in the knowledge that my job and that of my F/O are safe, now and into the future. The horizon that the tech geeks see for their pilotless prophecy is that generated by their VR goggles.
I understood that the idea of ground based pilots was so that the airlines could get away with 2 pilots for all flights, no matter what the distance. I guess for cargo planes, it may be feasible for them to be pilotless eventually.
Unmanned won't work, due ATC coordination! Forget reduced separation for increased movement rates, it will become like unmanned trains we see in terminals. Strict separation, no shortcuts, follow the flight plan line. And thats in the air, let the fun commence on the ground!
Long haul single pilot ops, that will be interesting.
"Its time to take a rest Dave.....but Hal there is weather ahead and reports indicate a rough ride. Dave, its time to take a rest to meet regulatory requirements, you must listen! But Hal......"
Long haul single pilot ops, that will be interesting.
"Its time to take a rest Dave.....but Hal there is weather ahead and reports indicate a rough ride. Dave, its time to take a rest to meet regulatory requirements, you must listen! But Hal......"
