.

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.

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.

When;

• Threats
• Personal intimidation
• Outsourcing
• Transfer to group entities
• Or in the case of Qantas 'terminal decline'

Doesn't work, why not get a friendly journalist (with a nice quiet family upgrade to boot) to piddle out this story that as Herod beautifully illuminated has been around for decades.

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.

It's not the Tech Geeks you should worry about ... it's all those people in sharp suits with MBA's and accountancy qualifications........... and Senior Management who have obscene bonus schemes....................

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......"