Britten-Norman Pilotless Planes
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Peripatetic
Britten-Norman Pilotless Planes
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b...2030-rw3mw3blb
Brace yourself for pilotless planes by 2030
Pilotless passenger aircraft will take to the skies within a decade under plans drawn up by a British manufacturer to cut the cost of flights.
Britten-Norman, based on the Isle of Wight, said yesterday that it planned to introduce single-pilot planes with an “autonomous co-pilot” by 2025. It said that the shift to fully pilotless planes could be achieved by the end of the decade, giving operators the choice to move between “uncrewed and piloted” flights as required.....
Yesterday, Britten-Norman, the sole independent commercial aircraft manufacturer in the UK, announced that it had signed a deal with Blue Bear, a British autonomous flight specialist, to develop the technology.
The two companies will work to automate Britten-Norman’s Islander, a twin-engine utility aircraft which is used for passenger flights, cargo and search-and-rescue operations. The project is due to be launched this month.
The plane, which can carry up to nine passengers, and has a short take-off and landing capability, operates on commercial routes between Scottish islands.
The team behind the project said: “Eventually the system will allow the Islander to take off, fly and land without any human input but the first milestone will be an automated co-pilot which can advise its human operator.”
Passenger jets have been flying on autopilot for around 50 years and large drones piloted from the ground are common in the military. However, pilotless passenger planes are not permitted. The technology would ultimately have to be approved by regulators.
Britten-Norman already produces aircraft that are certified for single pilot flights but some operators elect to, or must, operate with a second safety pilot. The company said that the ultimate goal was optional full automation which “should be realised within this decade”.
It said regional air transport was often “underdeveloped and often forced to rely on subsidy. This is because regional air transport can struggle to be economically sustainable due to high operating and maintenance costs,” it said. “Regional air transport will have to incorporate zero carbon and autonomous technology to make operations affordable and scalable.”......
Brace yourself for pilotless planes by 2030
Pilotless passenger aircraft will take to the skies within a decade under plans drawn up by a British manufacturer to cut the cost of flights.
Britten-Norman, based on the Isle of Wight, said yesterday that it planned to introduce single-pilot planes with an “autonomous co-pilot” by 2025. It said that the shift to fully pilotless planes could be achieved by the end of the decade, giving operators the choice to move between “uncrewed and piloted” flights as required.....
Yesterday, Britten-Norman, the sole independent commercial aircraft manufacturer in the UK, announced that it had signed a deal with Blue Bear, a British autonomous flight specialist, to develop the technology.
The two companies will work to automate Britten-Norman’s Islander, a twin-engine utility aircraft which is used for passenger flights, cargo and search-and-rescue operations. The project is due to be launched this month.
The plane, which can carry up to nine passengers, and has a short take-off and landing capability, operates on commercial routes between Scottish islands.
The team behind the project said: “Eventually the system will allow the Islander to take off, fly and land without any human input but the first milestone will be an automated co-pilot which can advise its human operator.”
Passenger jets have been flying on autopilot for around 50 years and large drones piloted from the ground are common in the military. However, pilotless passenger planes are not permitted. The technology would ultimately have to be approved by regulators.
Britten-Norman already produces aircraft that are certified for single pilot flights but some operators elect to, or must, operate with a second safety pilot. The company said that the ultimate goal was optional full automation which “should be realised within this decade”.
It said regional air transport was often “underdeveloped and often forced to rely on subsidy. This is because regional air transport can struggle to be economically sustainable due to high operating and maintenance costs,” it said. “Regional air transport will have to incorporate zero carbon and autonomous technology to make operations affordable and scalable.”......
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Australia
Yawn here we go again. Can you keep us appraised when the mighty Islander has done a fully autonomous assymetric takeoff and a two engine landing in 30 kts of crosswind. When it can do that 100 times out of 100 then I might be interested.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 423
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From: Malvern, UK
The complexity comes from interfacing to, and acting upon every conceivable problem from every system involved in the flight. And that includes external "systems" such as ATC.
Crosswind landing with a fully functional aircraft? I am fine with that.
Carrying out all the correct procedures to deal with an engine fire - not so sure.
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Solihull
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b...2030-rw3mw3blb
Brace yourself for pilotless planes by 2030
It said regional air transport was often “underdeveloped and often forced to rely on subsidy. This is because regional air transport can struggle to be economically sustainable due to high operating and maintenance costs,”
Brace yourself for pilotless planes by 2030
It said regional air transport was often “underdeveloped and often forced to rely on subsidy. This is because regional air transport can struggle to be economically sustainable due to high operating and maintenance costs,”
The only exception to the above is it, rather than having a cockpit at the front you can actually have 3 or 4 rows of extra seats. Perhaps charging a premium for a nice view (i'd pay extra for that!!). But wouldnt there be a load of wasted space as at some point the fuselage needs to taper down to a point...?
Joined: Feb 2010
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Large numbers of old Antonov An-2s are converted to drones and used in a certain recent conflict to one way carry explosives or to trigger enemy air defences to activate.This might be all that is feasible today.
https://www.overtdefense.com/2020/10...s-into-drones/
https://www.overtdefense.com/2020/10...s-into-drones/
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Auckland, NZ
Joined: Apr 1998
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From: Mesopotamos
Thanks to Covid-19 there are already plenty of pilotless planes.
Yet another puff piece. Meanwhile in my neck of the woods, a locomotive driver discovered his computer controlled sand dispensing system failed completely during wet and greasy track conditions yet he struggled to pull the train to a stop after going through two uncleared level crossings and a curve well above the track's safety speed - with only minor injuries to a passenger.
Yet another puff piece. Meanwhile in my neck of the woods, a locomotive driver discovered his computer controlled sand dispensing system failed completely during wet and greasy track conditions yet he struggled to pull the train to a stop after going through two uncleared level crossings and a curve well above the track's safety speed - with only minor injuries to a passenger.
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 118
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From: italy
It has taken boeing like a year just to "fix" a program and a few other issues in an airplane which is handled by humans and you're saying that there will be pilotless ( which means more complications) in less than 10 years, yeep, sounds accurate.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 919
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From: uk
IMHO the general public won't accept the idea of a pilotless passenger flight until the successful adoption and proving of autonomous cars which will normailise the idea of automation in their minds.
The BN idea above is just a glorified autopilot on an a/c that is really single pilot anyway. No news here, move on...
The BN idea above is just a glorified autopilot on an a/c that is really single pilot anyway. No news here, move on...
Joined: Mar 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Lander, WY, USA
......all that, and, onto a beach in the Outer Hebrides.
Joined: Jan 2009
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Sweden
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 517
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From: Kelowna Wine Country
Seriously, Pilots cost 20% of airline costs?
Amortisation of aircraft and aviation equipment,
Cabin crew
Ground crew
Servicing and spares
Airport fees
Insurance
Head office personnel, management
Head office overhead
Fuel, oil etc
Agency commisions
Advertising
Edit: And taxes
I am sure this is not an exhaustive list, and I keep hearing on here how poorly LOCO pilots and entry level 1st officers are paid and how they now have to pay for their own upgrades.
Amortisation of aircraft and aviation equipment,
Cabin crew
Ground crew
Servicing and spares
Airport fees
Insurance
Head office personnel, management
Head office overhead
Fuel, oil etc
Agency commisions
Advertising
Edit: And taxes
I am sure this is not an exhaustive list, and I keep hearing on here how poorly LOCO pilots and entry level 1st officers are paid and how they now have to pay for their own upgrades.