As I have mentioned elsewhere I do not believe that pilots will disappear from passenger fights altogether but will still be there arms folded watching the show making their 35K per year. Automation has been rapidly invading the flight deck over the last 20 years.

Side A says never and side B says eventually. I think the short term reality lies in between. We will still have pilots up front but they will not be flying the plane anymore but serve as a back up system. Hand flying will be exclusively reserved for the flight simulator as an emergency procedure. Pilots will be paid a pittance and abused as management sees fit.

In trains I read that there is a lever that the "operator" must flip back and forth as means of proving to the system that they are still somewhat alert and awake. If they stop for a given period of time the brakes automatically go on and the train comes to a stop. Trains are exposed to many variables. People and objects on the tracks and such. Modern airliners will not need to have that switch. The pilots will just be allowed to sleep. (kind of like it is now. )

Skyhigh