Originally Posted by
Tumbleweed
If you're talking about that Jetstream the British did a test flight in I would hardly consider it pilotless. They used a pilot to perform the takeoff and landing THEN the flight was controlled from the ground. Well whoopdee doo! Those are the two most critical phases of flight. If they consider that pilotless than most flights today are already pilotless considering the whole flight plan is loaded into the FMS and most pilots (sadly) just turn on the autopilot shortly after takeoff and keep it coupled until just moments prior to landing. The technology is certainly out there and yes, it's scary to consider its implications but I don't think that Jetstream poses much of a threat.
Much of the savings for going pilotless, aside from the obvious pilot costs are life support and human factors systems. With the "looming pilot shortage," the Jetstream test demonstrates a likely mid-phase solution and that is ground control with a pilot on board. It isn't "pilotless" - so its not scary to the pax.
It is, however, a threat to the piloting profession.