Originally Posted by
deltajuliet
Why is there so much research and development into this? Presumably one pilot would be paid at the Captain wage (or above). I believe pilots are generally around 7% of an airline's operating costs these days, but the FO is a smaller portion of that, call it 2.5%. So billions of dollars into R&D to cut 2.5% of airline operating costs with reduced safety margin. What's the point?
Well, politicians love to fund projects. They get jobs, votes and maybe cousin Emil has a little side business that will benefit. Or maybe it's a way to get funding for some military single pilot bomber or something that otherwise wouldn't get funding or would attract too much attention. Maybe they are sending a shot ACROSS Google's bow. Maybe they think they can develop and sell it to Asia who can't train competent pilots fast enough. Maybe its just good ole lobbying by airlines to put pilots in their place before we get too uppity. It's not about cost or safety. There's no way to ensure a data link couldn't be hacked or wouldn't malfunction.
I find it interesting that in the US, DARPA is funding a similar project with Boeing. I wonder how much money they are really getting through black budget funds.
"A pilotless airliner is going to come; it's just a question of when," said James Albaugh, the president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airlines"
It's about time: greetings to your new robot co-pilot - Aviation news | AeroTime.aero