Originally Posted by
Whiplash6
It's not apples to oranges. In the 50s you made phone calls by picking up the receiver and asking to be connected to "Mable" down the street. Today, we FaceTime each other from corners of the globe without blinking an eye. We are immersed in technology and it's exponential. We grow more comfortable handing over control to AI each day that passes. Just because people wouldn't be ok with riding in a pilotless airplane today does not mean they won't be in 2 or 3 decades from now.
I'm not saying it will never happen, but a lot of things have to happen for it to be a real threat: many of those afformentioned but to recap: public has to be comfortable with it. The technology needs to match the capabilities of existing airliners. The damn things need to be tested and fielded (that itself is about 10 years minimum from concept to first orders flying revenue.) The initial safety record has the be damn near 100%. Unions need to be overpowered. The entire airspace structure and ATC system needs to change. Liability and legal issues need to be addressed. Most importantly, multiple airlines need to see the economic advantage. Oh and congress and the FAA needs to be involved. All these variables and then some need to align perfectly, not going to happen "soon."
Also, not much cost benefit if you're still paying pilots to fly these remotely due to the initial investment and risks. If you're going to do it; might as well get rid of pilots all together and have them 100% autonomous, with maybe a few "operators" sending commands to the airplane remotely.
Finally, sorry long winded post, is there anything wrong with the current system? US airlines have a damn near perfect safety record and they are pulling in record profits. Life is good, why would they jeopardize it?