Originally Posted by
symbian simian
AF447 crashed because the pitot tubes iced over. Yes, the pilots didn't help, but we aren't even close to having a certified system that would have done better. I would think that for every crash due to pilot error there is numerous crashes prevented because of pilot input you won't hear anything about because "nothing happened". Automation certainly improves safety for things like autoland, but lets not get ahead of ourselves here, they haven't been able to automate one dimensional travel (train), how the H do you think they will be able to automate 3 dimensional travel.
The only reason trains are still operated by humans is because of...drum roll...regulation! The feds won't release the RRs from their version of the FARs.
Lots of near crashes as well. All pilot error induced. Yeah, the pilot prevented it, but that is like saying you prevented a car wreck by swerving out of oncoming traffic...after falling asleep.