Originally Posted by whalesurfer

All very true. Except no airline and no government agency is looking at pilot-less airplanes at this time. That’s still decades away.

Instead they’re researching single pilot operations or more accurately 1 pilot in the cockpit of the actual airplane and 1 pilot in the cockpit but on the ground.

Several universities have already received grants to research CRM implications of two pilots working “together” but virtually. Basically without them being able to see each other. In other words, will they need cameras for the CRM to work or not? Still at least a decade away but this will undoubtedly be the first step toward total automation.

So 1 pilot who does the takeoff and landing backed up by a “remote” First Officer. Once again, decades away but it’ll happen. Airlines own the FAA (which should be renamed to F$$) and once technology improves the airlines will be the driving force behind this.