Originally Posted by Supermoto

You're assuming that automation is not safer than manned operations. That is perhaps not a correct assumption at least according to an analysis of human error vs. automation errors in aviation accidents. Large jets have been flying completely autonomously for decades. I have shared airspace and conducted tests with their operators and engineers. TCAS combined with control logic and current navigation technology along with a person on the ground to monitor systems equals a very mathematically safe operation. We have hardware limitations with current aircraft, but the technology already exists in robust form, we just need to implement it. I won't speculate on the timeline, but it won't be in the immediate future.