I have been shouting from the rooftops that pilotless aircraft was coming and got nothing but "It wil never happen in my lifetime" comments. IT is coming much much faster than anyone thought and here it is. Right the unions is in contract negotiations after the last TA was denied. The company is back working with the union but you can bet they have one eye on this. Maybe this will not make it to passenger operations but I would not bet on it. I am out of the game, too old, and do not fly unless I have no alternative so it will not affect me.
One of my good friends son is in the Air Force flying drones in the Middle East from his desk in the U.S. The technology is here, it is just a matter of refining it for commercial operation.