Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
Automation will continue its slow advance. The flight deck will get cameras and then free flight will reduce pilot work load to near zero while en-route. Slowly but surly ground control will eventually make an appearance. The pilots will loose actual control of the plane but will still be up front just in case.
Eventually the crew will be cut to one impotent pilot in the flight deck who basically sits there as an organic back up system. A UAV pilot on the ground will be the one who is controlling the aircraft. Every three months the back up pilots will go to the sim to remain current. Once a year they will get to land the real plane.
At one time airport subways and elevators all use to have operators and now they don't. Some transportation systems have a half asleep minimum wage person up front to give the appearance of on-board control for the passengers benefit. Pilots have been slowly loosing control since aviation began. Ground control is the next logical step, but not quite yet.
Skyhigh
With respect, it's clearly evident that you have some deep-seeded bitterness towards this profession. Everyone is entitled to choose his/her own path in life and I, personally, will not try to disparage your own personal career decisions. That being said, I don't think it's right how you continue to dig for articles such as these in a way to discourage any and all aviators from pursuing this profession.
It may have not worked out for you, but it's has worked out for many others. Where you might see a disillusioned person mesmerized by a career that may never be, I see a person with a dream and aspiration to pursue a career they love.
Every career path in existence begins with innate interest in that specific field. The mentality that pilots are pursuing a career that is nothing more than a hobby, that will in time become obsolete, is a complete disrespect to any pilot who fought, stressed, and sweat his/her way towards achieving a certificate. I hate that mentality more than anything else in this industry because it's used to offset an increase in pay, improvement in work rules, or a better quality of life for a pilot.
Aviation is on some levels a hobby, but on many different levels it's a strong committed career path that many dedicate their entire lives trying to achieve. Should professional athletes be compensated less on the basis that the career path they choose is perceived as a hobby?
Do yourself a favor, go watch the movie Wall-E, and ask yourself if that is the society that you one day envision. I personally have strong faith in human kind, and truly believe that we will not become slaves to our own technologies.