If cargo planes are allowed to be single pilot, what are the chances airlines won't want to have the same cost reductions?

US Pilots hit out at FAA study into single-pilot cargo aircraft ǀ Air Cargo News
http://www.aircargonews.net/news/airline/freighter-operator/single-view/news/us-pilots-hit-out-at-faa-study-into-single-pilot-cargo-aircraft.html

 

“Single pilot planes are coming”

Seems like that’s the opposite of what the article concludes. I’m with you though, it’s in the future but this link doesn’t suppprt the idea that it’s coming anytime soon.

 

Probably not in our careers.

Airlines took a huge step forward with CRM. Why the hell take a huge step back.

A “pilot” on the ground is not worth half a crap. Single pilot is probably decades away-if at all.

If it were safe, why wouldn’t cruise ships do it? (God knows, cruise ship companies are 100% as cheapskates as any airline could ever dream to be.)

 

This is significant in the sense that it's really the first time a major regulatory body has even hinted at considering this. Not sure if they think it's actually worth looking at, or just going through the motions at the behest of some political master (who in turn is beholden to people who operate big cargo planes).

 

Thats why there will NEVER BE A PILOT SHORTAGE!! They will always find a way to take care of it, Airbus, Boeing, NASA have been studying for years about replacing pilots with robots and machines... it first starts with single pilot and then the robots take over, first starting at the Fedex UPS level and my opinion is we are less than 5 years away for the cargo sector to be experimenting with this in the cockpits.... a little longer until the airlines get it though... 10 years though is an eternity in technology. Dont be shocked if in 10yrs or less the airlines start with the 1 pilot standard with the assistance of a robot in the right seat! Its all how you sell it over the media... technology is sold as "so cool" now a days on the TV after 5 years of successful robot flying and 1 pilot as the backup on Fedex and UPS flights then its gonna be "so cool" to have a robot fly you to Paris! It's coming guys, and you better get ready for it! Especially the young guys... The airlines don't give a crap about you...

 

I think it’s much more of a threat to cargo operators.

Overwater first.

I’d really be worried about this if I flew cargo.

Unfortunately, the general public-and their dumbass DC scumbag reps-give not 1/2 a rat’s ass what happens on cargo flights.

 

This was written into the FAA reauthorization by politicians.

It’s a STUDY.

Good on ALPA/IPA/IBT for trying to squash even a study - camel’s nose under the tent isn’t good - but a study does not policy make, nor does it mean imminent doom for cargo flying jobs.

Mid-30s, fly boxes, not concerned...sky ain’t falling.

 

I'd be worried if I flew cargo, and expected to live to 120 (and expected the FAA to raise the retirement age to 110).

Keep in mind this thing is win/win for the people behind it. Best case, they get to fire half their pilots someday. Worst case, the publicity might scare some pilots into making concessions to help preserve their jobs in the face of a (highly improbable) threat.

This will take a long, long time and we'll see it coming years out. What these people are fantasizing about doing is eliminating pilots in CURRENT aircraft, which were not designed for that. The costs of retofitting and certifying the needed technology probably exceed the costs of the pilots over the life of the planes.

The time to worry is when manufacturers start trying to "bake" this sort of capability into new designs... but they won't do that unless they KNOW that it can certified, sold, and operated and they know the precise roadmap to certification. That last is so far beyond the technical capability of the FAA as to be laughable. Don't believe me? Google "NextGen"...

 

"I'll take 'Robust Data Links' for $800, Alex."

https://www.jeopardy.com/about/cast/alex-trebek

 

This sort of thing will happen eventually.

And then an accident will occur because of it.

And then it will stop. Forever.

We can all see what a stupid idea it is, but mgmt and politicians have to find out the hard way.