Cargo Drone In The Works
03-17-2007, 06:05 AM
#31
...Whatever It Is!
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,680
Originally Posted by UFO Driver
Seems that eveyone has overlooked that fact that currently UAVs still have pilots, they are just in a control room far far away with a joystick and throttle, watching their performance through cameras.
Yea, maybe I'll be able to do this job from home! Oh, but then, how will I make up for the lost per diem?
03-17-2007, 02:08 PM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: Row well and live...
Posts: 494
Originally Posted by UFO Driver
Seems that eveyone has overlooked that fact that currently UAVs still have pilots, they are just in a control room far far away with a joystick and throttle, watching their performance through cameras.
03-17-2007, 03:33 PM
#33
gets every day off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: Retired MD11 Capt
Posts: 705
Originally Posted by UFO Driver
Seems that eveyone has overlooked that fact that currently UAVs still have pilots, they are just in a control room far far away with a joystick and throttle, watching their performance through cameras.
The military rationale for UAVs center around not risking a crew, stealth, and maneuverability. Not factors in commercial aviation. There is no doubt that the technology exists, or soon will, to have unmanned transport aircraft. The questions are: Will it economically feasible? And will the public accept the risk of unmanned aircraft of the size and number that are currently flying overhead? (those risks include, but aren't limited to: automation system failures, aircraft system failures not related to automation, and malevolent intrusion into the automation system, e.g. terroist hackers).
A couple of years ago, we were THIS close to getting sanctioned napping in the cockpit during cruise. Right up until the media found out about it, and it died overnight. Died for cargo as well as pax operations. With the public reaction to THAT, can you imagine their reaction to the concept of the "anthill video" full of UAVs every night?
We have the technology to a lot of things that we don't do, because it's too expensive, the risk/reward doesn't make sense, or the public won't stand for it.
-'Frater
03-17-2007, 08:54 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
Multi-tasking
Originally Posted by MD11Fr8Dog
Yea, maybe I'll be able to do this job from home! Oh, but then, how will I make up for the lost per diem?
No Problemo! You'll be paid double or triple wages by working several flights at once. As long as they're properly spaced, all but one will be in cruise at any given time. In an emergency, a "reserve nerd" can take an electronic handoff. The company will even provide you with a free computer!
03-18-2007, 05:58 AM
#35
...Whatever It Is!
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,680
Originally Posted by tomgoodman
No Problemo! You'll be paid double or triple wages by working several flights at once. As long as they're properly spaced, all but one will be in cruise at any given time. In an emergency, a "reserve nerd" can take an electronic handoff. The company will even provide you with a free computer!
But what about all the furloughed guys?
03-18-2007, 11:03 PM
#36
China Visa Applicant
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Midfield downwind
Posts: 1,920
Check this out:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...oncepts05.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...oncepts05.html
The documents show Boeing has looked at other concepts as well: a supersonic business jet; a megasize freighter; airplanes that use biofuels or hydrogen; and even a "reduced crew" airliner — one with no windows in the cockpit, judging by a sketch in the Boeing documents.
03-19-2007, 02:24 PM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 276
Originally Posted by UFO Driver
Seems that eveyone has overlooked that fact that currently UAVs still have pilots, they are just in a control room far far away with a joystick and throttle, watching their performance through cameras.
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