Cargo Drone In The Works
09-26-2013, 11:27 AM
#61
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2011
Posts: 182
I think that once the public accepts single-pilot ops, it will be very short term and then replaced by no-pilot ops.
Don't underestimate how much more profitable a no-pilot airplane is. Saving an extra pilot salary is one thing, but saving the weight of the cockpit seats, jumpseats, crew baggage, flight controls, CRT (or LCD) displays, ALL of the windows, crew doors, egress systems, galley (what little is already left of it), lavatory, waste tank, potable water system, and perhaps even pressurization is significant. That's at least 3000 pounds of weight savings, even after adding some cameras and whatever extra computers and datalink systems are necessary.
Not to mention that you can probably fit two extra pallets onboard.
I'm also making this stuff up, but it's not surprising that Fred Smith is the largest private investor in UAV technology.
Don't underestimate how much more profitable a no-pilot airplane is. Saving an extra pilot salary is one thing, but saving the weight of the cockpit seats, jumpseats, crew baggage, flight controls, CRT (or LCD) displays, ALL of the windows, crew doors, egress systems, galley (what little is already left of it), lavatory, waste tank, potable water system, and perhaps even pressurization is significant. That's at least 3000 pounds of weight savings, even after adding some cameras and whatever extra computers and datalink systems are necessary.
Not to mention that you can probably fit two extra pallets onboard.
I'm also making this stuff up, but it's not surprising that Fred Smith is the largest private investor in UAV technology.
09-26-2013, 03:11 PM
#62
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 777 Captain in Training
Posts: 1,457
Originally Posted by CallmeJB
I think that once the public accepts single-pilot ops, it will be very short term and then replaced by no-pilot ops.
Don't underestimate how much more profitable a no-pilot airplane is. Saving an extra pilot salary is one thing, but saving the weight of the cockpit seats, jumpseats, crew baggage, flight controls, CRT (or LCD) displays, ALL of the windows, crew doors, egress systems, galley (what little is already left of it), lavatory, waste tank, potable water system, and perhaps even pressurization is significant. That's at least 3000 pounds of weight savings, even after adding some cameras and whatever extra computers and datalink systems are necessary.
Not to mention that you can probably fit two extra pallets onboard.
I'm also making this stuff up, but it's not surprising that Fred Smith is the largest private investor in UAV technology.
Don't underestimate how much more profitable a no-pilot airplane is. Saving an extra pilot salary is one thing, but saving the weight of the cockpit seats, jumpseats, crew baggage, flight controls, CRT (or LCD) displays, ALL of the windows, crew doors, egress systems, galley (what little is already left of it), lavatory, waste tank, potable water system, and perhaps even pressurization is significant. That's at least 3000 pounds of weight savings, even after adding some cameras and whatever extra computers and datalink systems are necessary.
Not to mention that you can probably fit two extra pallets onboard.
I'm also making this stuff up, but it's not surprising that Fred Smith is the largest private investor in UAV technology.
09-26-2013, 03:12 PM
#63
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 777 Captain in Training
Posts: 1,457
Originally Posted by JohnnyG
I agree. This isn't the same as the 'what happens if that thing fails' crowd that still hates GPS.
If they have such a high accident rate, they don't need to carry hazmat or fly over heavily populated areas.
If they have such a high accident rate, they don't need to carry hazmat or fly over heavily populated areas.
How do you do that and fly into the major airports in any country?
09-26-2013, 08:33 PM
#64
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,193
The USAF, who has been operating drones for 15 years, not doing it for profit, in a mature program, just got kicked out of a third world African country because they keep crashing them. 30 years ago, we were all supposed to have flying cars by now.
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