fenix1

I don’t mean to be confrontational (honest question), but do you mind if I ask what your background/credentials/experience/etc is that you believe has given you greater insight than most into unmanned aviation? I appreciate you weighing in - thanks a lot.

fenix1

Pilots know everything - just ask them!

All kidding aside, I asked the pilot group because: A). They’re doing the job everyday right now meaning they (pilots) understand the challenges that unmanned aviation would need to be able to effectively address; B). They understand the automation present in modern equipment (aircraft) better than anyone (except possibly the engineers and/or mechanics...but that crowd is better equipped to share how things are SUPPOSED to work, not how they actually do on a regular basis); C). This group has the most to lose if unmanned aviation emerges so I figured most would be monitoring the latest developments pretty closely; D). I figured a few folks had to be waiting for chow & a barley soda in a hotel bar/restaurant somewhere and might be good enough to fill that idle layover time by making me less dumb on the matter.

For the practical & realistic insight I hoped to gain, I didn’t think there was a better group to ask.

SideSticker

If you are imagining your curent jet without a pilot, you are thinking about this all wrong.


Boeing Unveils New Unmanned Cargo Air Vehicle Prototype
The electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing multi-copter UAV is designed to carry up to 500 pounds

The prototype aims to further develop and mature the building blocks of autonomy and electric propulsion

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Boeing
Jan 10, 2018, 12:15 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today unveiled a new unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) prototype that will be used to test and evolve Boeing's autonomy technology for future aerospace vehicles. It is designed to transport a payload up to 500 pounds for possible future cargo and logistics applications.

"This flying cargo air vehicle represents another major step in our Boeing eVTOL strategy," said Boeing Chief Technology Officer Greg Hyslop. "We have an opportunity to really change air travel and transport, and we'll look back on this day as a major step in that journey."

In less than three months, a team of engineers and technicians across the company designed and built the CAV prototype. It successfully completed initial flight tests at Boeing Research & Technology's Collaborative Autonomous Systems Laboratory in Missouri.

Boeing researchers will use the prototype as a flying test bed to mature the building blocks of autonomous technology for future applications. Boeing HorizonX, with its partners in Boeing Research & Technology, led the development of the CAV prototype, which complements the eVTOL passenger air vehicle prototype aircraft in development by Aurora Flight Sciences, a company acquired by Boeing late last year.

"Our new CAV prototype builds on Boeing's existing unmanned systems capabilities and presents new possibilities for autonomous cargo delivery, logistics and other transportation applications," said Steve Nordlund, Boeing HorizonX vice president. "The safe integration of unmanned aerial systems is vital to unlocking their full potential. Boeing has an unmatched track record, regulatory know-how and systematic approach to deliver solutions that will shape the future of autonomous flight."

Powered by an environmentally-friendly electric propulsion system, the CAV prototype is outfitted with eight counter rotating blades allowing for vertical flight. It measures 15 feet long (4.57 meters), 18 feet wide (5.49 meters) and 4 feet tall (1.22 meters), and weighs 747 pounds (339 kilograms).

Chicago-based Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries.

BoilerUP

Airplanes and their associated support cost a LOT of money, but they have a relatively long useful lifespan to amortize acquisition costs.

In just the last few weeks we've seen FDX and especially UPS stock take a beating when CEOs say they are going to take income and tax reform savings and invest it in CapEx to grow the business instead of returning it to shareholders via dividends or stock buybacks.

There are no single/remote piloted narrowbody civil cargo aircraft on a 10 year horizon that could carry even the 3T payload of the recently announced Cessna 408 SkyCourier...let alone 20T+ like a narrowbody 738, 320/321, or 757 to say nothing of widebodies. As cargo fleets continue to age, they will be recapitalized with current generation aircraft that have 30+ year lifespans. It is that next generation of aircraft, maybe, possibly, that will have single/remote pilot capabilities...

Capital costs are but one reason "fear" of this is greatly overblown in any of our lifetimes.

Low Flyin

Airlines are doing well now...but just a few years ago they were declaring bankruptcy

SaltyDog

Most interesting conversation on this topic I heard: One rarely mentioned.
The lawyers will keep it from happening in the legal realm based on numerous issues.
Liability in other countries...
communities suing to prevent pilotless airliners from flying over their neighborhood on approach or takeoff...
Would be tied up in litigation and negotiations for decades to iron out the risks etc
Reagrdless, a long time away for anyone in the business today or just starting out.

package puppy

....and yet there seems to be no shortage of those who are willing to spend significant negotiating capital on useless contract language in a vain attempt to alleviate fears that could easily be proven wrong if they would educate themselves on the cost of certifying a FAR Part 25 airliners to single or no pilots. Sigh, perhaps they need a new tin foil hat?

esa17

After I earned my ATP and A&P I spent 5 years flying two different types of tactical unmanned aircraft on 3 continents. Everything from anti-drug interdiction to other...stuff.

TiredSoul

So that makes you an expert in wide body cargo operations?
You may know more then most of us about the drone-driving business but there’s people here that know more about the cargo-moving business.

You need seemless transition systems between different countries and different continents.
Good luck with that.
Never gonna happen..

C130driver

Yeah, until George starts having technical issues and starts crashing. They will set them straight.