Are robo-freighters the future?
06-10-2010, 10:21 PM
#11
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Joined APC: Dec 2006
Position: I was acquired, Not Hired
Posts: 1,784
Originally Posted by purpledog
Since we are buying every 777 we can get our hands on, I don't think anyone reading this has anything to worry about. How long have we had 727s?
Back to my igloo.
FF
06-11-2010, 01:36 AM
#12
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Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 767 Captain
Posts: 3,988
Originally Posted by Daniel Larusso
Until they started taking those out of the desert, essentially less than a year than they went away.
06-11-2010, 05:04 AM
#13
Rubber dogsh#t out of HKG
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Senior Seat Cushion Tester Extraordinaire
Posts: 622
I think even freight trains have 2 guys up front. Being replaced by automation will happen to them before we start seeing it. No offense to you railroad engineers!
06-11-2010, 06:02 AM
#14
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,068
Originally Posted by Adlerdriver
I just jumpseated on one. Oldest looking 310 I've ever seen.
06-11-2010, 06:49 AM
#15
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,068
Originally Posted by Radials Rule
I think even freight trains have 2 guys up front. Being replaced by automation will happen to them before we start seeing it. No offense to you railroad engineers!
06-11-2010, 08:12 AM
#16
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Position: 767A (Ret)
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Train crews
Originally Posted by Radials Rule
I think even freight trains have 2 guys up front. Being replaced by automation will happen to them before we start seeing it. No offense to you railroad engineers!
Most freight trains on most railroads today have a crew of two: one conductor and one engineer. Railroad companies continue to press for reduced operating and labor costs and this threatens to eliminate the position of conductor. Railroads rationalize that since the engineer is already qualified as a conductor he can easily assume the duties of a conductor. In fact, the progression on most railroads are that engineers begin their career as a brakeman/asst. conductor, conductor and finally engineer.
06-11-2010, 09:46 AM
#17
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 397
Of course a train can only go forward or backward on a set track. A plane has a few more directions that it can go.
And look at all the train incidents that have occurred recently - conductor texting and colliding with other trains.. The automated systems failed but the conductor relied on them..
And look at all the train incidents that have occurred recently - conductor texting and colliding with other trains.. The automated systems failed but the conductor relied on them..
06-11-2010, 10:04 AM
#18
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 38
I tried to talk an eager high schooler out of pursuing an aviation career because I think its in long term decline. I can definitely see single pilot aircraft in the forseeable future.
As to pilotless aircraft, there are a host of issues that need addressing:
- getting a pilotless jet to and from the runway quickly. The taxi piece isn't even close to being addressed and it's a big stumbling block in my view.
- computers will control pilotless aircraft and they'll have to be networked, thus vulnerable to hacking. Can you say remote-controlled terrorism?
- Government foot-dragging on upgrading the ATC system to handle such a huge leap in technology.
Between enormous infrastructure costs, insurability issues, certification delays, aircraft development, computer security, and public sentiment I don't see truly pilotless aircraft for a very long time.
As to pilotless aircraft, there are a host of issues that need addressing:
- getting a pilotless jet to and from the runway quickly. The taxi piece isn't even close to being addressed and it's a big stumbling block in my view.
- computers will control pilotless aircraft and they'll have to be networked, thus vulnerable to hacking. Can you say remote-controlled terrorism?
- Government foot-dragging on upgrading the ATC system to handle such a huge leap in technology.
Between enormous infrastructure costs, insurability issues, certification delays, aircraft development, computer security, and public sentiment I don't see truly pilotless aircraft for a very long time.
06-11-2010, 09:33 PM
#20
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: 777 Capt
Posts: 403
Originally Posted by Chilitime
Heard of a Predator? How about Global Hawk? You can shoot guys from thousands of miles away and still pick up some dunkin donuts on the way home.
U.S. Air Force, Air Combat Command Gen. Hornburg put Predator's crash rate last year at 32.8 per 100,000 flight hours, and this year's at 49.6. "If you want to talk about Global Hawk, which we are measuring, the accident rate for the Global Hawk right now is 167.7."
Those accident rates are not primarily combat related - they are engine failure, takeoff, and landing related. And those takeoff and landings are in fairly benign and isolated airfield environments.
Make no mistake. The UAV's are coming to the commercial world, but I believe they've got a long way to go before they're safe enough to be flying into busy commercial airports, or in the national airspace. Of course, Fedex and UPS will still be working hard to get them as quickly as they can.
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