Sirs:

When a standardized and RELIABLE world-wide data-link technology exists for real-time communications and data transfer between a ground station and an aircraft, then I'll begin to be concerned. When that 'reliable' link can control 300+ FedEx trunk aircraft between MEM and 160+ different countries simultaneously - real-time - then I'll begin to be concerned.

If you've operated lately anywhere in the eastern hemisphere, you'll know the HF is pre-WWII quality, and not suitable for data link and data transfer. Not to mention miji, hacking, intercepted signals and hijacking. Between India and the Western Pacific, controllers use the same HF freqs. HF communications between India, Singapore, Myanmar, Manila is a disaster ... and that's where all the high dollar wide-body aircraft operate. In fact, didn't the Chinese air authority just issue an ultimatum about lost communications and required LCA or check-rides? I mention HF, because SATCOM coverage can be limited (and costly), and VHF coverage doesn't exist.

Drones work well for the DOD and DOHS because they operate a handful daily. When was the last time you saw a 140 drone launch occur ... every night ... from a congested ramp. The DOT, FAA, and the airlines will need a system that can operate THOUSANDS of aircraft daily into congested aerodromes, across ICAO countries that might not recognize the technology, or approve of it (China comes to mind).

I don't fear the drones. I fear the minions that use the threat of drone technology to force bad decisions that affect everybody's life - in the air and on the ground!

V/R,
Nakazawa

Who will they sell their products and services to?? Other robots???

So it was the robots that killed the Roman empire. I guess now we know.

Fixed it for you...

I think it definitely can happen to airline pilots. I think it will be a long time before it happens, but regardless I'm against any drone replacing my job. The point I was trying to make was the world will get along fine without airline pilots, just like it has without blacksmiths or the countless other jobs that have become obsolete because of technology.

The United Auto Workers example proves my point. In the early 1980s there were over one million UAW members. Today there's around 390,000. In the early 1980s unemployment ranged from 7-10%, while today unemployment is just under 7%. Many other U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost over the last several decades, but yet unemployment has remained relatively steady (yes I know there was a spike during the recession, but this was not caused by robots taking our jobs) and the U.S. GDP has continued to increase. I'm not arguing the fact that this has hurt auto workers or places like Detroit, but the economy as a whole has continued to grow.

Mass production and automation are not that different. They both lead to increased productivity which leads to an increase in wealth. The displaced workers eventually find work elsewhere. Mass production has been going on for a long time, but yet unemployment has not skyrocketed. We don't see a bunch of unemployed craftsman, textile workers, elevator operators, etc. wandering around looking for work. New industries will be created and people will learn new skills. Nobody alive during the industrial revolution could've predicted that industries such as computers, aerospace and pharmaceuticals would end up employing millions of people. Who knows what kind of jobs will exist in the future.

I don't entirely disagree with you here, but you're arguing a different point. Poorly run, corrupt organizations have a history of failing, but not because of an increased use of technology.

Luckily the unemployed and the illegals like the same candidates.

In ten years, I'll 3-D print my own Sexbot who will drive my 3-D printed car to do my shopping for me.

Amazon Drones, should we worry..
 

Do you have any pictures of this proposed Sexbot?

She'll need a license to buy your beer, but just a prescription for your pot.

You're making the extremely flawed assumption that the DC-10 would still be on the property if the MD-10 conversion program had not occurred, which everyone else knows would not be the case.

Had the MD10 program not occurred the 767F would have likely been on order 10+ years ago instead of being a recent acquisition.

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In the early 1980s unemployment ranged from 7-10%, while today unemployment is just under 7%.

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So losing an $80K job with benefits and gaining a $15K job at Walmart with no benefits is no change? The person is "employed". Is it equivalent? Unemployment numbers are BS.