The Air Force has awarded a contract to Silicon Valley firm Reliable Robotics to study the feasibility of flying its biggest iron autonomously. The company will look at whether it makes sense to fly multi-engine jet cargo planes from gate to gate with a remote pilot monitoring from the ground. For each end of the flight, the company is also looking at having the planes loaded and unloaded with robots, too. It’s also looking at making the technology available to commercial aviation. “Remotely piloted aircraft will enable the Air Force to increase mission tempo worldwide and leverage a certifiable commercial solution for defense industry needs at fractional costs and extend aircraft capabilities,” Reliable Robotics said in its Feb. 8 announcement.

The system will use “continuous autopilot engagement” for all phases of flight and all ground phases, too. “Higher precision navigation, sophisticated flight planning capabilities and more robust flight controls better manage aircraft and environmental conditions and improve safety with or without onboard crew,” the company said. The company has already gained certification basis for the system in a Cessna Caravan and says the general application of the technology will increase flight safety. “Once certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, Reliable’s system will reduce the occurrence of common causes of fatal aviation accidents, such as controlled flight into terrain and loss of control,” the company said.

 

The Air Force, partnered with pioneering military industrial complex partners, will of course find panacea.
Speaking from experience with the Air Force’s nearly century old effort at reducing pilots in the air vial their RPA enterprise, my only question is:

Where’s my flying car?

If my children so choose, they can retire from a full airline career, having endured the gauntlet of those that say pilotless planes are “just around the corner”.

 

I hope you are right, but have my doubts.

 

The FAA needs to bump the age up to 68, certify certain AMEs the ability to certify over 65 yo pilots, sort of like a special issuance. Restrict to right seat ops, this will be a great tool for the Professional Pilot and Mentoring programs mandated by the FAA and of course you still must pass your annual company checks. Questioning the cognitive skills of a 68 yo shouldnt be the issue when United almost put a 777 in the drink with a brand new CA and FO. Ill take my chances with the old dude, its getting scary out here with the stories being told about new hires and rapid upgrades.

 

Imagine a 30 year Delta Captain now demoted to the right seat at 66.

 

How do you get demoted out of that? Perhaps that Delta pilot would live the opportunity to mentor. The best instruction I ever received is when I was flying an RJ with a 20+year retired Airforce guy who was Furloughed from United and flying for us under the jets for a jobs deal. Learned a lot and heard some great stories.

At this point in my life (turn 68 next month) I am very happily retired but I would have loved to have moved to the right seat and just enjoyed the ride for a few years.

 

He does always have the option to retire if his ego cant handle the right side!

 

To each his own, obviously, but considering the life expectancy of the average American male, I have decided completely the opposite…..

 

I agree 100%, having been a DC9 and 767 Captain for 9 yrs, I was surplused back to the rt seat of the 767 during the DHL debacle. I had the opportunity to fly with some great senior Captains who had been doing international flying for years on the DC8 and 767. That was something I had never done. Loved everything about it except the pay cut. Still I was happy to have a job and be flying and learning.

 

I can imagine because I lived it. When I was a Netjets captain at 25 years old back in the day. I had a lot of FO’s who were retired Delta captains. All great guys. No ego. Just like flying with anyone else.