Pilotless planes could save airlines billions
08-11-2017, 07:37 AM
#71
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Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp
Those big freight trains you see still have 2 "pilots."
We'll go straight from two pilots to no pilot in certain applications at some point.
There is a tremendous difference in reacting to a depressurization vs. fully autonomous flight.
We'll go straight from two pilots to no pilot in certain applications at some point.
There is a tremendous difference in reacting to a depressurization vs. fully autonomous flight.
Single pilot ops is just a matter of PVI and redundancy. It's not that much of a leap.
08-11-2017, 07:39 AM
#73
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Originally Posted by CBreezy
In your scenario, what happens if the AC depressuirzes and the crew is incapacitated? Where does it land? You still haven't answered the question.
The A350 just descends to a lower altitude (where presumably the pilot would regain consciousness) and flies the depressurization route to avoid terrain while it does so. I don't know what happens after that, because I don't fly it and only saw it demo'd in a sim at the training center.
As for where it lands, most DP routes are tied to RNAV arrivals into an airport, so my guess would be there.
08-11-2017, 07:41 AM
#74
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Originally Posted by CBreezy
We aren't even remotely close to fully autonomous.
On a 737, as soon as you press the TOGA button and clean up, the plane could conceivably fly the entire departure, route, arrival, and approach/landing with minimal intervention (aside from gear and flaps and spinning the altitude bug). You don't think that's close to fully autonomous?
08-11-2017, 07:42 AM
#75
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Originally Posted by Mover
You didn't ask that question.
The A350 just descends to a lower altitude (where presumably the pilot would regain consciousness) and flies the depressurization route to avoid terrain while it does so. I don't know what happens after that, because I don't fly it and only saw it demo'd in a sim at the training center.
As for where it lands, most DP routes are tied to RNAV arrivals into an airport, so my guess would be there.
The A350 just descends to a lower altitude (where presumably the pilot would regain consciousness) and flies the depressurization route to avoid terrain while it does so. I don't know what happens after that, because I don't fly it and only saw it demo'd in a sim at the training center.
As for where it lands, most DP routes are tied to RNAV arrivals into an airport, so my guess would be there.
08-11-2017, 07:45 AM
#76
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Originally Posted by CBreezy
Assuming it has the gas to do the whole flight at 10,000 feet. Or will it just run out of gas trying to get there? And I did ask the question. You even quoted it.
08-11-2017, 07:46 AM
#77
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Originally Posted by Mover
Seriously?
On a 737, as soon as you press the TOGA button and clean up, the plane could conceivably fly the entire departure, route, arrival, and approach/landing with minimal intervention (aside from gear and flaps and spinning the altitude bug). You don't think that's close to fully autonomous?
On a 737, as soon as you press the TOGA button and clean up, the plane could conceivably fly the entire departure, route, arrival, and approach/landing with minimal intervention (aside from gear and flaps and spinning the altitude bug). You don't think that's close to fully autonomous?
08-11-2017, 07:48 AM
#78
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Originally Posted by Mover
Have you ever flown in mountainous terrain? What do you think conscious pilots do? Of course we have the gas to get there.
08-11-2017, 07:49 AM
#79
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Originally Posted by CBreezy
No. Because without the pilots interacting with the gear, the flaps, the speed breaks, the altitude selector, the radar, ATC issued changes to programming, heading when given vectors to final (50% of the time), weather deviations, step climbs, reroutes, holding and landing at any airport that doesn't have, specifically a CAT III, operating would be impossible. There's much more but I think I made my point.
Like I said, with a few changes in PVI, it's all possible. You don't think ATC could send reroutes through ACARS or CPDLC? Or that a GPS approach could be programmed to be flown to landing?It's not as far as you think. A lot of what we do is busy work, and certainly doesn't require TWO pilots.
08-11-2017, 07:52 AM
#80
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Originally Posted by CBreezy
Yes. I have. And I've never had a depressurization route. And there is no way if you are flying from LA to NYC, you can make it at 15,000-10,000 feet if you were planned at 35,000
You'd have to ask the Airbus folks what it does when it descends in an area that doesn't require a DP. My guess it'd just do the emergency descent for you to 10,000.
Software wise, it could be programmed to select the nearest suitable alternate (using a database with runway length, approaches, etc) and fly to that point and autoland. It's just coding. The framework is all there.
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