The zero plan comment was also from the FAA guy. Just to clarify, this wasn't just any FAA guy. His job is to work with UAV operators in his respective FSDO area, and to give approval for the operation of UAV's in his FSDO's airspace.

I can see how my comment came off as 'know it all' but I didn't intend it to be that way. For that I'm sorry, I should have phrased it better. I really don't know much about UAV's. I just got the impression from the FAA guy that we are a long way away from ever having them involved in the airlines. For that matter, he seemed concerned with them operating in areas busy with swept wing jet traffic.

I will acknowledge that at some point the technology will be advanced enough for a single pilot airliner, but I don't know if we will ever get people to sign off on it. Just look how the media terrified with general public with a silly article about automation killing our pilot skills.

Sorry for touching a nerve. I was just passing a message. :o
I should have worded it better, but my 2 yr old keeps my posts rather short. :D

I too apologize for my words coming across as antagonistic. (Hard to relay voice inflection of a debate in text.)

Honestly, I don't know it all about UAV's being implemented into the same airspace as manned assets, but for what it's worth, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, AND the anonymous web board forum makes me sound much smarter than I really am!! :D

On a serious note. I've been working with the FAA for the better part of a year now, and dually admit that there are serious hurdles to overcome before it'll ever happen. (Tallest hurdle, as Bucking Bar would probably agree, is the simple bureaucratic structure of the FAA as a whole.)

If the FAA person on your jumpseat, is from one of the Great Lakes FSDO's, I've more than likely talked to him numerous times. I'd have liked to have been in that same conversation, as I disagree with his "zero plan" logic, but like I said, wasn't there, and can't speak for the basis he was making his argument. All I can say, is that there is a plan when radio comms fail, but with each FAA office being a time warp to the 70's, with corduroy & polyester included "free of charge", sometimes it's hard for people to "think outside the box". (Something that ACL65 offers to this forum. [Thinking outside the box.])

I PM'd both Bucking Bar & Boomer some thoughts/opinions of where I see UAV's combined with fixed wing a/c in the future. To both I wrote it's not something I foresee anytime soon. I agree with you that the thought of getting on an airplane, controlled by someone on the ground, could be thought as lunacy now. I do, however, think that the technology could be there in 30 years to have reduced crew requirements for long haul routes, for at least cargo operations, at a minimum.

I don't have a two year old anymore, (youngest is 8 year old [girl], going on 18) but do sometimes post like I had a two year old behind the keyboard. :D Took a MLOA from Northwest, now Delta to spend some quality time with my family. Coming back to Ma' Delta soon. Until then, FLY SAFE.

GJ

Great post. When ya come back, it would be great to talk to ya in person.

Thinking outside the box can be fun. One known is 90% of people will think you are crazy. :D

Thanks for the response. It's good to know your MLOA allowed you to spend time with your family. You can't put a price on that. We look forward to having you back, & thanks for you service. :)

It is pretty well decided that the next generation long-range strike platform will be "optionally manned." My concern is the ATA making the argument that "If we can trust the AF to carry nuclear weapons on unmanned platforms, surely they are safe enough to carry passengers." I bet 30-40 years ago the concept of subways and trains with no driver would have seemed preposterous. Granted, you can't just pull a plane onto a side track and park it if something goes wrong. However, there must be a lot of checks and balances in place to keep two of those trams from colliding head-on in MSP.

I think single-pilot ops will come to cargo first, which is actually a major reason I don't have an active application at Fed Ex right now. If it comes to cargo in 20 years and pax ops in 30 years, I'll just slide under the wire. I definitely won't be pushing my kids toward this career, though!