Boeing studies pilotless planes...

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06-19-2017, 07:20 AM

#11

Sam York

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The pilot is still in the loop somewhere, just not in the cockpit.

I wouldn't mind turning a room in my house to a UAV office. Fly 2 PHL-BOS round trips in the morning then head to my hangar, pull the bug smasher out and fly to lunch. Yeah, I'd be interested. No driving to a big airport, no hotels etc.

06-19-2017, 07:25 AM

#12

C130driver

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam York

So where would the cost savings be if you're still paying for the pilot!? There would be zero economic or safety advantage to this. Give it a rest conspiracy theorists!

06-19-2017, 07:33 AM

#13

tomgoodman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse

"Pilotless planes is unpossible! Because eveeel Haxx0rs!"

So, they forgot to encrypt it?

"EVEEL HAXX0RS!!!!!

Not "unpossible", but for passenger airliners, unwise.
You commit the hyperbole of which you accuse others.

06-19-2017, 07:47 AM

#14

rickair7777

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse

"Pilotless planes is unpossible! Because eveeel Haxx0rs!"

So, they forgot to encrypt it?

"EVEEL HAXX0RS!!!!!

Well considered and articulate counterpoint.

06-19-2017, 09:20 AM

#15

Mesabah

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Posts: 7,339

Quote:

Originally Posted by C130driver

So where would the cost savings be if you're still paying for the pilot!? There would be zero economic or safety advantage to this. Give it a rest conspiracy theorists!

You are looking at this completely wrong. There will never be a pilotless passenger aircraft. However, the automation will be such that a skilled pilot is no longer necessary, just a technician with a few weeks training. Pay will crater, as management can replace you the same way Northwest did with its mechanics.

06-19-2017, 09:42 AM

#16

TurboFanMan

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The ATC system is not setup to even deal with this technology. I highly doubt they would even sign it, do to the liability. Many many years before this would be seen imo.

06-19-2017, 11:54 AM

#17

rickair7777

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam York

This is actually more likely than pure autonomous airliners. Some cost savings since pilots could work more than one flight at a time. Perhaps instead of two pilots on one flight, you could have one pilot doing two flights (staggered departure/arrival times of course).

But the cost of a "secure" comms infrastructure would be vast and epic. It would be hard to get over that initial hump (who's going to make the investment) given the relatively small savings, which would only add up over a very long period.

All things considered, not any time soon.

06-19-2017, 01:59 PM

#18

Mesabah

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboFanMan

The ATC system is not setup to even deal with this technology. I highly doubt they would even sign it, do to the liability. Many many years before this would be seen imo.

A self driving car is orders of magnitude more complicated than an autonomous aircraft. That said, you will still need some kind of pilot on board for security, and data integrity monitor. I would put the odds of single pilot aircraft in the next ten years at 99%, the odds of a pilot-less aircraft is 0% in the next 50 years.

06-20-2017, 06:27 AM

#19

F4E Mx

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The airline executives said they wanted to operate it. They did not say they would be caught dead as a passenger on board. When one augers in their public relations firm will tell us how sorry they really are.

06-20-2017, 07:00 AM

#20

CrimsonEclipse

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Posts: 461

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboFanMan

The ATC system is not setup to even deal with this technology. I highly doubt they would even sign it, do to the liability. Many many years before this would be seen imo.

Privatize it then automate it.

It's the American way!