TheFly

Boeing studies pilotless planes as it ponders next jetliner | Reuters

"Airlines are among those backing the idea, in part to deal with a projected need for 1.5 million pilots over the next 20 years as global demand for air travel continues to grow."

It may not be here now, but it's on its way.

yeahbutstill

Thats until some 16 year old in his mom's basement is able to hack into their systems and take control of the aircraft.

CrimsonEclipse

Just like they hack into the Airbus flight control system.

C130driver

Oh Man I totally forgot, Airbuses are unmanned! Discussion over, you win! Pilotless airplanes next decade and UBI for everyone to follow.

UAL T38 Phlyer

Airbus: not connected to the ground via data-link.

What Boeing is proposing: data-link, either primary, or backup.

While scoffed at initially, it is now believed Iran did successfully hack into the data-link of a US drone, and either forced it to crash, or directed it to Iran. Either way, they captured it. (RQ-170; 2011).

If Boeing is proposing a fully-autonomous plane with no human backup, that will never fly (pun intended).

If it does have a data-link, it can probably be hacked.

tomgoodman

No need for that any more; they just hack your implanted chip.

Don't think you have one? Then it's working perfectly.

CrimsonEclipse

I love all of the communications majors here.

Oh, and it will fly, it has flown.
Likely a flying wing or BWB variant as a military refueler/cargo plane followed by civie cargo followed by single pilot pax.

And stop using the RQ-170 as an example.
You don't know what happened and you're guessing.

UAL T38 Phlyer

For the record: engineering background/degree/work experience.

Not contesting it can fly...that's demonstrated. What I do find unlikely is public---or even govermental---acceptance.

Global Hawk has a dismal record...it's why the U-2 has not been retired. 40% of the initial Block were lost due to mechanicals. In one case, it disappeared...and they never did figure out where it went.

The RQ170 is not my "guess;" it is the generally accepted explanation, by various technical accounts. One analysis said it was as simple as the Air Force didn't encrypt the datalink, because they didn't think it was an Achilles Heel.

Point being: Germanwings, Silkair, and Egypt Air will raise doubts about single-pilot without a backup. All forms of electronic communication can be exploited, given the right adversary, time, and tactics.

rickair7777

I agree, but it's going to take a lot longer than many people seem to think. At least 100 years, and that's probably on the low side.


I do know what happened. The true story is more complicated, but does not bode well for autonomous aircraft in the near future. Bottom line autonomous aircraft carrying pax will need to be able to function in a TOTALLY autonomous manner, without relying on any help from the ground, because the EM spectrum is vulnerable on so many levels.

CrimsonEclipse

"Pilotless planes is unpossible! Because eveeel Haxx0rs!"

So, they forgot to encrypt it?

"EVEEL HAXX0RS!!!!!