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Autopilot in planes can be used, and often is used, in cases of VFR flight in which see-and-avoid is a requirement. Constant surveillance of the aircraft's surr

by jsight 8y ago

Autopilot in planes can be used, and often is used, in cases of VFR flight in which see-and-avoid is a requirement. Constant surveillance of the aircraft's surroundings is important. When it isn't done, midairs happen.

0815test 8y ago
That's a special case, however. See-and-avoid except in specialized scenarios is what the Level-3 designation of driving-assistance systems is about, something that Tesla has not achieved so far.
- bryondowd 8y ago
  Not that special of a case. There's around 10-11 million VFR flights per year, versus around 15-16 million IFR flights, according to this FAA doc[0] How many of those VFR flights have/use autopilot during their flight, I can't say, but basic autopilot systems for GA planes have gotten pretty affordable, so I would expect there's at least hundreds of flights any given day where a VFR pilot engages an autopilot during the flight. The main difference is that none of those VFR flights are big airliners with hundreds of passengers. For those who don't know the difference, an oversimplification would be VFR = pilot is 99% in charge, with very little assistance from air traffic controllers outside of special controlled airspace, IFR = controllers are giving the pilot very detailed instructions for the entire flight. And it's pretty much one or the other. [0] PDF: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/media/Air_Traffic_by_the_Numbers_2018.pdf https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/media/Air_Tra...
SEJeff 8y ago
This should only be the case if you have lost your radio or have utterly incompetent air traffic control. It could also be the case if you're in class G airspace or in some BFE remote area without a tower, but meh. As stated elsewhere, autopilot on planes is pretty much not at all what most people think of as "auto-pilot". The pilots still are doing their instrument scan, and they're still maintaining situational awareness, but they know that the plane should maintain heading, altitude, and airspeed. Source: Have private pilot's license and flew the Shadow 200 TUAV for the US Army. It is a VFR rated airframe that is flown 100% IFR, by nature of it being an ~11ft x 3.5ft x 2ft drone.

by jsight 8y ago

0815test 8y ago

That's a special case, however. See-and-avoid except in specialized scenarios is what the Level-3 designation of driving-assistance systems is about, something that Tesla has not achieved so far.

bryondowd 8y ago
Not that special of a case. There's around 10-11 million VFR flights per year, versus around 15-16 million IFR flights, according to this FAA doc[0] How many of those VFR flights have/use autopilot during their flight, I can't say, but basic autopilot systems for GA planes have gotten pretty affordable, so I would expect there's at least hundreds of flights any given day where a VFR pilot engages an autopilot during the flight. The main difference is that none of those VFR flights are big airliners with hundreds of passengers. For those who don't know the difference, an oversimplification would be VFR = pilot is 99% in charge, with very little assistance from air traffic controllers outside of special controlled airspace, IFR = controllers are giving the pilot very detailed instructions for the entire flight. And it's pretty much one or the other. [0] PDF: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/media/Air_Traffic_by_the_Numbers_2018.pdf https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/media/Air_Tra...

SEJeff 8y ago

This should only be the case if you have lost your radio or have utterly incompetent air traffic control. It could also be the case if you're in class G airspace or in some BFE remote area without a tower, but meh. As stated elsewhere, autopilot on planes is pretty much not at all what most people think of as "auto-pilot". The pilots still are doing their instrument scan, and they're still maintaining situational awareness, but they know that the plane should maintain heading, altitude, and airspeed. Source: Have private pilot's license and flew the Shadow 200 TUAV for the US Army. It is a VFR rated airframe that is flown 100% IFR, by nature of it being an ~11ft x 3.5ft x 2ft drone.