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If autopilot can control an airplane, then couldn't someone also pilot the plane remotely (as if it were a drone)? That would provide some pilot redundancy. I i
by shitlord 4y ago
If autopilot can control an airplane, then couldn't someone also pilot the plane remotely (as if it were a drone)? That would provide some pilot redundancy. I imagine airlines could also save money on staffing if the copilot didn't have to be physically present.
- p_l 4y ago1) the autopilot is actually quite dumb ("keep altitude", "fly on course X", "maintain set speed", "change altitude at rate X / to level Y"), doesn't handle exceptions (in fact, autopilots are designed to disengage in case of exception), and is generally totally blind to environment other than heading, speed, altitude and optionally position (but not, for example, detailed environment on the ground) 2) The latency issues are literally deadly.
- bombcar 4y agoModern autopilots can taxi, takeoff, and with a supporting airport, even autoland. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoland https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoland
- p_l 4y agoOut of those three, the only one actually working anywhere is Autoland, and majority of airports don't support it. No airport supports autopilot taxi nor takeoff (takeoff is done half-automated at most).
- mym1990 4y agoMy gut feeling is that when companies cut costs by cutting safety features, it doesn't play out favorably for consumers.
- papito 4y agoAirlines are fighting tooth and nail to not spend money to implement video feeds on the black boxes, a rather doable upgrade with huge safety benefits, and you want to mandate expenditures on converting all air ships to full remote drones? That is never going to happen.