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In yesterday's BBC's HardTalk, Stephen Sackur interviewed the ever controversial Ryan Air's boss, Michael O'Leary. Amongst many subjects discussed, Michael was reminded that he once suggested there should only be one pilot or even no pilots in the plane in future. Michael reiterated the point that with advancing drone and flight technology, that it will become possible in 10-20 years' time.
Personally I agree with him, but I would like to find out how fellow forumers feel about flying in a plane with one pilot or without one.
Here's my 2-cents:
1) The US, most of all, have developed very sophisticated drones and cruise missile capable of long flight and delivering a payload very precisely on targets (whether it's the correct target, it's another matter!
). The US is already moving ahead with plans to implement pilot-less planes to replace the current generation of fighter bombers. Many of the drones now are remotely controlled but development of software to allow them "intelligence" to fly on their own, should communication signals be jammed, have already been developed.
2) Google and a few other individuals have already developed and tested driver-less cars. This will probably come into commercial production within the next 5-8 years. Some of us will probably live to enjoy this and will dampen the phobia of having a driverless vehicle (we have already stopped batting an eye on driver-less trains).
3) As the number of aircraft grow over the next decade, some skies, particularly in China, India, Europe and the US, with many close city-pairs, will see a massive bloom in air-traffic, to the point that having humans controlling traffic will be a near impossible task (see replacement of traffic cop at junctions, with traffic lights). The reliance of computers and sensors on the ground and in the air will be more and more relied upon to provide a higher level of efficiency and safety.
Personally I agree with him, but I would like to find out how fellow forumers feel about flying in a plane with one pilot or without one.
Here's my 2-cents:
1) The US, most of all, have developed very sophisticated drones and cruise missile capable of long flight and delivering a payload very precisely on targets (whether it's the correct target, it's another matter!
). The US is already moving ahead with plans to implement pilot-less planes to replace the current generation of fighter bombers. Many of the drones now are remotely controlled but development of software to allow them "intelligence" to fly on their own, should communication signals be jammed, have already been developed. 2) Google and a few other individuals have already developed and tested driver-less cars. This will probably come into commercial production within the next 5-8 years. Some of us will probably live to enjoy this and will dampen the phobia of having a driverless vehicle (we have already stopped batting an eye on driver-less trains).
3) As the number of aircraft grow over the next decade, some skies, particularly in China, India, Europe and the US, with many close city-pairs, will see a massive bloom in air-traffic, to the point that having humans controlling traffic will be a near impossible task (see replacement of traffic cop at junctions, with traffic lights). The reliance of computers and sensors on the ground and in the air will be more and more relied upon to provide a higher level of efficiency and safety.
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