They're trying to make airplanes without pilots, and this is bad news for me! Because I want to be a pilot! Do you think that's going to happen in the future? Will there always be pilots around?
Take a look at this youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYt3jnm-q1k
They have already began! :( And don't mind the title, it has nothing to do with it.
2006-12-24 18:38:06 · 20 answers · asked by ? 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Oh my mistake, I meant when computers TOTALLY fly the plane, and there's no pilots around at all. lol, but thanks for the great answers! I'll still live up to my dream XD!!!
2006-12-25 12:44:31 · update #1
No, I seriously doubt it. A computer will only do what a PERSON tells it to, and will only recognize what it is programed to. There are too many variables and " what if's" in an aircraft, to rely solely on a computer. Yes most systems now rely on computers, but most must have a way for the pilot to override it in an emergency. Your home computer gets a virus and shuts down, what would happen to a plane? The ultimate hijacking. If someone can give your cell phone a virus, it could happen to a plane. Navigation is all satellite and radio. Nobody would get on a plane that had no human pilot. I'm a mechanic and would never trust a machine to fix a plane.
2006-12-29 02:36:37 · answer #1 · answered by JET_DOC 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, there will still have pilots to monitor the plane even though the computers fly the planes. When something malfunctions on the plane or some buttons need to switch on, you can't expect the computer to do it or repair by itself right? Since the computer doesn't know it at the first place so it malfunction or having some error. But i think that pilot won't be a pilot in the normal days but rather an airplane ''guard''?
2006-12-25 02:52:36 · answer #2 · answered by SKyLaR 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you have to worry too much. Most of the commercial jets now can pretty much take off, fly, and land themselves. The problem is, most people wouldn't get in an airplane if they knew there was no pilot in the cockpit. For this if no other reason there will always be pilots (at least in our lifetimes.) Besides, this type of equipment is very expensive so it will be a very long time before they could completely phase out having a human being at the helm if they wanted to. Best of luck in flight school!!
2006-12-25 02:49:06 · answer #3 · answered by swttxlady 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Computers have been flying planes for some time now. Look into the northwoods report. In the 60's they were planning secret operations with planes flying over seas to encourage attacks.With no pilots onboard. that was 40 years ago think what they can do now.But as far as always being pilots on commercial flights that will stay for some time to come.
2006-12-25 03:09:18 · answer #4 · answered by stephenmwells 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The computer weenies will tell you it is coming. As a pilot with an engineering degree I can tell you there isn't much of a chance of completely removing the human element from the cockpit simply because Computers lack the ability to anticipate. They merely react to inputs form the avionics and compare that to the presets within the software. A human has the ability to read a situation and react proactively.
Besides, someone needs to program the computer with the day's mission.
Largely, commercial airliners are flow by the flight management system already.
2006-12-29 13:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by a6peacekpr9 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They already do fly airplanes. All the time. That does NOT mean that there will ever be pilot-less commercial flights, however. Even in today's modern commercial aircraft, there is no substitute for a highly trained human at the controls in case of an emergency and it's highly unlikely that a computer will take their place any time in the foreseeable future.
2006-12-25 10:32:53 · answer #6 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Computers already are coming close to flying the plane totally. All that is required for the pilot now after programming the computer and lining up on the centerline is raising takeoff flaps and wheels and when landing set flaps and landing gear.
Now the voices over the video have been added by unknown persons. read all about the crash here:
http://www.airdisaster.com/investigations/af296/af296.shtml
2006-12-26 14:01:44 · answer #7 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes am sure that computers will be flying the jets in the future actully now days the Pilots are only taking care of the take off and the landing only and since that 90% of the planes crash are Human mistakes so i think they will go for it
2006-12-25 03:06:36 · answer #8 · answered by Reasonable 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most modern plane already do. What do you think takes over when the pilot puts the plane on autopilot. Any of the stealth air planes could not be controlled if not for the computer.
2006-12-25 07:09:00 · answer #9 · answered by bgt242 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was told that the future planes are to be flown by a monkey and a pilot. The monkey pushes the flashing buttons and the pilot feeds the monkey bananas.
2006-12-25 22:39:53 · answer #10 · answered by xeraphile 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋