Picture this: you're settling into your seat on a plane, ready for takeoff. But as you look up at the cockpit, you notice something strange — there's no one there! No pilots, no co-pilots, just an empty cockpit staring back at you. (Okay, we know you usually can’t see the cockpit, but you get our point.)

Sounds like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie, right? But believe it or not, pilotless planes are actually in the works and could be a reality sooner than you think! According to The Sun, commercial flights using autonomous planes are set to take off this decade.

Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, acknowledges that there are still a few kinks to work out in terms of technology and regulations. But with the potential for airlines to save costs, pilotless planes are definitely on the horizon.

Calhoun says, 'It's going to take time. Everyone's got to build confidence. We need a certification process that we all have faith and believe in.' In fact, Forbes even predicts that small self-flying planes could be carrying passengers as soon as the end of this decade!

Pilotless planes could be carrying passengers within the next decade, with experts stating that the technology is not far away. Credit: Unsplash/Honglin Shaw.

While autonomous planes have been in use for military purposes for decades, the aviation industry is now eyeing this technology for commercial flights.

According to experts, the first self-flying planes to hit the skies would likely have safety pilots onboard to manually take control if needed. It's predicted that cargo planes would be the first to adopt autonomous technology, with passenger planes following suit.

Stephane Fymat, who is involved in creating autopilot systems for planes, confirms that airlines and manufacturers are eagerly anticipating the day when there won't be any pilots onboard.

'All of these companies are really looking forward to the day where there will not be a pilot on board,' says Fymat. 'They're all planning for it, in fact, and we're helping them get there.'

However, not everyone is sold on the idea of pilotless planes just yet. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the US-based Allied Pilots Association, has his reservations. According to Tajer, the push towards autonomous planes is more about cutting costs than ensuring the best possible travel experience for passengers.

'It's all about money,' Tajer tells Forbes. 'Manufacturers are looking for the next innovative technology to deploy so that they can sell it and make money, and airlines are looking at how they can do this more cheaply.'

It's a valid concern — after all, passenger safety should always come first. While pilotless planes could potentially save airlines a significant amount of money, it remains to be seen whether they're truly the best option for passengers. As with any new technology, there will be both pros and cons to consider.

Key Takeaways

• Commercial aviation companies are exploring the possibility of using autonomous planes in the future.
• While the technology is still in development, self-flying planes with safety pilots onboard could soon become a reality for cargo planes and, eventually, passenger planes.
• Cost-saving measures for airlines primarily drive the push towards pilotless planes, but concerns over passenger safety and experience remain.

History of Autopilot Technology

The technology behind pilotless planes may have only recently come into the public eye, but the concept of autopilot has been around for a surprisingly long time. Autopilot dates all the way back to World War I, with the first commercial autopilot, the Western E-4, released for civil aircraft in 1929.

Over the next 40 years or so, autopilot technology advanced till it became a basic part of air travel by the 1970s.

During the same time, other aviation advancements also heavily influenced the development of autopilot technology, such as a refined understanding of aerodynamics and navigational systems.

As technology progressed through the years, so did the sophistication of autopilots and the ways in which they could be utilised. Industrial giants like Rolls Royce, Boeing, and Airbus have all played a part in expanding the capabilities of autopilot, which now has the potential to take the helm for passenger-carrying planes.

The idea of autonomous planes is primarily focused on cutting costs for airlines, but not everyone in the aviation industry is convinced it's a good idea just yet. Credit: Unsplash/Blake Guidry.

As technology advances, it's not hard to imagine a future where pilotless planes are the norm. However, it's important that safety remains the top priority, and that these planes undergo rigorous testing and certification processes before they're put into service.

After all, passengers want to feel confident that they're in good hands — or rather, good 'wings' — when they're thousands of metres in the air.

So, what do you think, dear members? Would you feel comfortable taking a trip on a plane with no pilots in the cockpit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and get ready to buckle up and let the computers take the wheel — it's a brave new world up in the skies!

 

[MariaG]

You would not get me to be a passenger in a driverless anything.
Absolutely ridiculous to think that one can put trust in the decision making of artificial intelligence.
I am mind boggled. Good thing I don't travel.

 

[oldsalt]

NO way. I love flying and aviation but under NO circumstances would I ever travel in a pilotless aircraft [or car or bus also]. What happens in the air when there is some bad weather to avoid,other aircraft to avoid etc. The mine boggles with no one ''up the front'' having some control over the aircraft.

 

[Catherines]

No way. I'm now 78 and my husband is 82 - I believe we have done all the travel we wanted and only an absolute emergency or death would get us to fly again, but definitely not in a pilotless plane. Attendance at the emergency or death would be put on the back burner if our only choice was a pilotless plane.

 

[nigel5369]

Yes I would so long as I had controls and a how to fly manual. Lol
No I wouldn't not a hope in hell

 

[Kaycee]

Picture this: you're settling into your seat on a plane, ready for takeoff. But as you look up at the cockpit, you notice something strange — there's no one there! No pilots, no co-pilots, just an empty cockpit staring back at you. (Okay, we know you usually can’t see the cockpit, but you get our point.)

Sounds like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie, right? But believe it or not, pilotless planes are actually in the works and could be a reality sooner than you think! According to The Sun, commercial flights using autonomous planes are set to take off this decade.

Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, acknowledges that there are still a few kinks to work out in terms of technology and regulations. But with the potential for airlines to save costs, pilotless planes are definitely on the horizon.

Calhoun says, 'It's going to take time. Everyone's got to build confidence. We need a certification process that we all have faith and believe in.' In fact, Forbes even predicts that small self-flying planes could be carrying passengers as soon as the end of this decade!

View attachment 17781

Pilotless planes could be carrying passengers within the next decade, with experts stating that the technology is not far away. Credit: Unsplash/Honglin Shaw.

While autonomous planes have been in use for military purposes for decades, the aviation industry is now eyeing this technology for commercial flights.

According to experts, the first self-flying planes to hit the skies would likely have safety pilots onboard to manually take control if needed. It's predicted that cargo planes would be the first to adopt autonomous technology, with passenger planes following suit.

Stephane Fymat, who is involved in creating autopilot systems for planes, confirms that airlines and manufacturers are eagerly anticipating the day when there won't be any pilots onboard.

'All of these companies are really looking forward to the day where there will not be a pilot on board,' says Fymat. 'They're all planning for it, in fact, and we're helping them get there.'

However, not everyone is sold on the idea of pilotless planes just yet. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the US-based Allied Pilots Association, has his reservations. According to Tajer, the push towards autonomous planes is more about cutting costs than ensuring the best possible travel experience for passengers.

'It's all about money,' Tajer tells Forbes. 'Manufacturers are looking for the next innovative technology to deploy so that they can sell it and make money, and airlines are looking at how they can do this more cheaply.'

It's a valid concern — after all, passenger safety should always come first. While pilotless planes could potentially save airlines a significant amount of money, it remains to be seen whether they're truly the best option for passengers. As with any new technology, there will be both pros and cons to consider.

Key Takeaways

• Commercial aviation companies are exploring the possibility of using autonomous planes in the future.
• While the technology is still in development, self-flying planes with safety pilots onboard could soon become a reality for cargo planes and, eventually, passenger planes.
• Cost-saving measures for airlines primarily drive the push towards pilotless planes, but concerns over passenger safety and experience remain.

History of Autopilot Technology

The technology behind pilotless planes may have only recently come into the public eye, but the concept of autopilot has been around for a surprisingly long time. Autopilot dates all the way back to World War I, with the first commercial autopilot, the Western E-4, released for civil aircraft in 1929.

Over the next 40 years or so, autopilot technology advanced till it became a basic part of air travel by the 1970s.

During the same time, other aviation advancements also heavily influenced the development of autopilot technology, such as a refined understanding of aerodynamics and navigational systems.

As technology progressed through the years, so did the sophistication of autopilots and the ways in which they could be utilised. Industrial giants like Rolls Royce, Boeing, and Airbus have all played a part in expanding the capabilities of autopilot, which now has the potential to take the helm for passenger-carrying planes.

View attachment 17782

The idea of autonomous planes is primarily focused on cutting costs for airlines, but not everyone in the aviation industry is convinced it's a good idea just yet. Credit: Unsplash/Blake Guidry.

As technology advances, it's not hard to imagine a future where pilotless planes are the norm. However, it's important that safety remains the top priority, and that these planes undergo rigorous testing and certification processes before they're put into service.

After all, passengers want to feel confident that they're in good hands — or rather, good 'wings' — when they're thousands of metres in the air.

So, what do you think, dear members? Would you feel comfortable taking a trip on a plane with no pilots in the cockpit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and get ready to buckle up and let the computers take the wheel — it's a brave new world up in the skies!

I have been on the flight-deck of a 747 when flying. I sat there with the pilot and co-pilot, and I did the same as they did, let the auto pilot do its job. The main concern, at that time, Sydney did not have automated landing equipment. Otherwise they were only there as surplus equipment.

 

[POG]

Picture this: you're settling into your seat on a plane, ready for takeoff. But as you look up at the cockpit, you notice something strange — there's no one there! No pilots, no co-pilots, just an empty cockpit staring back at you. (Okay, we know you usually can’t see the cockpit, but you get our point.)

Sounds like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie, right? But believe it or not, pilotless planes are actually in the works and could be a reality sooner than you think! According to The Sun, commercial flights using autonomous planes are set to take off this decade.

Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, acknowledges that there are still a few kinks to work out in terms of technology and regulations. But with the potential for airlines to save costs, pilotless planes are definitely on the horizon.

Calhoun says, 'It's going to take time. Everyone's got to build confidence. We need a certification process that we all have faith and believe in.' In fact, Forbes even predicts that small self-flying planes could be carrying passengers as soon as the end of this decade!

View attachment 17781

Pilotless planes could be carrying passengers within the next decade, with experts stating that the technology is not far away. Credit: Unsplash/Honglin Shaw.

While autonomous planes have been in use for military purposes for decades, the aviation industry is now eyeing this technology for commercial flights.

According to experts, the first self-flying planes to hit the skies would likely have safety pilots onboard to manually take control if needed. It's predicted that cargo planes would be the first to adopt autonomous technology, with passenger planes following suit.

Stephane Fymat, who is involved in creating autopilot systems for planes, confirms that airlines and manufacturers are eagerly anticipating the day when there won't be any pilots onboard.

'All of these companies are really looking forward to the day where there will not be a pilot on board,' says Fymat. 'They're all planning for it, in fact, and we're helping them get there.'

However, not everyone is sold on the idea of pilotless planes just yet. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the US-based Allied Pilots Association, has his reservations. According to Tajer, the push towards autonomous planes is more about cutting costs than ensuring the best possible travel experience for passengers.

'It's all about money,' Tajer tells Forbes. 'Manufacturers are looking for the next innovative technology to deploy so that they can sell it and make money, and airlines are looking at how they can do this more cheaply.'

It's a valid concern — after all, passenger safety should always come first. While pilotless planes could potentially save airlines a significant amount of money, it remains to be seen whether they're truly the best option for passengers. As with any new technology, there will be both pros and cons to consider.

Key Takeaways

• Commercial aviation companies are exploring the possibility of using autonomous planes in the future.
• While the technology is still in development, self-flying planes with safety pilots onboard could soon become a reality for cargo planes and, eventually, passenger planes.
• Cost-saving measures for airlines primarily drive the push towards pilotless planes, but concerns over passenger safety and experience remain.

History of Autopilot Technology

The technology behind pilotless planes may have only recently come into the public eye, but the concept of autopilot has been around for a surprisingly long time. Autopilot dates all the way back to World War I, with the first commercial autopilot, the Western E-4, released for civil aircraft in 1929.

Over the next 40 years or so, autopilot technology advanced till it became a basic part of air travel by the 1970s.

During the same time, other aviation advancements also heavily influenced the development of autopilot technology, such as a refined understanding of aerodynamics and navigational systems.

As technology progressed through the years, so did the sophistication of autopilots and the ways in which they could be utilised. Industrial giants like Rolls Royce, Boeing, and Airbus have all played a part in expanding the capabilities of autopilot, which now has the potential to take the helm for passenger-carrying planes.

View attachment 17782

The idea of autonomous planes is primarily focused on cutting costs for airlines, but not everyone in the aviation industry is convinced it's a good idea just yet. Credit: Unsplash/Blake Guidry.

As technology advances, it's not hard to imagine a future where pilotless planes are the norm. However, it's important that safety remains the top priority, and that these planes undergo rigorous testing and certification processes before they're put into service.

After all, passengers want to feel confident that they're in good hands — or rather, good 'wings' — when they're thousands of metres in the air.

So, what do you think, dear members? Would you feel comfortable taking a trip on a plane with no pilots in the cockpit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and get ready to buckle up and let the computers take the wheel — it's a brave new world up in the skies!

No!

 

[Pink lion]

We live in a country that is often devoid of any tangible leadership so were used to it.

The thing is Our Sun is currently affecting the earth's atmosphere on a regular basis and in July 2025 we are warned that we could have a SEVERE impact of a MASSIVE sun flare.

What happens when Earths electrical systems instantly fail by such natural events?
A human could pilot the plane or steer the bus the ships the taxies to safely.

If electrical storms are not a grave concern, why do governments bury massive power generators so deep in the Earth to cater for such eventualities?

I much prefer humans over AI controlling my destiny. I did have a bit of a torrid love affair with a fully worked HR Ute for a while and had a bit of a naughty fling with a vertical grill and my sound system and myself, have been close for years. but I digress.

 

[thomas]

Picture this: you're settling into your seat on a plane, ready for takeoff. But as you look up at the cockpit, you notice something strange — there's no one there! No pilots, no co-pilots, just an empty cockpit staring back at you. (Okay, we know you usually can’t see the cockpit, but you get our point.)

Sounds like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie, right? But believe it or not, pilotless planes are actually in the works and could be a reality sooner than you think! According to The Sun, commercial flights using autonomous planes are set to take off this decade.

Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, acknowledges that there are still a few kinks to work out in terms of technology and regulations. But with the potential for airlines to save costs, pilotless planes are definitely on the horizon.

Calhoun says, 'It's going to take time. Everyone's got to build confidence. We need a certification process that we all have faith and believe in.' In fact, Forbes even predicts that small self-flying planes could be carrying passengers as soon as the end of this decade!

View attachment 17781

Pilotless planes could be carrying passengers within the next decade, with experts stating that the technology is not far away. Credit: Unsplash/Honglin Shaw.

While autonomous planes have been in use for military purposes for decades, the aviation industry is now eyeing this technology for commercial flights.

According to experts, the first self-flying planes to hit the skies would likely have safety pilots onboard to manually take control if needed. It's predicted that cargo planes would be the first to adopt autonomous technology, with passenger planes following suit.

Stephane Fymat, who is involved in creating autopilot systems for planes, confirms that airlines and manufacturers are eagerly anticipating the day when there won't be any pilots onboard.

'All of these companies are really looking forward to the day where there will not be a pilot on board,' says Fymat. 'They're all planning for it, in fact, and we're helping them get there.'

However, not everyone is sold on the idea of pilotless planes just yet. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the US-based Allied Pilots Association, has his reservations. According to Tajer, the push towards autonomous planes is more about cutting costs than ensuring the best possible travel experience for passengers.

'It's all about money,' Tajer tells Forbes. 'Manufacturers are looking for the next innovative technology to deploy so that they can sell it and make money, and airlines are looking at how they can do this more cheaply.'

It's a valid concern — after all, passenger safety should always come first. While pilotless planes could potentially save airlines a significant amount of money, it remains to be seen whether they're truly the best option for passengers. As with any new technology, there will be both pros and cons to consider.

Key Takeaways

• Commercial aviation companies are exploring the possibility of using autonomous planes in the future.
• While the technology is still in development, self-flying planes with safety pilots onboard could soon become a reality for cargo planes and, eventually, passenger planes.
• Cost-saving measures for airlines primarily drive the push towards pilotless planes, but concerns over passenger safety and experience remain.

History of Autopilot Technology

The technology behind pilotless planes may have only recently come into the public eye, but the concept of autopilot has been around for a surprisingly long time. Autopilot dates all the way back to World War I, with the first commercial autopilot, the Western E-4, released for civil aircraft in 1929.

Over the next 40 years or so, autopilot technology advanced till it became a basic part of air travel by the 1970s.

During the same time, other aviation advancements also heavily influenced the development of autopilot technology, such as a refined understanding of aerodynamics and navigational systems.

As technology progressed through the years, so did the sophistication of autopilots and the ways in which they could be utilised. Industrial giants like Rolls Royce, Boeing, and Airbus have all played a part in expanding the capabilities of autopilot, which now has the potential to take the helm for passenger-carrying planes.

View attachment 17782

The idea of autonomous planes is primarily focused on cutting costs for airlines, but not everyone in the aviation industry is convinced it's a good idea just yet. Credit: Unsplash/Blake Guidry.

As technology advances, it's not hard to imagine a future where pilotless planes are the norm. However, it's important that safety remains the top priority, and that these planes undergo rigorous testing and certification processes before they're put into service.

After all, passengers want to feel confident that they're in good hands — or rather, good 'wings' — when they're thousands of metres in the air.

So, what do you think, dear members? Would you feel comfortable taking a trip on a plane with no pilots in the cockpit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and get ready to buckle up and let the computers take the wheel — it's a brave new world up in the skies!

it's the same with motor cars, there still has to be someone qualified sitting in the control seat to take control if something happens to go wrong so it is defeating the purpose really isn't it, I have been in the RAC driver-less bus and they said that although the bus was driving itself there still had to be someone there "just in case. it was alright driving slowly around town but i don't think I could be game enough at country driving and definitely not in a plane

 

[Ray Black]

No if something goes wrong your dead.With a pilot he may be able to fix

 

[Jarred Santos]

Absolute no! But if the pilotless planes come with more legroom somehow... maybe

 

[Trudi]

We already fly pilot-less most of the time.

 

[puzzle solver]

No!

100,,% agree. My feet wouldn't be on that plane, never ever do I trust science. Elon Musk space craft launch was deliberately blown up because of malfunction. More space junk in the atmosphere as a result.
They can't trust autonomous cars either especially Tesla cars,17 crashes up to date, as a result many deaths. That's progress, that's life. I am in control of my body, it's my life so be it, no risk of death with my choices.

 

[Pink lion]

We live in a country that is often devoid of any tangible leadership so were used to it.

The thing is Our Sun is currently affecting the earth's atmosphere on a regular basis and in July 2025 we are warned that we could have a SEVERE impact of a MASSIVE sun flare.

What happens when Earths electrical systems instantly fail by such natural events?
A human could pilot the plane or steer the bus the ships the taxies to safely.

If electrical storms are not a grave concern, why do governments bury massive power generators so deep in the Earth to cater for such eventualities?

I much prefer humans over AI controlling my destiny. I did have a bit of a torrid love affair with a fully worked HR Ute for a while and had a bit of a naughty fling with a vertical grill and my sound system and myself, have been close for years. but I digress.

100,,% agree. My feet wouldn't be on that plane, never ever do I trust science. Elon Musk space craft launch was deliberately blown up because of malfunction. More space junk in the atmosphere as a result.
They can't trust autonomous cars either especially Tesla cars,17 crashes up to date, as a result many deaths. That's progress, that's life. I am in control of my body, it's my life so be it, no risk of death with my choices.

I agree about the space junk. So much reliance these days on satellites and yet all a nation like North Korea etc has to do, is continuously explode about thirty rockets? at intervals up at satellite orbit height and explode them and the resultant number of debris would eliminate most of the World's satellites as that rotated around.

It's not hard to figure how very easy this is to do ...sooner or late some idiot with the rockets and nothing to lose will do it.

Plus, the Earths electrical grid is constantly subject to sun bursts and that events on an 11 year cycle that consistently interrupts technology.

According to Neil Degrasse UTube the science channel. A HUGE solar ejection is forecast for July 2025 to slam the Earth, and the worlds military is hunkering down for that one evidently just in case.

So, to have pilotless anything, may just be another form of population control. I guess we will all see. I won't be hopping in any of it though.

 

[Vet543]

100,,% agree. My feet wouldn't be on that plane, never ever do I trust science. Elon Musk space craft launch was deliberately blown up because of malfunction. More space junk in the atmosphere as a result.
They can't trust autonomous cars either especially Tesla cars,17 crashes up to date, as a result many deaths. That's progress, that's life. I am in control of my body, it's my life so be it, no risk of death with my choices.

Imagine: We take off from LaGuardia Airport in New York... Someone actually saw Sullenberger standing on the tarmac and waving good-bye. That same person says WHO THE HECK IS FLYING THIS PLANE? A passenger says it is OK we are flying in a pilotless plane.
Less than 10 mins later while climbing at 2.800ft There is a loud bang and flames come out of all engines . The pilots and passengers heard it and noticed a smell of aviation fuel ..I NOTICED A SMELL MUCH STRONGER COMING FROM SOMEWHERE, LIKE ON MY SEAT.
The pilotless plane now turns to return to LaGuardia as shown in the inquest.
Well, they needed Sullenberger to calculate the situation .. He is NOT there. OK this auto pilot calculates fast and continues to LaGuardia
IT DOESN'T MAKE IT AND CRASHES INTO MANHATTAN AVIATION FUEL GOES EVERYWHERE ON IMPACT more than 20,000 people burnt in the wake of the crash.
Well, that is good for NEWS HEADLINES but no-one is thinking of the people killed, injured or affected by the incident.
Now do you know what they can do with their pilotless planes? ..I have the perfect suggestion AND I won't be on it ,... ever.

Let's look at how many planes crash per day globally. There are 6,238 plane crashes per year, which comes out to be: 17.1 planes crash per day. 119.6 planes crash per week.
That is according to the Hive Law Blog click on this link you will be stunned .. The Hive Law Blog
AND ALL THESE FLIGHTS WERE MANNED BY A PILOT.

No way will I be seen on a pilotless plane .. and I swear to that.

 

[Pink lion]

Sigh...so much reliance on technology.

If there was to be a movie made about a planet where ideas where fed into a box and all questions from then on were referred to this rarely updated box, it would seem silly.
Imagine a place where no information except by those that regarded information to be relevant was updated. An entire world run by technology that became so complex that machines now need to communicate with machines, because no human can think at such speeds. So, no expert technician has any idea at all of what is being communicated by machines that run the power, for lighting, water, food processing plants, sewerage, etc etc etc in modern economies.

This is just one reason why to not put ALL of our faith in technology.

There are three other factors. Our Sun can at any time DRAMATICALLY effect earth technology and send us back into the stone age as is often quoted. Or Warfare can eradicate technology with EMP bombs, or All it takes remember is for one Dictator with nothing to lose and tired of technology, to fire about thirty I.C.B.M's straight up at intervals and explode them at satellite orbit height and potentially, that's it for every Earth satellite we have, because the debris field would wipe them all out and that's it for the space race as well.

MY SCREEN JUST WENT BLACK momentarily just then...due to a glitch "true story."

I don't get why nobody can see how tentative technology is. Of course, I love it to but why place our World at the mercy of so few people who pay no attention to this.

FIVE TIMES yesterday my phone dropped out while being relayed to India due to technical problems from the sun.

And they want to remove pilots? Politicians and corporate Executives should be the only ones allowed inside AI technology powered vehicles. I am happy with that how about you.

 

[Cyberchook]

In 50 years time, there will be automated everything, plus the unknown as it was 50 years back, no doubt about that maybe even procreation, so I don't think anyone on this site ( other than the young admin staff) needs to worry

 

[oldsalt]

We already fly pilot-less most of the time.

What? Where? All aircraft have a pilot in command and some have another pilot in the right hand seat [left hand seat on a helicopter]. The pilot is always in command ''up the front''. Even the use of an auto pilot requires monitoring by the humans. The auto pilot cannot look out of a window on occasions when there is a need to check say a wing damage, and engine damage /cowell is checked also for fuel leaks. The pilot also always has ''mark one eyeball'' to check the surrounding area for other aircraft or objects [balloons etc]. The pilot/1st officer also scan the instrument panel all the time. Unfortunately the auto pilot does not have arms/legs or eyes. Some aircraft/airports have CAT III auto land capabilities, but they are of a limited species. It's not long ago that the third cockpit crew member - the Flight Engineer - was made reduntant. Some aircraft still flying have a Flight Engineer as cockpit crew. Who is going to communicate with control towers, their bases, other aircraft - the auto pilot does not have a voice to do all that as that is part of the auto pilots responsibility. He does however have a voice when the aircraft is landing with heights etc etc. but his vocabulary is limited to certain terms. The auto pilots primary role is to keep the aircraft on the right heading, the engines control , and other tasks. There have been many occassions where the auto pilot has had a yammy and sent the aircraft nearly or out of control and the humans had to intervene, by switching off the autopilot and taking human control of the aircraft.
So once again NO to flying with NO pilot in command - pure madness - and down the path to accidents and fatalities.

 

[Pink lion]

In 50 years time, there will be automated everything, plus the unknown as it was 50 years back, no doubt about that maybe even procreation, so I don't think anyone on this site ( other than the young admin staff) needs to worry

Actually, AI cyber systems can and do autonomously design and produce their own creations, right now without any human input. Sonia who has addressed the United Nations on behalf of her new species, is a legal citizen of Norway? with full rights.

Yep, if we humans chat to each other in AYE (as in how you going aye) and tech-spurts can translate computer code up right up to E. Well, the fact that cybernetics now communicate information between each other in F is to me is pretty f'n scary.

Because when G, they have their own autonomous identity, we will only be able to communicate with the interlinked mainframe up to the point where they will communicate to us what they choose.

It's a new world alright... They even have completely autonomous AI aircraft carriers right now that carry drones (Google it) you can't make this stuff up. Not counting the rest of it worldwide, and humans are being removed from controlling machines like planes and buses and trucks and taxies etc worldwide. It'd be a good script for a movie, I hope it has a happier plot line than the last one...just sayin.