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A cargo plane flew 50 miles with no pilot onboard using a semi-automated system. An aviation expert says the technology could address the pilot shortage. (news.yahoo.com)

submitted 8 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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A cargo plane flew 50 miles with no pilot onboard using a semi-automated system. An aviation expert says the technology could address the pilot shortage.::The flight system allows a plane to be remote operated by a pilot on the ground, which could streamline pilot airline operations in the future.

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[-] cerberus@lemmy.world 11 points 8 months ago

Considering most all commercial flights are fly by wire except for taxi, takeoff, and landing… not sure

[-] db2@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

"with no pilot onboard"

[-] AnneBonny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 8 months ago

We've been flying things without pilots onboard as far back as WW2.

[-] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Bombs don't count.

[-] AnneBonny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Target drones, not the buzzbombs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Tiger_Moth#Gunnery_target_drone

edit: I suppose you don't have to land gunnery targets just like you don't really have to land bombs.

[-] topinambour_rex@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Well, there is a pilot veteran with ptsd along the passengers, he could maybe do the job. And he knows one of the air hostess.

[-] db2@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

But he's got that drinking problem..

[-] cerberus@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

Yes I understand and agree that this is not the right path to take.

Automation however is inevitable. There is proven tech that’s existed for decades, the only new things being added here are taxiing, takeoff and landing (and honestly takeoff and landing are already automated, they’re just not used as much)

[-] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

And we currently see issues even with current (relatively) modest automation systems that are designed to prevent pilot error.

There's way too many failures with current systems to even talk about full automation yet, in my opinion.

Let's get current automation subsystems to much lower error rates first.

I've never seen a fuel injection system on a car suddenly stop delivering fuel for no apparent reason, then startup again. The computers for such systems in cars are tremendously over-engineered.

I can't understand why we accept less for aircraft systems today. This didn't used to be the case.

this post was submitted on 25 Dec 2023

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