The Human Factor

[Euler]

It seems that the weak link in aviation (and in motoring for that matter) is the human factor. There have been a spate of plane accidents recently, none of which were due to mechanical failure, but rather due to pilot error/incompetence or pilot madness.

So surely it must be time to remove the weak link, the pilot, and automate the whole shebang?

[mudskipper]

It seems that the weak link in aviation (and in motoring for that matter) is the human factor. There have been a spate of plane accidents recently, none of which were due to mechanical failure, but rather due to pilot error/incompetence or pilot madness.

So surely it must be time to remove the weak link, the pilot, and automate the whole shebang?

Automation is done by humans too.

[Euler]

Automation is done by humans too.

True, but an individual's spur of the moment decisions under stress are very different from tried and tested, three-way redundant, team-created automation, no?
Not that I'm saying its perfect, but let's say we had automated planes being monitored by teams on the ground who could overide them if problems arose, that may be better.

[MicrosoftBob]

It seems that the weak link in aviation (and in motoring for that matter) is the human factor. There have been a spate of plane accidents recently, none of which were due to mechanical failure, but rather due to pilot error/incompetence or pilot madness.

So surely it must be time to remove the weak link, the pilot, and automate the whole shebang?

And that would make it easier for terrorists, there is no easily solution

[Euler]

And that would make it easier for terrorists, there is no easily solution

How would it make it easier for terrorists?
I'm sure they would love to overide the drones that are killing them in droves at the moment.

[MyUserName]

How would it make it easier for terrorists?
I'm sure they would love to overide the drones that are killing them in droves at the moment.

They would just need to infiltrate or storm the control towers and they could crash a dozen planes at once. Rather than having to infiltrate or storm each plane individually.

[tomtomagain]

So surely it must be time to remove the weak link, the pilot, and automate the whole shebang?

The human has been removed from 95% of the flight. That is why flying is so safe. My friend, a pilot of Airbuses for BA, tells me the only thing they do is the landing. Autopilot for the rest of the time.

But would you really want to be in a completely automated plane with no one available to respond to an emergency?

[Euler]

They would just need to infiltrate or storm the control towers and they could crash a dozen planes at once. Rather than having to infiltrate or storm each plane individually.

It's easier to protect one place rather than each individual plane, shirley. A company of SAS commandos would do it.

[Euler]

But would you really want to be in a completely automated plane with no one available to respond to an emergency?

Read my post again, there would be an override possible from the ground, drone-stylee.

[MyUserName]

It's easier to protect one place rather than each individual plane, shirley. A company of SAS commandos would do it.

Assuming you could station special forces at every control tower in the UK that would only really guard against an blatent armed attack.

With this much of a golden target rich and well resourced terrorist gangs would be looking at everything from trying to get a sleeper agent hired to kidnapping someone's family and blackmailing them. Just think of the damage you could do with a dozen planes under your control. Even if your plan takes years to work it would still be worth it.