ANCFlyer wrote:https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/pilots-need-to-be-able-to-fly-planes-without-computers-faa-says/ar-AA14r6b7?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=b46054d454994423adf6ec9d4ae29330
So Ladies and Gents . . . what say you?
Recently saw news where airlines wants to reduce commercial cockpit crews to a single person. No fail safe there.
Have at it folks.
Most airlines have an SOP that requires the crew to engage the autopilot shortly after takeoff. The FMC doesn't get distracted or inattentive. You wouldn't want the crew to be hand flying at cruise altitude and an autopilot is required above FL290 due to RVSM airspace restrictions. Most crews will fly the final unless weather prevents it.
As to the one person flight deck, it would be predicated on a ground based pilot being able to take over in an emergency. Drones are already flown around in airspace occupied by commecial and private aircraft so seperation isn't a problem. In addition, Cirrus offers the "panic" button option that will automatically divert and land an aircraft with a disabled pilot at the nearest suitable airfield.
https://www.wired.com/story/cirrus-garmin-vision-jet-autoland-safe-return/Considering a CAT III approach is a hands off, verify equipment working at 100ft, autolanding it's not that much different. I've been fortunate to witness several autolands and it's as smooth as one the pilot would make. Commercial airliners are required to make an autoland every 100 hours or so to test the equipment. We used to have to stress to the long haul crews that the aircraft needed to make an autoland to stay current. Their argument was that they did so few takeoff and landings that they needed it just as much as the aircraft did.
What's the point of an open door policy if inside the open door sits a closed mind?