Would You Fly On An Airliner With Just One Pilot?

[TMMT]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthew...d-you-fly-on-an-airliner-with-just-one-pilot/

 

[freightdogfred]

For sure....as long as I was the pilot.

 

[xkuzme1]

If I were getting paid what a captain and F/O made combined... Id think about it.

 

[fr8doggie]

From the article:


"But is the travelling public ready for single pilot commercial operations? How would you react if you knew your plane had a super-advanced autopilot and the very latest safety systems but just one pilot? What if the ticket price was cheaper?"


Thanks, EuroWeenies.


Regards,
Fr8-

 

[Flyby1206]

My grandfather (who was a career PanAm FE) refuses to get on any plane with less than 4 engines and 3 pilots. Sadly, I wish that was still the industry norm.

 

[geardown]

I think Clayton Osbon severely damaged the argument for a single pilot airliner.

 

[OHGOON]

I think Clayton Osbon severely damaged the argument for a single pilot airliner.

Maybe, but it may only accelerate the process. Large drones already operate pilot-less & completely untethered to the ground, delivering mail and supplies in Afghanistan.

I think the economic arguments will win the day as they always have. Safety is a buzzword that can only do so much. I think we will see cockpits with one live crew member and the other maybe sitting on the ground somewhere flying remotely. Technology is already there, now all that's missing is for the public to be sold on it and the unions to be browbeaten into accepting the new status quo. Just a matter of time I'm afraid...

The next question will be, will the public accept "No Pilot"??? Who is going to feed the dog then?

 

[CesnaCaptn]

If I were getting paid what a captain and F/O made combined... Id think about it.

Those are exactly the economics when the supply of pilots is twice what's required.

 

[johnsonrod]

It would help to be psychitzophrenic to keep yourself company.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

Sorry, but the unions will have no say once pilotless aircraft happens. What will they do? Strike? Strikes do no good if you're being fired anyway.

Unions may slow down early adoption, but eventually pilotless aircraft will happen. It might be 200-300 years, but "never" is a long time.

 

[AK737FO]

Off hand, I can't think of any times I would have killed myself if the F/O had not been there, so if they pay me CA and FO wages - sign me up.

 

[AWACoff]

Off hand, I can't think of any times I would have killed myself if the F/O had not been there, so if they pay me CA and FO wages - sign me up.

Why don't we ask your FOs that question...?


Seriously, can you think of any times your FO broke "the chain"?

 

[AK737FO]

Of course - every day. The FO or I trap a threat each and every day.
The question at hand is - if not trapped by the FO (assuming single pilot), would it have become an accident / incident / hull loss?
In other words, would I have killed myself and those behind me without the First Officers input? Or would I have trapped my error / threat in time?
In another 20 years or so, we might get to find out. Pax will love the idea if it saves them $5!

 

[crxpilot]

Hey piloting will finally be a "telecommuting" job that you can do in your undewear at home! Sign me up!

 

[LandGreen]

Off hand, I can't think of any times I would have killed myself if the F/O had not been there, so if they pay me CA and FO wages - sign me up.

Ironically, wasn't it AK that had a CA suffer from a heart attack and the FO saved the day? Although this does not happen often...it does happen and now with pilots older than 60...my guess is more occurrences rather than less.

On a side note, if the Chinese can hack into our most secure computer systems and steal blueprints to our TOP SECRET military programs...I am not sure the public will be ready to read the headlines: Airliner Hacked and Remotely Flown (fill in your own end of the story).

I wouldn't buy a ticket on a single pilot or pilotless plane. Call me old fashion I guess!

 

[SENECAII]

Whos gonna watch the bird when its nap time?

 

[freightdogfred]

Whos gonna watch the bird when its nap time?

The same guy who's been doing it for years...Otto

 

[flythere]

The airplane of the future will have one pilot and a dog sitting next to the pilot.

The dog will bite the pilot if he moves to touch anything!

 

[filejw]

One of he proposals Iv read about would be a single pilot who is monitored by a ground based pilot .Ground guy would be following X number of flights like a drone pilot....

 

[nordo_2]

I can see this happening to cargo first. If all goes well with single pilot cargo airliners, then pax are next.