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| An Outdated B747 Autopilot System |
After a recent post about the RQ-4 Global Hawk, I raised the question of the role of pilots in the cockpit.
So, are pilots really necessary to the operation of an aircraft, and the aviation industry at large, or will we one day see an end to the "Pilot Era?"
My personal belief: yes, and no.
I say this for a number of reasons:
1. Computers Can Fail
Imagine that your computer fails, shuts down, or crashes at this very moment and you are unable to read the rest of my well-written and informative post. As upset as you would be, you would still be able to access my post at a later date when you fix your computer or simply use a different one.
Now, imagine that your computer is controlling a fully-loaded 747 style aircraft with x-million dollars worth of cargo on it. If your computer crashes, guess what? You can't get those x-million dollars worth of cargo back. There is really no reset button when an aircraft is 45,000 feet in the air. As soon as an event like this happens, some CEO will be very unhappy, and that will be the end of computer-piloted aircraft for at least a few years.
Of course, there is the potential for a "fail-safe" or back-up system, but those have the potential to fail as well.
2. People don't Trust Computers
Building off of point one, try to think of yourself walking onto an aircraft piloted by a computer. Would you be willing to put your life in the hands of a computer? I, for one, would be unable to do such a thing.
Imagine that 747 style aircraft was carrying a large number of passengers and happened to crash into the Atlantic Ocean because its inertial reference system got damaged in-flight, failed to continue working and caused fuel starvation as the aircraft wandered in circles 45,000 feet in the air.
What would the media response be?
The event would undoubtedly be sensationalized ad-nauseam. It is unlikely anyone would choose to fly on a pilot-less plane after such an incident.
3. The "Seat of the Pants" Instinct
There is something to be said for human intuition and awareness in the face of danger. Of course an autopilot can hold a heading precisely, climb at a constant rate, and hold a constant cruise altitude better than any human pilot.
But what happens when the TSHTF (literally, think bird entering jet engine. I think you get the idea)?
A human pilot may be able to handle an emergency better than any autopilot or computer-controlled aircraft, especially if the emergency is out of the ordinary.
4. Man's Love of Flight
Finally, what pilot will accept the death of his profession, his passion, his obsession?
I know I won't.
The fact of the matter is that there a lot of pilots that love flying just for the sake of flying and would hate to see it fall into the hands of a computer.
What is flying when it is no longer a "human endeavor," and instead becomes a lifeless, computerized ATMesque means of business?
I think it is fair to say we will never see the end of human pilots, at least in my lifetime.
If you are searching for solace as you contemplate man's role in the future of flight as you sit at your fickle, failure-prone computer, I hope this article has given you that solace.
Based on the FAA's Aviation Forecast Conference, flying and pilots are alive and kicking and expected to stay that way for a long time.
In addition, organizations like AOPA are committed to protecting the rights of pilots against government and someday, even computers.
