Fully Automated Aircraft Could Save Airlines Billions. But Would You Fly on a Pilotless Plane?

[Image Source: UBS Evidence Lab]

Who's willing to travel through pilotless flights?

The UBS Evidence Lab carried out a survey across 8,000 people to evaluate what the contemporary attitudes are with regards to going on board pilotless flights. It turns out that the younger generations are more accepting of the idea of pilotless flights. Whereas the older, and more cautious, generation is not as eager to fly aboard aircraft with a pilotless cockpit. However, convincing the older population, who is more likely to afford the pilotless flights service, may be done by including a number of flight measures.

"We found resistance from respondents to flying in pilotless planes", said the UBS report. "Perhaps to facilitate adoption, a flight could be flown by an autonomous pilot, but with a human pilot taking over in emergencies. The balance between human and computer control of a flight may have to be an evolution rather than a revolution".

[Image Source: UBS Evidence Lab]

Interestingly, American passengers showed a more positive attitude towards pilotless flights compared to European passengers from France and Germany. According to UBS, "There are slight differences among countries, with a greater percentage of respondents in the US willing to take pilotless flights (27%), compared with other countries".

How exactly are autonomous flights beneficial to the industry?

Human pilots are limited to a 100-hour flight rota per 28-day cycle and a total of 900 flight-hours per fiscal year. So, the first advantage of pilotless flights over human operated flights lies in the automated technology that does not suffer from human fatigue and is therefore liberated from the regulatory restrictions. "Pilotless flight would enable increased aircraft utilization, given no human flight-time element to uphold. The industry is more likely to embrace this on short/medium-haul flights".

[Image Source: Airbus]

The issue of human flaws also drags down the case for human pilots. Even though a large majority of the adult population is more unlikely to opt for pilotless flights, using the autonomous flight option has many advantages over human operated flights. UBS highlighted these advantages in their report.

"Potential for pilot error would be removed, along with decisions that at times may be led by emotions. Furthermore, pilotless flight avoids the situation where a pilot of a commercial flight is incapacitated or may not be able to perform their duties".

Does this mean future generations who are aspiring to be pilots should consider taking on a different career path? According to aviation expert Chris Tarry, pilotless flights won't happen in the next 8 to 10 years as UBS predicts.

"This is such a long way into the future", said Tarry. It’s going to be a very brave airline that takes its pilots off planes. What is a customer's number one concern? That they get you there safely".

Tarry also noted that the present and timely aviation issue lies in the recruitment and training of new generation pilots. Wiping out human skills when it comes to operating flights is currently not the feasible solution.

"The real challenge for the industry right now is to train more pilots, not get rid of them".

Sources: UBS Evidence Lab, TheGuardian

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