Post by FabienA380 on Nov 14, 2013 4:19:03 GMT 1
an article in 'Australian Aviation' from July 2012 (a little out of date already maybe) p.6
Up To Airlines To Promote Pilotless Aircraft
Airbus says it is ready and able to build a pilotless airliner but that it's up to the airlines to sell the concept to the public.
Addressing global media at Airbus Innovation Days in late May Airbus executive vice president of strategy and future programs Christian Scherer said airlines are pressing it to reduce costs on a plane "and pilots are the highest costs aside from fuel".
"We [through parent EADS] are a leader in pilotless drones for the military and we can develop the algorithms for even the [US Airways's water laning on the] Hudson River", he said.
He didn't think the flying public was quite ready for a pilotless aircraft but said Airbus had to be ahead of the technology and ready to move if demand eventuated.
Mr Scherer added that a number of airlines, cargo and passenger, were talking to Airbus about a pilotless plane but he declined to name them.
However, there are significant challenges with the technology on important aspects such as cross-wind landings, with current auto-land systems unable to handle strong winds.
In the meantime, Airbus is working on advances to cockpit technology and forecasts a step change in flightdeck layout and technologies in future airliners.
"The next aircraft after [the A320neo] is going to have a very different cockpit than the A320's today", Mr Scherer said.
"I would guess there will be a rupture and there will be a new standard on which we will build [flightdeck] commonality."
though the more I read it the more it looks like an April's fool doesn't it??...
Fabien
Up To Airlines To Promote Pilotless Aircraft
Airbus says it is ready and able to build a pilotless airliner but that it's up to the airlines to sell the concept to the public.
Addressing global media at Airbus Innovation Days in late May Airbus executive vice president of strategy and future programs Christian Scherer said airlines are pressing it to reduce costs on a plane "and pilots are the highest costs aside from fuel".
"We [through parent EADS] are a leader in pilotless drones for the military and we can develop the algorithms for even the [US Airways's water laning on the] Hudson River", he said.
He didn't think the flying public was quite ready for a pilotless aircraft but said Airbus had to be ahead of the technology and ready to move if demand eventuated.
Mr Scherer added that a number of airlines, cargo and passenger, were talking to Airbus about a pilotless plane but he declined to name them.
However, there are significant challenges with the technology on important aspects such as cross-wind landings, with current auto-land systems unable to handle strong winds.
In the meantime, Airbus is working on advances to cockpit technology and forecasts a step change in flightdeck layout and technologies in future airliners.
"The next aircraft after [the A320neo] is going to have a very different cockpit than the A320's today", Mr Scherer said.
"I would guess there will be a rupture and there will be a new standard on which we will build [flightdeck] commonality."
though the more I read it the more it looks like an April's fool doesn't it??...
Fabien
