I believe pilots and aircraft engineers would object to this proposal, if they didn't die laughing first. Excellent idea but impractical. Yes, most passenger airliners in the US can land on autopilot, except the last 500 feet above the runway. Our society is not yet willing to accept automatically piloted ground vehicles, so I doubt automatically piloted commercial aircraft would (pun intended) "fly".
Sure, there are remotely piloted vehicles, including (first hand knowlege) an SR-71 at Beal AFB modified for remote piloting, but no autonomous aircraft. Even under autopilot, a pilot is supposed to be4 awake and aware at all times.
-Dave
[log in to unmask] on 09/14/2001 02:38:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]@Internet
cc: (bcc: David T Darnell/CO/KAIPERM)
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: "safe mode" for commercial aircraft
Sounds good but if the doors are open the plane may land safely with no one
left alive.
-----Original Message-----
From: VANCE,JEFF (HP-Cupertino,ex1) [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2001 1:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: "safe mode" for commercial aircraft
> That still wouldn't stop the terrorists from killing all the people on
> board. Either by damaging something, opening the door, Etc.
Correct, but the article points out that the hijacker will be
caught in a location that he has not anticipated (since the
plane is programmed to land in a random, safe airport). Also,
the article suggests that, since all hijackers will get caught
(can't even crash the plane) there will be much less incentive
to hijack. These types of criminals will need to resort to
other crimes, but air travel will be safe(er).
Jeff
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