Looks like Airbus is going to be even more computer-based than ever! Airbus has successfully concluded it’s two year ATTOL program (Autonomous, Taxing, Take-Off, & Landing) operated with the A350-1000 XWB.
The aircraft can successfully Taxi, Takeoff & Land all by it’s self… It’s done by using a On-board Vision-based Recognition system by the use of cameras & sensors, and it doesn’t include the use of external infrastructures like for example, ILS.
Seems like this can have a possibility of taking-off (pun intended). Though, it will really change the meaning of being a “Pilot”. This will automatically mean that Pilots won’t be in-control with their aircraft like before… They’ll just be ‘monitoring’ the aircraft while at flight. If this actually becomes reality I think there won’t be as many people who want to be on an aircraft…
This video was published in the 17th of Jan of 2020 by Airbus
Unlike the previous three comments I’m a fan of this. There’s supposed to be a pilot shortage looming within the next few years. And let’s be honest, there’s no way we’re going to fill all those jobs. This is a stepping stone to get to full automation.
The only reason I see this useful is low visibility. But that’s why you have an ILS (for landings at least) What is the point of a pilot then just to sit there and watch? AP already fly’s everything from about 5 minutes after takeoff to 5 miles out on landing. Pilots are there to FLY not MONITOR why do you think you need all of those liscenses and flight hours? To Fly not monitor.
To be 100% honest, I’m not quite sure how to feel about this. I can see the pros and cons of both sides. I would love to fly on this plane with or without this technology either way, the A350 is definitely on my bucket list.
It will most likely be for zero-visibility operations. Look at it this way, we have APPR today but most pilots land manually unless in zero-visibility conditions. In addition to that, there will always be need for a human factor to monitor (and possibly override) the technology if it does something erroneous. Go Airbus, go aviation.
Yes it’s cool aircrafts can be flown autonomous, but I don’t think it will ever replace the jobs of the pilots. Just like automated cars, there has to always be a driver (pilot) still controlling the vehicle in-case if something goes wrong.
