1. Guess time will tell. I don't have an axe to grind, because I'll never be employed as a pilot anyway, but plenty of people are twitchy about air travel in a way they aren't about other forms of transport.

2. Apples and oranges. They're all crewed aircraft.

4 minutes ago, KevinAu said:

And they’ll bring up the pilotless plane again the next time someone commits suicide with an airliner. How long has it been since we had one of those? A month maybe?

I don't doubt it. My point is simply that I wouldn't be citing the media, with its gnat-like attention span and hunger for sensationalism, as being indicative of anything in particular except what it is. 

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by Holdit

20 minutes ago, Holdit said:

1. Guess time will tell. I don't have an axe to grind, because I'll never be employed as a pilot anyway, but plenty of people are twitchy about air travel in a way they aren't about other forms of transport.

2. Apples and oranges. They're all crewed aircraft.

1. I don’t either. I would lose my job if my airline bought a pilotless plane. I’m merely giving out a view of the future that I think a blind person can see coming.

2. virgin atlantic’s marketing was that people would prefer planes with more engines for flights over the water for safety’s sake, when their competitors started deploying twins. As it turns out, that kind of marketing and fleet planning failed. Time will tell whether emphasising number of pilots will have better marketing and economic traction than number of engines.

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by KevinAu

12 minutes ago, Holdit said:

I don't doubt it. My point is simply that I wouldn't be citing the media, with its gnat-like attention span and hunger for sensationalism, as being indicative of anything in particular except what it is. 

Yes, the media will tout piloted planes if a pilotless plane crashes and tout pilotless planes the next day when a piloted plane crashes. What the media says is meaningless. I certainly didn’t bring them into this.

14 minutes ago, KevinAu said:

1. I don’t either. I would lose my job if my airline bought a pilotless plane. I’m merely giving out a view of the future that I think a blind person can see coming.

2. virgin atlantic’s marketing was that people would prefer planes with more engines for flights over the water for safety’s sake, when their competitors started deploying twins. As it turns out, that kind of marketing and fleet planning failed. Time will tell whether emphasising number of pilots will have better marketing and economic traction than number of engines.

1. Oh I can see the technology coming alright, I'm just not convinced about the level of uptake. 

2. Again, what you're citing is not a comparison of crewed vs uncrewed. People fly on twin-engined aircraft all the time. There are no data, however, for what people will choose when unmanned aircraft are available, because we haven't been in that situation yet.

The data will come after they deploy them. Maybe we’ll dig this thread up from the grave in a decade or two and necropost a told you so.

crewed or uncrewed, engined or unengined, the strategy is the same. choice based on perception of safety.

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by KevinAu

1 minute ago, KevinAu said:

The data will come after they deploy them. Maybe we’ll dig this thread up from the grave in a decade or two and necropost a told you so.

I'm sure there will be many more between now and then... 

Automation debate does come up from time to time, I predict it is another 30 years away but yes it will happen. In 30 years I will be getting into my 80s, therefore I couldn't care less if that generation of people want to be flown around the planet by a bunch of autobots. If they want to they will make it work, and I do believe they will.

When I am in my 80s, I will look at the technology and say 'Ain't no 707 that's foresure' 😎

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by Matthew Kane

 

On 10/3/2018 at 4:03 PM, scottb613 said:

Hi Folks,

A buddy of mine from the airport - a 68 year old retired elevator mechanic GA pilot with 1200 hours - just got picked up by the FEDEX Feeder in the Northeast - - - flying G1000 equipped Caravans between Dulles and Newark... His first commercial gig - nothing against him - but due to his age it seems to show they need pilots pretty bad right now...

Regards,

Scott 

Maybe it's just FedEx?  They are begging for people with the holidays coming up.  Those box haulers always are though

The video mentions the requirement, or preference for a degree.

I think it’s worth mentioning if you’re reading this in the U.K. and are planning your career this degree qualification is not required. I’ve noticed more and more flight schools in the U.K. are copying the US system and are trying to promote and sell an imbedded degree in airline management, large jet flying or some other daft title as part of an ATPL course.

My advice would be to give these degrees a wide birth , they’re pointless and serve only to increase the profits of the training establishments. Sure if you want to be in airline management, get yourself an airline management degree, if you want to be a pilot get yourself flying ASAP.

Four years in a classroom can’t touch four years of flying experience.

Jon