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When an engine flies apart and shreds the hydraulic lines on all three redundant hydraulic systems, a computer will be out of options because it was never programmed to handle that (because it was considered "impossible" when it was designed). A pilot on the other hand can analyze and experiment until he finds enough of a solution to keep the airplane in the air as he works through other issues.

When an engine flies apart and shreds the hydraulic lines on all three redundant hydraulic systems, a computer will be out of options because it was never programmed to handle that (because it was considered "virtually impossible" when it was designed). A pilot on the other hand can analyze and experiment until he finds enough of a solution to keep the airplane in the air as he works through other issues.

"What's going to be in the cockpit of the future?"

"One pilot and a dog."

"Why is that?"

"Well, the pilot is there to feed the dog..."

"Okay? And the dog?"

"The dog is there to keep the pilot from touching anything!"

"What's going to be in the cockpit of the future?"

"A dog and a pilot."

"A dog? Why a dog?"

"Well, the dog is there to keep the pilot from touching anything."

"Ummm, why have the pilot then?"

"Well, someone has to feed the dog! "

That's a good question, and brings up a joke that most pilots know well:

There are also all of the little things that a pilot is constantly making decisions on how to handle. Can the airplane fly with a particular feature inoperative? What about multiple features inoperative? How do they interact with each other? What do you do when the passengers take too long to board and you are going to miss your departure slot? What do you do when the ground crew forgets to close a door? What about when the tug driver doesn't push you back quite far enough? Or ATC wants to change you to a different runway? Or you ask ATC to change you to a different runway because it might save a few minutes and that will keep you from having to deice again? Or another airplane unexpectedly pulls out in front of you while taxiing? A pilot can see "ugly" clouds off the end of the runway and decide that it would be better to wait a bit before taking off. What happens when a flock of birds suddenly appears during the takeoff roll? What happens when a passenger gets sick or unruly? When do you need to divert and when can you continue?

Right now when a drone crashes it isn't such a big deal because nobody was on board. If an airliner with a load full of paying passengers crashes it is a big deal.

Many of these problems can be overcome. Some of them already have been. Some of them may never be fully handled in an automatic way but maybe we could still do automated flights with an acceptable level of safety.

That's a good question, and brings up a joke that many pilots know well:

There are also all of the little things that a pilot is constantly making decisions on how to handle. Some examples could include:

• Can the airplane fly with a particular feature inoperative?
• What about multiple features inoperative?
• How do they interact with each other?
• What do you do when the passengers take too long to board and you are going to miss your departure slot?
• What do you do when the ground crew forgets to close a door?
• What about when the tug driver doesn't push you back quite far enough?
• Or ATC wants to change you to a different runway?
• Or you ask ATC to change you to a different runway because it might save a few minutes and that will keep you from having to deice again?
• Or another airplane unexpectedly pulls out in front of you while taxiing?
• A pilot can see "ugly" clouds off the end of the runway and decide that it would be better to wait a bit before taking off.
• What happens when a flock of birds suddenly appears during the takeoff roll?
• What happens when a passenger gets sick or unruly?
• When do you need to divert and when can you continue?

Right now when a drone crashes it isn't such a big deal because nobody was on board. If an airliner with a load full of paying passengers crashes it is a big deal. Even just one.

Many of these problems can be overcome. Some of them already have been. Some of them may never be fully handled in an automatic way but maybe we could still do automated flights with an acceptable level of safety. Some automation is actually better than some pilots in certain areas.