Posted on 02/19/2021 12:37:01 PM PST by RomanSoldier19
Aircraft without pilots could be flying commuters to UK regional airports within a decade - possibly using hydrogen as fuel making them environmentally friendly.
British aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman is working alongside technology company Bear Blue to first develop a semi-autonomous plane with just one pilot, followed by an aircraft with no humans on the flight deck.
The government has pledged £1.8 million to the project, which could see the first aircraft carrying passengers by the mid 2020s.
The Civil Aviation Authority, who regulate Britain's skies are currently working on guidelines for 'operations that present an equivalent risk to that of manned aviation'.
Aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman will use their twin-engine Islander aircraft - which is renowned throughout the industry for its reliability and ability to operate from remote airstrips.
The aircraft, which are all built of the Isle of Wight, first flew in 1965 and entered service two years later.
They have been modified to carry passengers, cargo, drop parachutists, and even act as surveillance platforms used by the police and the military.
According to The Times, several regional airports are being prepared to allow semi-autonomous and zero-emissions aircraft to operate within the next five years. During the scheme's first stage, the aircraft's pilot will be supported by an 'autonomous co-pilot'.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Oh, the humanity!
I know this happens nowadays, but I’d rather not know about it until I step off the plane (after it lands, that is).
Pipistrel beez smart
Panthera is great airplane
So is their electric
But humans are not going to ride in robot plane, will want Emergency Human up front.
Sure. And back in the 50s, they were predicting that by the turn of the century, everyone would be flying around in their jet-powered cars.
That would make a nice album cover.
Yes, hydrogen burns nearly colorless, but the things it sets on fire do not, such as the doped skins of the zeppelin.
Or a concert tour shirt...
Yikes! That is a rather slow plane, isn't it?
Will they be running Windows XP?
“...doped skins of the zeppelin...”
Actually much worse — the dope was in layers with aluminum and iron oxide, more commonly known as thermite.
Fantasy!
Only Xiden/CommieHo voters will ride a pilotless plane.
The uk government pledged 1.9m pounds? Roughly 3 million dollars... to completely revolutionize and remake an industry? A single new airliner sells for $100 million. This is laughable.
” Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome aboard the first totally automatic flight, sit back and relax, we assure you that nothing can go wrong...go wrong...go wrong..go wrong.”
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