AIRBUS SAYS THEY’RE ALL READY FOR PILOTLESS PLANES

The chief salesman for jet airplane maker Airbus says his company already has the technology to fly passenger planes without pilots at all — and is working on winning over regulators and travelers to the idea. Christian Scherer said Airbus already has “the technology for autonomous flying” and for planes flown by just one pilot. Several manufacturers are presenting unmanned aircraft at the Paris Air Show, primarily for military purposes — and some are also proposing pilotless “air taxis” of the future. Scherer said the recent Boeing 737 Max crashes “highlighted and underlined the need for absolute, uncompromising safety in this industry, whether from Airbus, Boeing or any other plane.”
* I thought that’s what airplane makers were already doing, and look what happened.
* At what point along the line did we decide aircraft pilots were superfluous?
* Two words: Captain Sully. Case closed.
* Look, if it’s a matter of saving money, I’m sure the passengers on the plane would be willing to pitch in to pay the pilot.
* “Winning over the regulators.” You know what that means. It means a bank account in the Caymans.