Dan Luke wrote:
"Larry Dighera" wrote:


If I were a UPS or FedEx pilot, this would worry me. How much do
you think the freight companies could save by replacing human
pilots with machines?

Their salaries are not that high as it is.

Where'd you get that idea, Larry?

http://www.willflyforfood.cc/Payscales/FedExPay.htm

And furthermore, salaries are only part of the true cost of
employees. There are also benefits, training and administrative
overhead that can be dumped. This will be an absolute no-brainer
costwise once the technology is ready.

How much higher do you think the insurance premium will be for a
pilotless flight?

I'll bet it will be lower after the insurers get some actuarial data
to go on. Even if it's higher at first, the cost savings of axing
personnel will more than offset it.

Will the UAV be programmed to avoid populated areas
in the event of a forced landing?

Easy to do.

And when the first FedEx UAV crashes into downtown Memphis there will be a
huge overreaction that ends R/C aircraft as a hobby but continues to allow
FedEx UAVs.