I envision this as a subscription service for owners of mid-sized to larger business jets where certified pilots type rated for the aircraft are engaged as co-pilots via remote satellite connection to the aircraft. These remote co-pilots would have access (in real time) to all information that the pilot has (including systems, navcom, onboard conditions (sensors), visual of exterior (cameras) and video communication with the pilot. The use of the forward nose camera and night vision would be essential for the remote pilot. For safety there would be two levels of PIC detection. For cruise, there would be a big green confirm button on the panel, console or yolk in the PIC side that would have to be pressed every five minutes or so to continually verify the physical presence. Verbal and video verification of the PIC would be maintained at short intervals as well. If at any point PIC response was not detected the remote pilot would take over. There would also be a big red kill (switch) button that could be pressed by the PIC at any time to disengage the remote pilot in case of remote hostile takeover of the plane. For critical stages of flight there would be constant monitoring of PIC input and visual/audio monitoring to simulate the remote co-pilot's "immediate proximity level awareness" and involvement in piloting the aircraft. From a technology standpoint, I am aware that this would require software and hardware upgrades of course, but a system like Collins Proline 21 is not so far off from this capability is it? The development of this would have to be a concerted effort between avionics developers such as Rockwell Collins; aircraft companies such as Gulfstream, Dassault, Bombardier; the company to provide the service (and their venture capitalists) and government certification (the REAL obstacle).

The central command center for the remote pilots would be a control room with state of the art simulators (satcom linked to corresponding aircraft) for all major biz. jets (and turbo craft perhaps). It would be 24 hr. staffed with type rated pilots. Under normal conditions these pilots could monitor and handle co-pilot functions of two aircarft at one time. When a situation of need arises with an aircraft a remote pilot commands a single aircraft as needed handing off the other aircraft in normal conditions to another remote pilot. With modern biz jets so laden with sensors, cameras advanced satnav, satcom and fly-by-wire systems, this would be a a very short leap, technologically, for those aircraft. The real leap (particularly in the ultra-conservative aviation industry) is the psychological leap. Getting past the nay-sayers. As for the technology... it's already here. It's just packaging what we have for the biz. jet industry.

The benefits would be two fold.
1. To allow the owner pilot or the single hired pilot the flexibility to fly a two pilot rated aircraft (most biz jets) any time unattended.
2. Reduce the cost of a co-pilot. The economics are simple. With a remote copilot monitoring two aircraft the cost of the pilot is reduced to half (minus subscription costs). Also as a subscription service with hourly rates further cost reduction would found through the elimination of a salaried co-pilot in lieu of an hourly rate remote pilot service. And as more new biz jets enter service the more the costs of the service could be reduced. (I know this will ruffle the feathers of a lot of pilots because I understand that it's a very tough business to be in right now.