NEWS: Aviation's future -- pilotless planes

On Mon, 03 Apr 2006 18:56:31 +0000, Larry Dighera wrote:

Here's a question for you: How many of the 7 people that comprise the
team that operate the UAV are currently required to possess a valid
airmans certificate an medical certificate?

I've no idea, but you've raised another interesting issue. If airliners
are piloted from the ground, there's a new reason to do away with the
mandatory retirement at 60. Even the idea of medicals become somewhat
moot.

If a "pilot" has a heart attack (or some such), one of the many
replacements available just takes over.

Of course, that'll work only until the "remote piloting facility" gets the
same kind of work rules as ATC (at which point there'll be no backup, and
every "pilot" will be flying several aircraft).

- Andrew