Airbus Plans to Expand Cockpit Automation

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Airbus plans computerized systems that could automatically maneuver jetliners to avoid midair collisions, without pilot input, the Wall Street Journal reports. From the article: 'For the first time, flight crews of Airbus planes will be instructed and trained to rely on autopilots in most cases to escape an impending crash with another airborne aircraft. Currently, all commercial pilots are required to instantly disconnect the autopilot when they get an alert of such an emergency, and manually put their plane into a climb or descent to avoid the other aircraft. The change, which hasn't been announced yet, comes after lengthy internal Airbus debates and despite skepticism from pilot groups and even some aircraft-equipment suppliers.'"

Comments

synergy!

[MrSquirrel]

They should hire those kids who automated their dormroom http://web.mit.edu/zacka/www/midas.html. It's not like they have anything important to do.

Re:Major changes to automation

[Fordiman]

I dunno, but I'd like to have airbus expand _my_ cockpit.

That was unnecessary.