In a recent interview, the president of Emirates Airline, Tim Clark, shared his belief that passenger planes may soon be flown by artificial intelligence (AI) co-pilots, with the possibility of a single-pilot aircraft. While some passengers may feel more comfortable knowing there are two pilots in the cockpit, Clark emphasized that the technology for fully automated flights is already advancing and it is the future if aviation industry.
Autopilot Mode to AI Pilot Mode
Clark believes that the expanding abilities of AI technology may lead to airplanes moving from autopilot mode to AI pilot mode, where AI pilots fly with greater precision and safety. We may hence, see a shift from two trained pilots in the cockpit to no pilots at all in the future of air travel. However, Clark also stated that there will always be somebody on the flight deck in his view.
The Importance of Trained Pilots
Although Clark believes in the advancement of AI pilots, he emphasizes the skills possessed by trained pilots to ensure the safe arrival of passengers, crew, and cargo at their destinations. “Pilots are not merely plane drivers; they are highly skilled professionals who act as navigators, engineers, technicians, weather experts, and customer service managers,” he said.
Beyond flying the aircraft, pilots have diverse responsibilities that include interacting with various individuals such as aircrew, ground crew, cabin crew, air traffic control, and passengers. Effective communication is essential for pilots, both in aviation-specific terms, such as using radio communication with air traffic control, and on an interpersonal level.
Why Pilots Are Critical
For Clark, understanding the needs of the crew and supporting them in dealing with passengers is an important part of the job. Pilots fly with many different crews and must establish rapport with other flight and cabin crew members easily. They must communicate information to passengers and take responsibility of their safety, as well as for all crew on board.
Clark’s final verdict on fully automated flights was that it is possible, but there will always be a need for skilled pilots in the cockpit. While AI pilots may soon be a reality, trained pilots remain critical to the safe operation of any passenger flight.
Our Say
Emirates Airline president Tim Clark believes that in the future of air travel AI, pilots will be flying passenger planes with greater precision and safety. Although he emphasized the possibility of a single-pilot aircraft, he also stated that there would always be somebody on the flight deck. Trained pilots remain critical to the safe operation of any passenger flight, given their diverse responsibilities beyond just flying the aircraft.
By Analytics Vidhya, May 15, 2023.
