[youtube]http://youtu.be/8h7GmtwPXYM[/youtube]

Not a chute substitute but still pretty interesting.

Damnit, all this "learn how to fly" bullshit and now I just need this and an alarm clock.

I wonder if it can handle an engine failure?

This will kill far more people than it will save.

One question: what is the criteria for "incapacitated" and how is that sensed by the computer?

I strongly suspect that aspect of the system was glossed over.

This is not an easy question once you think about it sufficiently.

Mike C.

That's actually fairly trivial relative to all the other aspects of this project.

In my airplane, if I am on autopilot, and an engine fails, the autopilot will keep flying. This is an autopilot from 1970, so not exactly new.

The autopilot can't feather the prop, but that could added obviously.

Mike C.

What's so hard about it? Just monitor pilot's control inputs. Play a string of warnings if no inputs in 1/2 hr or so, then initiate auto-land.

No control inputs when on autopilot.

Recent examples are cases of incapacitation and flying on autopilot until the plane runs out of fuel.

Mike C.

No control inputs when on autopilot.

Recent examples are cases of incapacitation and flying on autopilot until the plane runs out of fuel.

Mike C.

Seems simple. Isn't.

Pilot programs 500 FPM descent into autopilot from 3000 ft. 6 minutes to impact.

Pilot cruising at 8000 ft headed west near Denver. Rocks ahead.

Pilot on coupled ILS, passes out.

Pilot impaired, but well enough to push buttons, and does so reflexively.

Pilot has seizure, pressing buttons involuntarily.

The only people who think this is simple are those who haven't thought it through fully. As you try to cover each of the situations, the system gets ever more complex and error prone.


He's gonna be pushing buttons all the damn time. Nag, nag, nag. The pilot then disables the system and flies in peace, so no benefit.

Mike C.

All of these can be addressed, but they are too far fetched to even worry about. We spend 95% percent of our time flying straight and level at safe altitude. If we can address 95% of the potential problem, that's good enough for me.

I wonder if it can engage the brakes or will you run off the end of the runway after a successful auto-land?

Sort of amazed that it can use onboard weather radar to circumnavigate weather. Might be a useful tool all by itself if the algorithms were good. Not sure how they accomplish that but...

That's true for pilot incapacitation in general, in non pressurized aircraft.

When was the last time a fatal accident due to pilot incapacitation in a a non pressurized aircraft occurred that this system would have prevented?

It is VERY rare.

Meanwhile, you can just imagine the idiots who view this system as an autoland capability that emboldens them to go flying when they shouldn't.

"Don't worry about ________, the plane can land itself, let's go!"

I am certain the tally will be negative for this system.

Mike C.

They stated it in the video/brochure.

The marketing department is just so much more innovative than engineering...

Mike C.

So will they need better training or better training on the system