Wed, May 31, 2006
Autopilot Would Be In Control During Emergency Situation
European jetmaker
Airbus has been at the forefront of integrating onboard computers
into the cockpits of commercial airliners... and the company is
reportedly ready to take another big step towards expanding cockpit
automation: onboard computers that will automatically maneuver
jetliners to avoid midair collisions, without any input from
pilots.
Airbus says future flight crews on its jets will be instructed
and trained to rely on autopilots in most cases to escape an
impending midair collision. Pilots are currently trained to
disconnect the autopilot when they get an alert, and then manually
climb or descend to avoid the other aircraft.
The Wall Street Journal reports Airbus plans to install
computerized avoidance systems as soon as next year, pending
regulatory approvals... despite protests from pilot groups and some
aircraft equipment suppliers, who are reluctant to put such an
important safety concern in the electronic hands of an automated
system.
Air Line Pilots Association safety official Larry Newman said
his group opposes such devices, as "this tends to lead to getting
the pilot further and further away from the process" of responding
to emergencies.
Airbus maintains that could be a good thing, as computer control
during emergencies would reduce the chance of a human pilot
overreacting, or overcontrolling the aircraft... which can cause
greater problems. Automatic avoidance systems would ensure that all
aircraft "respond correctly and quickly" to alerts, with "less
stress on the pilot [and] less potential for injury" to passengers,
Airbus safety expert Bill Bozin told the WSJ.
Bozin added that, in some circumstances, pilots would still be
advised to take control of the plane back from the autopilot...
although such occurrences would be rare.
So, it would seem automated collision avoidance might soon
become a reality... at least on Airbus planes. A spokesman for
Boeing told the Wall Street Journal the company would remain
"aligned with our fundamental philosophy," which "believes the
captain is in charge" of handling the airliner in event of an
emergency.
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