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.

FMI: www.airbus.com