<story><title>Airbus&apos; self-flying plane just completed taxi, take-off, and landing tests</title><url>https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-completes-autonomous-taxi-take-off-and-landing-tests-2020-7</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>PinguTS</author><text>A friend of mine, a military helicopter pilot told me years ago, that Airbus can basicaly fly by itself, except for taxiing. It was about 15 years ago.&lt;p&gt;But then the airline prohibited to use the automated systems during take-off and landing, because the pilots don&amp;#x27;t get practise. But pilots need those practise if they should take over in emergency situations.&lt;p&gt;The same is true for automated driving. I always say, we will see automated railways and automated airplanes before we see automated cars.&lt;p&gt;PS: Because of some comments, Nuremberg had the first railways system to allow mixed traffic of automated and manual railways. Yeah, I know some of the guys doing the saftey certifcations for this.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>traceroute66</author><text>@PinguTS, well your friend is either mistaken, or you misheard him or a combination of both.&lt;p&gt;First, auto-takeoff is not possible. Its not possible due to technical constraints (e.g. concerns regarding LOC capture on the ground). It is also not possible due to safety constraints (e.g. the requirement to be able to deal with an aborted takeoff in a timely manner).&lt;p&gt;Second, automated landing IS used, but it is only used in limited situations.  Why ?&lt;p&gt;- Because not all runways are equipped for CAT III autoland (i.e. the aircraft is not capable of landing itself without a shit-ton of calibrated equipment on the ground being there first, also good luck finding a CATIII autoland somewhere mountainous or with an otherwise tricky approach).&lt;p&gt;- Because not all aircraft are equipped for CATIII autoland (see above, more kit, more money).&lt;p&gt;- Because the autoland system itself has DH (Decision Height) and RVR (Runway Visual Range) requirements. The exception to this is CAT IIIC autoland, but AFAIK the vast majority of CATIII certified runways are only to CAT IIIB because that&amp;#x27;s expensive enough to certify, even for major airports.&lt;p&gt;- Because of general weather requirements.  For example, I don&amp;#x27;t know about you, but I&amp;#x27;d rather NEVER see an aircraft attempting autoland in a Captain&amp;#x27;s crosswind (i.e. crosswind so strong that the airline prohibits the First Officer from flying it).&lt;p&gt;- Becuase autoland operations at airports involve ATC increasing traffic separation.  Increase separation leads to what ?  Yes, that&amp;#x27;s right... decreased flow rate and increased possibility of delays and cancellations.</text></comment>
<story><title>Airbus&apos; self-flying plane just completed taxi, take-off, and landing tests</title><url>https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-completes-autonomous-taxi-take-off-and-landing-tests-2020-7</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>PinguTS</author><text>A friend of mine, a military helicopter pilot told me years ago, that Airbus can basicaly fly by itself, except for taxiing. It was about 15 years ago.&lt;p&gt;But then the airline prohibited to use the automated systems during take-off and landing, because the pilots don&amp;#x27;t get practise. But pilots need those practise if they should take over in emergency situations.&lt;p&gt;The same is true for automated driving. I always say, we will see automated railways and automated airplanes before we see automated cars.&lt;p&gt;PS: Because of some comments, Nuremberg had the first railways system to allow mixed traffic of automated and manual railways. Yeah, I know some of the guys doing the saftey certifcations for this.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>ekianjo</author><text>There are already automated trains in Paris (one metro line), and I can think of several places in Japan with automated train lines as well (not the main ones). It&amp;#x27;s already proven technology.</text></comment>