Jose wrote:
All this techology that Evans is talking about will not generate profits
for anyone except a small number of technology companies.


... but the tracking ability of some of the proposed (and possible)
technologies would benefit more than just the tech companies. Government
would love to get this kind of information on us, and we'd gladly
surrender it in exchange for shorter lines (which, like "commercial free
TV", is a chimera).

Those in government can then use this to increase their own power and
wealth.

The article starts off with a set of claims that is completely
ridiculous
("... commuter pilots who fly the plane from a home office")


Well, while I don't believe this will come to pass (for many reasons) it
is certainly not beyond the pale. UAVs are being deployed right now,
even when they are not appropriate (IMHO) ways of accomplishing the
stated tasks. I don't know how much of a factor pilot salaries are in
commercial aviation (I suspect gas costs far more than pilots) but I do
not for a moment think that this kind of technology (UAV) is impossible
to shove down our throats. But it will be an evolution, and we will
barely know what is happening. Hopefully we'll all be at a much higher
flight level by then.

Jose

I won't say that it is impossible. I will say that it is impossible
within my lifetime. It is possible that remote management will be
available for cargo planes in a couple of decades. I might believe it
when I see such technology being deployed in situations where it would
be of real benefit. Combat jets for example. Today a major restriction
on aircraft performance in combat is protecting a pilot. When most of
the air force combat planes are run by sergeants on the ground I may
begin to believe.

Oh all right they will have to be majors so that their bosses all can be
generals but they will be doing sergeant's jobs.