Passenger aircraft with AI co-pilots could be flying travellers to their destinations in the future, says Tim Clark, president of airline Emirates.
He told CNBC: ‘You might see a one-pilot aircraft. Could the aircraft be flown on a fully automated basis? Yes it could, technology is right up there now.
‘[But passengers] like to think there are two pilots up there. There will always be somebody on the flight deck in my view.’
His remarks come as debate rages over how far and fast AI technology should be developed.
Underscoring how much input a pilot has in the cockpit, Joji Waites, head of flight safety at pilots’ union Balpa, wrote in a blog: ‘The skilled pilot is part of an intricate safety system that mitigates risks and keeps passengers safe.