Until the takeoffs and landing and landing and landing, a completely automatic Cessna aircraft, what I saw on the test flight

The weather conditions of the day were not so good.At a small airfield on a small hill in eastern San Francisco, a strong crosswind is blowing on the runway.

The aircraft with us slowly begins to land in the final landing.When the shadow of the wings reflected on the ground descended to the point where it could be confirmed with the naked eye, a veteran pilot sitting next to me spoke.He says, "Let's raise both hands. Like a roller coaster," he releases his hand from the control stick.

The small aircraft "Cessna 208 Caravan" was produced 27 years ago, and used to be a football -like person like a senior official of the United Nations (UN) in southern Africa.However, there are no luxurious elements, and it feels more like a go -kart than a passenger aircraft.

The cockpit is filled with traditional manual switches and analog meters, and the movement of the direction rudder pedal is linked to the main leg wheels.However, this airplane has recently been significantly modified.

Altitude 500 feet (152).When 4m) is interrupted, the wind speed is 15 knots (7 seconds.The wind of 7m blows on the aircraft.The pilot moves slightly in the pedal and wheels, despite leaving his hands off the control stick, and adjusts the effects of the wind with a machine -like accuracy.The aircraft continued to descend while maintaining the tranquility and landed safely.

The meaning of being "boring"

The unmanned flight system was developed by Xwing (X Wing) based in San Francisco.Maxim Galiel, CTO (CTO), said before the test flight at the Grand Canyon:"Nothing happens, so it may feel boring, but that's what we are aiming for."

Galiel was a hobby, Sky Diving, and then became an aircraft engineer with interest in airplanes.It may not be so important for him, but the expression "rather boring" is easy to understand.For many people, the most terrible experience you want to avoid on an empty journey without a pilot.

Autonomation is not unusual in the aviation industry.For a long time, private passenger aircraft has only taken off and landing that pilots actually operate.Once you take off, you will switch to the automatic pilot system and sail.

You may still think that if an emergency happens, a human pilot will be piloted, but this is a mistake.In general, auto pilots can respond to changes in flight conditions more easily and safely than humans.

Mark Piet, the CEO of the X -Wing, explains that the current autopilot is far from a complete automatic pilot that does not require humans.First, there are some parts that have not yet been automated, such as takeoff and moving on the guide route.Also, unlike takeoff, landing can be automatically possible, but it is a condition that the airport has a guided system.