Aeronautics the Future of Unmanned

Aeronautics

The Future of Unmanned Aerial Passenger Vehicles

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are becoming more popular, especially in the military and in extreme circumstances. Military tests of UAVs have increased in recent years, largely because militaries in the United States and the UK see the value in robotic or remote-controlled aircraft (Fitchell, 1996). The technology to make these aircraft possible has moved out of the realm of science fiction and into the world of science fact in order to create aircraft unburdened by human considerations, that are cheaper to build, and that are easier to maintain. Recent tests by the Royal Air Force saw the successful remote control of a retrofitted passenger jet by an RAF pilot (Marks, 2006; UK Ministry of Defence, 2007).

The implication of this recent test is all too clear. If the military can successfully remote pilot a passenger jet, then the possibility of a feasible UAV passenger aircraft cannot be completely ignored. In fact, though UAV has mostly been limited to military applications since 1997, there has been increasing pressure to expand the use of these craft into the commercial and civil arenas (Use of pilotless planes, 2006). Such a technological leap no longer seems out of reach. Many analysts and futurists argue passionately that UAV is the next, logical phase in aeronautics (Eng, n.d.). Unfortunately, whether or not the technology for such a move is feasible, there are legitimate concerns that should give the aviation industry pause before embracing this so-called "logical" next step. UAVs, while useful in some limited instances, lack the reliability and adaptability of human-piloted aircraft. As such, there use in commercial and civil aeronautics should be avoided.

Some may believe that UAVs are the next step in aviation, but it is far more likely based on the evidence to conclude that they are actually just a new hazard in already overcrowded skies (Use of pilotless planes, 2006). In the United States alone, airlines account for approximately 612 million commercial flights each year (Eng, n.d.). This is a significant number of aircraft clogging the skies each year, which is already difficult to manage. Mid-air collisions are not unheard of, despite pilot training and despite the latest technology. Into this fray imagine the insertion of UAVs using untested technology and an unreliable ability to detect and avoid other aircraft. The results of UAVs colliding with other aircraft or with structures on the ground cannot be ignored.

Of course, there are numerous commercial applications for UAVs, a fact that continues to inspire faith in the technology to manifest over time. These applications include search and rescue, military uses, law enforcement, disaster relief, and environmental monitoring (UK Ministry of Defence, 2007; Eng, n.d.). More ambitious applications include the use of UAVs for freight aircraft and commercial airliners. In these latter cases, it becomes readily apparent that UAVs are not ready for implementation and likely never will be.

Aviation safety campaigners are concerned, and rightly so, by efforts to move this technology forward and place it on the same footing as human-piloted aircraft. For instance, currently the law says that any use of UAVs in civil airspace must be preceded by a detailed flight plan 30 days in advance of the scheduled flight. Some advocates of UAVs, including the U.S. military and aeronautical manufacturers, want to change this to allow flights on the same day a flight plan is filed -- just as with traditional aircraft (Graham-Rowe, 2003). The legitimate fear is that a change in this law would pave the way for UAV freight flights and, eventually, UAV passenger flights. Those in the aviation industry concerned with the safety of passengers recognize that such a move could put many people's lives in danger.