[RichHI1]

I am more concerned by ATC up to 50 miles in and out. I would have thought more progress is needed to move from coloured crayons and pieces of paper to a fully automated system. Humans are not good at monitoring for long periods or at high levels of stress ( mmm sounds like flying).

[craigwatson]

Rich the US is already trailing a system where the planes and ground computers monitor each others positions in the vicinity of the airport, and thereby reducing seperation and allowing a much quicker arrival process which handles an icreased traffic load.

[RichHI1]

Yes I heard there were some innovations coming. I believe the use of air corridors is being replaced too. Will this happen in UK?
PS I don’t think we have the new system in Hawaii yet.

[FormerlyDoS]

“This is just my opinion, I have no stats to back this statement up, but believe it to be true.”

I buy into your views on automation as a safety aid.

Also, the implementation of SOPs has reduced the holes in the Swiss cheese from lining up.

And yes, there will always be accidents.

But I don’t see (in the foreseeable future) automated systems with such levels of redundancy and predictable faiilure modes that the need for a skilled person is eliminated, although I think single pilot will happen.

Just my opinion.

[RichHI1]

Fdos I wiuld like to think public opinion will be a brake but I fear commercialism and the corporate desire for profit will triumph over all objection. Regretfully the only scenario I can gainsay this is a massive air crash with large loss of life where litigants have locus standi to sue in the US courts. I think a massive law suit could close down a major carrier and threaten Boeing or Airbus and possibly manor suppliers. I do not ever want to see such an event.

[David61]

London Airways are a disgrace to anybody who doesn’t live in London or the South East-the ‘British’ is a total misnomer.

[Tete_de_cuvee]

Technologies will undoubtably increase automation. Boris reckons some London Underground trains will be driverless within the next mayoral period.

Whereas undoubtably there is current capability to fly highly accurate? drones and spy planes, along with cargo airships remotely the main preventer will be not peoples belief in that the technology will fail but that the technology can be hacked remotely by a ne’er do well.

Remote control operation will be quickly followed by remote hacking.

[RichHI1]

A slightly dated view of what air transpoort would be like if run by the computer industry. Third party link, sorry if probs etc…

http://www.tensionnot.com/jokes/operating_systems_and_airlines

[openfly]

The comments on the last two pages have had NOTHING whatsoever to do with the problems at BA LGW!!!

How about getting back onto the topic!!

[LeTigre]

Are you sure you don’t want to continue the meaningful discussion about driver-less trains, openfly?

The reason why the subject has changed is that there is no more news and no further insights.

However, I do have one question…how long until those 737s get “refreshed”?

[RichHI1]

But LeTigre that is not an LGW issue. I find the A32x flying out of LHR to LIS are normally really tatty, just as the 737’s out of LGW and the non refurbed 744’s. THe BA Blue Leather Euro seats look quite good when they are new but when they are dirty, slightly torn and the headrests don’t stay up and the tables are scratched they look nasty. Not to mention the panels that are not quite lined up to the window frames.

[VintageKrug]

One or two of the airbus fleet can often be seen at LGW…

[NewBAexec]

Just read on FT that the cabin crew at LGW have voted against the proposal made by the airline.

98.4% voted against. Now what?

[VintageKrug]

This is hardly unexpected.

Having said that, it’s clear that a version of the proposal will have to be accepted, or there will be more compuladsory redundancies for certain (in addition to those already being consulted on).

I think the unions are better adjusted at Gatwick since their split from Heathrow, so I would expect further negotiations to bear fruit, though it’s going to be painful for some, that’s for certain.

[canucklad]

Mmmmmm….i will need to re-think the London Airways tag…. Could they just re-brand as Heathrow Airways ! or maybe LHR Air will act as a cost cutting exercise on paintingtheir letters..

Their out sourced customer facing staff are generally “oK” and thats about it…… No real pride in the company they represent because they are not employed by brand BA !

Feel sorry for the Gatwick staff…good people being Walshed for short term financial gain and long term risk to customer service .

Pilots are not customer facing and must surely be a far bigger cost cow ….Why not outsource them ?

[Author]

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