---
title: "Boeing Wants to Take Pilots Out of the Cockpit With Self-Flying Planes"
description: "The full-autopilot technology could be tested in a real plane as early as next year."
date: "2017-06-08"
modified: "2017-06-08"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/11315/boeing-wants-to-take-pilots-out-of-the-cockpit-with-self-flying-planes"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "airplane"
  - "Autopilot"
  - "Boeing"
  - "safety"
  - "self-flying"
---

# Boeing Wants to Take Pilots Out of the Cockpit With Self-Flying Planes

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When Tesla needed to pick a name for its fledgling self-driving technology a few years ago, [it chose "Autopilot"](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/11068/when-stanford-roboticists-review-tesla-autopilot-they-dont-send-their-best>) because the name instantly conjures up a feeling of reassuring competence. After all, haven't planes been basically flying themselves for the last few decades amid plummeting air accident rates? That's true in some regards, but there's still no replacing a pilot's skill in critical situations...yet.

Boeing wants to change that, and fast, [according to *Reuters*.](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-airshow-autonomous-idUSKBN18Z12M>) The world's largest airplane manufacturer held a briefing today ahead of the Paris Airshow to detail its plans for a pilot-free cockpit run entirely by computers. Existing autopilot technology can already handle every stage of flight except takeoff and taxiing, and Boeing says the largest challenge to a fully-automated plane is getting the system up to strict aviation safety standards.

That's a little optimistic—pilots don't just kick back with a cold one [when the computer is in control](<https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/26/autopilot-what-the-system-can-and-cant-do.html>)—and Boeing's vice president of product development Mike Sinnett admits they're not exactly sure how to put all the pieces together yet. But the company will be doing simulator work this summer with the hopes of taking its tech to a real-life test plane as early as next year.

On the one hand, yes, the idea of having nothing but a computer up front as you're [being dragged off the plane](<https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/david-dao-united-airlines-reach-settlement-after-viral-video-incident-n752051>) settling into your too-small seat is hardly comforting. But there *are* a few upsides to self-flying planes, including potentially solving our [ongoing pilot shortage](<https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/05/23/Military-civilian-aviation-leaders-meet-over-pilot-shortage-issues/4671495535959/>) and opening up more room for passengers by shrinking the cockpit's footprint.

And then there's the safety aspect—despite our reasonable fears of a computer algorithming its way into a bad situation, pilot error is one of the leading causes of modern plane crashes. And Boeing knows its technology needs to be bulletproof for people to buy in, telling reporters that its goal is to make a system so advanced it's able to recreate Captain Sullenberger's [famous "Miracle on the Hudson" landing.](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/8300/can-sully-transform-the-world-of-self-driving-cars>)

"If it can't, then we can't go there," Sinnet said.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
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