2 Modern aircraft fly on automatic pilot for most of the time. Most people are blissfully unaware that when an aircraft lands in mist or fog, it is a computer that is landing it. When autopilots can do something better than a human pilot, it makes sense to use autopilots. They can take control of the plane during the long and (for the pilot) monotonous part of the flight between take-off and landing.

They can also make landings, especially when visibility is poor because of fog or light conditions.

In fact, automatic landings when visibility is poor are safer than when the pilot is in control. On some flights, the autopilot is switched on within seconds of the aircraft wheels leaving the ground and then remains in charge throughout the flight and the landing. As yet, commercial flights do not take off automatically, mainly because it would require airports and airlines to invest in extra guidance equipment, which would be expensive to develop and install. Also, take-off is technically more complex than landing. Yet some in the airline industry believe that technology could be developed to the point where commercial flights can do without a pilot on the aircraft entirely. If it was developed, what would be the problems and benefits associated with introducing this type of technology?