The answer to every pilot’s worst nightmare is closer than you think: Some recreational flyers can now can buy private planes that can safely land themselves in emergencies. The next giant leap in cockpit automation is showing up in an unlikely place: single-engine propeller planes used by weekend pilots. Such systems can manage aircraft speed and engine performance on their own, while automatically descending toward the nearest suitable airport. Without any human input, computers are designed to communicate with air-traffic controllers, line up with the correct runway and extend landing gear—all while avoiding storms or terrain, and entering a holding pattern if necessary. After touchdown, other sensors are intended to help automatically apply brakes and shut down the engine.

Source: Wall Street Journal July 18, 2020 04:01 UTC