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Pilots of the OT - is AI and automation threatening your job?
Posted on 7/10/26 at 8:38 am
Posted on 7/10/26 at 8:38 am
My kid is a high school junior interested in becoming a pilot. We have a discovery flight booked and if he likes it we are going to set him up to get his PPL from a local flight school. We feel like that step will really help him decide if he wants to invest into it the next 4 years.
Every kid making a career choice these days has to consider whether or not AI and automation will threaten their chosen career in the next decade or two.
I am very interested to know if any pilots on this board can speak to their personal job satisfaction and future outlook.
Every kid making a career choice these days has to consider whether or not AI and automation will threaten their chosen career in the next decade or two.
I am very interested to know if any pilots on this board can speak to their personal job satisfaction and future outlook.
9
Posted on 7/10/26 at 8:43 am to Misnomer
Not a pilot but I don’t think a day will come anytime soon when there isn’t a pilot in the cockpit of a passenger jet.
My niece, also a high school kid, got the bug and has been flying a couple years now.
Some of the airlines have good programs for incoming / future pilots which can help track and financially.
My niece, also a high school kid, got the bug and has been flying a couple years now.
Some of the airlines have good programs for incoming / future pilots which can help track and financially.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 8:50 am to Misnomer
Not a pilot, but I have to believe there’s going to be a place for human pilots for a very long time. We’re not even there with driving yet and flying is far more complex.
It’ll be at least a couple of generations before people trust unmanned commercial aviation. Military applications might be different considering drones/UAVs have been around for a while but even there, the flying branches are still sending human pilots through expensive schoolhouses and the USAF is currently working on a manned 6th generation fighter.
In short, if you follow where the money is going, it looks like significant investments are still going towards training human pilots and putting them in cockpits.
It’ll be at least a couple of generations before people trust unmanned commercial aviation. Military applications might be different considering drones/UAVs have been around for a while but even there, the flying branches are still sending human pilots through expensive schoolhouses and the USAF is currently working on a manned 6th generation fighter.
In short, if you follow where the money is going, it looks like significant investments are still going towards training human pilots and putting them in cockpits.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 8:57 am to BPTiger
quote:
Some of the airlines have good programs for incoming / future pilots which can help track and financially.
Not for white males unless you plan to never work for the government or major commercial airliner.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 8:58 am to Dadren
quote:
Not a pilot, but I have to believe there’s going to be a place for human pilots for a very long time. We’re not even there with driving yet and flying is far more complex.
Flying is complex but much more controlled than driving. Autoland technology is already in place, but not legally allowed to be utilized unless in very certain circumstances.
And millions of driverless cars are already on the roads, but most people don't know that.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 8:59 am to Misnomer
Don't believe the hype. These dorks think they're going to be doing everything. They're not. The shite doesn't work like they say it does. And my arse isn't getting in any vehicle where the driver doesn't have his own life on the line, too.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:00 am to Dadren
quote:
Not a pilot, but I have to believe there’s going to be a place for human pilots for a very long time. We’re not even there with driving yet and flying is far more complex.
Automation is not more complex for flying and its not even close. We've had "auto-pilot" for decades whereas we've only had "self-driving" cars (still w/ driver attention) since 2014.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:04 am to Misnomer
I think we are a long way away from not having pilots in cockpit. Let him learn to fly. Get his PPL then keep going to instrument. I never got my instrument and never could afford my own plane. So I basically spent $11,000 for a certificate I haven't used in ten years.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:04 am to Dadren
quote:
We’re not even there with driving yet and flying is far more complex.
Is it?
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:05 am to Misnomer
Not a pilot. Have been a commercial passenger for 30yr career.
I have self parking feature in my car and have never used it. I’m not getting in a Waymo driverless vehicle. Ain’t no way in hell I am getting on pilotless aircraft. Even if the airline gives free bottles of Bourbon and parachutes.
I might consider if Flight Attendant (real human female) lap dances were also included.
Kidding.
I have self parking feature in my car and have never used it. I’m not getting in a Waymo driverless vehicle. Ain’t no way in hell I am getting on pilotless aircraft. Even if the airline gives free bottles of Bourbon and parachutes.
I might consider if Flight Attendant (real human female) lap dances were also included.
Kidding.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:11 am to Misnomer
With the growth of AI and automation, it has definitely been a topic of concern. (Almost) every major 121 carrier has it in their contract that every single flight is a minimum of 2 pilot operation.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:31 am to KosmoCramer
quote:
Flying is complex but much more controlled than driving. Autoland technology is already in place, but not legally allowed to be utilized unless in very certain circumstances.
And millions of driverless cars are already on the roads, but most people don't know that.
I guess I should have said “the potentially problematic scenarios in flying are more difficult for automation to deal with”.
Yes, there are a lot of driverless cars on the road, but when my Model 3 with FSD encounters an edge-case that it can’t deal with, and I’m incapacitated so I can’t either, it will stop and pull over.
In an airplane, it can just go to “straight/level” in an emergency but if it can’t land, it has to solve the problem. You can’t have any unsolvable emergencies with autonomous flying.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:32 am to Misnomer
I would not think twice about this. Some universities have good aviation clubs too so don't forget that when looking at universities. It will probably be a cheaper way for him to get his pilot's license.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:32 am to Dadren
quote:
Not a pilot, but I have to believe there’s going to be a place for human pilots for a very long time.
When "autopilot" came out the amount of total pilots significantly increased
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:35 am to Misnomer
quote:
I am very interested to know if any pilots on this board can speak to their personal job satisfaction and future outlook.
AI is only going to help pilots in the future. Automation is already a big part of it and that’s a good thing. Redundancy and automation makes for safer flights.
There will never be a case where airlines choose AI over human pilots, at least not any time soon. Computers can be hacked/fail and if there is no one there to override a wrong input then there will be chaos.
You son is fine. Best he understands how difficult the ride will be. He needs to be someone who doesn’t fold under pressure and can compartmentalize when it hits the fan.
But yes, now is a good time to be a pilot and he can have a very successful career ahead of him.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 9:46 am to Misnomer
I have nothing of value to add, but just wanted to say you seem like a great parent.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 3:33 pm to FenrirTheBeard
quote:
With the growth of AI and automation, it has definitely been a topic of concern. (Almost) every major 121 carrier has it in their contract that every single flight is a minimum of 2 pilot operation.
I’ve read that within the next 15 years, even with union pushback, it’s possible that single-pilot could become common place. Cargo well before that. So if/when that happens, seems the profession could shrink in a major way when he’s only 10 years into his airline career.
Edit: Thank you everyone for all the responses so far.
This post was edited on 7/10/26 at 3:39 pm
Posted on 7/10/26 at 4:14 pm to TimeOutdoors
quote:
Some universities have good aviation clubs too so don't forget that when looking at universities.
If he confirms interest and motivation I’m hoping he’ll get his PPL before graduating high school and walk straight into LA Tech’s aviation program.
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