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We don't have fully automated planes because they're already safe enough and the economics aren't there.

The probability of crashing with a plane is extremely low, even factoring in the higher risk of takeoffs and landings. The entire process is coordinated with Air Traffic Control.

Since planes are so safe already and pilots are relatively inexpensive, there's no strong financial incentive to fully automate planes.

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Planes are also substantially regulated. I mean if there was a Vehicular Traffic Control on every intersection the same way there's Air Traffic Control we probably wouldn't have any accidents now, negating the main purported benefit of self driving to begin with.

Disagree on the economics. Pilots cost significant money and since the airline industry runs on low margins this can be a huge plus.

But the main reason we won't see planes without pilots is political and related to trust. I think for the same reasons we are less likely to see truly driverless cars.

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