Ask yourself with what are you connecting flying with?
Being free? Seeing the world from a different angle? Traveling and adventures?
All of it sounds amazing, but a lot of people are scared of flying because they can’t control what is going on. It all depends on the pilot sitting in the cockpit.
So what do you do when the pilot/s can’t fly anymore for whatever reason?
Hope for superman to save the plane you are sitting in?
Or maybe bees to land the plane softly?
Well, good news, you don‘t need good connections to Superman or a whole army of bees anymore.
Garmin has introduced a system that lets the plane navigate ad land themselves with just one push of a button.
Function:
After the button is pushed or the plane notices that the pilot isn’t responsive, the system determines the best place to land, considering circumstances like weather, fuel, runway size, etc.
Its system navigates the plane around terrain (e.g. Mountains) and bad weather, which could cause the aircraft to crash.
The system automatically notifies the air traffic control so that they can prepare for the landing, route other planes around you, and possibly prepare ambulance, firefighter trucks, or whatever is needed.
Interface:
The interface of the G3000 flight deck changes to a simplified interface, which basically just allows the passengers to talk to the air traffic control and gives the information they need to know like landing time or any updates. This is 
most likely helpful to keep the passengers more relaxed and not panicking about all the radars and numbers on the displays, which might look scary, especially in such a moment.
Planes:
For 2020 the models Piper M600 turboprop and Cirrus Vision Jet are trying to get authorization by the FAA. Older models with the G3000 cockpit could be upgraded, but the company didn’t confirm yet whether this option will be made available.
Piper M600 turboprop
Cirrus Vision Jet
Trailer:
As you can see, for now, there are no plans to implement this system into commercial planes, and it is a system that should only be used in emergencies. So maybe for now keep the connections with Superman and your bee friends.
However, in my opinion, this is a good indicator that in the future, planes will fly without pilots having to sit in the cockpits starting and landing the plane.
I also think it’s only a matter of time before it will be implemented to commercial planes.
I’m personally excited about the system. Let’s see what the future brings.
Since I’m usually anxious when it comes to flying, having this system implemented would actually make me feel better. Having this as a backup plan when it comes to emergencies is comforting, and could save a lot of lives.
You really did include the Bee Movie here… Lord, please save this cursed land. xd
Well, anyhow. Same with self-driving cars. We have to be patient. The tech will be there really soon, but not as of now, sadly enough. Especially with the Boeing Max scandal, oof, I would say we have to be careful.
You mentioned in the future, planes could fly without pilots, especially during emergencies. Let me offer an alternative view: planes will not be able to fly without pilots, especially not during emergencies.
The Autopilot function that we currently have in planes are usually still monitored by the pilot. Even when not, especially in its nascent phase, we need to always have a pilot in case something goes wrong, which has not first been inputted in the original code. As is the case with autonomous driving or any self-driving mechanisms. They are only as smart as the people who have created them.
To quote a former US Air force pilot and aviation scholar, Greg Zahornarky, “Autopilots are dumb and dutiful; dumb in the sense that it will readily accept illogical inputn dutiful in the sense that the computer will attempt to fly whatever is put in”.
Furthermore, I would say Autopilot is not sufficient, especially in times of emergency. Even if and when this function has built in a function to calm the passengers, it is paramount to always have a human touch – to have a calm and level-headed person who can reassure the various passengers in ways only physical touch can. And this I believe is the main argument for why many believe AI or technology in general will only be able to replace administrative functions, but will not be able to override what is increasingly of great importance: Human relations and emotional intelligence.
I agree only partly with you for two reasons. The first reason is that I don’t agree with this statement: “As is the case with autonomous driving or any self-driving mechanisms. They are only as smart as the people who have created them.” AI proved many times to be better than humans whether it’s in chess or in something more serious like analyzing if a person has lung cancer. The second reason is that I believe that AI will manage to enter the 3rd stage of Artificial Super Intelligence and be smarter than humans and therefore make better and faster decisions.
I do believe that the human touch is important but honestly, the only time when I actually see the pilot is before and/or after the flight walking with the crew. Meaning that the only thing which really connects you is the voice. However, for that, you don’t need pilots sitting on the plane but it can be done from the towers.
So I still stick with my statement that in the future AI will replace pilots. For now and the next multiple years I believe pilots are needed because technology is not ready for such a big step, as well as we as people since it takes a lot of time to give your life into a hand of a system. For example, still, not everybody is trusting online banking and for our generation, it would be more than strange to not have it. And it will be the same with pilotless flying. The first couple of generations are going to be skeptical but at some point in the future, people will not know anything else and find it interesting to read about humans actually maneuvering plans in their history books.
This is quite amazing system. If it is implemented more and people are made aware – as I see also from the comments above – it may be the pushing factor for people to try airtravel. Some may be on the verge of trying because of their fears. Such systems may encourage them to try as the planes become more and more safe.
Of course the system cannot prevent all the catastrophies that might happen.
But the more factors and circumstances it takes into consideration, the more data it is fed – the safer airtravelling will become.
Maybe they even can develop a system that aids the pilot to land safely in some ways? When he is still capable and consious but has doubts about the wind or so?
Very promissing, can’t wait to see the later direction and implementation of the project!!