70% of consumers are ready for autonomous flights

According to a global consumer survey commissioned by engineering simulation company, Ansys, 70% of consumers feel ready to fly in autonomous aircraft in their lifetime. Aerospace manufacturers are under pressure to deliver the next era of air travel, but proving that autonomous aircraft are safe and reliable is critical to securing public acceptance. “Autonomous aircraft are likely to enter service over the next decade, targeting both intra-city and inter-city travel, primarily used in air freight and air taxi business models. Further automation in large commercial jets will be gradual, first starting with single pilot operations, followed by fully autonomous operations,” said a senior research analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “Undoubtedly, automation will continue to transform air transport, as it has done over the past few decades." <br/>