AIRWAYS INTERVIEW
How has the increase in the level of automation on airplanes affected Pilots ? Have you seen a shift in dependency on the autopilot during crucial parts of the flight such as takeoff and landing ? Is there a common understanding among Pilots that their responsibilities for flying the aircraft have decreased ? Automation is capable of doing almost everything out there , including landing at most airports . It has definitely contributed to accidents . When a Pilot is 100 % dependent on the equipment , and that equipment or instrumentation fails , accidents happen and can cause all kinds of issues . But , as long as one is aware of it and is able to strike a balance between automation and manual flying , it is nothing but an asset .
Airlines do not teach 100 % dependency . With the new automation , aircraft can self-land in bad weather as long as they have the right equipment on board . Sometimes , it is necessary and useful for the plane to be able to land on its own if a storm is coming or there is fog . Even in those cases , there is always a chance that the equipment will malfunction . Sometimes , that is glaringly obvious , and sometimes it is hidden . Therefore , always being aware is key for Pilots .
Your fiction book is about a female Pilot flying an aircraft that is infected with a lethal computer virus . How likely is this scenario to happen in real life ? This is a work of fiction . When I did the research , I spoke with people familiar with the manufacturing of both Boeing and Airbus aircraft . While it is extremely unlikely , it is possible . The people with whom I spoke told me that it is possible , and they suggested that I send copies of the book to the security departments of both Boeing and Airbus just to be aware of the fictional world I created .
What was the reason behind having a female protagonist in your book ? In your opinion , what does the aviation industry need to do to appeal more to women to become Pilots ? Today , the number of women in the cockpit is
58 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2023 www . airwaysmag . com