Airbus is testing a new system which uses cameras to enable planes to fly without pilots and land on their own in emergencies. 9News
An association of pilots is concerned about the impact pioneering auto-pilot technology could have on jobs and airline safety.
"The research is ongoing and there is currently no timeline for when such a system could be certificated for installation on production aircraft." The 12 Airbus planes will be delivered to Qantas over three years, but there is no suggestion at the moment they will be fitted out with DragonFly. "But automation has always been designed to support a pilot team to manage that aeroplane effectively," he said.Australia's air safety watchdog, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority , said it was closely monitoring developments.