It 's like saying we should get rid of surgeons in the operating room because of advances in medical technology , he said . These myths confuse passengers about pilot control , expert control . Veteran airline pilot : Planes do n't fly themselves . Capt . Chesley says : Autopilot slightly hindered emergency Columbia River landing . Aviation / human automation systems : Remote - control systems may be many generations away .
These myths confuse passengers about pilot control , expert control . Veteran airline pilot : Planes do n't fly themselves . Capt . Chesley says : Autopilot slightly hindered emergency Columbia River landing . Aviation / human automation systems : Remote - control systems may be many generations away .