
The barrier to full automation isn’t raw
capability — it’s a stack of human, legal,
and cultural constraints.
described in “Friction Factors That Slow the Progress of
AI,” it helps to explain why Stage 3 — replace — remains
out of reach.
The need for human assurance remains high: Passen-
gers still expect a human to be in the cockpit because
lives are at stake. Judgment is essential: The role requires
quick, unscripted decisions under uncertainty. Error tol-
erance is at or near zero, leaving no room for technical
missteps. And regulation is slow-moving and cautious
by design. The barrier isn’t raw capability — it’s a stack
of ...