Embraer has unveiled an idea for a futuristic pilotless business jet, which goals to exchange a cockpit with a passenger lounge.
The concept, which was revealed on the 2022 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), envisions an aircraft that runs entirely on sustainable fuel and employs extensive use of artificial intelligence (AI).
“The concept presented was a totally autonomous aircraft that can eliminate the necessity for a cockpit and enable recent cabin configurations, reminiscent of a forward lounge. Sustainability could be within the DNA of the airplane with a green technology propulsion system based either on SAF, electrification and/or hydrogen,” an Embraer spokesperson said in an emailed statement to AeroTime.
The aircraft is a medium-sized executive jet, broadly much like Embraer’s Praetor series. Nevertheless, the aircraft has quite a few peculiar features, including a V-tail, rarely seen on business jets, and a novel engine configuration with two turbofans within the tail.
The engines look like situated above each other, somewhat than on either side of the rear fuselage, and have three air intakes: one on the highest and two on the edges of the fuselage.
In line with a Twitter post published by Embraer, the aircraft will even feature three cabin zones. Considered one of these zones was shown in photographs attached to the tweet and shows a spacious lounge situated on the front of the aircraft. The cabin can be pictured as featuring windows overlaid with touchscreens.
At today’s #NBAA2022 Media Breakfast, #Embraer presented our vision for the longer term of personal air travel with an inspiring concept that proposes a totally autonomous, three-cabin-zone medium cabin jet that may operate on 100% sustainable propulsion. #NBAA22 #WeAreEmbraer pic.twitter.com/fcKsvu5cAi
— Embraer (@embraer) October 18, 2022
The announcement follows on from Embraer’s previous concept of a family of next generation regional aircraft intended to run entirely on sustainable fuel.
Revealed in 2021, the hydrogen- and electric-powered aircraft are expected to complement Embraer’s lineup by 2030.
“As it is a concept, no performance numbers have been defined. There are not any commitments from Embraer Executive Jets to develop and manufacture the presented airplane. Embraer will somewhat use it as an inspiration to research and develop recent technologies and recent solutions for the business aviation of the longer term,” Embraer’s statement explained.
While the thought of AI-piloted passenger aircraft will not be a brand new one, it’s sure to come across ample resistance within the business market where the thought of a single-pilot cockpit is heavily debated.