Thales Avionics (Airbus avionic supplier) is now working on just that. It's called Cockpit 3.0 - Near future airplanes will still have a two pilot crew, but the FO will be ground base. Two in control - 1 inflight and 1 on the ground,
http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/farnborough-air-show/2010-07-18/next-gen-cockpits-will-be-single-pilot-posits-thales
The sad story here is more about what a police state we have become. This poor, bored, minimum wage airplane cleaner has been arraigned at a bail amount ($1 million) larger than that of an armed rapist. His crime of filling 16oz water bottles with discarded frozen scraps of Co2 is little more than that of assault by water pistol. Can't airport police differentiate between those of real danger to society? . . . At most, this idiot should simply be fired and sent down the road. I sure feel much safer and protected in knowing that such a dumb bastard is wasting much needed space and resources in our overcrowded jails.
To think of how recent times have changed. Four engined mainliners such as BA and UA B-744's are being scrapped right now in VCV. The aftermarket $$ value for middle aged A-340's has become almost non-existant as B-787s replace them at a rapid rate. . . . I recall that during during the 60's, Western airlines had operated SLC-LAX with four engined B-720's. Today most routes as such are operated by RJ pencil jets. In 1968, few had anticipated the effects of explosive population, and the recource efficiencies that would then be demanded.
Few remember that John Wayne himself was on the anti airport coalition here during his final days alive. County officials, after his death, then named the airport after him (go figure). For this, John has probably been rolling in his grave.
The future points to 0 pilots in the cockpit (no one to go crazy). I expect there will always be accidents though fewer of them, however the term "pilot error' someday will become extinct.
