Toulouse, Jan. 22 -- : Coming as a huge step in the direction of pilotless commercial flights, Airbus successfully conducted multiple automated takeoffs with a modified A350-1000 jetliner.
According to CNN Travel, the test runs were carried out last month at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport situated in France.
The aircraft carried out eight autonomous take-offs within a span of four and a half hours, with two test pilots kept at standby.
In a statement issued by Airbus, test pilot Captain Yann Beaufils described how the test session unfolded and what were its results.
"While completing alignment on the runway, waiting for clearance from air traffic control, we engaged the autopilot."
"We moved the throttle levers to the takeoff setting and...