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The U.S President Donald Trump has launched a unique attack on planes as too complicated to fly following a Boeing 737 crash in Ethiopia on Sunday. Trump tweeted, “Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly. Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT. I see it all the time in many products. Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better.” He also said, “Split second decisions are needed, and the complexity creates danger. All of this for great cost yet very little gain. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to easily and quickly take control of a plane”!

Experts have indicated that automatic flying controls have existed since the early 20^th century. The chairman of the aeronautical science department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, Michael Wiggins said in a press interview last year with the New York Times. Wiggins said, “Automated flight controls go back into the 1920s, and through World War II they had rudimentary autopilots. The idea was that the automation would relieve the pilots of very routine flying and monitoring tasks. It would allow them to focus on situational awareness and other monitoring duties they have to take care of”.

It is noteworthy that the British regulators have grounded all Boeing 737 Max aircraft following the Ethiopian Airlines crash. The UK Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement that they are monitoring the situation and it had a precautionary measure. The CAA issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace. Point to be noted that five 737 Max aircraft are registered and operational in the United Kingdom and 6^th had planned to commence operations later this week.