Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons/Gerard van der Schaaf
Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons/Gerard van der Schaaf

If airplanes could be controlled from the ground, could it help prevent another tragedy like the Germanwings crash last month that killed 150 people?

According to Reuters, that’s exactly what the German air traffic control authority is pressing for. “We have to think past today’s technology,” Reuters reports that Klaus Dieter Scheurle, head of the Deutsche Flugsicherung air traffic control authority, said at a press conference yesterday. “I wouldn’t say it’s the simplest solution though,” he added.

While Reuters points out that that kind of technology is still about a decade off, and other “pilot associations are skeptical” as ground control may be introducing a whole new set of variable dangers to flight safety, it was certainly discussed that perhaps, some day, that 737 you’re on might be controlled by a pilot on the ground.

Since we live in the land of Boeing, what do you think? Remote-controlled commercial airplanes — ultimately a good or bad thing? It’s certainly an intriguing concept.

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