Original Message

".. and no autonomous helicopter took my job. All I can do is hope for next year. "

If you're moving passengers my bet is that your job is safe next year and for several years after that. Ican see the possibility of autonomous passenger airplanes but airplanes are an entirely different kettle of fish as they operate from airports. Airplane control is almost 2 dimensional, whereas a helicopter is flown in all three dimensions and all the controls: pitch, roll, yaw and power, interact in a more pronounced action than an airplane primary controls.

I have no idea why anyone would 5-10 times the price of airplane transport to make the same trip in a helicopter. The economics only operate in favor of a helicopter if one is operating off airport, which demands much higher pilot discretion.

I didn't anticipate autonomous automobiles this early...