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Head of Google drone project predicts passenger planes without pilots

Experts say Canada's permissive approach to regulating commercial drones has made it a world leader in the burgeoning field, while others warn that inadequate enforcement of the soaring number of amateur flyers is putting the public at risk.
Experts say Canada's permissive approach to regulating commercial drones has made it a world leader in the burgeoning field, while others warn that inadequate enforcement of the soaring number of amateur flyers is putting the public at risk. AP Photos/The News-Review, Michael Sullivan, File

MONTREAL – The head of a project that is developing commercial drones predicts the day will come when passenger aircraft will fly without pilots.

Dave Vos, head of Google’s Project Wing, says it’s completely doable and the 54-year-old predicts it will happen in his lifetime.

Vos made his comments at the start of a three-day symposium on remotely piloted aircraft systems that’s being hosted in Montreal by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

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Project Wing develops a delivery system that uses self-flying vehicles to quickly and safely transport goods.

READ MORE: Google to start testing solar-powered Internet drones

ICAO council president Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said today the presence of unmanned aircraft has been gradually increasing and has now reached a point of real concern for the safety of manned aviation.

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In his opening remarks, he told industry and government representatives that a comprehensive framework is needed so drones can be integrated into aircraft operations safely and efficiently.

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