The conservatives turning against Donald Trump
More Republicans will turn against Donald Trump and his politics of populism, a GOP senator and leading critic of the president has predicted, as the Guardian surveys the conservative landscape 200 days into the Trump presidency.
Jeff Flake of Arizona, among 17 conservative politicians, activists, officials and pundits interviewed over two months, revealed that while the president has given rightwing fringe groups a seat at the table, his alliance with his own party remains highly precarious.
“More of us will say, where does this lead, where are we and what happens when we get off this sugar high of populism?” said Flake, who believes the Republican party abandoned its core principles and struck “a Faustian bargain” by embracing Trump in last year’s election.
What can we do on trade when supply chains get sent around us? Those have long-term ramifications,” added the senator. “This is not something that we can flirt with for four years and then quickly snap back, so I do think there needs to be more pushback.”
Trump, a former Democrat with no political experience, ran as an antiestablishment candidate effectively staging a hostile takeover of the Republican party. Indeed in July 2015 former Texas governor Rick Perry declared: “Donald Trump’s candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised and discarded.” Perry is now Trump’s energy secretary.
But after months of facing criticism that they are too passive, lately congressional Republicans have flexed their muscles over threats from the White House directed at Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, and Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Trump and Russia, as well as fresh sanctions against Moscow that Trump reluctantly was obliged to sign.
He’s not a conservative. I don’t think he has any intellectual guideposts or political ideology.
Rick Tyler, a political analyst and former Ted Cruz campaign spokesman
In addition, high-profile Republicans at various levels of government have been accused of mounting “shadow campaigns” for 2020 – including Mike Pence, the vice president, who issued a statement on Sunday denouncing a New York Times report about his alleged positioning for a post-Trump era as “disgraceful and offensive”.
Flake, whose new book Conscience of a Conservative argues that conservatism has been compromised by “nationalism, populism, xenophobia, extreme partisanship, even celebrity”, believes others will join him in breaking ranks.
“The talk of firing Jeff Sessions, the AG, is not going over well in the Senate, and I’ve been heartened to see so many of my colleagues stand up and say that’s not going to happen, because we see it as a precursor to do something else, maybe with the special counsel. And that’s not going to happen,” said Flake, who believes the Republican party abandoned its core principles and struck “a Faustian bargain” by embracing Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
“So I do think that you’re seeing more people stand up and say, ‘We’ve got to respect the institutions.’ I do think that will continue. I do sense that the Congress is reasserting itself a little more,” Flake added.
Flake acknowledged that Trump has displayed conservative instincts in his cabinet appointments, choice of Neil Gorsuch for supreme court justice and plans for regulatory and tax reform. But the senator said the president’s approach to trade is populist and his temperament unstable. “A conservative embraces our allies and recognises our enemies and the kind of chaos that has ensued in both in domestic and foreign policy is very unconservative.”
This fundamentally boils down to character, and his character is rotten.
Eliot Cohen, former counsellor to Condoleezza Rice
The senator’s views echo those of other mainstream Republicans who have long resisted Trump. Eliot Cohen, a former state department counsellor to George W Bush’s secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, added: “This fundamentally boils down to character, and his character is rotten. He’s a narcissist who happens to have taken control of the Republican party.
“There’s some areas where he agrees with party orthodoxy, and some where he doesn’t,” Cohen said. “But his only doctrine is: whatever is good for Donald Trump is good for the country. When he goes down – and he will go down, at some point – one of the things that will be striking is just how quickly members of Congress will turn on him.”
Trump’s awkward marriage of convenience with Republicans has been under severe stress. He alienated conservative House members by calling their healthcare bill “mean” just days after toasting it in the White House rose garden. He was unable to successfully cajole or persuade members of the Senate to pass their own version of the legislation and attacked their failure to do so on Twitter, where he often refers to Republicans as “they” rather than “we”.
8 Ağustos 2017 Salı
France: Macron to abandon plans for official first lady
France: Macron to abandon plans for official first lady
French President Emmanuel Macron is to abandon plans to create an official role of first lady for his wife Brigitte, according to reports.
During his campaign, Mr Macron had said he wanted to create "a real status" for his wife.
But an online petition against the move has gained almost 290,000 signatures.
French media report that Brigitte Macron's position will be clarified in the coming days, but that the constitution will not be altered.
In a TV interview during is presidential campaign, Mr Macron said that, if elected, he would want the role of first lady to be "defined".
"She [Brigitte Macron] will have a say on what she wants to be," he told TF1 in April.
Should France have an official 'first lady'?
The French constitution gives no official status to a president's spouse, although they are typically allocated an office in the Elysée Palace, an assistant or two, and security guards.
French President Emmanuel Macron is to abandon plans to create an official role of first lady for his wife Brigitte, according to reports.
During his campaign, Mr Macron had said he wanted to create "a real status" for his wife.
But an online petition against the move has gained almost 290,000 signatures.
French media report that Brigitte Macron's position will be clarified in the coming days, but that the constitution will not be altered.
In a TV interview during is presidential campaign, Mr Macron said that, if elected, he would want the role of first lady to be "defined".
"She [Brigitte Macron] will have a say on what she wants to be," he told TF1 in April.
Should France have an official 'first lady'?
The French constitution gives no official status to a president's spouse, although they are typically allocated an office in the Elysée Palace, an assistant or two, and security guards.
South Africa's President Zuma awaits result of no-confidence vote
South Africa's President Zuma awaits result of no-confidence vote
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma is waiting to find out if a motion of no-confidence has passed following a secret vote in parliament.
The governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties traded barbs in two hours of heated debate on Tuesday, before voting on the issue.
Mr Zuma has already survived seven no-confidence votes, called for amid repeated allegations of corruption.
But this is the first time it has been held in secret.
In order for the no-confidence motion to pass, at least 50 out of the ANC's 249 MPs would need to vote against the president - leading to opposition parties pleading with ANC MPs to "vote with their conscience".
"Today our choice is between right and wrong; between good and evil," the Democratic Alliance's Mmusi Maimane said, while Andries Tlouamma, deputy president of the Agang party, warned if Mr Zuma survived then South Africa was "on a highway to hell".
Meanwhile, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, of the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party, said President Jacob Zuma has "trampled on the constitution" and has "sold the country to the highest bidder".
But Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told the gathered MPs the vote was "akin to a coup".
"My conscience tells me we all need to respect the voters who brought us here," she said, urging MPs to wait until the 2019 election, when the people would make their voices heard.
Mr Zuma is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, ahead of the 2019 general election.
He has endorsed his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as his successor.
Also vying for the leadership is Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and one of South Africa's wealthiest politicians.
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma is waiting to find out if a motion of no-confidence has passed following a secret vote in parliament.
The governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties traded barbs in two hours of heated debate on Tuesday, before voting on the issue.
Mr Zuma has already survived seven no-confidence votes, called for amid repeated allegations of corruption.
But this is the first time it has been held in secret.
In order for the no-confidence motion to pass, at least 50 out of the ANC's 249 MPs would need to vote against the president - leading to opposition parties pleading with ANC MPs to "vote with their conscience".
"Today our choice is between right and wrong; between good and evil," the Democratic Alliance's Mmusi Maimane said, while Andries Tlouamma, deputy president of the Agang party, warned if Mr Zuma survived then South Africa was "on a highway to hell".
Meanwhile, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, of the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party, said President Jacob Zuma has "trampled on the constitution" and has "sold the country to the highest bidder".
But Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told the gathered MPs the vote was "akin to a coup".
"My conscience tells me we all need to respect the voters who brought us here," she said, urging MPs to wait until the 2019 election, when the people would make their voices heard.
Mr Zuma is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, ahead of the 2019 general election.
He has endorsed his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as his successor.
Also vying for the leadership is Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and one of South Africa's wealthiest politicians.
Manchester Airport pipe bomb plot: Nadeem Muhammad guilty
Manchester Airport pipe bomb plot: Nadeem Muhammad guilty
A man has been found guilty of trying to smuggle a pipe bomb on to a plane at Manchester Airport.
The "crude improvised explosive device" was found in Nadeem Muhammad's luggage as he passed security on 30 January.
There have been calls for an inquiry after police initially failed to detect the device was "potentially viable" and he was allowed to board a plane.
Muhammad was found guilty of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life at Manchester Crown Court.
'Potentially viable'
The 43-year-old, of Tinline Street, was born in Pakistan and holds an Italian passport.
He was attempting to board a Ryanair flight to Bergamo in northern Italy when the item was discovered. He told airport officials that someone else had put it in his luggage.
The court heard how he was questioned by police but not arrested.
He then returned to the airport on 5 February and flew to Italy.
A forensic examination of the device, which was made from batteries, wire, masking tape and a marker pen tube, later found it was "potentially viable", the jury was told.
'Disastrous'
It was found to contain nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose, which led to Muhammad's home in Italy being searched.
After being questioned by Italian police, he was released and boarded a flight back to the UK on 12 February. He was arrested by UK officers shortly after it landed.
Muhammad wept as the majority verdict of 10 to two was given in court.
Speaking after the hearing, GMP's Supt Graeme Openshaw said based on the "overall circumstances", officers "determined that there was not sufficient evidence or suspicion to arrest [Muhammad] and place restrictions on his movement".
He said once the device had been properly examined, he was "arrested at the first opportunity".
"We accept there were some errors with our assessment of the device on the day and we have already reviewed our practices," he added.
But councillor Pat Karney, of Manchester City Council, said: "There's something about this that doesn't sit right.
"The airport say there's no problem, the police come out with the usual line about lessons learned but I just don't get the narrative that everything worked well.
"Greater Manchester Council owns the airport and I'll be writing to our councillors who have responsibility for the airport to ask them to demand a full inquiry."
Analysis from Julian Bray, aviation security expert
It was a very small device, but if Muhammad had been sitting near the window, it would have blown a hole in the fuselage and possibly caused the severe depressurisation of the cabin.
The oxygen masks would have dropped down, there would have been a few burst eardrums and it would have been very uncomfortable, but I don't think it would have actually blown the plane apart - it could probably have limped home and landed.
But the point is these things shouldn't happen and there are lessons to be learned from this.
What I cannot understand is that not only did the security officer take the device off Muhammad, he was later allowed to board an aircraft.
The police and the airport security need to understand that in the current situation, you cannot afford for a moment to relax the rules, you must be really diligent.
The Crown Prosecution Service's Sue Hemming said Muhammad's motive "remains unknown", adding: "However, it is clear that the consequences, had he been successful, could have been disastrous."
Muhammad's trial also heard that after the airport terminal's security chief Deborah Jeffrey was made aware of the device, she put it in her pocket before passing it on to police.
She told the court a swab had revealed no evidence of explosives, so she pocketed it so it "wouldn't go missing".
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said the actions of staff had "prevented a potentially dangerous item from being taken on board an aircraft".
"In this instance, the actions of our security team led to the detection of a suspicious device [and] following its detection, our team handed the passenger and the device over to the police to investigate further," he said.
Muhammad will be sentenced on 23 August.
A man has been found guilty of trying to smuggle a pipe bomb on to a plane at Manchester Airport.
The "crude improvised explosive device" was found in Nadeem Muhammad's luggage as he passed security on 30 January.
There have been calls for an inquiry after police initially failed to detect the device was "potentially viable" and he was allowed to board a plane.
Muhammad was found guilty of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life at Manchester Crown Court.
'Potentially viable'
The 43-year-old, of Tinline Street, was born in Pakistan and holds an Italian passport.
He was attempting to board a Ryanair flight to Bergamo in northern Italy when the item was discovered. He told airport officials that someone else had put it in his luggage.
The court heard how he was questioned by police but not arrested.
He then returned to the airport on 5 February and flew to Italy.
A forensic examination of the device, which was made from batteries, wire, masking tape and a marker pen tube, later found it was "potentially viable", the jury was told.
'Disastrous'
It was found to contain nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose, which led to Muhammad's home in Italy being searched.
After being questioned by Italian police, he was released and boarded a flight back to the UK on 12 February. He was arrested by UK officers shortly after it landed.
Muhammad wept as the majority verdict of 10 to two was given in court.
Speaking after the hearing, GMP's Supt Graeme Openshaw said based on the "overall circumstances", officers "determined that there was not sufficient evidence or suspicion to arrest [Muhammad] and place restrictions on his movement".
He said once the device had been properly examined, he was "arrested at the first opportunity".
"We accept there were some errors with our assessment of the device on the day and we have already reviewed our practices," he added.
But councillor Pat Karney, of Manchester City Council, said: "There's something about this that doesn't sit right.
"The airport say there's no problem, the police come out with the usual line about lessons learned but I just don't get the narrative that everything worked well.
"Greater Manchester Council owns the airport and I'll be writing to our councillors who have responsibility for the airport to ask them to demand a full inquiry."
Analysis from Julian Bray, aviation security expert
It was a very small device, but if Muhammad had been sitting near the window, it would have blown a hole in the fuselage and possibly caused the severe depressurisation of the cabin.
The oxygen masks would have dropped down, there would have been a few burst eardrums and it would have been very uncomfortable, but I don't think it would have actually blown the plane apart - it could probably have limped home and landed.
But the point is these things shouldn't happen and there are lessons to be learned from this.
What I cannot understand is that not only did the security officer take the device off Muhammad, he was later allowed to board an aircraft.
The police and the airport security need to understand that in the current situation, you cannot afford for a moment to relax the rules, you must be really diligent.
The Crown Prosecution Service's Sue Hemming said Muhammad's motive "remains unknown", adding: "However, it is clear that the consequences, had he been successful, could have been disastrous."
Muhammad's trial also heard that after the airport terminal's security chief Deborah Jeffrey was made aware of the device, she put it in her pocket before passing it on to police.
She told the court a swab had revealed no evidence of explosives, so she pocketed it so it "wouldn't go missing".
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said the actions of staff had "prevented a potentially dangerous item from being taken on board an aircraft".
"In this instance, the actions of our security team led to the detection of a suspicious device [and] following its detection, our team handed the passenger and the device over to the police to investigate further," he said.
Muhammad will be sentenced on 23 August.
US military to shoot down consumer drones
US military to shoot down consumer drones
The Pentagon has given US military bases permission to shoot down or otherwise destroy consumer drones flying overhead and nearby.
A spokesman revealed that guidance was issued on 4 August.
He said the exact terms of the policy were classified.
The move comes days after the US Army ordered its own troops to stop using drones made by Chinese manufacturer DJI because of alleged "cyber-vulnerabilities".
Privacy worries
It became illegal to fly personal drones within 400ft (122m) of the US's 133 military facilities in April.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced at the time that those who disobeyed the order would face financial penalties and possible criminal charges.
The watchdog has forecast that US-based hobbyists will own more than 3.5 million drones by 2021, and that there could be a further 1.6 million commercial models in operation.
The technology's growing popularity has raised privacy and safety concerns.
There have already been incidents in which members of the public have shot down drones flying over their own properties.
And the new guidance is intended to clarify what steps military bases can take, and warn local communities of the potential counter-measures.
"We retain the right of self-defence and when it comes to... drones operating over military installations, this new guidance does afford us the ability to take action to stop those threats," Navy Captain Jeff Davis said in a written statement, adding that this included "tracking, disabling and destroying" the aircraft.
Military ban
The US Army's ban on DJI drones was first reported on 2 August by the SUAS News website.
It published a memo revealing that the armed forces had been told to cease all use of the Shenzhen-based firm's drones, to uninstall its applications and to disconnect any storage media from its devices.
The Pentagon has given US military bases permission to shoot down or otherwise destroy consumer drones flying overhead and nearby.
A spokesman revealed that guidance was issued on 4 August.
He said the exact terms of the policy were classified.
The move comes days after the US Army ordered its own troops to stop using drones made by Chinese manufacturer DJI because of alleged "cyber-vulnerabilities".
Privacy worries
It became illegal to fly personal drones within 400ft (122m) of the US's 133 military facilities in April.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced at the time that those who disobeyed the order would face financial penalties and possible criminal charges.
The watchdog has forecast that US-based hobbyists will own more than 3.5 million drones by 2021, and that there could be a further 1.6 million commercial models in operation.
The technology's growing popularity has raised privacy and safety concerns.
There have already been incidents in which members of the public have shot down drones flying over their own properties.
And the new guidance is intended to clarify what steps military bases can take, and warn local communities of the potential counter-measures.
"We retain the right of self-defence and when it comes to... drones operating over military installations, this new guidance does afford us the ability to take action to stop those threats," Navy Captain Jeff Davis said in a written statement, adding that this included "tracking, disabling and destroying" the aircraft.
Military ban
The US Army's ban on DJI drones was first reported on 2 August by the SUAS News website.
It published a memo revealing that the armed forces had been told to cease all use of the Shenzhen-based firm's drones, to uninstall its applications and to disconnect any storage media from its devices.
Douglas Waymark dies attempting to swim English Channel
Douglas Waymark dies attempting to swim English Channel
A man has died during an attempt to swim the English Channel as part of a gruelling triathlon.
Douglas Waymark, 44 from Cheltenham, got into difficulty about half way across, 12 nautical miles from Dover.
The coastguard received a radio call from a support vessel at about 21:20 BST on Monday.
A search and rescue helicopter arrived within 10 minutes and airlifted the swimmer to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, but he later died.
The endurance athlete had been taking part in the Enduroman arch to arc triathlon.
'Touched our hearts'
The challenge aims to connects London and Paris by running, swimming and cycling.
Paying tribute on its website, Enduroman said: "Our friend Douglas Waymark sadly passed away swimming to France during stage two of his Solo Arch to Arc.
"He touched our hearts with his strength, organisation and quiet humour.
"He had gained massive respect amongst all who knew him. The Enduroman community will miss him and will never forget him.
"#26 will rest with Doug."
The event organiser also tweeted a picture of two t-shirts bearing Mr Waymark's name and said: "Unique T shirts made for a unique person. R.I.P Doug."
The triathlon starts with an 87 mile run from London's Marble Arch to Dover.
Then athletes must swim across the English Channel to the French coast.
Finally, they finish with a 181-mile bike ride from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation facilitated the swim.
Secretary Kevin Murphy said: "He was a supreme athlete, pushing himself to the absolute limits.
"He knew the dangers, but he was doing what he absolutely loved."
Mr Murphy, who has swum the channel 34 times, said everything was done to mitigate the risks.
"My understanding is that he was speaking to the people on the boat and then suddenly rolled over, inert in the water, and was pulled out.
"Everything possible was done to try and revive him.
"It happened suddenly, there was no opportunity to persuade him to come out of the water."
Mr Waymark's sister, Jo Ikel, posted a tribute on Facebook saying: "Douglas Waymark has not completed his Channel swim.
"Last night he felt he could no longer continue his quest and swam to the boat supporting him.
"He passed out and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Ashford. At around midnight, he sadly died.
"We are all devastated but take comfort in him doing what he loved best to the very
A man has died during an attempt to swim the English Channel as part of a gruelling triathlon.
Douglas Waymark, 44 from Cheltenham, got into difficulty about half way across, 12 nautical miles from Dover.
The coastguard received a radio call from a support vessel at about 21:20 BST on Monday.
A search and rescue helicopter arrived within 10 minutes and airlifted the swimmer to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, but he later died.
The endurance athlete had been taking part in the Enduroman arch to arc triathlon.
'Touched our hearts'
The challenge aims to connects London and Paris by running, swimming and cycling.
Paying tribute on its website, Enduroman said: "Our friend Douglas Waymark sadly passed away swimming to France during stage two of his Solo Arch to Arc.
"He touched our hearts with his strength, organisation and quiet humour.
"He had gained massive respect amongst all who knew him. The Enduroman community will miss him and will never forget him.
"#26 will rest with Doug."
The event organiser also tweeted a picture of two t-shirts bearing Mr Waymark's name and said: "Unique T shirts made for a unique person. R.I.P Doug."
The triathlon starts with an 87 mile run from London's Marble Arch to Dover.
Then athletes must swim across the English Channel to the French coast.
Finally, they finish with a 181-mile bike ride from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation facilitated the swim.
Secretary Kevin Murphy said: "He was a supreme athlete, pushing himself to the absolute limits.
"He knew the dangers, but he was doing what he absolutely loved."
Mr Murphy, who has swum the channel 34 times, said everything was done to mitigate the risks.
"My understanding is that he was speaking to the people on the boat and then suddenly rolled over, inert in the water, and was pulled out.
"Everything possible was done to try and revive him.
"It happened suddenly, there was no opportunity to persuade him to come out of the water."
Mr Waymark's sister, Jo Ikel, posted a tribute on Facebook saying: "Douglas Waymark has not completed his Channel swim.
"Last night he felt he could no longer continue his quest and swam to the boat supporting him.
"He passed out and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Ashford. At around midnight, he sadly died.
"We are all devastated but take comfort in him doing what he loved best to the very
Would you get on a pilotless plane?
Would you get on a pilotless plane?
How comfortable would you feel getting on a pilotless plane?
That is the question millions of people may have to ask themselves in the future if they want to jet off on holiday around the world.
As we move closer to a world of driverless cars, which have already been on the road in some US cities and have also been tested in London, remotely controlled planes may be the next automated mode of transport.
Plane manufacturer Boeing plans to test them in 2018.
A survey by financial services firm UBS suggests that pilotless aircraft not be too popular, however, with 54% of the 8,000 people questioned saying they would be unlikely to take a pilotless flight. The older age groups were the most resistant with more than half of people aged 45 and above shunning the idea.
Only 17% of those questioned said they would board such a plane, with more young people willing to give them a try and the 25 to 34 age group the most likely to step on board.
Safety fears
One of the biggest debating points around the introduction of the planes is safety.
While flying is generally regarded as one of the safest forms of travel, the UBS report suggested that pilotless planes would make it even more secure.
It found that around 70% to 80% of the accidents that do occur are the result of human error, with crew fatigue responsible for 15% to 20% of those.
However, Steve Landells, the British Airline Pilots Association's (Balpa) flight safety specialist, said: "We have concerns that in the excitement of this futuristic idea, some may be forgetting the reality of pilotless air travel.
"Automation in the cockpit is not a new thing - it already supports operations. However, every single day pilots have to intervene when the automatics don't do what they're supposed to.
"Computers can fail, and often do, and someone is still going to be needed to work that computer."
It is also clear that if pilotless planes were to become the norm, then military levels of security both inside the plane and in communications would be vital.
Acceptance of the concept would also be crucial to its success.
Jarrod Castle, UBS's head of business services, leisure and travel research, told the BBC: "It is a question of public perception and people being comfortable with the idea.
"Clearly a seven-hour flight carrying 200 to 300 people would be the last part of the evolution but we also feel that machines can gradually take over and then reduce the number of pilots in the cockpit from two to one over time."
How comfortable would you feel getting on a pilotless plane?
That is the question millions of people may have to ask themselves in the future if they want to jet off on holiday around the world.
As we move closer to a world of driverless cars, which have already been on the road in some US cities and have also been tested in London, remotely controlled planes may be the next automated mode of transport.
Plane manufacturer Boeing plans to test them in 2018.
A survey by financial services firm UBS suggests that pilotless aircraft not be too popular, however, with 54% of the 8,000 people questioned saying they would be unlikely to take a pilotless flight. The older age groups were the most resistant with more than half of people aged 45 and above shunning the idea.
Only 17% of those questioned said they would board such a plane, with more young people willing to give them a try and the 25 to 34 age group the most likely to step on board.
Safety fears
One of the biggest debating points around the introduction of the planes is safety.
While flying is generally regarded as one of the safest forms of travel, the UBS report suggested that pilotless planes would make it even more secure.
It found that around 70% to 80% of the accidents that do occur are the result of human error, with crew fatigue responsible for 15% to 20% of those.
However, Steve Landells, the British Airline Pilots Association's (Balpa) flight safety specialist, said: "We have concerns that in the excitement of this futuristic idea, some may be forgetting the reality of pilotless air travel.
"Automation in the cockpit is not a new thing - it already supports operations. However, every single day pilots have to intervene when the automatics don't do what they're supposed to.
"Computers can fail, and often do, and someone is still going to be needed to work that computer."
It is also clear that if pilotless planes were to become the norm, then military levels of security both inside the plane and in communications would be vital.
Acceptance of the concept would also be crucial to its success.
Jarrod Castle, UBS's head of business services, leisure and travel research, told the BBC: "It is a question of public perception and people being comfortable with the idea.
"Clearly a seven-hour flight carrying 200 to 300 people would be the last part of the evolution but we also feel that machines can gradually take over and then reduce the number of pilots in the cockpit from two to one over time."
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