I think a lot of the objections/concerns in this thread would more-or-less melt away when you consider that we already have practically self-flying planes. Crashes? Contingency protocols? Hacking? Bugs? All these have and are continuing to be addressed by the airline industry.
In fact, while I don't know this for a fact, I would highly suspect that the number of airline accidents that are the result of a flaw in the automated systems is dwarfed by the number of accidents caused by humans overriding the automated systems.
(If you want a feel for just how automated flying has become, I particularly like this video of an A380 landing at SFO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3HKN-FWNq0 . Just look at how much the pilots aren't doing.)
The objections will melt away when my self driving car pulls up to the curb, I roll out of the bed I had installed in place of the back seat and I toss my martini glass into the bin. The person next to me will care fuckall for safety when they see all that comfort and distraction.
In fact, while I don't know this for a fact, I would highly suspect that the number of airline accidents that are the result of a flaw in the automated systems is dwarfed by the number of accidents caused by humans overriding the automated systems.
(If you want a feel for just how automated flying has become, I particularly like this video of an A380 landing at SFO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3HKN-FWNq0 . Just look at how much the pilots aren't doing.)