Pilots on autopilot cause plane safety to be up in the air

[WASHINGTON] Airline pilots have lost flying skills as automation takes over mundane tasks and may be startled when systems don't behave as expected, both of which have contributed to crashes, a US government and industry report concluded.

Airlines need to improve pilot training in autopilots and other automation in the cockpit, said the report obtained by Bloomberg News.

The issue is growing in importance as the US installs the US$42-billion satellite-based navigation system known as NextGen, the report found. The report was commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration.