Former Tesla Engineer And Airbus Have Built Autonomous Planes

Over the past 100 years, the technology inside airplanes has become more and more advanced from jumbo jets to smaller Cessnas. Some see the next step to full automation as removing the pilot completely. Reliable Robotics and Xwing are two Bay Area start-ups working on doing just that. Rather than build new aircraft, both companies have retrofitted Cessna Grand Caravans. The planes can fly autonomously with a remote operator who monitors the flight and can take control if needed. Both companies are working with the FAA on getting approval. Xwing took CNBC for a test flight, where the pilot didn’t touch the controls once. Watch the video to learn how it works and when pilotless planes will become the norm. » Subscribe to CNBC: » Subscribe to CNBC TV: » Subscribe to CNBC Classic: About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original docu