Pull Up! Pull Up!

Fighter planes may be able to do so without their pilot being involved. A new anti-crash system, that will pull out of a dive just before hitting the ground is being developed.

New robotic software is being put into place in Air Force fighter jets to help prevent collisions with that most unforgiving of surfaces: the ground. The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) takes control of the plane when it's headed for the ground and flies it to safety autonomously. That way if a pilot is knocked out or passes out the plane won't do a nosedive.

The software will be installed in planes such as F-16 Fighting Flacons, F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighters. It will only kick in when the plane is a mere 1.5 seconds from the "point of no return" and the pilot has taken no action to straighten the course.