TimelineConfirmed4 Nov 2003 00:00 UTCISR / remote-control lineage
Cubic Defense anti-hijack remote-pilot patent granted
US6641087B1 · filed 9 Oct 2001 · granted 4 Nov 2003
Commercial-aircraft retrofit module: deactivate cockpit controls, satellite-relayed remote guidance, optional comms disable, FDR/CVR uplink. Confirmed IP. No evidence of airline installation.
Inventor Douglas G. Nelson, assignee Cubic Defense Systems. Cited in the Boeing patent’s prior art. Ledger status: confirmed architecture; open whether prototyped, marketed, or certified.
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Related
EvidenceConfirmed4 Nov 2003 00:00 UTC
Cubic US6641087B1 — anti-hijack remote pilot
Commercial retrofit · satellite relay · cockpit exclusion
EvidenceConfirmed19 Feb 2003 00:00 UTC
Boeing US7142971B2 — uninterruptible automatic control
Remote engagement · disconnected onboard controls
HypothesisUnverified
External / uninterruptible autopilot on 9M-MRO
Engineering precedent exists. Installation on this airframe is not established.
ClaimConfirmed