Actually, the aircraft in question - the Airbus A-318-319-320-321 series can takeoff and land without input from the pilot. FAA Regulations, however, do not permit that kind of operation, they require a pilot in control during these stages of the flight. This particular series of aircraft was controversial when it was introduced due to design concept of automation taking over from human control. In order to be certified in the United States, Airbus modified several systems to allow greater pilot control of the plane. This became of particular interest after the 1988 crash of an Air France A-320 at Habsheim, France during an airshow. Investigation showed that the aircraft's automated systems were commanding the plane to land during a low pbutt over the airshow crowd, while the pilot was fighting the computer for control. The end result is that the plane crashed into the forest just beyond the runway, killing three people aboard the jet. The automation is all well and good in certain aspects, but you still need alert persons to monitor the automated functions and take control when necessary. So, IMO, violating the 8-hour "Bottle to Throttle" rule is inexcusable. That said, I don't think jail time does any good in this situation. The careers of these pilots are over - sending them to jail only means taxpayers have to pay for their housing. These guys have known little in their working life besides flying aircraft, and they aren't going to be able to do it ever again, at least not commercially. They have a future of being Wal-Mart greeters of learning how to say "You want fries with that?" For a pilot, having your wings clipped is worse than any prison term. Being a pilot is not just a job - it's something that gets in your blood, your very nature. You take the sky away from a pilot and you have one of the most humbled people around.
