Methods and systems for remote piloting a two-pilot aircraft for extended flights

A system for both onboard piloting and remote piloting an aircraft having thereon at least one onboard pilot, the system comprising:

• an aircraft including an onboard first pilot seat and an onboard second pilot seat each adjustable between an upright position and a reclined position, onboard sensors, onboard actuators, and an onboard flight control system, the onboard flight control system including onboard flight control devices and onboard condition indicators mounted proximal the first pilot seat and the second pilot seat;
• and
• a remote flight control system in electronic communication with the onboard flight control system by way of a two-way communication channel including at least one wireless segment, the remote flight control system including remote flight control devices and remote condition indicators;
• wherein, the onboard flight control system is operative to receive condition-related inputs from the onboard sensors, to activate the onboard condition indicators according to the received condition-related inputs, and:
• at least in an onboard piloting mode, to actuate the onboard actuators according to the onboard flight control devices, thereby onboard piloting the aircraft;
• and
• at least in a remote piloting mode, transmit the condition-related signals to the remote flight control system, to receive flight control signals from the remote flight control system, and to actuate, according to the flight control signals received from the remote flight control system, the onboard actuators thereby remote piloting the aircraft;
• wherein, the onboard flight control system is further operative to enter the remote piloting mode upon either the first pilot seat or the second pilot seat being adjusted to a fully reclined position, and
• wherein, only one of the first pilot seat and the second pilot seat is able to be reclined at a time.