A method for piloting a pre-existing aircraft comprising the following steps: integrating an alternative piloting system (1) into the pre-existing aircraft; connecting the aircraft (200) and a ground station in which a ground pilot (207) is positioned; when the aircraft is in a normal state, having the aircraft piloted by a nominal crew; using detection means to detect the occurrence of an emergency situation and, when the occurrence of the emergency is detected: making the ground pilot (207) operational, so that the ground pilot can produce an aircraft ground piloting set-point; transmitting the ground piloting setpoint to the aircraft; using the alternative piloting system to acquire and transmit the ground piloting setpoint to the aircraft flight control system.

An operator safety system (OSS) monitors the physiological well-being of an aircraft pilot or vehicle operator, and has engaged and disengaged operational states (the engaged state associated with active monitoring). The OSS includes a smart engage/disengage system incorporating presence sensors (e.g., visual, seat-based) installed in the cockpit or control area of the vehicle. When the presence sensors determine that the pilot/operator is no longer present in their seat but the OSS is still engaged, the OSS prompts the operator to disengage the OSS (e.g., via single-touch display interface or remotely to a mobile device). When the presence sensors determine that the operator is present or seated, but the OSS is disengaged, the OSS prompts the operator to re-engage the OSS.

A system and method for determining an incapacitation state of an occupant is disclosed. The system may include an audio sensor configured to sense sensor data including active speaker audio of an occupant of two or more occupants. The system may also include a controller communicatively coupled to the audio sensor and configured to execute program instructions causing the processors to identify the active speaker, assign an identification code, receive a trigger, query a call response module, determine the occupant state, and direct aircraft operations based on the occupant state.