Intensifying the Database for Flight 380
In a recent article found in
Bloomberg written by Dina Bass talks about the clues that are being found about
the lost Malaysia Flight on rooftop antennas. As it is a mystery to everyone
still following this case, some may wonder how with all of the improved
technology we have these days, how can we still not find missing Malaysia
Airlines Flight 370. Following the disappearance, “a crucial source of data
came from four rooftop antennas installed by aviation enthusiasts living near
the flight path. The volunteers, who host the gizmos for a Houston-based
company called FlightAware, captured clues aiding the search for the plane that
went missing more than a month ago.” FlightAware is a nine year old company
that “mainly aggregates data from air-traffic-control organizations and
airlines, but its able to fill in some holes using the trackers it distributes
to anyone willing to climb on top of their houses.” “Customers plug in the
blue-and-white box and put an antenna on the roof, which receives signals from
transponders inside planes passing overhead.”
Data from a few aviation people was
not enough to end what is now the longest search in a missing commercial
flight. However, this clearly explains to the world that flight-detection
systems need major tweaking. It is crazy to be able to locate a smartphone
device on a map but not storing a black box inside a plane seems crazy. The
device weights half a pound and is about the size of a soda can. “Bloomberg
Businessweek reported that keeping logs trapped on planes is done mostly
because of cost. Sending data from each flight in real time via satellite would
be extremely expensive.” FlightAware is
now trying to “amass a more comprehensive database to minimize situations where
its customers are left in the dark.”
There are many factors that are
making this investigation a mystery, which then makes officials question every
clue that they receive. It is interesting to read that commercial plane
companies say it is to expensive to inset a device a GPS satellite in their
planes because most trucks these days have technology with dispatch
communications, logging location refrigeration, truck speed etc. If these
transmitters could be used on a truck, then an airplane should include
something similar. This missing flight should open the eyes to other aviation
companies because this could happen to any other flight and an unexpected time.
Although we live in an era where technology is extremely advanced and used in
our everyday life, it is sad to know that it is still not at its best.
Something like this situation should never happen. I believe that in-flight
plane data and location information should be transmitted off the aircraft, in
real time, by something that could never be destroyed. Although these databases
are extremely complex and expensive, it is important that this data be
transmitted via cloud or something that is stronger.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-10/clues-about-the-lost-malaysia-flight-found-on-rooftop-antennas.html
No comments:
Post a Comment