Failure of locating missing aircraft becomes a scandal - Curt Lewis

                  UNDERWATER AGAIN                      

                                                    The Tracking Problem Continues                                                                                

By Roger Rapoport

Contributing Editor

 

An FSI Commentary

 

 

      

As the search continues for Egypt Air 804 and Malaysia Air 370, the aviation industry confronts an unanticipated problem. Failure to equip planes with state-of-the-art tracking systems that stream flight details during a crisis, use of emergency locator beacons transmitting on the wrong frequency for a deep underwater search and the use of pingers with batteries that last just 30 days is inexcusable.

       

With search costs for these flights well over $100 million, the industry can no longer afford to delay long overdue tracking upgrades on all overwater aircraft.  At a price well within the industry's reach, these modifications well help airlines recover the critical information they need to prevent more accidents.

       

Accident investigation reveals critical information that can lead to software and hardware upgrades as well as better training.  A lower accident rate is no excuse for shortcuts that make it hard to find planes carrying hundreds of passengers.

       

How did the airlines wind up in this embarrassing position?  Blaming the whole thing on bean counters misses the point.  Yes the airlines are eager to save money where they can.  The broader problem is outmoded group think.  Airlines are reluctant to make a move until the whole industry signs off on that change.  Sometimes that appears to be as hard as charging for parking passing space ships.

       

For example it's common knowledge that Angle of Attack indicators, widely used in the military and on business jets, have been rejected by the airlines.  Although Boeing and Airbus both offer this valuable safety option, no air carrier is willing to step out ahead of the industry and take a leadership position. That makes little sense. Why shouldn't Bombardier aircraft flown by airlines have the same Angle of Attack indicators found on the company's corporate jets.

       

It's ironic that an industry committed to moving people around the world at high speed, operates in slow motion when it comes to important changes that would benefit the safety of every passenger.  Recovering missing aircraft is not a luxury.  It's a critical way to uncover facts that can help prevent future accidents.

       

Is there a way to overcome this inertia? One possibility would be for a progressive carrier to set an example by upgrading tracking and underwater locator systems in the hope that other carriers would follow.  I have three candidates in mind.  They are Air France, Malaysia Air and Egypt Air. 

       

All three of these airlines have learned firsthand over the past seven years why these long overdue improvements need to be made immediately.  Perhaps they have already begun moving in this direction to make sure that any aircraft lost at sea can be quickly tracked and located.  If so, perhaps they would like to offer details.  If not, let's hope they will move quickly on this issue.

       

In the meantime passengers can certainly make their views clear.   There is a big difference between fewer accidents and no accidents.  When planes are lost it's important to find out what went wrong as quickly as possible.  In a worst case scenario regulators can put out airworthiness directives or even order modifications.   Even after aircraft are recovered it can take years to fully analyze the data.  One of the most important outcomes of Air France 447, revising high altitude approach to stall and stall recovery for every airline, took seven years.

       

Even a short tracking delay can rule out the possibility of recovering survivors on a downed aircraft.  Carefully laid out recommendations from the BEA's Air France 447 report, spell out the need for long overdue changes on the tracking of overwater flights.  The industry would be well advised to listen to the French experts and make these important changes now.