Camera's underneath the aircraft?
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Camera's underneath the aircraft?
I was just watching aircrash investigation and this accident was on: Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Now the tire caught fire, and was subsequently raised into the aircraft when the landing gear was raised. If the pilots had a camera aiming down at the wheels they could have seen the fire start. As it happened they didn't know what had happened and only realised there was a fire much too late. I know that Formula 1 car's have cameras positioned around the car and they are at optimum design for weight and aerodynamics and I'm sure they wouldn't have camera's fitted if it affected them, so why not aircraft?
Now the tire caught fire, and was subsequently raised into the aircraft when the landing gear was raised. If the pilots had a camera aiming down at the wheels they could have seen the fire start. As it happened they didn't know what had happened and only realised there was a fire much too late. I know that Formula 1 car's have cameras positioned around the car and they are at optimum design for weight and aerodynamics and I'm sure they wouldn't have camera's fitted if it affected them, so why not aircraft?
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Good point. I think technically, it is a rather simple matter. On the other hand it takes years to get anything certified in aviation, so my guess is wait another few years, cameras are already located for bird's eye views.
One more thing in the example you show: this would require to look at an additional screen and check the gears before retraction. Very impractical. I can't see any procedure to be developed in this direction. Could be useful to check an incorrect indication, but to look at the status before gears up, can't see it happening.
As the Wiki Article mentions, the cause was found to be underinflated tyres. I guess it cost less to inflate tyres than fitting cameras. Also retrofits on an old generation aircraft would be a costly exercise.
Flex
One more thing in the example you show: this would require to look at an additional screen and check the gears before retraction. Very impractical. I can't see any procedure to be developed in this direction. Could be useful to check an incorrect indication, but to look at the status before gears up, can't see it happening.
As the Wiki Article mentions, the cause was found to be underinflated tyres. I guess it cost less to inflate tyres than fitting cameras. Also retrofits on an old generation aircraft would be a costly exercise.
Flex
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Every big jet also has a wheel well fire detector circuit. Usually the annunciator is right next to the gear lever. So if it goes off the crew select gear down.
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Once had someone ask why airliner cockpits don't have side rearview mirrors like cars as it can be rather difficult to see the engines from the flight deck, especially in the smaller members of the family (737). And another time it was airbags in the yokes to protect pilots from serious injury during landing/takeoff incidents resulting in a crash. 
As mentioned by OK465, the A340-600 has these to aid in taxiing and manouvering.
As mentioned by OK465, the A340-600 has these to aid in taxiing and manouvering.
