AF 447 Search to resume

[mm43]

Subsequent to the AF447 accident, and as a result of it, the BEA formed the Flight Data Recovery Working Group to undertake a technical evaluation of how improvements could be made to all aspects of recovering flight data including in-flight transmissions, storage, position reporting, along with a float-free ELT/EPIRB and ULB frequency & operating period changes.

http://www.bea.aero/en/enquetes/flig...nal.report.pdf

The group was composed of more than 120 members from numerous countries, representing a wide range of actors: investigation bodies (BEA, NTSB, AAIB, TSB, BFU…), regulatory authorities (ICAO, EASA, FAA…), airframe manufacturers (Airbus, Boeing), recorder manufacturers (L3Com, Honeywell, GE, DRS, EADS...), ULB manufacturers (Dukane, Benthos), airlines (Air France, Fedex), satellite manufacturers and service providers (Astrium, Inmarsat, iridium, SITA…), international associations (IATA, IFALPA). This allowed the compilation of comprehensive studies on all the items.

The most cost effective and deployable improvements are listed below:-

• Triggered transmission of flight data when an upcoming catastrophic event is detected, but only for aircraft already equipped with SatCom and transmission of a subset of the FDR data (essential parameters or at least latitude, longitude and altitude). However, trigger conditions to define an emergency is not mature yet by industry standards, even though testing has been underway for several years making this approach to streaming data more robust.
• Include parameters (position, heading, speed, altitude, accelerations…) in ACARS messages, but only for aircraft already equipped with ACARS.
• Installation of an ED-112 combined deployable and free-floating flight recorder+ELT, but for new type certificate aircraft only.
• Increased autonomy of ULBs (90 days instead of 30 days)
• Use of a lower frequency for ULBs attached to the aircraft.

The priority attached to solutions that stemmed from this evaluation were:-

1. Extended duration of emission of the ULB attached to the flight recorders (90 days instead of 30 days),
2. Installation of low frequency ULB (between 8.5 and 9.5 kHz) attached to the plane,
3. Regular transmission of basic aircraft parameters (via ACARS for example),
4. Triggered transmission of flight data. On this point, additional work is deemed necessary and the BEA will again consult members of the group to conduct a study,
5. Installation of deployable recorders.

Unmanned and autonomous drones didn't even get a mention. Seems to me that they are the expensive toys of the military and spy agencies.

ADS-B was the next item on the list, but due to the infrastructure needing to be created, i.e. satellite based receive and forward hardware, this too is currently in the long-term basket.

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