JD-EE
I see where your confusion arises relative to my post. I mention "Other Communications", as: Wx brief (prelaunch), Inter line gab: (Prelaunch), Crew brief,
(
Prelaunch). These are verbal comms, not related to 121.5 Did you think I meant these other discussions as Emergency Freq "ballast".?
My Certificate does not say "Pilot". Strictly speaking I am not a Pilot, I am an Airman.
Airman Certificate, January 12, 1971. So I am also old!! Old, and Real!
I think there is a possibility to highlight a possible inadequacy in emergency procedures here. With two (?) ELT, one auto and one manual, some questions.
Manual.
1. requires pilot awareness.
2. requires pilot volition, a place in the workload.
Auto
1. Transmits at "g" loading related to impact.
2. Involuntary
My question stands, if the pilots are incapacitated, the aircraft does not transmit ELT until impact?
So enhance the ELT to expand its trigger to Unusual attitudes, manoevering loads, etc. an Early warning of emergency. and not limited to just Impact. How about "Direct Law" at cruise, with UAS? Surely no one was casually testing Law response or Protections that fateful night? Equipment that is not utilized and optimized is too expensive, there is no saving money in an Emergency. What would prevent an augmentation of ELT? Fear of criticism? Fear of "having missed something"? If the pilots were mode confused, and doomed, at least Ops could start the ball rolling sooner, rather than Later.
How difficult is it to add some automatic reporting of Computer sensed crisis?
Could it piggy back on ACARS? Evidently ACARS was missed in this case; an attentive monitoring of all the ACARS would have elicited a secondary report of crisis. So if ELT is transmitted by Satellite, a loud alarm at the Base? Sufficient to awaken the monitor? Or bypass the Mx and relay the ELT immediately to Ops?
This could be the beginning of a new relationship twixt The Computers and the Pilots. Emergency alarm would be Automatic, and does not depend on Pride or Ego, that satisfies the AB wonks, and it would let the crew off the hook if they waited "too long"?
EACARS ??
Kashoggi:
(sorry about the missed lease payments, it has been a tough year!)
cheers, bear