Originally Posted by
GXER
Surely the answer is that new build transport aircraft should have live streaming designed in (in addition to existing on-board storage) and a later decision can be made, as the existing fleet is retired, whether a live streaming solution ultimately replaces on-board storage.
Is this not making best use of current technology without casting all eggs in one barrel at probably uneconomic cost.
Actually, the answer needs be to the correct question.
Most of the solutions assume A - that robust SatCom links are cheap, B - that CVR/FDR information is the overwhelmingly best source of useful accident investigation, C - that search costs are high relative to recovery costs, D - that with the CVR/FDR data in hand, it would be rare that the cost of rescue/recovery would need to be spent.
I am pretty sure all 4 assumptions are not actually true.
In this accident, I am pretty sure the FDR will tell us nothing new, other than the reason data and responses stopped being sent back was because the crew turned the power off; and the CVR will confirm to us the crew new there was smoke in the cockpit and indications of fire.
However, when they find the ULB they will have a good fix on a junk of the wreck and can start searching for where they avionics bay came to rest so that investigators can work out what went wrong and what changes are needed to prevent it happening again.