Air France crash: hunting for black boxes
The two recent crashes of Air France and Yemeni air over the ocean and the difficulty in retrieving the black boxes brings up the question why is the data stored on an airplane? Wouldn’t it be more logical to “transmit it to a land-based receiver, where it could be accessed quickly in a crash investigation?”
The answer, say flight data experts, is “Yes, but.” Yes, most of the technology exists to send flight data and voice from commercial airplanes. But the cost remains so immense no one would fund it. Moreover, such a change would not address any safety issues — and safety almost always takes priority in spending decisions by airlines and regulators.
Why there won’t be standing-room only jets or pay toilets, not even on Ryanair
Recently Michael O’Leary, chairman of Ryanair made headlines by announcing that he may consider putting in stools to fit more people on planes. But the problem with that comes down to physics.
Airplane seats–whatever shape they may be–and the passengers in them have to withstand significant forces to be certified as airworthy.
Good luck with a bar stool. You’d have to be wearing a heck of a harness bolted to a bar stool, and the stool itself, with one leg instead of four, would have to be darn strong. Engineers out there can debate whether it’s possible, but Airbus said a few years ago there was no way.
GOL and American Airlines announce frequent flyer program and codeshare agreements
GOL and American Airlines have announced it has entered an reciprocal agreement with each other.
Beginning 4Q09, American Airlines will add its code to GOL flights from Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Recife offering passengers seamless connections.
[The agreement] will allow members of each frequent flyer program to earn and redeem miles on one another’s airline and lays the groundwork for a future codeshare agreement.
