Aircraft

India’s director general of civil aviation (DGCA) has established new rules for local operators ordering real-time tracking of passenger and cargo aircraft from departure to arrival.

DGCA has issued guidelines to operators in form an air safety circular to use onboard aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) /automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) for real-time tracking, and to ensure the system’s serviceability before every departure.

Airlines are also advised to set-up a procedure for effective tracking of the aircraft while flying over areas where there is no coverage of ACARS/ADS-B.

The decision comes in view of the difficulties faced in search-and-rescue operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Beijing-bound flight MH370 disappeared about two months ago, and is believed to have ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

A preliminary report released by Ministry of Transport, Malaysia has revealed that the location of wreckage is still unknown due to the fact that there is no real-time tracking of the aircraft.

During the past five years, there have been two occasions when large commercial transport aircrafts went missing and their accurate last position could not be established.

These incidents, including the recent Malaysian tragedy, have prompted the DGCA to take necessary actions.

Image: DGCA’s decision is prompted by disappearance of MH370. Photo: courtesy of Suzanne T.

Defence Technology