Calls to improve and unify aircraft tracking

Technology summit hears growing swell of voices calling for unified approach.

DUBAI // More accurate methods of tracking aircraft are needed to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, a summit in Dubai heard this week.

Industry experts at the World Aviation Safety Summit said new technologies must improve the process of tracking flights after many, including Malaysian Airlines MH370, had disappeared off radar.

“We need to ensure that aircraft are used as efficiently as possible to fly as short a time as possible,” said Jeff Johnson, president of Boeing Middle East for Boeing International.

“We must continue to introduce technologies to bring higher levels of functionality to operations like satellite-based system navigation, GPS, instead of radar and digital-based data systems. We need to ensure an air transport system that can accommodate the market growth.”

The call came as projections for the next 20 years showed a 4.2 per cent rise in airline passenger numbers and a five per cent increase in overall traffic.

“Airlines and cargo operators will need more than 38,000 new aeroplanes around the world with a tripling of airport congestion,” Mr Johnson said.

“The Middle East will need more than 2,900 new aeroplanes, with air traffic projected to grow [faster] than the worldwide rate so it will be important to address challenges like airspace management, infrastructure, personal skills, financing and safety.”

More than 52,000 pilots and 65,000 technicians will be needed in the region.

“It has to be expected as we are at the crossroad of the new Silk Road through the Middle East,” Mr Johnson said.

Hussein Dabbas, regional vice president of Africa and Middle East at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said airlines tracked their planes in different ways.

“Traffic surveillance services are not always available across the globe which is why there is sometimes a black area,” he said. “But there is a need to come up with new ideas, although not one size fits all.”

He said the technology was available, but “it is a matter of using it”.

“There should not be a specific rule because technology is evolving and it is required to keep an open mind on everything that’s happening. We encourage member states to use it in a more efficient manner to make sure the aircraft is continuously monitored throughout its flying period. The disappearance of a 777 is surprising when our every move is tracked.”

Mohammed Eturki, executive director of group safety and quality at FlyNas, said aircraft tracking was now being considered at a global level.

“I think little has been done so far but the plan is to make sure we have this issue under control in the near future,” he said.

“At the moment, there are systems in place – we use air traffic service awareness systems and they normally don’t have global coverage, which is a disadvantage.”

He said another issue was that transponders could be switched off. “So to do all these changes, there are design features that have to be considered,” he said.

“All this will take time and the global community is working on having a permanent solution by involving experts. All are working together to try to achieve this.”