1

Safeguarding flight data and locating/recovering on-board recorders

2

Background

Some accidents shows difficulties to recover the recorders, or the data recorded on them:

AF-447, 1st June 2009 Yemenia, 30th June 2009 South African Airways, 28th November 1987

French BEA established the “Flight Data Recovery Working Group” to look into new technology

to safeguard flight data to facilitate the location and recovery of on-board recorders

3

Background

Group’s ToR: Propose solutions to enhance the recovery of

flight data after an accident Asses the technical feasibility of each solution Present the advantages and disadvantages of

each solution Present the degree of “maturity” as well as the

cost of each solution

This Group did not cover legal aspects

4

BEA’ Recommendations

BEA issued safety recommendations settled on three areas

Increasing the transmission time and range of the ULB beacons

The sending of data on initialisation The installation of deployable recorders

AIG2008 agreed to recommend the implementation of Annex 13, Paragraph 5.12 and associated Attachment E

5

Proposals for the Conference

Recommend ICAO to evaluate changes in flight data recording and protection and propose changes in the appropriate Annexes

It could be done by the FLIRECP panel, transformed to also address data protection and other topics raised by AIG2008

6

Permanent communications with aircraft over oceanic areas

7

Background

Loss of AF447 highlighted that non-permanent communication may adversely impact on the timely launching of search and rescue

phases aircraft wreckage recovery

Potential of improved surveillance and route conformance monitoring Enhance flight safety and efficiency

8

Proposals for the Conference (1)

Call on ICAO to: undertake a comprehensive review of potential

short term enhancements to flight tracking and route conformance monitoring capabilities ADS-C and CPDLC capabilities through satellite

communications. review means and procedures which mitigate

HF communication reliability issues over the high seas

9

Proposals for the Conference (2)

Call on ICAO to:

review the use of modern communication technologies in case of emergency

explore longer term solutions to those issues, taking account existing regional initiatives OPTIMI

report by the Council to the 37th Assembly