I have no friggin' clue.
But here's some of the latest information:
May 20th Aviation Herald report (scroll down to "Data Available" to see messages indicate fire on board):
On May 20th 2016 The Aviation Herald received information from three independent channels, that ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) messages with following content were received from the aircraft:
00:26Z 3044 ANTI ICE R WINDOW
00:26Z 561200 R SLIDING WINDOW SENSOR
00:26Z 2600 SMOKE LAVATORY SMOKE
00:27Z 2600 AVIONICS SMOKE
00:28Z 561100 R FIXED WINDOW SENSOR
00:29Z 2200 AUTO FLT FCU 2 FAULT
00:29Z 2700 F/CTL SEC 3 FAULT
no further ACARS messages were received
On May 20th 2016 The Aviation Herald received information from three independent channels, that ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) messages with following content were received from the aircraft:
00:26Z 3044 ANTI ICE R WINDOW
00:26Z 561200 R SLIDING WINDOW SENSOR
00:26Z 2600 SMOKE LAVATORY SMOKE
00:27Z 2600 AVIONICS SMOKE
00:28Z 561100 R FIXED WINDOW SENSOR
00:29Z 2200 AUTO FLT FCU 2 FAULT
00:29Z 2700 F/CTL SEC 3 FAULT
no further ACARS messages were received
From the NBC report re ACARS: “An “FCU” refers to a unit in cockpit the pilot uses to input instructions into the flight computer. “SEC3” refers to the computer that controls the spoilers and elevator computers of the plane. The fault messages indicate there could have been problems with the plane’s controls and computers, critical to controlling the aircraft.”
There is also speculation that the dive, 360 degree turn and plunge was probably large sections of the aircraft that could be seen by radar.
There is also speculation that the dive, 360 degree turn and plunge was probably large sections of the aircraft that could be seen by radar.
FCU = Flight Control Unit
Either a fire caused damage to the computer controlled flight systems making the place uncontrollable, with no suitable backup or manual remedy, or the sensors reported the result of an act which caused the smoke and loss of control.
ReplyDeleteWe need the black box.
If there are conditions which make an automated flight computer crash a plane via error or loss of control, I think it would just as important to know that as it would be that someone at CDG was able to penetrate security AFTER the Paris attack and plant a device which brought down a plane (or other set of conditions born in Egypt or wherever)
Epa,
ReplyDeleteTwo questions for you:
1. Is the avionix compartment accessible from underneath the plane?
2. Is the avionix compartment kept locked?
AoW - depends on the plane.
ReplyDeleteBTW, isn't it time that black box and voice data info be STREAMED to outside centers?
Imagine what we would already know
Epa,
ReplyDeleteBTW, isn't it time that black box and voice data info be STREAMED to outside centers?
Excellent point!
Why hasn't that already been done?
Epa,
ReplyDeleteTo you idea that the Black Box info should be streamed to governments around the world, THIS ARTICLE IS VERY IMPORTANT:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2001/11/the-crash-of-egyptair-990/302332/
It's about the pilot who brought down EgyptAir 990 back in 1999. The article appeared in November 2001. I read it on a flight I took back to Atlanta, shortly after 9/11.. It is fascinating to see how the Egyptian government tried to cover up what happened, and tried to do so in the name of Islam, essentially.
I think things will be different under al-Sisi, because he believes in different ideas. But the problem is institutional. It can not be fixed by one man.
Auto streaming of black box info sounds like an 'Ah HA!' moment here...yet simultaneously feels like a 'DUH!'
ReplyDeleteI suppose there would be limitations to streaming having access to satellites at any given moment...and what about hackers? Can a black box which is receiving & auto-streaming data from all flight systems be hacked?
BBC: Egypt Air: Black Box Found, Smoke Detected On Plane Before Crash
ReplyDelete