[Avionics Today May 15, 2014] The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is ready to develop a global flight tracking service, as the aviation industry continues to consider solutions to prevent future incidents similar to the recent loss of Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370.
According to a statement, the group has a new framework to consider contributions from the industry through the Aircraft Tracking Task Force (ATTF). The task force will be coordinated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The two groups collaborated on a global solution during a conference on aircraft tracking hosted by ICAO in Montreal.
“Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been an unprecedented event for aviation and we have responded here in a similarly unprecedented manner,” commented ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu.
One such solution developed to facilitate a global flight tracking service was proposed during the conference by British satellite service provider Inmarsat. The company said its solution offers enhanced position reporting to support reduced in-flight aircraft separation, a "black box in the cloud," and real-time streaming of flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder information to defined aviation safety recipients.
Inmarsat is offering the service to 11,000 commercial passenger jets that are already equipped with its satellite communications technology.
"In the wake of the loss of MH370, we believe this is simply the right thing to do," said Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat. "Because of the universal nature of existing Inmarsat aviation services, our proposals can be implemented right away on all ocean-going commercial aircraft using equipment that is already installed."