Today, many advanced technologies have been developed to assist in the rapid and accurate search and location of crashed aircraft.
Integration of Technologies
Following the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the International Civil Aviation Organization implemented the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS), which requires aircraft to transmit their location information every 15 minutes and increase the frequency of data transmission during emergencies.
Radar is one of the most common systems for tracking aircraft, but it has several limitations, especially when airplanes are flying over oceans or remote areas without coverage. To overcome this, radar is integrated with satellite technology such as Inmarsat or Iridium to ensure aircraft monitoring even in areas outside radar coverage. When an aircraft loses communication, these satellites can still receive “ping” or “handshake” signals to determine the last known position of the aircraft.
The ASV Armada 8 is being used to search for an aircraft that crashed into Lake Superior in 1968 – (Photo: Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition)
Additionally, Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) is a modern monitoring method in which aircraft broadcast data about their position, speed, and altitude. This data is received by ground stations and satellites, facilitating real-time aircraft tracking, even when flying over oceans where radar is unavailable.
Some modern aircraft are also equipped with systems that continuously transmit data to the cloud for operational centers, allowing for real-time monitoring of aircraft systems and reducing response time in emergencies.
Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) are another important technology that automatically activates when an aircraft crashes and transmits emergency signals along with location data.
These signals are received by satellites in the Cospas-Sarsat system, helping to locate downed aircraft. Modern ELTs can transmit signals at frequencies of 121.5 MHz and 406 MHz, expanding global coverage. Notably, ELTs using the 406 MHz frequency can be registered by private owners, allowing rescue personnel to access information immediately.
Rescue Operations for Water Crashes
In the event an aircraft crashes into water, Underwater Locator Beacons (ULB) attached to the black box will emit ultrasonic signals that can be detected by sonar equipment, aiding in the location of the aircraft on the seabed. However, ULBs can only transmit signals for 30 days, making it crucial to initiate searches promptly.
Currently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and drones equipped with thermal/infrared sensors and cameras are also being utilized to scan larger areas.
In addition, machine learning algorithms are used to analyze satellite images, radar data, and acoustic signals to detect aircraft debris over vast areas. Automating this search process helps shorten the time required to locate crashed aircraft.
Recently, researchers from the Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition tested the Armada 8 (A8), a type of autonomous surface vessel (ASV) from Ocean Infinity, to search for the wreckage of an aircraft missing since 1968 in Lake Superior, Michigan, USA.
The ASV uses ultrasonic technology to search underwater and can conduct precise searches in deep water environments. The project has created high-resolution maps of the Great Lakes’ bottom. The estimated funding is around $200 million, expected to advance future aircraft accident rescue operations.
Is There a Chance of Finding MH370?
WSPR Receiver Station – (Photo: kho.unis.no).
It has been a decade since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared, creating one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.
However, a breakthrough technology called the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) is expected to yield positive results.
WSPR is a global network comprising amateur operators who often send low-power signals on medium and high frequencies via software to test transmission paths.
Aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey has proposed using WSPR data to search for the missing MH370 by identifying anomalies in the WSPR signals, which may reveal its flight path after disappearance.
According to various reports, technology experts, including billionaire Elon Musk, are betting on WSPR to crack this mystery.
