Disasters that Changed Aviation Technology
Plane crashes are increasingly becoming rare everyday thanks to huge development in aviation technology, flight traffic control, monitoring system and fuel efficiency. Nowadays, even a single accident among the thousands of daily flights is extremely unheard of. But this huge development in technology could not have been a reality without an array of fatal experiences that actually paved the way to further research into safety and security measures. These accidents that took so many lives over the hundred topsy-turvy years of aviation actually played the role of whistleblowers. We enjoy the safety, comfort and perfection in today’s flights largely at the cost of these ghastly disasters. Let us have a look at 5 crucial disasters that changed aviation technology in more ways than one.
Head On Collision of TWA Flight 2 and United Airlines Flight 718 in Grand Canyon (1956)
Outcome: Air Traffic Control (ATS)
Way back in 1956 a TWA jet plane made a head-on collision with United Airlines Flight 173 over the Grand Canyon killing all passengers on board. This was the first among an array of accidents that triggered the aeronautical research and development of air traffic control. In 1958, this accident resulted in a whopping $250 million upgrade in air traffic control system. Though ATS continued to remain a focus area of research and development with many other similar accidents in the future, it was the first time that ATS was given such huge focus.
Crash of Delta Airlines Flight 191 near Dallas, USA due to Thunderstorm (1985)
Outcome: Weather Radar in Planes
Our Recommendations
[post_connector_show_children slug=”our-recommendations” link=”true” excerpt=”false”]
Even today with so developed weather sensor systems and remote flight control pilots often feel find it challenging to make their way through rain, winds and shears of current. In 1985 when approaching the Dallas Airport Delta Airlines Flight 191 faced a similar condition and crashed near the airport. This resulted in the installation of Shear detection system in all turbine powered commercial planes. Advanced weather radars predict weather condition and wind shears both and alert the pilots.
[adinserter block=”7″]
