Latest news with #AutomaticDependent
Time of India
24-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
How do airplanes disappear from radar? The shocking truth behind missing flights
The sudden disappearance of airplanes from radar is a phenomenon that sparks widespread anxiety and speculation. While technology today offers robust aircraft tracking, it is not infallible. On July 24, 2025, a Russian An‑24 passenger aircraft carrying nearly 50 people disappeared from radar screens while approaching the remote city of Tynda in the Amur region. Wreckage was later discovered in dense forest, highlighting aviation's longstanding challenge aircraft vanishing from radar is still relevant today as reported by ABC News. Aviation experts say such incidents underscore the limitations of radar and satellite tracking systems, and the importance of understanding how planes can still vanish. How radar works in aviation and why it fails sometimes Commercial aviation relies on two primary systems: primary surveillance radar (PSR) and secondary surveillance radar (SSR). PSR detects any object by bouncing radio waves off it, but only shows position, not identity or altitude. SSR relies on the aircraft's transponder, which actively returns data such as flight number, altitude, and speed. 'If a transponder fails or is deliberately turned off, secondary radar essentially stops seeing the aircraft,' explains Prof. Igor Petrov, an aviation systems expert at Moscow's Civil Aviation Institute. 'Primary radar might still detect the plane as a blip, but with limited accuracy especially in remote regions or at low altitude.' Why airplanes disappear from radar According to flightradar24 reports, below can be the most possible reason of airplanes disappearing from radar: Source: iStock Transponder failure or manual shut-off Air traffic controllers primarily use secondary surveillance radar (SSR), which depends on an aircraft's transponder to send information like altitude, flight number, and speed. Failure : Electrical problems or system malfunctions can cause the transponder to stop transmitting. Intentional shut-off : In rare cases, pilots may disable transponders intentionally (e.g., during emergencies, security incidents, or in extremely rare deliberate acts like the MH370 case). When this happens, air traffic controllers see only a 'blip' on primary radar, with no identifying details, making tracking more difficult. Radar coverage gaps Radar relies on line-of-sight transmission. The curvature of the Earth and geographical barriers limit how far radar can see. Oceanic regions: Most over-ocean flights move beyond ground radar coverage within a few hundred miles of shorelines. Mountainous and remote areas: High terrain or isolated airspace can block radar signals or leave coverage voids. Although satellite-based ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) is improving coverage, blind spots still exist globally. Severe weather and terrain interference Radar signals can be disrupted by environmental conditions: Thunderstorms and heavy rain: Precipitation can scatter or weaken radar signals, causing intermittent or lost contact. Mountain ranges: Large landforms can physically block radar beams, creating 'shadows' where aircraft temporarily vanish. These interruptions are usually short-lived but can complicate monitoring during critical flight phases like takeoff, landing, or navigation near rough terrain. Technical glitches in radar systems Like any technology, radar infrastructure is susceptible to failures: Ground system outages: Electrical or software issues at air traffic control centers can temporarily disable tracking. Signal interference: Radio frequency conflicts or jamming can distort radar signals. These are rare but not impossible, and most aviation authorities have backup systems and protocols to minimize risk. MH370's 2014 disappearance still unsolved as 2025 search pauses The world is still haunted by the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which went off civilian radar about 38 minutes after takeoff. Despite one of the largest search operations in history, its main wreckage remains unfound. In February 2025, the deep-sea exploration firm Ocean Infinity launched a new search using advanced autonomous drones, but the effort was paused due to seasonal weather as reported by New York Post. 'These incidents show that losing a plane on radar is not necessarily rare—it's just usually resolved quickly,' said John Cox, a former airline captain and CEO of Safety Operating Systems, in an interview with ABC News. 'But when you combine transponder loss, remote airspace, and poor weather, it becomes a nightmare for search and rescue.' Also Read | 9 offbeat monsoon destinations in India you've probably never heard of
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senator questions military helicopter flights near civilian airplanes in DC
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee said Thursday the United States needs to reconsider the significant military helicopter flights near one of the most congested U.S. airports after a midair collision in Washington killed 67 people. "The big question I have is why do you have a military training flight so close to the route that people are supposed to land... Why is that corridor right on top of the (civilian) flight corridor?," said Senator Maria Cantwell in an interview. A 2021 report said there are about 11,000 military helicopter flights annually within 30 miles of Reagan National. Cantwell, an author of aviation safety reform laws, questioned the safety of military and commercial flights separated by as little as 350 feet (107 m). "I can't imagine you can have visual separation that close... That makes no sense." In the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than 20 years, a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet collided on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The airport is located in Arlington, Virginia, across the river from Washington. Cantwell also questioned why the Federal Aviation Administration since 2018 has allowed military flights to fly with their installed ADS-B equipment off. Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast is an advanced surveillance technology to track aircraft location. Cantwell wants more information on the agreements between the FAA and the Pentagon that allow these flights. "I do think the military was right to pause these flights now," Cantwell said. "What kind of arrangements are there as they fly into DC today?" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the helicopter involved in the crash had a crew of three soldiers on a "continuity of government" training flight. "It was a fairly experienced crew and it was doing a required annual night evaluation," Hegseth said. He said there appeared to have been an elevation issue with the Black Hawk, and Army investigators were looking into the matter. The military said the maximum altitude for Route 4 is 200 feet (61 meters) but it may have been flying higher. The collision occurred at an altitude of around 300 feet, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Army secretary nominee Dan Driscoll said Thursday the military should rethink training in congested areas. "I think we might need to look at where is an appropriate time to take training risk, and it may not be near an airport like Reagan," Driscoll added. Airspace is frequently crowded in the U.S. capital region, home to three commercial airports and several major military facilities, and officials have raised concerns about busy runways at Reagan National Airport. Several near-miss incidents at the airport have sparked alarm, including a near-collision in May 2024. Republican Senator Josh Hawley questioned why military helicopter flight routes overlay commercial routes around Washington Reagan. "Is that really a good idea?" Hawley told Fox News Thursday. "Do we really want all of that crowded airspace jammed in there?"
Reuters
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Senator questions military helicopter flights near civilian airplanes in DC
WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee said Thursday the United States needs to reconsider the significant military helicopter flights near one of the most congested U.S. airports after a midair collision in Washington killed 67 people. "The big question I have is why do you have a military training flight so close to the route that people are supposed to land... Why is that corridor right on top of the (civilian) flight corridor?," said Senator Maria Cantwell in an interview. A 2021 report said there are about 11,000 military helicopter flights annually within 30 miles of Reagan National. Cantwell, an author of aviation safety reform laws, questioned the safety of military and commercial flights separated by as little as 350 feet (107 m). "I can't imagine you can have visual separation that close... That makes no sense." In the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than 20 years, a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet collided on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The airport is located in Arlington, Virginia, across the river from Washington. Cantwell also questioned why the Federal Aviation Administration since 2018 has allowed military flights to fly with their installed ADS-B equipment off. Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast is an advanced surveillance technology to track aircraft location. Cantwell wants more information on the agreements between the FAA and the Pentagon that allow these flights. "I do think the military was right to pause these flights now," Cantwell said. "What kind of arrangements are there as they fly into DC today?" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the helicopter involved in the crash had a crew of three soldiers on a "continuity of government" training flight. "It was a fairly experienced crew and it was doing a required annual night evaluation," Hegseth said. He said there appeared to have been an elevation issue with the Black Hawk, and Army investigators were looking into the matter. The military said the maximum altitude for Route 4 is 200 feet (61 meters) but it may have been flying higher. The collision occurred at an altitude of around 300 feet, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Army secretary nominee Dan Driscoll said Thursday the military should rethink training in congested areas. "I think we might need to look at where is an appropriate time to take training risk, and it may not be near an airport like Reagan," Driscoll added. Airspace is frequently crowded in the U.S. capital region, home to three commercial airports and several major military facilities, and officials have raised concerns about busy runways at Reagan National Airport. Several near-miss incidents at the airport have sparked alarm, including a near-collision in May 2024. Republican Senator Josh Hawley questioned why military helicopter flight routes overlay commercial routes around Washington Reagan. "Is that really a good idea?" Hawley told Fox News Thursday. "Do we really want all of that crowded airspace jammed in there?"
