New Rules on Tracking
The European Commission has adopted new rules on aircraft tracking, including provisions intended to pinpoint the location of an aircraft in distress anywhere in the world.
“For the general public, it is not understandable that aircraft are not permanently tracked wherever they fly,” said Violeta Bulc, European Union commissioner for transport. “The rules … aim to address this deficiency.”
She said that the rules, adopted in December, will apply to European Union operators of passenger airplanes that weigh more than 27 tonnes (59,525 lb) and carry more than 19 passengers, and to cargo airplanes of more than 45.5 tonnes (100,310 lb).
She said adoption of the rules was prompted by the recent disappearances of two commercial airplanes:
- Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330 that vanished en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on June 1, 2009. The wreckage was recovered from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean in May 2011. All 228 p…
