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To prevent “disappearing” on your next transoceanic flight

10 points by rab_oof ↗ HN
Insist that said transoceanic airline have an active Inmarsat ADS-C subscription for the airframe before stepping on-board. Insist on a copy of an actual invoice minus pricing because they will just make up some bullshit otherwise. If you don't, the airlines won't change their behaviour and it's unlikely that they have bothered to take advantage of this service. In other words, it's your responsibility not to die because they're idiots, cheap or lazy... Otherwise you're just condoning their inability address mistakes.

The worst part and underreported story was that the technology (FANS 1/a ADS-C) was installed on the MH370 airframe but it was not configured because Inmarsat charged for it, harming safety and they didn't monetize it. Rescuers would have known within a error of 5 minutes (tens of square miles) where the aircraft presumably crashed instead of millions.

http://www.inmarsat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Inmarsat_APC_2013_14_Universal_Avionics.pdf

2 comments

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zaroth
I'm pretty sure airlines are outfitting their planes on a proper maintenance schedule. Mostly, I want cheap enough flights with decent flexibility around changing the flight. I want to leave and land on time.
ghshephard
Of all the things to be concerned about in terms of safety, I would rank dying on a transoceanic flight to be pretty far down the list.

I'm certain I could come up with a list of 100 (500?) Risks that were more likely to impact my life.