What Business Insider failed to mention in that article you cut and pasted there is that Boeing also have FBW aircraft, 717, 777, 787. It failed to point out too that Boeing use plenty of composite materials in their aircraft, 777 has composites in it's tail for example. For a long time now most modern aircraft have also had some semblance of FBW technology, most engines are computer controlled, new generation 737 models have powered flight controls in combination with cables....it's much more complicated than that, but still. Even puddle jumpers the likes of which our local airline Horizon fly are flirting with FBW in some of their engine and flight control systems. In the case of this crash however - the A310 is not FBW, only it's spoilers. FBW didn't fully enter an Airbus aircraft until the 320. As you've mentioned though - the tail might just be an issue, that is something you certainly cannot have happen to your aircraft.
If you check the facts before automatically blasting Airbus you would find that in the last 12 months Boeing is ahead 11-3 in the crash department, subtract those that are McDonnell Douglas products it's 9-3.
There's no need for a Boeing vs. Airbus debate is there? What you've got here is a tragedy, not a case of scaring people not to get onto an Airbus aircraft.
It's very doubtful that the Pitot Tubes are the same, the A330 has a much more advanced fly-by-wire, glass cockpit, digitized system the 310 is older and a more conventional analog display type aircraft.
Surely you mean Airbus, Yemenia have previously had no fatal accidents with their aircraft. As far as Airbus goes, this is merely an unfortunate coincidence for the manufacturer that the next accident was also an Airbus - they build very sound, safe aircraft and have been for decades. Air France's aircraft was virtually brand new, this one quite old. They don't need to be investigated any more than Boeing do after an incident, it's tragic, sad, and unfortunate - but in no means relates to Airbus making shoddy products.
If you use something that ejects itself or automatically goes off you're looking at the possibility inadvertent deployment of the device. Aircraft experience cabin pressure issues that don't relate to disaster, with that in mind if the locator thing flies out of the aircraft people would be initially panicked looking for an aircraft that crashed that didn't actually crash.
The FAA (and worldwide regulators) would all need to be involved in the approval and design process. This is also more resource drain. Because of the way aviation is governed a whole lot more than 5 guys at Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, et al would need to be in the loop.
The logic of the idea is good - but the practicality is sadly not worth it. This aircraft incident has been a one of a kind for an airliner, usually it's easy to locate the wreckage - it's hard to write that without sounding heartless, not my intent. :(
The black box beacons are good down to a depth of 20,000 feet - probably deeper than where this tragedy apparently occured. Put the GPS inside the black box you will still find neither.
That might work when an aircraft purposely lands on water like the Hudson success, but when aircraft hit the ground or water from 35000 feet there's too much force and destruction. There's probably no real confident place to install it either as you won't always know what's going to be the most structurally sound area of the aircraft. The black boxes are generally in the tail area as it's usually the most intact. If you look at the photos from the Colgan crash in February the tail was fairly recognizable, but the Shanksville PA tragedy on 9/11 - nothing discernable. That's the difference between a crash from a couple thousand feet vs. one from cruise altitude.
Your heart is definitely in the right place though!
davey, jeep they do have a device on board that is tracked by satellite if the aircraft is involved in an accident. European aviation regs require an ELT on all aircraft that transmits on an extended frequency picked up by satellites. It won't however transmit from thousands of feet under water. The black boxes also have an acoustic beacon which will transmit up to a depth of around 20,000 feet but you need to be within 4000 yards to be able to receive them. There's a good chance this aircraft went down into the water that's going to be way too deep for those to be detectable.
As for building planes out of the same thing the black boxes are made out of.....lets be realistic the unit is the size of small 'boom box' and weighs 20lbs....not too practical.
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