After MH370 mishap, flights to be tracked continuously

The tracking is to be done in real time, using the on-board ACARS or ADS-B

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Wednesday told all air operators to track all their aircraft continuously during a flight, whether carrying passengers or cargo.

This is in the wake of the recent disappearance of a Malaysian Airlines flight while in the air. The tracking is to be done in real time, using the on-board Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) or Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B).

The directives apply to both passenger and cargo planes. The DGCA said in a statement, "While commercial air transport aircraft spend a considerable amount of time operating over remote areas, there is currently no international requirement for real time trackingof the aircraft."

The regulator said airlines should devise a procedure totrack aircraft flying over areas not covered by ACARS or ADS-B. It ordered flight crews report aircraft coordinates, speed and altitude every 15 minutes while flying over such areas.The regulator said airlines should monitor faults and warning messages of ACARS andthat flight crews must immediately report any issue with ACARS or ADS-B to ground stations using a voice or data link.

DGCA said it would review implementation of the directives during surveillance inspections.Malaysian Airlines' flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared on March 8 2014. Authorities believe the flight ended inthe ocean west of Australia but have not found any trace of the plane.