Should single-engine aircraft be outfitted with some sort of klaxon alarm to warn people on the ground in.....

Question

...case of emergency?

Very rarely do they come down in populated areas...but once in a while...like this one...they do:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070610/ap_on_re_us/brf_emergency_landing;_ylt=AoZRlnzw5ePLNKnPaCAY_19H2ocA

Would it be a horrible idea? I mean, if the plane lost power, it's on glide...and they don't have horns (like trains).

All the pilot would have to do would be to activate the alarm close to impact, to let people on the ground know s/he is on the way in.

Answer 1

I think the idea is interesting... BUT, illogical.

As others have pointed out: aircraft rarely crash in housing developments, the siren probably wouldn't actually SAVE anyone (merely confuse or frighten them), and the weight wouldn't be worth it.

As a private-pilot and former Navy Helicopter Crewman.... ONE thing a pilot is ALWAYS doing is mentally checking..."IF I lose power, WHERE are my preferred, possible, and likely spots to put this bird down".

The "Alarm" would have to be AUTOMATIC... if the pilot is in an emergency, activating an alarm is the LAST thing he needs to waste his time doing:

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate

Answer 2

I don't think it's a horrible idea, but it would be horrible if there was a rule that required it.

It should probably be automated in the event the pilot was incapacitated. The problem with that would be unintentional activation during a normal landing. It could scare passengers and bystanders.

Another problem would be that it would require power. When the engine stops, the battery stops charging and you often need every little amp-hour that's left in order to operate important systems like radios, navigation equipment, lights, landing gear, etc. You don't want some loud horn sucking all your power right when you need to lower flaps or gear.

It would have to be astonishingly loud to do any good. Probably louder than a police siren. It could deafen passengers, bystanders, or mechanics if accidentally activated. We had a horn in the basement of our church that was connected to our burglar alarm system. The idea was to make it very uncomfortable to be in the building so the burglar would flee. That thing went off a couple times accidentally and it was a life-changing experience for those of us in its presence.

Good out-of-the-box thinking. I agree with others that it's too much to ask everyone to have this on their airplane but it's an interesting idea.

Answer 3

I suppose they thought the people of the ground would hear all the screaming but all joking aside I think your idea for a horn or something is a good one. It would have to be louder than the engine. I suppose is some cases it might come in handy on the ground. People and animals have been known to wonder on to rural runways not realizing a fast moving aircraft may be heading right for them. Land rise and fall on some runways could contribute to this too. Runways are not always absolutely flat especially unimproved types.

Answer 4

Well, usually planes are forbidden to fly over populated areas, and when they do fly over, they are restricted to minimum altitude. That altitude is calculated in such a way, that in the event of engine failure, the pilot can reach safely unpopulated areas. And in case a pilot has to jump out of the plane, for any reason (fire, the plane does not respond to commands, etc) they are trained to direct the plane to avoid populated areas. At least this is what they thought us. So the idea of putting a klaxon in a plane…I don’t think would do any good. FAA rules are designed to avoid this kind of freak accident.

Answer 5

I used to take pilot lessons. And most of America is vastly open space. The reason that crash made the news is BECAUSE it is so rare for a plane to come down on heavily populated area.

Next time you ride on a commercial airliner, look out the window and see how much of America is nothing but open space.

Answer 6

Pilots attention generally is directed elsewhere during an emergency landing. I doubt that even if aircraft were equipped with them, pilots would be too busy try to control the aircraft and land safely to sound an external horn.

Answer 7

The major problem with the idea is that it adds weight, and anything that adds weight must be justified. Does the added weight help with the primary purpose of an airplane or not.

The truly rare occurrence that you describe would mean everyone would have additional equipment that would in the life of most airplanes - never be used.

Answer 8

if something is in the air and going to crash
are you going to know exactly where its going to crash
also at low altitude that warning maybe a few seconds

Answer 9

Naw, they should be able to hear me screaming