I want to acknowledge the loss of 7 military personnel lives and 5 aircraft accidents in the last 5 days. They are in our thoughts and prayers as we enter these uncertain times. With God’s grace and mercy, we shall become stronger and victorious over the evil that confronts us. It is these series of events, raising the question . . . are these accidents or is there a dark force the cause?
As a commercial airline pilot for the past 35 years, you can not imagine the thoughts one has when good folks raise the question or comment of airplane accidents being the result of a targeted kill or false flag operation. Having been the Company lead investigator of one fatal crash (loss of 89 lives), burying 5 crewmembers and overseeing the investigation of additional accidents and incidents, safety and compliance officer, yeah it is very discomforting to observe and read such comments. Yet, I truly understand the perspective and thoughts of those who entertain such thoughts. And with that, I write with an earnest desire to assist good folks understand a different perspective.
NiKK asked . . . Can an airplane be hacked?
Short answer is No. However, at my age and experience, one learns never to say never. So already am in serious trouble with some here. Lol.
Jocko ask if I can give a 3 sentence explanation. Hmmmm . . . . no, but will try.
To be clear, I am referring to hacking as modifying the computer software in order to alter a flight crew inflight objective. Altering software or hardware on the ground, obviously can be accomplished. However, with a proper preflight check, . . . navigational and flight control anomalies most probably be discovered before flight.
Also allow that I am “computer technology challenged,” meaning I only know what “they” tell me. Past that, I don’t get it.
Here we go Jocko . . . see how I do.
The main explanation regards “proprietary software” or operating system of the certified aircraft avionics. The degree of difficulty to hack these systems using common operating systems such as Linux, Windows, Mac OS X without some knowledge of the “proprietary software” is virtually impossible. Lets say you are a blackhat, and you had the code to the proprietary software. The next challenge is access. Specially inflight. Lack of access to a port(??) of entry makes it nearly impossible to hack. The avionics or flight data system does not communicate through a “internet system” so how does a person outside the flightdeck gain acess?
That's the short answer. Lol.
For good measure, an official statement from the FAA, when in 2015, an individual claimed he was able to gain access to a flightdeck avionics software.
“The described technique cannot engage or control the aircraft’s autopilot system using the FMS or prevent a pilot from overriding the autopilot,”. “Therefore, a hacker cannot obtain ‘full control of an aircraft,’
From here it starts to get technical. Am sure most looking at that last sentence above and say, access can be gained through satellite signals when the aircraft is communicating with it. Gaining access to software through a GPS port? Not likely. Others claim that access to the sofware scan be entered through the “communications” system. Absolutely Not. (with explanation)
GPS satellites provide data, lots of it. GPS signals provide guidance, not manipulation. Certainly, a GPS signal can become a threat when the accuracy is degraded through lack of satellite coverage resulting in a loss of a signal. Yes, that's a problem, however many defenses available.
The single most important thing to remember regarding the safety of flight is redundancy, redundancy, redundancy. Wide body airplanes provide triple redundancy for all hardware resources: computing system, airplane electrical power, hydraulic power and communication paths. IF, one were to “hack” the airplane in flight, they would have to hack 3 separate, independent computers to even think about taking control. Even then, I can disengage, and fly what we call raw data.
That's as simplest I can make it. Another discussion for another day . . . Can my navigational signals be jammed or interfered with? There are known cases, but again there are defenses available to overcome.
Hope this helps, I have a short time here before I need to go to work. Leave any questions, comments or suggestions. I will address every one. Y’all have been great and so supportive, and I thank you.
My suspicion is stuxnet-type down-to-the-metal gate manipulation, and if anybody can talk me down from that, TIA.
Appreciate your expert input. ThankQ
HUGE THANK YOU!!! For explanation that even techtards like me understand.
That IS comforting.
What are we to make of 'experts' who assert that the modules inserted into aircraft etc. etc. post 9/11 are designed to allow 'officials' external to the in-flight plane, to 'take over' the plane and prevent a repeat of 9/11.
Then said 'experts' go on to assert that just as such modules can be used to prevent 9/11, in the wrong hands, they can be used to cause one--which seems pretty logical.
Are all such claims 100% false?
Obviously ... mileage may vary depending on the 'expert.'
Thanks for your experienced perspective. Greatly appreciated.
That's impressive right there.
Many thanks for your expert analysis.