Landing gear-cameras?

[jcatullus]

I've just read an article in Reader's Digest about a pancake, where the pilots had problem with the undercarriage -they haven't known, if the gears are out or not and had to fly near the control tower to got them checked, losing valuable time and fuel.

I wondered about, that it would be better, if they built cameras and a small lamp (if needed) into the boxes of the gears, which eg. can be turned on with a stick in the cockpit...

 

[carlosMM]

ah, jeez, and what if the camera breaks?

The existing systems in modern aircraft are good enough. The more complexity you add, the more things can break. So an additional check is also an additional thing that can break, which wastes valuable time and fuel or keeps you grounded or whatever.


Nah, really, this is not necessary.


Btw, my parents once had the 'fun' experience of the copilot walking down the ailse in flight, pulling the rug aside in a spot, opening a hatch in the floor, putting his head in, then closing it again and yelling forward: 'It's OK, gear's down!'.

 

[jcatullus]

If the camera breaks, they won't be in a disadvantage according to the "before-time" status, when they haven't had cameras..

I don't think, that an addotional check of this could be a long-term one, so it won't waste fuel. Not similar to the term of being flown round the airport..

Lol that story, nice solution..

 

[carlosMM]

If the camera breaks, they won't be in a disadvantage according to the "before-time" status, when they haven't had cameras..

sorry, but that's not true: regulations on what may be broken and stay so and what must be fixed ASAP are complicated.
So, having NO camera is probably a lot less of a trouble than having a BROKEN camera.

Lol that story, nice solution..

Well, if that is possible...... but in most aircraft, it is not.

 

[jcatullus]

If the camera breaks, they won't be in a disadvantage according to the "before-time" status, when they haven't had cameras..

sorry, but that's not true: regulations on what may be broken and stay so and what must be fixed ASAP are complicated.
So, having NO camera is probably a lot less of a trouble than having a BROKEN camera.

I meant during flight.
Also, while an emergency it can be important for the pilot to know, what's going on with the gears. To assure himself about something important is often a psychic "lifebelt".