Comments on: Where the Planes Are http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:18:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Josh http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36322 Josh Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:30:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36322 fboweb.com allows you to track any flight using Google earth. Block off the afternoon, because you're not getting anything done tomorrow. fboweb.com allows you to track any flight using Google earth. Block off the afternoon, because you’re not getting anything done tomorrow.

]]> By: Hal S http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36306 Hal S Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:12:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36306 HA! HA!

]]> By: Ali Shareef al'Dente http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36321 Ali Shareef al'Dente Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:44:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36321 oh yeah, your comment server is full of errors oh yeah, your comment server is full of errors

]]> By: Ali Shareef al'Dente http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36320 Ali Shareef al'Dente Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:44:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36320 as a terrorist, I have to say that giving us that flight data is pretty important to our plans. How else can we be sure when we send our white vans to launch SAMs at your airplanes passing overhead? We get our van in position ten minutes before the airplane is going to be overhead, fire, and leave (using Google Maps to find us a route, of course). The Americans never know what hit them. PS- you think this hasn't happened? Your media sources are keeping this information from you because if you knew what was happening, you would leave the Middle East immediately. as a terrorist, I have to say that giving us that flight data is pretty important to our plans. How else can we be sure when we send our white vans to launch SAMs at your airplanes passing overhead?

We get our van in position ten minutes before the airplane is going to be overhead, fire, and leave (using Google Maps to find us a route, of course). The Americans never know what hit them.

PS- you think this hasn’t happened? Your media sources are keeping this information from you because if you knew what was happening, you would leave the Middle East immediately.

]]> By: tiger-moon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36307 tiger-moon Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:48:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36307 I want to know when they start to do this. I want to know when they start to do this.

]]> By: Count Iblis http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36319 Count Iblis Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:27:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36319 You can also follow planes on shortwave. E.g., planes crossing the Northern Atlantic will talk to ATC on 8864 KHz, 8879 KHz, 8891 KHz and 8906 KHz. You can also follow planes on shortwave. E.g., planes crossing the Northern Atlantic will talk to ATC on 8864 KHz, 8879 KHz, 8891 KHz and 8906 KHz.

]]> By: Sean http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36318 Sean Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:03:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36318 Knowing the position of one particular random plane wouldn't do the trick, but I suspect that clicking many times would indeed be bemusing. It certainly wouldn't be very amusing, which is what I was (clumsily) alluding to. Knowing the position of one particular random plane wouldn’t do the trick, but I suspect that clicking many times would indeed be bemusing. It certainly wouldn’t be very amusing, which is what I was (clumsily) alluding to.

]]> By: Cyde Weys http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36317 Cyde Weys Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:49:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36317 Bemused? How will knowing where a random plane is above the United States bemuse me? (You may be confusing bemused with amused; they have completely different meanings.) Bemused? How will knowing where a random plane is above the United States bemuse me? (You may be confusing bemused with amused; they have completely different meanings.)

]]> By: Hal S http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36308 Hal S Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:36:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36308 Pieter Kok #7 If these were military jets, then absolutely its a bad idea. For civilian jets however, its not really providing any of the "bad guys" useful info. It's relatively easy (and the key word is relatively) to predict locations of commercial flights, so its really just a convenience for customers. Despite public assertions that the government is completely incompetant, this is one area they got covered pretty well, and if there was any real danger (or rather if it increased the risk of danger), they wouldn't let this stuff be broadcast. Its always possible to hypothesize the "bad guys" having some advanced weapon they could use to hit airplanes, but their ability to use this info to help in targeting is of limited value if any. Pieter Kok #7

If these were military jets, then absolutely its a bad idea. For civilian jets however, its not really providing any of the “bad guys” useful info. It’s relatively easy (and the key word is relatively) to predict locations of commercial flights, so its really just a convenience for customers.

Despite public assertions that the government is completely incompetant, this is one area they got covered pretty well, and if there was any real danger (or rather if it increased the risk of danger), they wouldn’t let this stuff be broadcast.

Its always possible to hypothesize the “bad guys” having some advanced weapon they could use to hit airplanes, but their ability to use this info to help in targeting is of limited value if any.

]]> By: B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-36309 B Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:31:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/20/where-the-planes-are/#comment-36309 Lufthansa has a tracker but not on Google maps. It doesn't always work though. The last time my husband came in from FRA it showed 'the plane is now ready for take off' until it was landed in YYZ. It's a bit morbid but I was wondering whether they have an emergency icon to appear in case of a plane crash. Like, a little explosion and debris or so. Lufthansa has a tracker but not on Google maps. It doesn’t always work though. The last time my husband came in from FRA it showed ‘the plane is now ready for take off’ until it was landed in YYZ.

It’s a bit morbid but I was wondering whether they have an emergency icon to appear in case of a plane crash. Like, a little explosion and debris or so.

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