[liberationtech] Airline Shutdown Because of Loss of Internet Service?

[michael gurstein]

Thanks Richard and this runs on the open Internet?

M

-----Original Message-----
From: liberationtech-bounces at lists.stanford.edu
[mailto:liberationtech-bounces at lists.stanford.edu] On Behalf Of Richard
Brooks
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 10:00 AM
To: liberationtech
Subject: Re: [liberationtech] Airline Shutdown Because of Loss of Internet
Service?


On 06/06/2013 03:45 AM, michael gurstein wrote:
> This is probably not a Liberation issue directly but I'm not sure 
> where else to address it...
> 

> Sunday I was flying (Porter Airlines--small short hop Canadian 
> carrier) from NYC to Ottawa, ON with a plane change in Toronto. When 
> we arrived in Toronto we were informed that "because the Internet was 
> down" planes were not able to land or depart.  The company's service 
> was completely shut down for roughly 4 hours until the "Internet 
> service" was restored (presumably by their ISP).
> 
> I understand that other airlines have had similar experiences recently.  
> 
> My question... how exactly is Internet service so intertwined with 
> flight operations that service can function only if the Internet is
operational?
> (And I guess the Liberation angle... if this is now pervasive for all 
> airlines what is the hackable element of all this and where are the 
> points of vulnerability etc.etc.?
> 

This one is easy. Logistics. Airlines have enormous optimization routines
mapping planes, crews and passengers to flights. This allows them to shave
off overhead and make a profit. If the network is down, they won't know who
should fly where.

> M
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Too many emails? Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password by 
> emailing moderator at companys at stanford.edu or changing your settings 
> at https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
> 

--
Too many emails? Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password by
emailing moderator at companys at stanford.edu or changing your settings at
https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech