Why don't planes have cameras underneath?
Posted by klaus_nieto@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 11 comments
I've seen some airliners like the A350 with a camera on the tail that I think can be viewed not only by passengers but also in the cockpit.
However, why aren't there cameras underneath? Wouldn't it be very useful to check if the gear has come down in case of a possible malfunction? Or to check if the tires have a certain problem (like falling down etc).
I don't see how a camera in the tail pointing forward is useful, since you can't even see the tips of the wings and most of the view is blocked by the aircraft.
BLKHLK@reddit
I'd assume the cost to install, cost to maintain, and redundancy of other systems making cameras not deemed essential or worth it. Parts aren't cheap especially in aviation and I'd assume maintaining cameras that operate in a large variety of conditions isn't ideal (temperature, pressure, humidity, sand/sea water). There's also the argument that a ton of flights are operated in IMC or night conditions which greatly reduces what the camera would be able to pick up. For night you'd probably have to install extra lights on the aircraft to make sure the camera can pick them up the gear properly. That adds an additional cost to install and maintain. Multiply that by however many aircraft a major airline may have (AA has 1000+) and its a huge cost for limited benefit.
I_like_cake_7@reddit
Some airplanes do have them. The A340-600 is so long that there is a camera for the main landing gear that the pilots can look at to help them with taxiing.
Ziegler517@reddit
There are already multiple redundancies in the system to have that checked (your gear reference). And it comes down to money and maintenance. It cost money to put it in and keep it functioning.
klaus_nieto@reddit (OP)
I see. I mentioned the landing gear thing since even though I know it can be deployed but gravity and has sensors to check if it's down, I think I've seen situations where something happens to the gear that the pilots are not aware of.
I also remember a case of a flight that had to do a flyover the tower to because the landing gear didn't come down and they needed the tower to check, but it could be an old event or something...
MagicalMagyars@reddit
It is a confirmation of the information the sensors are giving and in such a situation you gather as much information as you can have. Gear partially deployed, stuck on the doors or assymetric give you options and is more specific than "not deployed."
The purpose of the tail camera is to let the crew see the location of the main gear as that is what you need to keep centered on the taxiway. It is not for wingtip clearance etc.
anbeck@reddit
I’m pretty sure I was on an Emirates A380 that had a camera underneath which let me watch the tug during pushback.
gappletwit@reddit
Some do have cameras underneath.
CuriouslyContrasted@reddit
I flew a JAL once that showed a camera in the landing gear. Was a fucking wild view during a windy landing, I think it scared the shit out of half the passengers.
SnowConvertible@reddit
The gear is beeing monitored by a whole bunch of sensors. They are more reliable than whatever you could verify by a camera picture from behind. A gear might look down and locked from a few meters away, but actually is not yet locked. The sensors will determine that precisely however.
And a wheel falling of is not something that happens anywhere near as often that it would warrant any more observation.
Some airliners, however do have gear cameras for the crew to make sure that they stay on the taxiway. Especially very long airliners like the A340-600 risk leaving the taxiway on tight turns on narrow taxiways.
TheCrudMan@reddit
The A350 has a camera underneath that looks at the front gear that passengers can view and also one that looks straight down in addition to the tail.
You can see the main gear from the tail camera.
EGLLRJTT24@reddit
Some Boeings (777s can be fitted with them for sure) have a "Ground Maneuver Camera System" which is a camera pointed at the nose gear.
I believe the A350 also has a nose gear camera too.