Do Airplanes Get Computer Viruses?
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself during this flight and I really want to know. Call me a dastardly flier for my fellow travelers, but I find the subject to be legit and kinda important. If there’s a risk of Napster taking the controls of the flight over the North Atlantic, I’d like to know cargo ship cabin prices before take off. Background info for you if you’ve missed the past decade and a half, but computers have made the old stick and rudder system obsolete. All the new aircraft like the jumbo, double-decker Airbus and Boeing Dreamliner have fly-by-the-wire technology. Fly-by-the-wire trades the stick for a computer screen. I’m not sure about the rudders, but I personally, think they’re there for looks and DVT prevention (Left leg forward, right leg forward, left leg forward). This new fly-by-the-wire technology relies on conductors and analoges to fly rather than mechanical wiring. The system creates smoother turns, more consistent speeds, and pinpoint accurate routes to conserve fuel. All of which equals bigger $$$ for the airlines and, usually, a smoother flight for passengers.
As with all computer-based technology, aircraft systems now need periodic updates. How often? I’m not sure, I’m not a computer geek. However, I do know from reading aviation magazines, that for computers to communicate that a left swipe on the iPad screen translates correctly to a left turn by the flaps and rudders, gps route updates, and how hot HAL should boil the captain’s coffee, then the system needs to be kept updated. To update the system, the airplane needs to be connected into some sort of mainframe computer system (situated at terminals as I found out) and BOOM, a potential entry for a virus emerges!
This all came about because today, before our departure, the normal procedure for upgrading the system failed. Upgrades and computer systems on planes are not something that you commonly think about when flying, except when they fail to procedure according to norm. This time it did and now I really want to know; what are the chances of a virus entering into the airplane. Viruses are bad period, but a computer virus at 30,000 feet sounds worse than bad. I’m sure the Chinese or Italians have a word for worse than bad, but for now, my English will have to suffice and I choose, ‘worse than bad’.
I’m really surprised it hasn’t been raised in the news. Certainly, it would give FOX something to yell about on a boring news day. Also, I’m really surprised that it hasn’t affected any flight (that I’m aware of). Does the FAA think about it? I haven’t seen virus protection in any of their passenger rights, nor have I seen it in insurance offers. One million to your family in case of aircraft loss related to computer virus. Tell that at the next family reunion when your niece complains about her laptop getting wiped out just before finals! HA, trumped!
