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Well with airplanes, there is a real justification for it: safety. They're moving fast and have to make sure they don't collide.
by jaywalk 4y ago
Well with airplanes, there is a real justification for it: safety. They're moving fast and have to make sure they don't collide.
- Johnny555 4y agoBut you don't have to broadcast your tail number to prevent a collision. It makes tracking by ATC easier since the tail number can be traced back to a flight plan, but if the sole reason is to prevent in-air collision, a radio beacon without tail number could achieve that.
- mitthrowaway2 4y agoA tail number also makes it easier for ATC to know who to give runway landing clearance to, doesn't it? They can't just say "you airplane over there, yes you, you're clear to land".
- Johnny555 4y ago"Randomized identifier XYZZY, you are cleared to land"
- kayfox 4y agoWhats broadcast is not the tail number but a ICAO ID assigned to the aircraft, that database is public. The FAA can assign anonymous IDs to aircraft that need privacy for some reason and still be able to identify which aircraft it is in their systems.
- AdrianB1 4y agoNot when it is mandatory for small and slow planes where the system cost is a big problem.