INDIA: This week, India experienced one or more weird, technologically related phenomena in the country’s skies.
The Central government is developing Digi Yatra, an initiative based on facial recognition technology that aims to provide contactless, seamless processing of passengers at airports.
Although this technology is anticipated to significantly alter how we travel by air, there has been a technical problem affecting multiple airlines over the past month.
There were numerous recorded mishaps, ranging from engine snags and a burning odour in the cabin to a bird getting into the cockpit. Something has not been quite right with our flights, from an IndiGo flight being diverted to Karachi after pilots were informed of an engine fault to an Air India Express flight from Kozhikode to Dubai being diverted to Muscat after a burning smell was noticed in one of the vents, in addition to SpiceJet experiencing at least eight incidents in less than a month.
It’s interesting to note that according to the aviation authority, DGCA, spot checks were undertaken, and it was discovered that not enough aircraft maintenance engineers were on hand to certify planes from different airlines in time for scheduled arrivals and departures. According to the DGCA, those who are currently performing it are incorrectly determining the “cause of a reported fault.”
Regarding Digi Yatra, the concept imagines all passengers being able to pass through several checkpoints at the airport using a paperless and contactless method, proving their identity by facial recognition and connecting it to their boarding card.
According to official documentation, this provides a mobile wallet-based, decentralised identity management platform that tackles privacy and data protection concerns.
In one trend, authorities used technology to simplify flying; in the other, human error made flying risky. There are two sides to technology: one where it improves living quality, and the other where improper use of the technology creates risks that could go either way.
Also Read: IndiGo Flight Diverted to Karachi Due to Technical Problem
