CEO of FedEx, Frederick Smith, said Thursday that airlines will move quickly to better track aircraft over the ocean after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Smith told the International Aviation Club that maintenance and navigational equipment aboard most airliners could be adapted to keep track of planes, and it would also reduce gaps between planes, making flights more efficient and saving money on fuel. The International Air Transport Association (representing 270 airlines worldwide) recently created a task force to better track planes, and recommendations are likely due before the end of the year.
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 highlights the need for security improvements both in tracking aircraft and screening passengers before they board planes, according to the International Air Transport Association.