Dear all,
this is my first try on the AWA. I took the first argument from the
OG:
"The computerized on-board warning system that will be installed in commercial airliners will virtually solve the problem of midair plane collisions. One plane's warning system can receive signals from another's transponder - a radio set that signals a plane's course - in order to determine the likelihood of a collision and recommend evasive action."
I tried to work along the sticky post "How to get 6.0 AWA".
A short feedback would be much appreciated.
Many thanks and kind regards
Edit: The argument states that transponders which are newly installed into commercial airplanes lead to fewer midair plane collisions.
Stated this way, the claim is based on a number of illogical assumptions. Furthermore, some major flaws can be detected which will also be discussed below.
First, the argument states that the transponders are installed into commercial airliners. This statement is quite weak because it assumes that only commercial airplanes will get this new device. The problem with this assumption is that it neglects privately owned airplanes which are also flying from airport to airport. Equipping these planes with the transponder could be a major advantage for flight security. This could further decrease midair collisions.
While the majority of air travel might be commercially driven, installing the transponder first and foremost in commercial airliners is reasonable. However private planes will would benefit from the added device as well.
The argument could have been much clearer mentioning the reasons behind equipping only commercially used airliners with the new transponder.
Second, the claim mentions that once the transponder is installed with planes, midair plane collisions will be solved. This is a bold statement and should be worth a closer look. In order to reduce collisions in the air, one must evaluate how well the transponder works and how reliable the transponder is. The argument is based on the assumption that the device works without any errors at all times. However, planes flying at high altitude may encounter bad weather, storms, thunder and lightning. The transponder must handle bad weather exceptionally well. The argument also tells us that the transponder basically works via radio signals. It is safe to say that other radio signals are out there and might interfere with the radio signal from another plance.
Before installing the transponder into planes, one should make sure that the technology of the transponder is tested for anything that could distort its functionality.
Finally, one should ask whether installing the transponder only in commercially used airplanes makes sense and why the transponders are not installed into privately used airplanes. Another question should be with regards to the transponder's reliability. Are there any circumstances during a flight that could distort the transponders functionality?
Without convincing answers to these questions, the argument is not very strong and the underlying assumptions are rather weak.
The argument is flawed due to the above mentioned reasons. In order to correctly derive a substantiated opinion, one should first get answers to the posed questions. For a differentiated opinion, all relevant information should be known in advance.
Without these information, the argument remains unsubstantiated and open to debate.