it's fair to say that we will all be a little more afraid that usual after this catastrophe. But the reality is that flying is the safest form of modern day travel. the last air france plane crash was over a decade ago, and that was actually a test flight.

I just hope that sufficient information is recovered from the wreckage. with this, we will be able to make flying even safer. we had our own swissair disaster over the atlantic, but a lot was learnt from that crash. my thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones.

rosario, zurich

Dear Hala,

I'm from Brazil and I just want let you know that I am a big fan of IDESK!

Actually I'm watching the program right now, awaiting news of the missing of flight 447.

Thanks and best regards,

Dear Hala
I watch the report on this tragic accident and it baffles me that with all the technology and progress made in the designs etc of planes that the industry still neglect to equipped planes with GPS systems especially when flying over our vast oceans as reported by CNN. I am of the opinion that this must be addressed in order that we as passengers do not feel so vulnerable. God bless the souls of those who lost their lives so tragically and unnecessarily.

Thanks for thorough coverage and congratulations to Brazilian Air Force (and all other Forces, for that matter) and its non-stop work searching for Air France AF447 debris. Those families needed some information so they can move forward.

I would really be looking at the weather causing the downing of the French airliner. Supercell/Hypercell commonly create hail within its core.

You've seen the effects of it falling out of the sky, just imagine flying into it at almost 600 mph!

Dear Hala,

The recent Aif FRance crash comes as a sad event ,especially at a time we have high IT. .

In my own little way , i want to advise the IATA, Civil Aviation Authority all over the world as well as the builders of aircraft to install ,Parashuttes and life jackets for each passenger and crew on board our aircraft henceforth.
It may cost so few thousands of Dollars , but can't be compared to the collossal loss of life in this present times.

The Aviation Industry should sit up, the Metrologist with modern facilities should be able to detect poor weather condtions and advise the Control Tower.

This is not only applicaable to the Western world , but should be adopted in Africa As well , especially in Nigeria where there has been recorded over 4 air diasters in the past 5 years.

We should begin to value life and have a beeter attitude toward safety.

Thanks,

Ezeoke Golda.
Nigeria

Air France Flight 447 Disaster

First I express a heart-felt sympathy to the families affected by this unfortunate disaster. I'm an aviation enthusiast and whenever there is an aviation accident, I really want to know what happened to get a closure to it. Lack of closure leaves me quite distraught.

My question to airline operators is this: "when will human life become expensive enough to permit your aircrafts to have active GPS systems?" I feel very frustrated that the salvage of flight 447 and hotel bills for victim families is going to cost more than paying the GPS activation fee for flight 447!

GPS is gradually becoming a very cheap device as its available on wrist-watches, mobile phones, cars and even dogs collar strap... and airline operators are telling the world that they can't afford it on a plane that cost over $150 million dollars?!

I understand there are plans to introduce GPS tracking on aircrafts by 2015. Why wait till 2015? Why not 2010? For an industry that flys over a billion people across the globe every year, premium safety for passengers should be priority and not cost.

It's enough to have a crash but not being able to locate an aircraft that crashed in the 21st century makes me think we are still in the Wrights brother era!

hi hala,
i live here in libya and i have lived here since1999 i know how libyans and other arabic nationalities think about the US during the BUSH era.
but when president OBAMA was sworn in , many people here were expecting things to change and i spoke to alot of my co workers who happen to be arabs and most of them think president OBAMA's approach is very possitive and can bring some little change .
also i found out that OBAMA as a person is liked and if he can tranform speeches into something at least small in the eyes of the muslim world,
we will then see great change of attitude towards US & ARAB relations
i will give credit to america for electing someone who at least listen.