An Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System

Air Safety Week, Jan 10, 2005

A warning system would have to be better than the carnage and loss of life typified in images of the gross aftermath (see photo). The Indians had a warning from their air force base on the Car Nicobar Islands that would have given them about an hour's warning at least on the subcontinent (and Sri Lanka, too, if it had been passed on), but that opportunity was lost when the warning was blindly faxed to the wrong fax number.

The cheapest and most efficient Indian Ocean Littoral Tsunami Warning System would be a local warning siren system (30 min., 20 min., 10 min. and imminent distinctive aural alarms) activated by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) seismologists' warnings sent to all addressees via the AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network) with a FLASH prefix.

AFTN is a worldwide system, connected between international airports, air traffic control facilities and international airlines for the exchange of vital information.

Airlines dependent on the region's tourist trade have an interest, and their offices at popular destinations could assume responsibility for taking incoming NOAA warnings over the AFTN and for raising the alarm initially (so that airliners on the ground can be launched in the time available and local warning systems can be sounded (sirens, shore-side klaxon alarms, radio, television, etc.).

The cost of local warning systems hardware might even be shared between airlines, shipping lines, community and national governments.

The AFTN sends important messages quickly, beats a fax, telephone calling or HF radio system. Not all nations would want to buy expensive satellite transponder time and have it sit on standby for years on end. Build a viable warning system on what exists already.

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