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Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

bbc.com

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Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#111

Post by Dylan16807 »

chrismorgan wrote: post #105
Dylan16807 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a good overall plan C. But why does the data link itself have no fallback? An important data link should have multiple dissimilar backups.

It sounds good in theory, but the practice is different. “High availability” database measures are often less reliable than the normal, simpler approach. Automated network failover equipment often causes more downtime than having multiple links and only failing over manually, or even depending on a single link. Complexity is the enemy of robustness. System failure is not just one simple category with known behaviours…

> Automated network failover equipment often causes more downtime than having multiple links and only failing over manually, or even depending on a single link.

Failing over manually sounds fine. If they can't swap over at all then that's a sign of fragility which will cause its own problems.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#112

Post by tomc1985 »

bhhaskin wrote: post #53
tomc1985 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well you also need to have people run around and update them.

Whats wrong with that? It seems to have worked. Sure not ideal, but better than canceling flights and shutting down the airport.

Not saying there was anything wrong with it. The people who came in during their off hours to update whiteboards for however many hours are the real heroes of this operation.

That said it was probably very expensive :P

Theres a lot of fawning over the humble whiteboard here, just wanted to emphasize that they were part of a larger scheme

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#113

Post by fulafel »

lakisy wrote: post #14
MBCook wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems so strange that they wouldn’t have a redundant link (like the various options you suggested) or at least fall back to easily available public data (flight information sites) that would at least help some.

Some years ago, we lost access to our data center although it had triple network redundancy. What happened was that three cables were leaving the DC leased by three different companies. But a mile down the road, all three different cable entered the same physical pipe. When the physical pipe was severed, all three network cables went dark. We should wait until they announced details of what happened before we decide…

I have heard this story before, with a twist that initially it was checked for, but the telcos changed it back some years down the road. I wonder what's a good way to audit this.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#114

Post by dhimes »

hermitdev wrote: post #101
the_mitsuhiko wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s the exception and not the rule and when it changes it’s typically just around the corner and you can do show infos on the old gate.

I think it depends on the airport & airline. Personally, in the US, I've had flights change terminals, not just gates. Terminal changes can be at least 20 mins on foot, even if you're fit and healthy.

Totally agree. In my experience, however, terminal changes occasionally happen but are unusual. Then, of course, there are places like Logan (BOS) where Terminal B has some sort of remote outpost- so even staying in the same terminal but changing gates can be a long haul to the connector because some of the gates are so far away

http://boston-bos.worldairportguides.com/terminal-maps.php

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#115

Post by kayfox »

kalleboo wrote: post #57
Reason077 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably it helps that many (most?) travellers will be using the airline's apps these days, which provide info such as boarding times and gate updates.

In my experience, all the apps (airport, airline, travel apps, even Apple Wallet e-tickets) all have unreliable or heavily delayed gate information. Does anyone really rely on them?

Alaska Airlines app works really well in my experience. Sometimes too well, as the gate agent starts the boarding process and suddenly a crowd forms at the gate before they have even announced anything.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#116

Post by BrandoElFollito »

kalleboo wrote: post #57
Reason077 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably it helps that many (most?) travellers will be using the airline's apps these days, which provide info such as boarding times and gate updates.

In my experience, all the apps (airport, airline, travel apps, even Apple Wallet e-tickets) all have unreliable or heavily delayed gate information. Does anyone really rely on them?

The easyjet one is great, at least in CDG. Ryanair's is complete rubbish

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#117

Post by jefnwk »

jjjensen90 wrote: post #62
cnorthwood wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you're looking for is called a Solari Board, there's some mesmerising videos of them around, and a few places still have them!

There's a company in the US that will make you one/rent you one, you can even control it via API. They sound really cool too.. I think I need to expense one for my office! https://www.oatfoundry.com/split-flap/

We can build a Split Flap for you!
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