RE:"What is a 'black box', and why do we still rely on them?"Here is the relevant section from the article (the author does not understand the product and seems unaware the associated SaaS services or the regulatory headwinds (as mgmt likes to put it))
"Can't the black box stream its data?
In a world where digital data can easily be transmitted and streamed live, there is the question of why planes still store their flight information and voice recordings on a physical black box, rather than in the Cloud.
It turns out this technology does exist, but it just hasn't been widely adopted yet. FLYHT Aerospace has designed a tracking system, about the size of a hotel room safe. It transmits data including coordinates, speed and altitude, to the ground via satellite as soon as the plane suddenly loses altitude, banks sharply or experiences engine vibrations.
However, this black box streaming service doesn't come cheaply - over $120,000 £90,000) per plane. The airline industry is unlikely to invest money in such technologies that will only be used in very rare circumstances."