A bird's eye view

Travelling to the US recently I had plenty of time to appreciate just how integral CCTV has become to the whole flying experience - not just because of the ongoing terrorist threat.  Upon taking off on my flight to the States externally mounted cameras were used by the flight crew to ensure that the undercarriage had retracted successfully, the same system also give us as passengers a grandstand view of the landscape below.  On my plane internal CCTV cameras monitored the cabin door and passenger compartment so trouble, from terrorism to ever more common ‘air rage', could be identified and dealt with at an early stage - fortunately something that was not required on my flight!  Down in the cargo hold below my feet CCTV technology was being applied to help detect theft and damage to passenger baggage and cargo whilst on the ground.  With video motion detection technology the flight crew on my plane could even be alerted automatically if cargo shifted unexpectedly in flight, with all the implications this has for an aircraft's weight distribution and handling characteristics.  Other aviation developments on the horizon, in what has become a real showcase for the best in CCTV, include video smoke detection and external cameras to provide zoned airside security.