Spooks

Episode #5.2 - S5-E2

Plot hole: Collision between the two planes would have been prevented by TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system) computer systems installed on both planes. The TCAS systems automatically coordinate with each other and issue a TA (Traffic Advisory) with an audible "TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC", then if on a course that could result in a collision or near miss, issue an RA (Resolution Advisory) to their respective flight crews. Typically one plane's flight crew is audibly ordered to "DESCEND, DESCEND" by its' TCAS and the other plane will be instructed to "CLIMB, CLIMB" by its' TCAS. The flight crew is required to follow their TCAS instructions over the air traffic controller's. All commercial airliners are required to have a functioning TCAS computer. These systems were obviously not under control of the terrorists, they were conveniently ignored in the plot. (00:03:20 - 00:06:47)

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Jools Siviter: Lively on this side of the river, isn't it?

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Trivia: Spooks does not have actor credits at the end. The Internet Movie Data Base even lists the lead actors as 'uncredited' for many seasons.

Jeff Walker

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Show generally

Question: "Spooks" is called "MI-5" in the US. I'm aware that Five operates something like the FBI and Six like the CIA, however, what are One through Four?

Answer: They no longer exist. The Military Intelligence groups first appeared at around the time of the First World War. MI-1 was the original directorate, MI-2 dealt with the Soviet Union and Scandinavia, MI-3 with Germany and Eastern Europe, MI-4 handled aerial intelligence gathering, MI-7 dealt with propaganda, MI-8 with communication intercepts, MI-9 with covert operations, MI-10 were the technical experts, MI-11 dealt with security issues out in the field and so on and so forth. All these departments have either been shut down or subsumed into the Security Service, informally referred to by its original designation of MI-5, the Secret Intelligence Service, referred to as MI-6, or GCHQ, the Government Communications Headquarters.

Tailkinker

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