COVID-19 MESSAGES IN AVIATION AND MARITIME: SYMBOLIC COMMUNICATION ON FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION ROUTES

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the symbolic actions deliberately planned by pilots and ship captains during the COVID-19 pandemic and to reveal the technological, social, artistic, and communicative dimensions of these actions. The study employed a qualitative research design and utilized semiotic analysis. Data were obtained from online radar-tracking platforms (Flightradar24, MarineTraffic) as well as written and visual materials published by relevant media outlets. Within the scope of the research, eight distinct symbolic actions that could be clearly observed on radar-tracking maps during the period of intensified pandemic impact (2020-2021) were analyzed. The findings indicate that inscriptions such as “Stay Home,” “NHS,” and “F*** COVID-19,” along with figures such as a thumbs-up sign, a large heart, a syringe, a star, and a smiley face-drawn in the sky or on the sea by pilots and ship captains-did not merely reflect routine flight or maritime routes. Rather, these actions also served to inform the public, provide moral support, and foster social solidarity during the pandemic. Accordingly, it can be concluded that these meaningful routes visible on radar-tracking maps functioned as an alternative and powerful form of communication, particularly during times of crisis, and offered new conceptual and methodological insights for media and communication studies.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Radar Tracking Map
• Symbolic Communication

HAVACILIK VE DENİZCİLİKTE COVID-19 MESAJLARI: UÇUŞ VE SEYİR ROTALARINDAKİ SEMBOLİK İLETİŞİM

Abstract

Çalışmanın amacı, COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde pilotlar ve kaptanlar tarafından bilinçli olarak planlanan sembolik eylemleri incelemek ve bu eylemlerin teknolojik, toplumsal, sanatsal ve iletişimsel boyutlarını ortaya koymaktır. Nitel araştırma yöntemi ve göstergebilimsel analiz tekniği kullanılarak yürütülen çalışmanın verilerine çevrim içi radar izleme platformları (Flightradar24, Marine Traffic) ve ilgili medya kuruluşlarının yayınladığı yazılı ve görsel içeriklerden erişilmiştir. Pandeminin etkisini artırdığı 2020-2021 yılları arasında radar izleme haritalarında net olarak izlenebilen sekiz farklı sembolik eylem çalışma kapsamında incelenmiştir. Araştırma bulguları, pandemi sürecinde pilot ve gemi kaptanları tarafından gökyüzü ve deniz üzerine çizilen “Stay Home”, “NHS”, “F*** COVID-19” gibi yazılar ile başparmak, büyük kalp, şırınga, yıldız ve gülümseme gibi figürlerin yalnızca rutin bir uçuş ve seyir rotasını yansıtmadığını; aynı zamanda toplumu bilgilendirme, moral desteği sağlama ve salgın sürecinde toplumsal dayanışmayı artırma işlevini taşıdığını ortaya koymuştur. Buna göre radar izleme haritalarından görülebilen bu tür anlamlı rotaların özellikle kriz dönemlerinde alternatif ve güçlü bir iletişim biçimi olarak işlev gördüğü ve medya ile iletişim çalışmalarına hem kavramsal hem de yöntemsel açıdan yeni açılımlar kazandırdığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Radar İzleme Haritası
• Sembolik İletişim

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