Malaysian Airlines MH370 contact lost
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If it was away from the main search site and just happened to trip over the jackpot, I'd like to know how.
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said: "The characteristics reported are consistent with the aircraft black box. A number of white objects were also sighted on the surface about 90 kilometres from the detection area.
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Crikey there's come cynical folk posting. So they've possibly found something, great news.
Perhaps the Chinese vessel was relocating from one search area to another? If it was out-of-area, there are lots of innocent explanations why.
Perhaps the Chinese vessel was relocating from one search area to another? If it was out-of-area, there are lots of innocent explanations why.
what happens if this is the FDR/CVR and the Chinese get hold of it - who then undertakes the data/tape play back and investigation??
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I guess towed arrays come in many different forms, but the ones I've seen were in tubes filled with a paraffin-type substance to give them neutral buoyancy.
The American detectors are being towed by HMS Echo and HMAS Success. HMS Echo has sidescan sonar and specialises in ocean survey including sea bed. She has been used extensively in the Mediterranean (agreed much shallower) to successfully find wrecks.
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@catch 21
I see your point - but in that case why towing equipment which has been said many times to be very slow? Wouldn't you want to reach the other side ASAP? Or is it common to keep on surveying on route to another search side?
I am not claiming any conspiracy but it seems that it is quite unusual, indicating that as we all know there is probably more info we do not know about.
If they have found something it would be great in any case!
I see your point - but in that case why towing equipment which has been said many times to be very slow? Wouldn't you want to reach the other side ASAP? Or is it common to keep on surveying on route to another search side?
I am not claiming any conspiracy but it seems that it is quite unusual, indicating that as we all know there is probably more info we do not know about.
If they have found something it would be great in any case!
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@catch21
I've been surprised at the cynicism and hostility, too. If they've found something, great.
Even if they were out of area, which is rather speculative at the moment, personally I'd rather that they were out of area and found something than in area and didn't...
Perhaps the Chinese vessel was relocating from one search area to another? If it was out-of-area, there are lots of innocent explanations why.
Even if they were out of area, which is rather speculative at the moment, personally I'd rather that they were out of area and found something than in area and didn't...
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what happens if this is the FDR/CVR and the Chinese get hold of it - who then undertakes the data/tape play back and investigation??
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Chinese working in isolation
Over the past 10-15 days I've been checking in with marine traffic (AIS) for the region. While not definitive, when I have seen a Chinese patrol or research vessel declared to be SAR, they have not been in the designated search areas.
It appeared that at least some Chinese assets were "on their own".
It appeared that at least some Chinese assets were "on their own".
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Other uses for 37.5khz?
From the NPR report on the Xinhua story:
I thought that 37.5khz was chosen partly because it was unique.
We'll caution that the signal hasn't yet been investigated, and it's too early to draw a connection to the missing flight MH370. The signal's frequency is 37.5 kHz, according to Xinhua. That's the frequency underwater locator beacons use to transmit their location; it's also reportedly used by other systems.
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The ULB batteries are 30 days @4c . Does any one know the sea bed temp at pinger location. I understand the unit is powered by lithium ion batteries, how are these affected by temp.
Deep ocean water is uniformly somewhat below 4 C, usually 1-3 C.
So the battery life expectancy was set to reflect expected conditions.
Afaik, lithium batteries drop their power pretty steeply once past their rated duty service, so there is not much time left to pick up the pinger.
So the battery life expectancy was set to reflect expected conditions.
Afaik, lithium batteries drop their power pretty steeply once past their rated duty service, so there is not much time left to pick up the pinger.
Last edited by etudiant; 5th Apr 2014 at 20:35. Reason: correction
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If the Chinese actually have picked up the pinger off the black boxes, my guess is that they were led to them by some sort of high tech military technology they don't want the rest of us to know they have. Whether that is satellite imaging, submarines or something else... Hard to believe they just accidentally stumbled upon the scene.
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what happens if this is the FDR/CVR and the Chinese get hold of it - who then undertakes the data/tape play back and investigation??
It was widely reported that this was directed at the Chinese without specifically saying so.
Reading between the lines, Certainly under currents within / in the SAR effort regardless of the smiles from the air side.
But it would also be good if they left the release of information, verified or otherwise, to the lead investigating authority. I'd then feel a little more convinced that it's less about PR and more about finding the aircraft.
- from what I can gather - Chinese ship - to China - Chinese news releases information - someone from the SAR Effort comments.
I think this is China playing to domestic and making sure it is seen to be active, for the same reasons I have said before, previous tardy response to emergencies.
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If the signals are from MH370's boxes and the source can triangulated, surely it doesn't matter if the batteries run out before they can be retrieved. If AF447's black boxes could be retrieved two years after the accident, surely these boxes and the wreckage will be found too? Or am I missing something?
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Lithium-based Batteries Information - Battery University
Choices of Primary Batteries - Battery University
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Considering the nationalities of the passengers, I don't think the Chinese are behaving significantly more different than any other country might.
Put another way, if the pax manifest was predominately American, what communications channels would the USA use? That's not me being critical, I just think it is a fact of life and not necessarily an unreasonable thing to do.
Put another way, if the pax manifest was predominately American, what communications channels would the USA use? That's not me being critical, I just think it is a fact of life and not necessarily an unreasonable thing to do.
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I think this is China playing to domestic and making sure it is seen to be active, for the same reasons I have said before, previous tardy response to emergencies.
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Breezy
Yes, you can add that as well, plus probably a few other things, like they find it and not the Japanese etc.
The "back channel" communications would be interesting to say the least
Luckily Angus Houston is the type of person with the knowledge of the people involved who should be able to keep things "in check".
Yes, you can add that as well, plus probably a few other things, like they find it and not the Japanese etc.
The "back channel" communications would be interesting to say the least
Luckily Angus Houston is the type of person with the knowledge of the people involved who should be able to keep things "in check".
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Echo sounding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Most hydrographic operations use a 200 kHz transducer, which is suitable for inshore work up to 100 metres in depth. Deeper water requires a lower frequency transducer as the acoustic signal of lower frequencies is less susceptible to attenuation in the water column. Commonly used frequencies for deep water sounding are 33 kHz and 24 kHz.
Most hydrographic operations use a 200 kHz transducer, which is suitable for inshore work up to 100 metres in depth. Deeper water requires a lower frequency transducer as the acoustic signal of lower frequencies is less susceptible to attenuation in the water column. Commonly used frequencies for deep water sounding are 33 kHz and 24 kHz.