Originally Posted by
Teddy Robinson
with all due respect, radar cover in an area with those MSA's is an oxymoron
That's a rather patronising response to a sensible question. Old a/c, probably no GPS, and as others have said, we don't know that they were on or missing an approach.
They could have needed urgent decent (fleet grounded now so, icing/other failure?) and radar confirmation of position would have been very useful.
The terrain varies in height and MSA is based on the highest in the sector so being steered around the worst if descent unavoidable would have been invaluable - I speak from personal experience; so Oxymoron
No definitely not