Being familiar to MAF's Ops and having done the very Charter Hadleigh was doing there. I can say that:
1. They could cary up to 3 200 Ltr drums of Diesel or Avgas in back of Cessna's. They drums are held in place with Chocks and locked down with camlock straps.
2. It could be a little disconcerting as the drums expanded and contracted.
3. There was always a bit of a deep down question when doing these flights of 'I hope the straps hold' If they failed and a drum, then drums would roll and the CofG would go go right out and one would need reversing mirrors to guide the aircraft down to its fate.
4. The likely hood of this happening was low or we would not have done it.
5. All flights were CHTR and all pilots and ground staff were current with DG at all times.
Sonar has apparently located the wreck 15 klm from elcho Island, and 2 Ks off shore in Buckingham Bay. divers were hoping to dive on the site and attempt a recovery.
Efforts underway to recover aircraft fuselage 
Thursday, 06 November 2008 Efforts are underway today (Thursday November 6) to confirm the identity of an aircraft fuselage discovered in Arnhem Land's Buckingham Bay.
Searchers suspect the wreckage could be that of a Mission Aviation Fellowship GA8 Airvan, piloted by 23-year-old Hadleigh Smith, who went missing on October 16.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 November 2008 )