INTEL101 - or anyone else who knows the technology -am I correct in thinking that ACARS transmissions via satellite require a directional antenna; and that, for each transmission, the antenna has to aim a signal at the satellite and receive an acknowledgement before it transmits?
If so, could that mean that for most of the four minutes the aeroplane was in something like a normal flightpath - but that it was pitching and rolling from turbulence or the flightcrew's efforts to re-establish control? So that the antenna had to line up on the satellite several times, each time waiting for the acknowledgement and then sending a burst of messages? But then losing contact and having to start over?