p51guy
Anybody know how the search is going? Are any of our advanced submarines searching the area?
Scattered through this thread there is information on what is happening with the Phase 3 search. The vessels "Seabed Worker" and "Anne Candies" are due to leave Recife and Porto do Suape respectively in a few days to begin a grid search of a 887NM^2 (3046km^2) area to the NW of the Last Known Position. An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AOV) equipped with Side Scan Sonar and capable of operating to a depth of 6,000m is being used. A Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) will be used for in depth examination of any likely targets found. The BEA has indicated that they expect to find the wreckage in a depth less than 4,000m.
The pressure at 4,000m is 397.815 Atmospheres (5846.27 psi).
The French Nuclear Attack Submarine "L'Emeraude" was used in the Phase 1 search in an attempt to locate the ULB pinger - without success. Its safe operating depth will have been much less than the depths to be currently surveyed, and no similar type of military sub has capabilities that are required for this search.
mm43