AF 447 Search to resume

[Hyperveloce]

HN39, waiting the FCOM value of V-alpha-max, Vs1G~M 0.56 (at FL350, with 0° roll, M~205t and clean config) and as a rule of thumb, Vstall~0.93 Vs1G~M 0.52. But you are interested by the value of Vstall at sea level ? (secondary stall/overcorrection at low altitude in the absence of alpha prot ?).
Back to the search area,
-the initial visual searches (SaturnV reminder): if no debris or body was found during the 5 days after the accident, it is probable that the search means were not deployed on the right spot: if most of the initial searches were dedicated to the south and the east of the LKP without any results, it suggests that the debris/bodies were initially located to the north or west of the LKP, away from the AF 447 expected route.
From the debris/bodies time distribution and back drifting analysis: there are two groups of results, one from the Meteo France (Mercator model) which suggests that the debris/bodies were drifting with the north equatorial currents (oriented to the NE at 2° north and to the NW at 4° north) and a group of results from the US Navy, the USCG and the Brazilian Navy (using the same NCOM currents model) suggesting that the debris were initially under the influence of the north equatorial counter currents or combined influences of the two currents (north at 3°N, rotating to the NE at 4°N). The latest recovered debris drift clearly showed a NW rotation of the currents, consistent with north equatorial currents: it would suggest a back drifted estimate closer to the Meteo France or MM43 estimates, largely (between 25NM and 40 NM) to the west of the LKP (see the MM43 analysis from NOAA/OSCAR current maps).
-the one month pinger searches: suggest that the underwater beacon locators (assuming at least one of the UBL was still functionning) are not to be found to the north of LKP (explored using TPL with a good confidence level). But the French Navy helped by Thales (pingers waveform detection) suggests that the UBL could be located in the south-west area of the 40 NM radius circle, little bit (10-20 NM) south of MF/MM43 estimates.
-from the areas already searched using the sidescan sonars during the phase 3 without success (mainly NW of the LKP) and the above considerations, the W-SW areas of the 40 NM radius circle seems by far the best candidate now for further searches and I really hope that a new search phase will be funded for this SW area.
Jeff