Promani
Can someone tell me why AF447 did not give estimates at Tasil?
They provided estimates for SALPU and ORARO at INTOL. Following a SECAL check, they appear to have switched to secal watch immediately. ATLANTICO called them 3 times for the TASIL estimate, but for some unknown reason failed to SELCAL them.
I remember observing HF protocol of others using that airway shortly after the event, and found most flights only gave an estimate for TASIL when passing INTOL. On occasion ATLANTICO asked for SALPU or ORARO, but probably due to expected crossing traffic.
Do we know who was communicating with ATC?
Not 100% sure, but I believe that the Captain's voice was identified doing comms at INTOL. This may indicate that the 2/O was in the RH seat, and had produced the estimates.They filed for FL370, but didn't request higher.
Were they on flight path at ORARO as it looks like they were beginning to go west and were already behind schedule as they had not reached ORARO at 0200, so maybe they were no longer M0.82?
Tracking data indicates they passed overhead ORARO at 02:03:50 and were maintaining M0.82. Exactly when the deviation left of track occurred is not known. My supposition is that it was a result of an upset.
I am sure I read somewhere that AF447 tried to contact DAKAR without success, but the BEA report states that there was no radio contact made between AF447 and DAKAR.
DAKAR OCEANIC recorded a "failed log-in" on ADS-C at 0201z. The failure was due to DAKAR not receiving a flight plan, and the system was programed not to accept non validated flights.
Pollution spot, just some passing ship dumping. No one will own up to doing that.
Kerosene disperses and evaporates fairly quickly, but with the quantities involved it could have persisted for 48 hours or more. Heavier marine diesel and bunker fuels hang around for a lot longer, and the radar image didn't represent the typical signature made by either gland leakage or deliberate overboard discharge from a ship.
mm43