Aquadalte,
At 1 h 31 min 44 s, the RECIFE controller gave it [AF447] the ATLANTICO HF frequencies: 6649 or 5565 kHz, then 6535 kHz after the TASIL point. The crew read back the three frequencies. Note: TASIL is on the boundary between the ATLANTICO and DAKAR Oceanic FIRs.
At 1 h 33 min 25 s, the crew contacted the ATLANTICO controller on the 6649 kHz frequency.
At 1 35 min 15 s, they informed the controller that they had passed the INTOL point at 1 h 33, at FL350. They announced the following estimates: SALPU at 1 h 48 then ORARO at 2. They also transmitted their SELCAL code: CPHQ.
At 1 h 35 min 26 s, the ATLANTICO controller coordinated flight AF447 with the DAKAR controller. At 1 35 min 32 s, the ATLANTICO controller transmitted the following items to the DAKAR controller: TASIL estimated at 2 h 20, FL350, Mach 0.82.
At 1 h 35 min 38 s, the ATLANTICO controller sent a SELCAL call.
At 1 h 35 min 43 s, the crew thanked the controller.
At 1 h 35 min 46 s, the controller asked them to maintain an altitude of FL350 and to give a TASIL estimate.
Between 1 h 35 min 53 s and 1 h 36 min 14 s, the ATLANTICO controller asked the crew three times for their estimated time passing the TASIL point. The crew did not answer.
[There was no further contact with the crew.]
The recent BEA note indicates that the PF briefed the PNF who had arrived at the cockpit that at some time before 1 h 59 min 32 s that logon with DAKAR had failed. (At least 21 minutes before estimated changeover from ATLANTICO to OCEANIC DAKAR which was at 2 h 20 at the TASIL waypoint.) LH507 (believed to be the flight with AMDAR) monitored 121.5 the entire flight and never heard any communication from AF447.
The PF also briefed the PNF at 2 h 00 that the ‘little bit of turbulence’ just experienced would be similar to what would be experienced ahead.
Tim Vasquez concludes, “Based on the soundings above, my conclusion is that the maximum cumulonimbus tops were 56,000 ft with an equilibrium level of 47,000 ft, representing the tops of most parts of the MCS except near the edges.”
So CVR transcripts of any conversation on what they were seeing on their radar displays will be interesting.
I'll leave it to others to comment on jumping ahead on a frequency change 21+ minutes before one arrives at the boundaries of the FIR.