I am wondering about one thing in the definion of the search area report:
Balancing this was the consideration that, by the time of the final SATCOM log on message, the autopilot could have been disengaged for approximately 3 minutes and 40 seconds and the aircraft would have been descending during that period
If the AP had been off for that long, how could the satellite system log on? Doesn't it require a directional antenna? Wouldn't a spiral dive already have developed after 3 minutes, making any directional antenna use impossible? Or is the tracking that quick?