Light aircraft missing in the outback of S.A.
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Light aircraft missing in the outback of S.A.
Light aircraft with two people on board missing in outback South Australia, was expected to land at Marree - 9news.com.au
I was listening to Melbourne Centre getting one of the big jets to try to contact this aircraft on several different frequencies just before midnight last night. Hope it ends well. I know the aircraft type & rego, but not going to post it here.
DF.
I was listening to Melbourne Centre getting one of the big jets to try to contact this aircraft on several different frequencies just before midnight last night. Hope it ends well. I know the aircraft type & rego, but not going to post it here.
DF.
News are reporting the aircraft type as an Ultalight Tecnam Eaglet.
Thread Starter
News are reporting the aircraft type as an Ultalight Tecnam Eaglet.
DF.
Thread Starter
I'm wondering if they decided to push on to William Creek - wouldn't be the first time that has happened. Have been trying to ring the pub & Trev but no-one's answering.
DF.
DF.
Thread Starter
Maybe Trev is not answering the phone because he is out refuelling planes and choppers for the search, or he and his crew are out looking also?
DF.
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Just got onto the pub at willy creek & aircraft isn't there. Wrightsair planes are out helping in the search.
I am going to swing by the Leigh Creek airport shortly just to check & see if it's there.
DF.
I am going to swing by the Leigh Creek airport shortly just to check & see if it's there.
DF.
ABC news reports that both POB have been found safe and well.
I do wonder why a PLB was not activated. Activation would have resulted in an almost-immediate and more focussed (and therefore less expensive and more effective) search effort.
If the PIC was not carrying a registered 406 MHz GPS PLB, or was carrying one but did not know how to switch it on, or decided that it was not appropriate to switch it on, I do question the PIC's judgment. However, those "if's" are mere speculation and I do not have all the facts.
I do wonder why a PLB was not activated. Activation would have resulted in an almost-immediate and more focussed (and therefore less expensive and more effective) search effort.
If the PIC was not carrying a registered 406 MHz GPS PLB, or was carrying one but did not know how to switch it on, or decided that it was not appropriate to switch it on, I do question the PIC's judgment. However, those "if's" are mere speculation and I do not have all the facts.
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If the aircraft was not carrying an ELT or PLB then the pilot will be in contravention of the CAO 95.55 exemption.
3.2 Except in the case of a flight that is to take place wholly within a radius of 50 miles from its departure point, a 2-place aeroplane to which this Order applies may be flown only if it carries:
(a) an approved ELT, or an approved portable ELT, as defined in regulation 252A of CAR 1988; or
(b) a personal locator beacon that has been approved by CASA for use with such an aeroplane.
Note Regulation 252A of CAR 1988 does not apply to single-seat aircraft (see subregulation 252A (7) of CAR 198
That can open a whole new can of worms.
Kaz
3.2 Except in the case of a flight that is to take place wholly within a radius of 50 miles from its departure point, a 2-place aeroplane to which this Order applies may be flown only if it carries:
(a) an approved ELT, or an approved portable ELT, as defined in regulation 252A of CAR 1988; or
(b) a personal locator beacon that has been approved by CASA for use with such an aeroplane.
Note Regulation 252A of CAR 1988 does not apply to single-seat aircraft (see subregulation 252A (7) of CAR 198
That can open a whole new can of worms.
Kaz
From ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-0...e-safe/7071298
Does mention an ELT
Regards R W
A passenger rescued from a light plane which crash landed near Lake Eyre in the remote South Australian outback says he feels lucky to be safe and well.
Ben Francis and pilot Darryl Koch were returning from a scenic flight over the lake when engine failure forced the sudden landing.
Mr Francis said there was no time to make a decision and they needed to ditch the plane.
Not knowing whether anyone knew we were out there was probably our biggest concern.
Ben Francis
"All it was, was getting the plane on the ground in a safe formation and to his credit, Darryl did that," he said.
"That was the biggest thing I think, the fact that we were both not injured and yeah, able-bodied."
Mr Francis said it was a slightly bumpy landing but they were both safe.
"[It was] just on a stony rise ... it was a little bit soft after the recent rains up here so it pulled up pretty quick," he said.
"We jumped out because we thought we might have had a fire and thankfully we didn't.
"Then after that we went through the process of getting the ELT [emergency locator transmitter] to work, so they could find our location and went about making ourselves comfortable basically for the night ahead."
Plane wreckage near Marree
PHOTO: Mr Francis said the pair had a bumpy landing. (ABC News)
The duo spent the night sleeping on their plane seats, in between scanning channel frequencies.
"Not knowing whether anyone knew we were out there was probably our biggest concern and also thinking about our loved ones back home," Mr Francis said.
"Obviously there were going to know that we were out there somewhere and yeah, that was our main concerns.
Lake Eyre rescue, police and publican
PHOTO: Marree's only police officer Tom Christley and Rebecca Turner from the Marree Hotel both helped with the search. (ABC News: Tom Fedorowytsch)
"All night it was quite warm so we didn't have any exposure dramas or anything."
As dawn broke Mr Francis said they heard some aircraft activity in the area and knew a search was underway.
"We just kept scanning the channels for local frequency, every now and then we'd just switch it on and make a call," he said.
The pair set fire to a tyre and the smoke was spotted by local tourism pilot Trevor Wright, who made radio contact with the helicopter that picked the men up.
"Darryl was actually walking back from going to get some water ... so he was happy to hear the news when he got back too," Mr Francis said.
He said given the circumstances, they were lucky to be uninjured and safe.
"[There was] relief that we're all safe and well and our families all know that we're well," he said.
Emergency highlights need for better mobile coverage
Tourists have been flocking to Lake Eyre to see the usually dry salt pan filling with water.
Mr Wright said the emergency highlighted the need for better mobile coverage in outback areas, and wants government to help with improvements.
Lake Eyre filling with water January 2, 2016
PHOTO: Downpours in South Australia's outback in recent days have led to Lake Eyre filling. Photo taken January 2, 2016. (Supplied: Trevor Wright)
"We've had four search and rescues in four weeks. Two of them were [for people from] overseas, two were Australian. The longest one went for 30 hours," he said.
"Had we had mobile phone coverage or towers with data, the chances are with the communications, we would have picked up a lot of them quicker and made the exposure to risk a lot less."
But Mr Wright praised the efforts of the pair, saying they had done everything by the book.
"They did a great job. When you have a catastrophic engine failure at 2,000 feet you don't have a lot of time to think about things," he said.
"They went through their checks, they landed in an area that was safe."
Rebecca Turner from the Marree Hotel said while the region was remote, people would be safe if they came prepared, which the duo had done.
"We always encourage people to travel with lots of water, make sure that they've got appropriate communications, there's lots of different devices you can use to track where you are," she said.
"[We're] always relieved when we know people are safe and well and it's the best outcome for everyone concerned."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-0...e-safe/7071298
Does mention an ELT
Regards R W
A passenger rescued from a light plane which crash landed near Lake Eyre in the remote South Australian outback says he feels lucky to be safe and well.
Ben Francis and pilot Darryl Koch were returning from a scenic flight over the lake when engine failure forced the sudden landing.
Mr Francis said there was no time to make a decision and they needed to ditch the plane.
Not knowing whether anyone knew we were out there was probably our biggest concern.
Ben Francis
"All it was, was getting the plane on the ground in a safe formation and to his credit, Darryl did that," he said.
"That was the biggest thing I think, the fact that we were both not injured and yeah, able-bodied."
Mr Francis said it was a slightly bumpy landing but they were both safe.
"[It was] just on a stony rise ... it was a little bit soft after the recent rains up here so it pulled up pretty quick," he said.
"We jumped out because we thought we might have had a fire and thankfully we didn't.
"Then after that we went through the process of getting the ELT [emergency locator transmitter] to work, so they could find our location and went about making ourselves comfortable basically for the night ahead."
Plane wreckage near Marree
PHOTO: Mr Francis said the pair had a bumpy landing. (ABC News)
The duo spent the night sleeping on their plane seats, in between scanning channel frequencies.
"Not knowing whether anyone knew we were out there was probably our biggest concern and also thinking about our loved ones back home," Mr Francis said.
"Obviously there were going to know that we were out there somewhere and yeah, that was our main concerns.
Lake Eyre rescue, police and publican
PHOTO: Marree's only police officer Tom Christley and Rebecca Turner from the Marree Hotel both helped with the search. (ABC News: Tom Fedorowytsch)
"All night it was quite warm so we didn't have any exposure dramas or anything."
As dawn broke Mr Francis said they heard some aircraft activity in the area and knew a search was underway.
"We just kept scanning the channels for local frequency, every now and then we'd just switch it on and make a call," he said.
The pair set fire to a tyre and the smoke was spotted by local tourism pilot Trevor Wright, who made radio contact with the helicopter that picked the men up.
"Darryl was actually walking back from going to get some water ... so he was happy to hear the news when he got back too," Mr Francis said.
He said given the circumstances, they were lucky to be uninjured and safe.
"[There was] relief that we're all safe and well and our families all know that we're well," he said.
Emergency highlights need for better mobile coverage
Tourists have been flocking to Lake Eyre to see the usually dry salt pan filling with water.
Mr Wright said the emergency highlighted the need for better mobile coverage in outback areas, and wants government to help with improvements.
Lake Eyre filling with water January 2, 2016
PHOTO: Downpours in South Australia's outback in recent days have led to Lake Eyre filling. Photo taken January 2, 2016. (Supplied: Trevor Wright)
"We've had four search and rescues in four weeks. Two of them were [for people from] overseas, two were Australian. The longest one went for 30 hours," he said.
"Had we had mobile phone coverage or towers with data, the chances are with the communications, we would have picked up a lot of them quicker and made the exposure to risk a lot less."
But Mr Wright praised the efforts of the pair, saying they had done everything by the book.
"They did a great job. When you have a catastrophic engine failure at 2,000 feet you don't have a lot of time to think about things," he said.
"They went through their checks, they landed in an area that was safe."
Rebecca Turner from the Marree Hotel said while the region was remote, people would be safe if they came prepared, which the duo had done.
"We always encourage people to travel with lots of water, make sure that they've got appropriate communications, there's lots of different devices you can use to track where you are," she said.
"[We're] always relieved when we know people are safe and well and it's the best outcome for everyone concerned."
If an ELT or PLB was activated, it didn't work well (if at all). Even an old 121.5 model would have been heard by aircraft in the general vicinity, if it had been working properly.
I will be very interested to find out the make/model/age/means of fitment/carriage of the beacon to which the story refers.
I will be very interested to find out the make/model/age/means of fitment/carriage of the beacon to which the story refers.
Thread Starter
"Had we had mobile phone coverage or towers with data, the chances are with the communications, we would have picked up a lot of them quicker and made the exposure to risk a lot less."
DF.