Chopper reported missing, NSW

[AnotherFSO]

The ABC is reporting a search is underway for a missing helicopter and pilot.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-...-nsw/103029672

[MagnumPI]

Wonder if it was this helicopter - timing lines up with the article: https://www.flightradar24.com/KFT/32956030

[MagnumPI]

The article reports that some debris (unconfirmed if from accident aircraft?) was found by a fisherman, and that the search didn't start until 10pm - so 12 hours later! Doesn't sound good...

Given that it seems they were tracking the Williamtown coastal northbound VFR route, surely a controller would have had them under surveillance?

[le Pingouin]

Initiating SAR action on an unknown VFR conducting unknown activities dropping off radar without any other information available? They'd be initiated potentially 100s of times per day across Australia.

[MagnumPI]

Thanks le Ping, wasn't throwing shade, was just curious - I have no idea how it works as a controller.

Does it make a difference if, for instance, you had requested clearance from Williamtown Clearance Delivery and were reporting to them all the way to Anna Bay? Wouldn't it have looked odd to the controller that you disappear off surveillance over water shortly thereafter?

[Squawk7700]

This sounds like history repeating itself.

[le Pingouin]

Probably not unless there is some other information indicating a crash. Transponders fail or get inadvertently switched off, aircraft fly in and out of radar coverage, suffer electrical issues, etc far more often than they crash. I'm not familiar with Willimatown but would flight following be an option if an aircraft is wanting a SAR service?

[Squawk7700]

Originally Posted by MagnumPI

Wonder if it was this helicopter - timing lines up with the article: https://www.flightradar24.com/KFT/32956030

Interesting, some of that flight was at 200ft. Take that with a grain of salt though at it will no doubt be based on 1013.

Very close to where the Huey went in at Anna Bay in 2019, but in the dark.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

Initiating SAR action on an unknown VFR conducting unknown activities dropping off radar

But Dick said we'd all be safe if........

[belly tank]

Originally Posted by Squawk7700

Interesting, some of that flight was at 200ft. Take that with a grain of salt though at it will no doubt be based on 1013.

Very close to where the Huey went in at Anna Bay in 2019, but in the dark.

The WX was awful here yesterday, cloud around 3-400' up the coast and a stiff southerly at 30kts. Also the pilot had a dog on board the aircraft.

Search has resulted in debris found so far washed up on shore.

[Squawk7700]

Assuming it was the flight listed above, in the final stages it has climbed 200ft in 20 seconds and dropped 23 knots. This is like the Cirrus at Gundaroo all over again :-(

[Lead Balloon]

By my maths, 200' climb in 20 seconds = 600 fpm climb. Doesn't strike me as a World Record.

Reduction in GS of 23 knots in 20 seconds by a helicopter? Won't be causing any gasps in any action movie.

Still, FCST and reported WDSPRED SHTTY doesn't augur well.

[Dick Smith]

Traffic. Yes I was chairman of CAA when mandatory 30 minute full position reporting for VFR was removed

Saved the industry over a billion since then.

It will be interesting to see if a return to full position reporting could have prevented this fatality. If so it will be a first in 30 years.

[Squawk7700]

Originally Posted by Lead Balloon

Reduction in GS of 23 knots in 20 seconds by a helicopter? Won't be causing any gasps in any action movie.

Except that moments later it presumably fell from the sky very quickly.


As a wise pilot said to me tonight, the forecast was for VFR into IMC.

[Capt Fathom]

Maybe not so wise…. perhaps VMC into IMC.

[Squawk7700]

Originally Posted by Capt Fathom

Maybe not so wise…. perhaps VMC into IMC.

It's a play on words, but I get your point.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

full position reporting

That wasn't what I was referring to.

Besides which, it was only mandatory for VFR in some circumstances, and this wasn't one of them anyway

[Eurofox2133]

Dick, the decision to remove Full SAR position reporting nearly cost me my life after a serious crash in an unpopulated area during a flight on SARTIME. Had it not been for some fortuitous intervention by an observer I would have bled to death before the SARTIME expired.

So despite the savings, from a personal perspective I cannot thank you for removing the option of FULL SAR.

[Dick Smith]

What then are you referring to with your statement. . " but Dick said we will all be safe -if"

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

That a controller had them under surveillance ie using radar coverage to low level. As Le Ping said, as if ATC have nothing else to do but watch unknown returns wander around and disappear and reappear all day.