Malaysian Airlines MH370 contact lost
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 2
From: Australia
Hogged--- I've been flying in and around VVTS airspace for 25 years now and can honestly say the number of times I had trouble getting through would be able to be counted on one hand.
In the last 5 years I've connected to CPDLC on every flight ok and spoken to VVTS CTL without problem day or night.
I don't know what you are on about?
Now of you'd like to talk about Yangon......there IS a problem there..
In the last 5 years I've connected to CPDLC on every flight ok and spoken to VVTS CTL without problem day or night.
I don't know what you are on about?
Now of you'd like to talk about Yangon......there IS a problem there..
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 665
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I haven't trolled through all the other posts, so apologies if this point has been covered before.
Having flown that route many times myself, (and in a 777, not that that has anything to do with it), I'd be very surprised to find there were not quite a large number of eye (or at least ear) witnesses to the aircraft hitting the sea. The number of fishing boats in those waters beggars belief. Overflying that area at night, there are so many fishing boats, each with a light, you could be forgiven for thinking you were overflying a huge city.
If I'm correct, it will probably be a day or two before any such eye/ear witnesses return to port.
Having flown that route many times myself, (and in a 777, not that that has anything to do with it), I'd be very surprised to find there were not quite a large number of eye (or at least ear) witnesses to the aircraft hitting the sea. The number of fishing boats in those waters beggars belief. Overflying that area at night, there are so many fishing boats, each with a light, you could be forgiven for thinking you were overflying a huge city.
If I'm correct, it will probably be a day or two before any such eye/ear witnesses return to port.
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 200
Likes: 3
From: Flyin' low and feeling mean
Nitpicked, last week no CPDLC, and couldn't talk to them on 133.05. They couldn't hear us, though we could spottily hear them. Not the only flight having the problem that night. Week before again no CPDLC, though the radios were fine. I find that during the last year there are nights when there are radio problems, all I am saying.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: ...
This is the ADSB information from FlightRadar24
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By2...it?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By2...it?usp=sharing
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 1
From: ɐıןɐɹʇsn∀
Nitpicked, last week no CPDLC, and couldn't talk to them on 133.05. They couldn't hear us, though we could spottily hear them. Not the only flight having the problem that night. Week before again no CPDLC, though the radios were fine. I find that during the last year there are nights when there are radio problems, all I am saying.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: SE Asia
news conference:
the search is concentrating on the last area of radar contact, over the sea,at 1.30 am, 120 nm east of kota bharu(malaysia).that area would be south/west of vietnam.in the gulf of thailand.
the search is concentrating on the last area of radar contact, over the sea,at 1.30 am, 120 nm east of kota bharu(malaysia).that area would be south/west of vietnam.in the gulf of thailand.
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: downunder
Nitpicker330, so more than likely a little fuel left in the centre, hence could have the correct air/fuel mixture, SOP at my work is to remove all fuel from the centre and some of the aircraft I work on now employ nitrogen generation systems.
Anyhow just speculations
Anyhow just speculations
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 819
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From: glendale
krispy kreme. regarding fuel tank. while Idon't fly the 777, I do recall that the TWA explosion was around 13,000' and the ullage was a factor due to temps, being at35000 it would be nice and cool.
HOWEVER any explosion could damage the cable between the cockpit and the transmitter and or antenna. Thus any attempt at communication might not work.
for those mentioning fuel exhaustion or starvation, it should be noted at 777 at FL350 should easily be able to glide in excess of 100 miles (zero wind).
On tV someone reminded me of the BAE146 operated by the then PSA in which an angry employee got aboard with a gun and shot the pilots and the plane crashed into the ground in california sort of near paso robles. no radio call there.
HOWEVER any explosion could damage the cable between the cockpit and the transmitter and or antenna. Thus any attempt at communication might not work.
for those mentioning fuel exhaustion or starvation, it should be noted at 777 at FL350 should easily be able to glide in excess of 100 miles (zero wind).
On tV someone reminded me of the BAE146 operated by the then PSA in which an angry employee got aboard with a gun and shot the pilots and the plane crashed into the ground in california sort of near paso robles. no radio call there.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,103
Likes: 5
From: Chabanais, France
Even if ATC had not picked up an emergency call there are enough North and South bound aircraft as well as West bound aircraft at that time of night and surely one of these would have picked up the call. Do MAS allow bulk carriage of Lithium batteries on their a/c?
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Australia
#PrayForMH370: Relatives told to come to KLIA with valid passports
UPDATE [3:03pm]: At KLIA, the brother of a passenger says relatives are being told to bring a valid passport because they need to 'travel to the crash site'. Relatives have to be at KLIA before 6pm with valid passports for MAS to make 'travel arrangements'.
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 148
From: Weltschmerz-By-The-Sea Australia
Lithium batteries: I just bought some very high powered ones. They came interstate by post in a cheap box without any warnings or special handling labels. I suspect that they are in our aeroplanes a lot more than we think.
I imagine a cargo fire would at least give a few minutes of alarm, especially in a modern aircraft with cargo fire detection.
I imagine a cargo fire would at least give a few minutes of alarm, especially in a modern aircraft with cargo fire detection.
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: West of the rockies...
This site (New Straits Times) seems to have the most real-time coverage, nearly minute-by-minute updates:
New Straits Times
Latest:
- Massive search ongoing in the South China Sea
- Contact lost at 2.40 am Malay time, 2 hours into the flight
New Straits Times
Latest:
- Massive search ongoing in the South China Sea
- Contact lost at 2.40 am Malay time, 2 hours into the flight
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 4
From: london
Emergency Locator Transmitter
Hello and at outset , I need to say I am not an aviation professional. I would be grateful, if someone can succinctly explain to those of us non professionals, how the ELT would work, with reference to the B 777.
i.e.
Where is it located?
What triggers it ?
In the case of ocean crash, as the AC or its debris sinks, does the ELT detach and float ? If so, how does it detach ? E.g. is it a solenoid like mechanism etc.
What is the ELT signal ? Is it low frequency or high frequency ?
What position information does it give ? Or is there no position signal, and one needs to use triangulation to find it?
Any other info would be great. Thank you in advance.
i.e.
Where is it located?
What triggers it ?
In the case of ocean crash, as the AC or its debris sinks, does the ELT detach and float ? If so, how does it detach ? E.g. is it a solenoid like mechanism etc.
What is the ELT signal ? Is it low frequency or high frequency ?
What position information does it give ? Or is there no position signal, and one needs to use triangulation to find it?
Any other info would be great. Thank you in advance.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 215
Likes: 8
From: S E Asia
MH370
We entered HCM FIR last night westbound at FL340, passing Moxon (the boundary with WSJC) at about 1720Z, transitted HCM and Phnom Penh and exited, passing overhead PNH at about 1810Z.
We experienced no problem with VHF Comms with HCM Centre, and VVTS CPDLC/ADS also worked fine. We encountered no adverse wx - in fact it was a beautiful clear NE monsoon night, though there was some limited scattered lightning visible way off to the SW.
121.5 was congested, with both HCM Centre and another MH flight trying to contact MH370. HCM Centre were also making repeated attempts to contact the aircraft on the normal Centre frequency.
We experienced no problem with VHF Comms with HCM Centre, and VVTS CPDLC/ADS also worked fine. We encountered no adverse wx - in fact it was a beautiful clear NE monsoon night, though there was some limited scattered lightning visible way off to the SW.
121.5 was congested, with both HCM Centre and another MH flight trying to contact MH370. HCM Centre were also making repeated attempts to contact the aircraft on the normal Centre frequency.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,687
Likes: 2,030
From: Reading, UK
Publicly available radar information shows the plane disappear from radar at 17:19 UTC after departing at 16:43 UTC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar
