MAS didn't subscribe to ACARS reports via SATCOM on this plane (expense reasons). But FE_Hoppy indicated in an earlier post disabling ACARS comms was about 5 keypresses on the MFD though (MODE>COMM something something)

An ACARS contract can be set up so that a Waypoint Change triggers an ACARS event report.

Any one know if an SH-60 was embarked with HMAS Success?

Infrequentflier 511
Do you mean Lidar? Green laser Lidar can penetrate up to 70 metres or so depending on the properties of the water (and atmosphere) so yes it can be used to detect objects under the surface. My understanding is that a swathe is recorded which is dependent on height of the aircraft above the sea. There will be an optimum height for maximum penetration but clearly the lower you fly the narrower the swathe. Its an angular thing.
Another complication is that other sensors on the aircraft will benefit from height eg if you are looking for a large object then you might want to fly higher and this would conflict with a deep penetrating Lidar survey.
They will also be using other sensors such as radar and various types of photography.

Now BOEING should know better than that. Incidents and accidents in aviation do NEVER happen because of one cause. And it is gobbeldygook anyway, there are plenty of possibilities with a catastrophic event that can take the transponder out. And taking the transponder off-line can be the reaction of another catastrophic event.

If those conversations with Boeing effectively happened the only advise I can give their General Counsel is to hire the lawfirms already.

Who did Boeing send there to make such unqualified remarks? An accountant? A lawver? A salesman?

INCREDIBLE!!! No wonder the aircraft has not been found yet. aif even the 'experts' can't give you any reasonable answers...

Source of map showing earlier "pings"
 

http://s3.postimg.org/r4tzkukeb/MH370_Ping_Map.jpg

Are we still doing this? Just to be clear, the original source of this infographic was Reuters Asia Financial Graphics team. Their version did not show information about earlier handshake signals. The “ping” arcs were added by an Australian designer and are simply (quote) “rough reverse extrapolation of NTSB tracks based on constant speed and track assumptions”. As has been previously noted here, the nature of these additions is clearly indicated on the graphic.

Hunter58

...uhm, but we don't know what Boeing knows, nor why they would have said what they said

The real problem is, the don't know, the just ASSUME because it would have to cross some radar coverage. And as long you don't KNOW you better look at both places.

There are still too many loose ends and obviously too many people involved who do not have the necessary knowledge to advise the right decision. See the alleged Boeing replies regarding the transponders.

Neogen said,

are probably dying to see what all equipment India is hiding on them.

There have been a few reports indicating they were kind of dying to get on the other side of the Peninsula, period, for a while. They were eventually invited over to the other side to help search when Malaysia finally gave up on the public (not private) 'it didn't turn around' stance, and now they are refining the area they specifically want to look at? Hummm... they could always just tell India to specifically look wherever if they had an idea - it is not like they physically have to do it themselves

Remember, there is a reason nearly everyone in the area distrusts China.

Takes a bit more than loss of C Vhf on the 777 that I fly. 777 has satcom. Not going to go into details of how to do it here; suffice to say that one has to Know a bit about the 777 to fully disable the ADS/ACARS system

The "source" of this is 2nd hand information from a known liar. I would not take anything Saxby Chambliss says an accurate reflection on facts without independent verification. A more histrionic dissimulator is hard to find this side of Caracas.

I also agree with you that it's an excuse for China to do some spying - my first instant instinct was the camel's nose was trying to poke under the tent...

Excellent interview by Fox`s Megan Kelly with Inmarsat ceo Chris Mclaughlin. He explained in layman`s terms exactly why the hourly ping was identified as that particular aircraft and the Inmarsat equipment responsible for the signal His measured answers to other leading questions were an example to all.

Oldpilot55

Essentially, yes, LADS is a variation on LiDAR. The Australian Hydrographic Service made extensive use of it to update coastal charts. I think they used a Dash-8, which wouldn't be much use here, plus I wouldn't want to be betting the success of the mission on technology that isn't proven for the task, but it's food for thought.

A couple of (well probably 10-20 by now) pages back in this thread there was a post claiming some high ranking US Military official was 100% certain Pakistan was behind this and that within 24-48 hours it would become public.

72 hours on and I think we can safely file that 'concrete information' in the rubbish pile of conjecture that surrounds this flight. Hopefully he will be demoted and kept out of any meetings discussing the next war to embark upon.

I agree with calls to refrain from casting the pilot as a villain. For all we know as a fact he might be the hero who has sacrificed his own life to put the aircraft on this heading and thwarted the hijackers original plan.

How long is it before there will be some confirmation of what the debris is that has been spotted floating in the Ocean some way off Australia?

Now I'm puzzled, why are ELTs activated on contact with water then? Given 71% of the earth's surface is water there's a good chance you need ELTs to transmit from or through water isn't there? And these 406MHz ones are the latest type?

[ EDIT - I now understand that it's the CVR/FDR that are fitted with an underwater locator beacon not the ELT, apologies ]

... because they should float?
C'mon... let's just sit back & listen to the experts in their fields & not keep posting repetitive questions & nonsense noise here.

Go up a gear everyone & don't post unless it's a serious contribution or a question of some thought, understanding and erudition.

They are not.

They are activated by a g-switch which is one of the reasons why they are so unreliable.

Yep the ELT g-swithc activates on an acceleration of 3.5 ft/s, and they have a battery life of only 30 days upon activation.

SLFJB

I would assume there would be a three crew compliment on such a flight.

Don't forget northern arc
 

Until definite wreckage is found the northern arc is just as valid as the southern. Surely the southern route would offer no 'benefits' for hijackers.

Is this data saved at all ?

Reviewing it may reveal something?

That's of course if there were any Naval ships in the area at all.

I know that ocean going EPIRB's are available that activate on contact with water. Surely that could be built in to Aircraft models.