MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[Major]

The Malacca Strait is one of the busiest waterways in the World. Anyone who has been on a cruise through the Strait can attest to the continuous volume of shipping in both directions. Surely some lookout would have seen something

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This has been posted in multiple places elsewhere on the Internet, purportedly from a friend of the would-be Iranian migrants:

If this is them, it's not hard at all to believe that they could pass as Europeans. Particularly in Asia.

Not only that, but it hammers home the sheer tragedy of young wasted life an incident like this perpetrates.

 

[Bindibuys]

So, out of all of this, what do you see as the changes that will occur to everyday flying? Tighter Passport control? more sophisticated tracking/beacons?

 

[scaredeycat]

The bottom halves of the photos look the same because the first photo has been through the scanner with the second photo underneath it but only partially obscured. They are 2 separate photographs. I don't think this is an attempt to mislead, it's just sloppy scanning (as suggested above).

Wrt to the transponders being switched off - are they always switched on by default? I've often tracked flights of family members on flight radar both in Australia and overseas and been puzzled as to how aircraft that I know are definitely in the air just disappear for long periods, or don't appear at all (in areas where other aircraft are visible - not black spots).

 

[markis10]

Wrt to the transponders being switched off - are they always switched on by default? I've often tracked flights of family members on flight radar both in Australia and overseas and been puzzled as to how aircraft that I know are definitely in the air just disappear for long periods, or don't appear at all (in areas where other aircraft are visible - not black spots).

FlightRadar24 doesnt use Transponders or SSR, it uses ADSB which is essentially a UHF broadcast from the aircraft to anyone in range, when they drop off coverage it just means in most cases there is no one in range of the ADSB signal.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I really wish they'd get to the bottom of this. I'm a little reluctant (unfounded mind you) to jump on board a 777 later this month until we know what happened, as if it's a type defect I don't want to take the risk.

Irrational I know, but something about this incident doesn't sit well with me.

Macabre as it sounds, I hope it was anything other than a failure with the type. I'll bet the many 777 airline customers are hoping the same.

I was looking forward to CX F on CDG-HKG however... I guess it's a 777-300ER rather than a 777-200ER but I'm sure they have many many similarities.

 

[markis10]

I really wish they'd get to the bottom of this. I'm a little reluctant (unfounded mind you) to jump on board a 777 later this month until we know what happened, as if it's a type defect I don't want to take the risk.

Irrational I know, but something about this incident doesn't sit well with me.

Macabre as it sounds, I hope it was anything other than a failure with the type. I'll bet the many 777 airline customers are hoping the same.

I was looking forward to CX F on CDG-HKG however... I guess it's a 777-300ER rather than a 777-200ER but I'm sure they have many many similarities.

Given there are over 1000 flying and we have yet to have one confirmed fatality owing to aircraft design issues, your thoughts are very irrational.

 

[prozac]

I really wish they'd get to the bottom of this. I'm a little reluctant (unfounded mind you) to jump on board a 777 later this month until we know what happened, as if it's a type defect I don't want to take the risk.

Irrational I know, but something about this incident doesn't sit well with me.

Macabre as it sounds, I hope it was anything other than a failure with the type. I'll bet the many 777 airline customers are hoping the same.

I was looking forward to CX F on CDG-HKG however... I guess it's a 777-300ER rather than a 777-200ER but I'm sure they have many many similarities.

The only thing that will make me think twice about flying an MH 777 is the angle flat seats.

There are a lot of operators using the B777 - I think MH has 20 - and it clocks many hrs daily without incident.

 

[DaveB]

Have to keep reminding of the terrible human tragedy over which the subsequent bureaucratic fog has enveloped the case and search for answers.
Some faith is restored that they have been able to identify the two false passport holders even before they have worked out which hemisphere the plane ended up in.
Nothing has come out thus far that would lead me to question the plane.

 

[greenfish]

FlightRadar24 doesnt use Transponders or SSR, it uses ADSB which is essentially a UHF broadcast from the aircraft to anyone in range, when they drop off coverage it just means in most cases there is no one in range of the ADSB signal.

Being pedantic, it's a UHF broadcast (1090 MHz).

 

[harvyk]

Wrt to the transponders being switched off - are they always switched on by default? I've often tracked flights of family members on flight radar both in Australia and overseas and been puzzled as to how aircraft that I know are definitely in the air just disappear for long periods, or don't appear at all (in areas where other aircraft are visible - not black spots).

Whilst this is of course more an Ask the Pilot type question, transponders can be turned off, but yes they are switched on whilst on the ground and are left on for the entire flight, since they also double as collision avoidance...

 

[markis10]

Whilst this is of course more an Ask the Pilot type question, transponders can be turned off, but yes they are switched on whilst on the ground and are left on for the entire flight, since they also double as collision avoidance...

And not all aircraft have them fitted, including various aircraft flying for airlines in Australia.

 

[scaredeycat]

It's usually been QF or J* 737s or A320s that I've had trouble tracking, often just disappearing mysteriously over Tasmania even when other aircraft are visible. Can be a little disconcerting. I've also noticed that flight tracker sometimes labels aircraft and destinations incorrectly. (Sorry if this has strayed off topic - although maybe off course isn't inappropriate).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Given there are over 1000 flying and we have yet to have one confirmed fatality owing to aircraft design issues, your thoughts are very irrational.

exactly this.

i am far more concerned about airlines (including major European and Australian airlines) that have either questionable or untested practices and procedures in place that can affect the safety of passengers.

 

[Warks]

Anyone heard of this system?
https://medium.com/evidence-base/47c7e89600ba

I assume the reasoning for its lack of use is what is says in the article. It's only after an event like this that pressure will be brought to bear to install systems like this.

What of the data transmitted by AF447 which alerted authorities something was wrong? How was that transmitted?

 

[markis10]

Anyone heard of this system?
https://medium.com/evidence-base/47c7e89600ba

I assume the reasoning for its lack of use is what is says in the article. It's only after an event like this that pressure will be brought to bear to install systems like this.

What of the data transmitted by AF447 which alerted authorities something was wrong? How was that transmitted?

AF447 had full ACARS capability, the airlines paid for it, in this case MH have not paid for that capability, bit like different internet plans.

 

[harvyk]

And not all aircraft have them fitted, including various aircraft flying for airlines in Australia.

True, but AFAIK (and correct me if I'm wrong) but those without are limited to visual flying only. In the context of a 777 they would have them fitted as standard, and they would operate it throughout the entire flight.

 

[Warks]

Thanks, that makes sense.

I'm spending too much time on this site, news sites and the #MH370 Twitter feed. Must get on with life.


But is this for real? It's just so hard to believe. Although no harder than a lot of the stuff I've read.

 

[markis10]

True, but AFAIK (and correct me if I'm wrong) but those without are limited to visual flying only. In the context of a 777 they would have them fitted as standard, and they would operate it throughout the entire flight.

Its mandatory for ops above FL290 at present.

 

[Robbi]

Anyone heard of this system?
https://medium.com/evidence-base/47c7e89600ba

I assume the reasoning for its lack of use is what is says in the article. It's only after an event like this that pressure will be brought to bear to install systems like this.

What of the data transmitted by AF447 which alerted authorities something was wrong? How was that transmitted?

In this day and age ACARS, or similar, should be mandatory; black boxes are excellent but their time is probably over as a primary data source due to technology improvements and recovery issues.

ACARS, or alternative, as well as continuous GPS logging should be mandatory and hardwired.