US Teen Sailor found by Qantas Airbus A330

[holdenvxman]

Solo sailor Abby Sunderland alive, awaiting rescue by boat | Perth Now

The Qantas airbus sent from Perth early today contacted the 16-year-old Miss Sunderland on board her stricken vessel Wild Eyes around 2pm today.

 

[markis10]

Surprised to see an A330 tasked for the job, would have expected the RCC to grab a P3 which has the range and the capability to do more than just talk to the boat, maybe there were none available, I am sure the searchmaster knows what they are doing but it would not be the first time the wrong aircraft was given the job. At least its had a good outcome.

 

[oz_mark]

Surprised to see an A330 tasked for the job, would have expected the RCC to grab a P3 which has the range and the capability to do more than just talk to the boat, maybe there were none available, I am sure the searchmaster knows what they are doing but it would not be the first time the wrong aircraft was given the job. At least its had a good outcome.

Sometime you just have to use whatever you can get hold of.

 

[yohy?!]

Solo sailor Abby Sunderland alive, awaiting rescue by boat | Perth Now

Members from PPrune theorised that the a330 was chosen over the P3 minimise the time taken to reach the search area.

 

[RescuePilot]

Sometime you just have to use whatever you can get hold of.

Well guys can I say that when I arrive over the top of someone, dropping frogs into an MVA or a medevac that no one gives a toss whether I am in a BK or 412!!! Or for that matter in a single engine bug smasher!!!

Also it would not be the first time that the RCC has tasked the wrong aircraft.... "Yes sir thank you for calling with update and "sorry sir just holding you in reserve as you are a larger aircraft (Oh and you have FLIR and you have Nightsun, and you have trained crew and and"

Well done anyway QF - just little hard to drop a survival raft from either the forward or aft door on the A330

 

[markis10]

Also it would not be the first time that the RCC has tasked the wrong aircraft.... "Yes sir thank you for calling with update and "sorry sir just holding you in reserve as you are a larger aircraft (Oh and you have FLIR and you have Nightsun, and you have trained crew and and"

And your rego is VH-NSP - let me get back to you

 

[RescuePilot]

Close Markis10 Close - but we are Professionals!!!

 

[markis10]

Members from PPrune theorised that the a330 was chosen over the P3 minimise the time taken to reach the search area.

On time at target would not have been more than 4 hours more for a P3 ex Pearce if one was available, maybe 12 hours later worst case out of Edinburgh, on station time would have been 4 hours versus two and a P3 can do a supplies drop as well as communicate with the target.

I have worked in an RCC and appreciated having a P3 available in such situations, the P3 and its crew are one of the most capable assets I have had the pleasure to deal with as far as fixed wing aircraft go and if I ever meet a crew in a bar I will be buying, same goes for any of the rescue rotorheads for that matter, although I have a soft spot for the B412 .

 

[pauly7]

Wow could this be some slightly postive news coverage for Qantas?! I'm sure no news will find some negative angle

 

[samh004]

I’d read a Qantas a/c would be flying over this morning and just assumed they were piggybacking on a scheduled service to South Africa. Good job they’ve found her and good job she’s all right.

 

[mannej]

Is anyone privy to what a/c completed this mission?

 

[markis10]

VH-QPF was the aircraft. Got to wonder why one of the Springboks were not tasked with making contact, they were closer :

http://img10.imageshack.us/f/qfa1350flight11jun2010.jpg/

 

[samh004]

Is anyone privy to what a/c completed this mission?

Took off at 7:54 according to WebTrak, A333, QFA1350. That’s all I can see.

Edit: And I see markis10 beat me to it.

 

[RescuePilot]

On time at target would not have been more than 4 hours more for a P3 ex Pearce if one was available, maybe 12 hours later worst case out of Edinburgh, on station time would have been 4 hours versus two and a P3 can do a supplies drop as well as communicate with the target.

I have worked in an RCC and appreciated having a P3 available in such situations, the P3 and its crew are one of the most capable assets I have had the pleasure to deal with as far as fixed wing aircraft go and if I ever meet a crew in a bar I will be buying, same goes for any of the rescue rotorheads for that matter, although I have a soft spot for the B412 .

Markis10 - agree totally

As per previous qould be interesting to see whether costs came into P3 v A330 for RCC tasking or it came to availability. What are hourly running costs for A330 v P3?

Still think it would be a little difficult to do a drop out of the forward or aft door of the tasked AC!! Markis10 - look for some news re new AC for NSW/QLD rescue helicopters services over next months with Westpac $$$ raising (new 412 would be great!! Please no BK)

 

[markis10]

Markis10 - agree totally

As per previous qould be interesting to see whether costs came into P3 v A330 for RCC tasking or it came to availability. What are hourly running costs for A330 v P3?

Still think it would be a little difficult to do a drop out of the forward or aft door of the tasked AC!! Markis10 - look for some news re new AC for NSW/QLD rescue helicopters services over next months with Westpac $$$ raising (new 412 would be great!! Please no BK)

Always good to money invested in rescue assets, its money well spent!

In the meantime it looks like AMSA has managed to find two P3's on a Saturday!

Defence jets join Abby Sunderland's rescue | News.com.au

 

[v8Statesman]

Wow could this be some slightly postive news coverage for Qantas?! I'm sure no news will find some negative angle

Something like "Hundreds of passengers stranded in Perth overnight as the plane scheduled for the flight to Sydney goes missing"

 

[straitman]

I have a soft spot for the B412 .

Markis10 - agree totally agree.

A soft spot is one thing but...

As per previous qould be interesting to see whether costs came into P3 v A330 for RCC tasking or it came to availability. What are hourly running costs for A330 v P3?

The A330 would be considerably cheaper than the P3C though part of that would be from how the costs are allocated.

Markis10 - look for some news re new AC for NSW/QLD rescue helicopters services over next months with Westpac $$$ raising (new 412 would be great!! Please no BK)

Isn't it time to move forward from the 60 year old technology of the B205/212/412 series :?:

I had a good look at an AW139 on Thursday and that is impressive.

 

[RescuePilot]

A soft spot is one thing but...

Isn't it time to move forward from the 60 year old technology of the B205/212/412 series :?:

I had a good look at an AW139 on Thursday and that is impressive.

Hi Straitman - Augusta Wessex is an excellent machine, a lot more power and excellent layout for Pilot (we run single Pilot Config with NVG).. The $$$ are an issue although i would LOVE an AW139 configured for EMS even over the 412 (412 is an excellent and well proven platform though)!!

Also heard from a mate that large proportion of SQN was recalled for P3 readiness - the press release beat the P3 out of the box by a good three hours according to him!!

 

[markis10]

The A330 would be considerably cheaper than the P3C though part of that would be from how the costs are allocated.

By a factor of 10x according to this 2004 table of expenses - should have sent a Pig (would have been one way trip without a global tanker on hand):

While the costs of an A330 are cheaper, I am still at a loss as to why either of the springboks could not have done the job the A330 did en-route to their destination, they would have been there earlier??? Its somewhat academic now though.

Isn't it time to move forward from the 60 year old technology of the B205/212/412 series :?:

Strange statement in the context of A330 versus P3

 

[harvyk]

They probably decided that they didn't want to delay a commercial flight, plus there would probably be fuel load issues. Whilst I do not doubt that they would have had enough fuel on board for a small diversion, I can't see them wanting to use more fuel than strictly necessary on a long haul flight in case something then delayed their arrival at the destination...