Malaysia Airlines flight MH370-Updates and Discussion

A lot now depends on the validity of the primary radar spots. If these radar sightings were genuine, it would appear the crew were making a valiant effort to get back to the airport.

A Primal Nut wrote: »

Not sure if this was posted:

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-jet/missing-jet-woman-says-co-pilot-once-let-her-sit-n49651

There is a video around as well.

Basically saying one of the pilots had a habit of bringing young girls into the cockpit and smoking.

Kind of a crappy thing for that woman to come out and say at a time like this, particularly as it bears no relevance to the incident or the search.

Statement just released by Malaysia airlines about it.

I think media should leave that story alone until they know what happened tbh. His family are distraught enough already.

So that's why it's called a cockpit.

You do all realise these are all suggestions?? There is no confirmation of the validity of these "pictures/videos" - This is typical media sh*t, who like some posters couldn't careless about the crews families and those of the passengers, the CNN Business Traveller doc featuring the crew of this flight, has seen Richard Quest say they were two of the nicest individuals he had met, we have no reason to discount his view.

And it's not a cockpit, it's the Flight Deck - The sector doesn't revolve itself around tripe like the media and is inclusive to all genders.

Have some respect, please.

Rant over.

mikom wrote: »

Pretty fiery rant.
Tell me, do you like movies about gladiators?

Taking the piss on a forum where we have 239 missing people and using accusations then to ask idiotic questions, is not my opinion of humour.

What could this be?
If it was a boat, I'd expect some sort of a wake.
It's about 20 meters long...

Interesting one here
http://www.tomnod.com/nod/challenge/malaysiaairsar2014/map/6060
http://imgur.com/o7HfgZc

fits wrote: »

tag it anyway. They probably have higher resolution to check.

I've done a fair bit of analysis of aerial photos and the thing is the more you look at the better you get at identifying what things are. It can be painstaking but you can actually learn a lot through the repetition.

it would be good if they could give examples of what various things look like.

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Now that Malaysian military confirmed it turned west http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26527439

I was reading elsewhere that some people believe MH have a reduced/cheap/development version of ACARS that was only sending data in bursts every 30 minutes, it wasn't from any official source however.

In that event a fire in the cockpit like the EgyptAir incident destroying nav equipment (and possibly FDR and CVR's) and a return to KL followed by a crash in the Malacca Straits is possible.

All dependent on conjecture about the ACARS though.

The military radar is primary radar, so it's just a blip - they can't possibly 'confirm' anything, other than they had a blip on the radar that was heading west.
"Military radar suggests the missing Malaysia Airlines plane turned west, away from its planned route, before vanishing, Malaysia's air force says."

So it's not, confirmed, just another possibility.

relaxed wrote: »

I thought it also sends the crews meal preferences to the hotel they are staying in?

ACARS can be set up to send pretty much whatever you want it to send. It has an automatic function, usually set up to send technical data, position reports etc, and a manual function, that can work just like text messaging. (Often how we can tell the score in the rugby or GAA finals.) It usually works via the VHF radio system - usually the third VHF radio on board is assigned to ACARS, but can also be set up to use SATCOM (satellite communication) if installed on board. If not, no ACARS data will be sent when out of VHF range.

sopretty wrote: »

Investigators do not seem to be looking into mechanical failure or pilot error however, given the latest press conference? Maybe they are also exploring such a possibility, but not according to a police statement from Malaysia in a press conference today? I've posted earlier, that according to his statement, they are investigating 4 areas i.e. Sabotage, Hijacking, Psychological problems of a member of crew or passengers and Personal problems of crew or passengers.

I presume the investigators can only 'look into' what's available to them. There is no wreckage, so no point of start for an investigation into eg mechanical failure, pilot error etc. I wouldn't read anything further into that statement.

wil wrote: »

2 qxs for pilots/crew

Is there one single communication system for the pilot/crew or are there backup systems.

Is there an international SOP for when normal communication systems fail.

Most large aircraft have 3 VHF radios, 2 HF radios, and some also have SATCOM, usually 2 channels. 1 VHF and 1 HF radio is usually run off the aircraft batteries, so even if all generators fail, and they can't get the RAT out (or before it gets out) they should be able to communicate with stations. If they had gone out of VHF range, and not tuned up the HF radio, it's conceivable that they may have tried to make a call, but there would have been aircraft within range to pick up a call on 121.5, which is the emergency frequency that all aircraft are supposed to listen out on.
There are 'lost comms' procedures that can be followed in the case of simple radio failure, there are some differences in various countries, but it generally involves continuing as per the flight plan filed with ATC and landing at your destination aerodrome. Obviously, in this case it was something more catostrophic, so that goes out the window.


The whole situation is more than odd, to say the least.

http://www.tomnod.com/nod/challenge/malaysiaairsar2014

_ciaran_ wrote: »

Interesting one here
http://www.tomnod.com/nod/challenge/malaysiaairsar2014/map/6060
http://imgur.com/o7HfgZc

Looks like a ship or possibly a blue whale to me.

Is there any way to zoom in on the tomnod thing?