MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[DrA]

So, if they locate a ping, what's the next step? Do they drop a camera down there?

Presumably would depend on depth in the area the ping was located. Camera might be practical at shallower depths, otherwise I suspect some kind of high resolution seafloor bathymetry mapping to see if they can detect any kind of anomaly.

 

[SeatBackForward]

So, if they locate a ping, what's the next step? Do they drop a camera down there?

My understanding is they need to get some more reliable pings to be able to determine a more precise location. Based on the last two days reports of Pings, its still hundred of kilometres apart, ie, the haystack has become smaller, but still a haystack.

Once they've confirmed an area, they will drop down sonar scanners to map out the seabed for both terrain and any potential wreckage, and only then can they start thinking of investigating with underwater rovers.

The process will take months, and more likely years given how little of the terrain there is known.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So, if they locate a ping, what's the next step? Do they drop a camera down there?

Ocean Shield certainly has such a camera.

I believe that the boffins have suggested side-scan sonar and other tools may be better initially as they can "see" further than a camera, and can also importantly detect differences in material..

 

[rickylee]

Yes, but they really need to triangulate the location before the pings die.

 

[drron]

The Ocean Sheild detections are beginning to sound like the real thing-2 distinct detections and being able to hear it for 2 hours 20 minutes on 1 pass-
MH370: black box-type signals picked up twice by Australia's Ocean Shield | World news | theguardian.com

 

[robd]

Just watching ACI about Silkair crash. Interesting that the circuit breakers can be pulled in the coughpit to disable both the CVR and FDR. I came in half way through the episode so is this still the case?

 

[QF WP]

To my understanding it's a bit like "best before" on food cartons. The pings will definitely keep going for 30 days, but who knows EXACTLY how long they will go before the battery is worn down.

Please, let there be some triangulation of the two pings. We need closure

 

[rickylee]

Please, let there be some triangulation of the two pings. We need closure

I hear you. For the families of the victims, for the people involved in the search, for the taxpayers funding these efforts, for the aviation community at large ... everyone needs closure.

 

[drron]

The recording of the "pings"in this post on PPRuNe-
Malaysian Airlines MH370 contact lost - Page 475 - PPRuNe Forums

It really does seem to some over there that this is the real deal.
I also wonder what the Americans or Australians know.The USA sent their black box detector over and then Ocean Shield goes straight to an area where they pick a good lead up.
But then I am a suspicious kind of guy.

 

[Trakman]

Yes - the Ocean Shield seemed to know exactly where to go. My guess is that a US sub found something - and they never disclose where any subs are.

 

[rickylee]

Yes - the Ocean Shield seemed to know exactly where to go. My guess is that a US sub found something - and they never disclose where any subs are.

That is unlikely - submarines do not tend to have windows or external cameras; and sonar would not help them identify plane wreckage.

 

[Wannabee]

That is unlikely - submarines do not tend to have windows or external cameras; and sonar would not help them identify plane wreckage.

But a sub could localise a ULB.

 

[Trakman]

That is unlikely - submarines do not tend to have windows or external cameras; and sonar would not help them identify plane wreckage.

I don't expect they have found wreckage - but rather have detected the pinger and given a location.

 

[Trakman]

What was the purpose of today's Press Conference - there was nothing new to announce. Why did the Defence Minister need to be there? Angus Houston has done a fine job of managing this so far - always playing with a straight bat and impressing a lot of people with his approach. I hope there is no more politicizing of this, there was enough of that in the first few weeks. Let the experts get on with the job and leave politics out of it.

 

[moa999]

Sounds like the defence minister wanted his 15min

 

[RooFlyer]

I got the vague impression that they were expecting something more substantial to announce. Take comfort that the Minister didn't get to bathe in the reflected glory of "We've (probably) found it"

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just watching ACI about Silkair crash. Interesting that the circuit breakers can be pulled in the coughpit to disable both the CVR and FDR. I came in half way through the episode so is this still the case?

I saw that also but on the 737-300 if you pull the cb's it triggers an aural & visual warning on the instrument panel.

The ACI episode immediately prior to that was the BA38 double engine failure on the 777 PEK/LHR flight.

When trying to discount possible reasons for the near disaster one of the AAIB investigators quoted Sherlock Holmes "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".

 

[Quickstatus]

To my understanding it's a bit like "best before" on food cartons. The pings will definitely keep going for 30 days, but who knows EXACTLY how long they will go before the battery is worn down.

Please, let there be some triangulation of the two pings. We need closure

Apparently, (heard this on CNN who interviewed a blackbox manufacturer) that the pinging is designed to have maximal amplitude for 30 days. After 30 days the amplitude of the signal reduces but still maintains a interval of one second. Eventually it goes silent. Duration of pining before it goes silent depends to a large extent on temperature of the environment and age of the batteries. Of course it may ping but it is not heard because of "inversion layers " in the water, undersea obstacles such as cliffs, juxtaposition of the ping locater.

As usual journalists are poor at grasping basic sciences and do not try or want to really understand how these things work. The media gives the impression that it just stops pinging after 30 days. The reporting of this event has also been poor and inaccurate.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Apparently, (heard this on CNN who interviewed a blackbox manufacturer) that the pinging is designed to have maximal amplitude for 30 days. After 30 days the amplitude of the signal reduces but still maintains a interval of one second. Eventually it goes silent. Duration of pining before it goes silent depends to a large extent on temperature of the environment and age of the batteries. Of course it may ping but it is not heard because of "inversion layers " in the water, undersea obstacles such as cliffs, juxtaposition of the ping locater.

As usual journalists are poor at grasping basic sciences and do not try or want to really understand how these things work. The media gives the impression that it just stops pinging after 30 days. The reporting of this event has also been poor and inaccurate.

I thought I read that the batteries on this particular aircraft were due to be replaced in June this year, so the age of their batteries might have been quite poor.

 

[Janeski]

What was the purpose of today's Press Conference - there was nothing new to announce. Why did the Defence Minister need to be there? Angus Houston has done a fine job of managing this so far - always playing with a straight bat and impressing a lot of people with his approach. I hope there is no more politicizing of this, there was enough of that in the first few weeks. Let the experts get on with the job and leave politics out of it.

I don't want to sound flippant- but in light of no information on the whereabouts and a 24 hour news cycle constantly looking for new "news", a fresh face ie the Defence Minister, gives TV producers some newsbites and new footage to show - even if they are a re-hashing information. The story has dropped well down from the top story on network news shows, and a politician giving a quote pushes it slightly back up. I know nothing of aviation and as a layperson still cannot fathom how it has literally disappeared.