MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[RooFlyer]

Aren't they just talking about the 'handshake' that occurs between a phone that is on and a receiving tower? ie not a 'call' ?

If so, and it happened (not a given) it means that his phone was turned on, and a tower found the phone. But then it went out of range of that tower and for whatever reason wasn't picked up by another one.

 

[amaroo]

The SMH article posted above seems to imply it's more than a passing contact...

"The call on the telephone of first officer Fariq Abdul Hamid ended abruptly after contact was established with a communications tower, the New Straits Times reported Saturday.

The newspaper quoted sources as saying the telecommunications tower “established: the call 27 year-old Mr Fariq was trying to make." "

 

[Robbi]

Aren't they just talking about the 'handshake' that occurs between a phone that is on and a receiving tower? ie not a 'call' ?

If so, and it happened (not a given) it means that his phone was turned on, and a tower found the phone. But then it went out of range of that tower and for whatever reason wasn't picked up by another one.

Would the fact his phone was on be significant in itself? Was he trying to alert authorities for example.

Or are flight crew simply not required to turn their phones off, or he forgot? In which case it's likely a furphy.

 

[markis10]

Aren't they just talking about the 'handshake' that occurs between a phone that is on and a receiving tower? ie not a 'call' ?

If so, and it happened (not a given) it means that his phone was turned on, and a tower found the phone. But then it went out of range of that tower and for whatever reason wasn't picked up by another one.

I believe that is the case. Most journalists would think the phone only makes contact when a call is initiated, which is not the case.

 

[rickylee]

I reckon the phone call is just another story about MH370 that will turn out not to be true.

 

[mrfreeze]

The SMH article posted above seems to imply it's more than a passing contact...

"The call on the telephone of first officer Fariq Abdul Hamid ended abruptly after contact was established with a communications tower, the New Straits Times reported Saturday.

The newspaper quoted sources as saying the telecommunications tower “established: the call 27 year-old Mr Fariq was trying to make." "

This contradicts itself.
The call would not end abruptly after contact was made with the comms tower as it was not connected in the first place - it would have to be connected to be able to make a call.

I think as mentioned in posts above it was that the phone was on and made a normal connection to the comms tower.
The journalist allegedly does not have a good track record with reporting facts or understanding them.

 

[drron]

This has probably come about as the Malaysians were going through records to see if any of the mobile phones on board had established a contact or handshake with any mobile phone towers-this would then confirm the plane seen on military radar was MH370.
Here is an earlier report in the NST outlining this-
MISSING MH370: Why didn't passengers use their cellphones? - Latest - New Straits Times

The easiest to check would obviously be the crews as their numbers would be on record.I guess this is one of the clues they had when they finally abandoned the search in the South china Sea.

 

[FlyboyAl]

Here's another from left field. Does the US Navy or anyone else use the comms facility at Exmouth?
From memory it was a VLF station for sub and ship communication. Could it have had anything to do with Ocean Shield getting so close to what seems the right location?

 

[Trakman]

"Its time to go underwater"
Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 set to go under water | News.com.au

I wonder what the oil slick will turn out to be?

 

[markis10]

Here's another from left field. Does the US Navy or anyone else use the comms facility at Exmouth?
From memory it was a VLF station for sub and ship communication. Could it have had anything to do with Ocean Shield getting so close to what seems the right location?

Very unlikely, I doubt they can beam steer using the Trideco antennas even if they got the signal and would need another couple of stations to geolocate.

 

[markis10]

Detail on sub ops:

Bluefin-21 will operate on a 24-hr cycle
.2 hours descent
16 hours survey
2 hours ascent
4 hours of data download/ analysis

 

[Fruitcake]

Bluefin-21 will operate on a 24-hr cycle...

Well I'm sure they can ask it to do all that, but surely if it is an "autonomous" underwater vehicle it will just do whatever it feels like doing.

 

[markis10]

Time for HMAS Success and Toowoomba to get a top up:

USNS Cesar Chavez refuels Royal Australian Navy Ships Toowoomba & Success in the Indian Ocean.

 

[tgh]

All this International co-operation is great to see and won't do our International reputation any harm at all.
Otoh ..the budget has probably been measurably tightened on account of the costs involved.

 

[Himeno]

All this International co-operation is great to see and won't do our International reputation any harm at all.
Otoh ..the budget has probably been measurably tightened on account of the costs involved.

They can request Malaysia pay for part or all of that cost as the party who requested the help.

 

[Tommy 180]

Maybe the proposed cut to pensioners can pay for it. Or cuts to the ABC. Maybe time to put everything in perspective.
Just putting a comment on what Aust can afford with us all having to make the heavy lifting to get us out of the financial mess we apparently are in.

 

[southernfoodluva]

Its possible one is also the CVR.

Markis10 what are your thoughts about the usefulness of the CVR in helping to get to the bottom of the mystery??

 

[markis10]

Markis10 what are your thoughts about the usefulness of the CVR in helping to get to the bottom of the mystery??

I doubt it will be of much use given the two hour limit. Surprised there has not been a push to make it record for much longer as a standard, given the storage technology these days would easily allow it.

 

[RooFlyer]

They can request Malaysia pay for part or all of that cost as the party who requested the help.

I thought it was the other way round. Because its in Australia's S&R zone, we bear costs and other nations may bill us for their costs if they wish.

 

[markis10]

I thought it was the other way round. Because its in Australia's S&R zone, we bear costs and other nations may bill us for their costs if they wish.

Depends on whether its a Search and Rescue or a salvage operation. SAR costs fall to the SAR region, while salvage is borne by the owner.
I did make the point earlier that its up to the country to present the bill for their costs, which is uncommon, most work on the principal of what goes around comes around.