Missing Malaysian Plane

[p_rushing]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

I'm guessing that in addition to the transponder being turned off deliberately .....the lack of communication completely at the same time could also mean something catastrophic without warning happening.

The black/orange box is made to withstand nearly any catastrophic event.....and usually signals for 30 days, but I believe there is a radius in which that signal(even underwater) can be received.

M.K.
Knight165

Nothing happened catastrophic though if they had it on military radar. The transponder is used by civil radar to identify the plane, but it can still be picked up without that on primary radar. So it would have had to disappear at that time from military radar and they say it was tracked for 350 miles after it disappeared.

[Phobia]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

I thought I read the black box could be turned off from inside the cockpit. That then rules out catastrophic event because it was picked up over a hour later headed in opposite direction.

I just hope the passengers are alright if it was a hijacking. Hopefully if it was they only want the plane.

[BurghFan]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

Nothing happened catastrophic though if they had it on military radar. The transponder is used by civil radar to identify the plane, but it can still be picked up without that on primary radar. So it would have had to disappear at that time from military radar and they say it was tracked for 350 miles after it disappeared.

Not necessarily. There could have been a sudden loss of cabin pressure which at that altitude would have rapidly if not instantaneously incapacitated the crew due to hypoxia and extremely low air pressure, but the plane would have been able to keep flying under autopilot until it ran out of fuel. If that was the case then maybe they had some minimal forewarning that something was about to happen and initiated a turnaround before being incapacitated which would explain the left-hand turn. I have no idea how the plane's electrical systems work, but perhaps a mechanical failure that results in rapid loss of cabin pressure could also knock out electrical systems to the transponder.

[8]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

Fairly interesting insight.

http://www.wral.com/expert-malaysia-airlines-plane-disappearance-likely-not-an-accident/13467806/

[Blzer]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

Here's a stupid question: How is it that we (everybody) can always trust that pilots themselves, generally speaking, aren't ever connected/involved or whatever? I think this happened once for an EgyptAir flight, and I think the pilots are probably the only ones who were able to do exactly what happened (the things that were deactivated, etc.).

Yes, they could have been coerced... but at any rate, what stops a pilot from being the one controlling all of this intentionally? I mean this in general, for any flight at any time. Forget a hijacker, that seems like too much work. Just do it as a pilot, you know?

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

^ Who knows, really? It just makes you rethink flying. I mean, it's, on average, extremely safe to fly; however, just makes you think.

I'm not sure what happened here...nor am I educated enough on the manner to even make a claim. I just hope either it is found and everyone is fine or that the friends and families of those on the plane can make peace with what has happened.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

If it was terrorism, this would definitely have to be a new tactic they're adopting. That's why that explanation gives me pause.

Not really sure what the hell is happening here.

[HealyMonster]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

was it confirmed that the door they found didn't belong to the plane? I mean if someone opened the door mid flight, that would result in a catastrophic event, no? Also would cause immediate loss of cabin pressure.

Remember this incident: http://golfweek.com/news/2009/oct/24...s-plane-crash/

That was a trip Orlando to Dallas, plane went down in North Dakota, I mean we are talking about a plane over the ocean around "dead zones" who knows where that thing could have gone down, I mean the sheer amount of miles that would need to be searched, could take weeks to find it.

[Knight165]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

Correct. But this really all depends where the plane really is. AF 447's was found well after the signals went off.

Yes....absolutely.

I believe I saw on the news that they have to get within a 5-10 mile radius of the black box in order to pick up its signal.

I actually thought it was a shorter distance....but it's been a while since I covered black/orange at terrorist training.

Nothing happened catastrophic though if they had it on military radar. The transponder is used by civil radar to identify the plane, but it can still be picked up without that on primary radar. So it would have had to disappear at that time from military radar and they say it was tracked for 350 miles after it disappeared.

Not necessarily so...as Burghfan points out here.....quick and extreme loss of cabin pressure wouldn't necessarily bring the plane down at once....it could keep going for quite some time.
Think Payne Stewart's plane on a larger scale.

I thought I read the black box could be turned off from inside the cockpit. That then rules out catastrophic event because it was picked up over a hour later headed in opposite direction.

I just hope the passengers are alright if it was a hijacking. Hopefully if it was they only want the plane.

I'm pretty sure it cannot....on the ground through a system change....it could likely be done....but that's kind of the point of the black box.....no matter what happens the planes moves could be reconstructed.

Not necessarily. There could have been a sudden loss of cabin pressure which at that altitude would have rapidly if not instantaneously incapacitated the crew due to hypoxia and extremely low air pressure, but the plane would have been able to keep flying under autopilot until it ran out of fuel. If that was the case then maybe they had some minimal forewarning that something was about to happen and initiated a turnaround before being incapacitated which would explain the left-hand turn. I have no idea how the plane's electrical systems work, but perhaps a mechanical failure that results in rapid loss of cabin pressure could also knock out electrical systems to the transponder.

Fairly interesting insight.

http://www.wral.com/expert-malaysia-...dent/13467806/

This is my guess personally.
I think the report that it was tracked is an error.
Just my thoughts.

M.K.
Knight165

[z Revis]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

was it confirmed that the door they found didn't belong to the plane? I mean if someone opened the door mid flight, that would result in a catastrophic event, no? Also would cause immediate loss of cabin pressure.

Remember this incident: http://golfweek.com/news/2009/oct/24...s-plane-crash/

That was a trip Orlando to Dallas, plane went down in North Dakota, I mean we are talking about a plane over the ocean around "dead zones" who knows where that thing could have gone down, I mean the sheer amount of miles that would need to be searched, could take weeks to find it.

Is it possible to open a door of a plane mid flight? Considering how fast planes go? Seems like it'd be awfully hard.

[AUChase]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

A friend of mine is on one of the DDGs that is patrolling.

There's a whole lot of ocean out there. I know we have a lot of technology, but it won't help much in a situation like this. They are going to have to find it the hard way.

[Bruins]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

How It’s Possible to Lose an Airplane in 2014:

"It is a misconception that airline pilots are in constant communication with air traffic control, or that planes are constantly watched on radar. Once a plane is more than 100 or 150 miles from shore, radar no longer works. It simply doesn't have the range. (The specific distance from shore varies with the type of radar, the weather, and other factors.) At that point, civilian aircraft communicate largely by high-frequency radio. The flight crew checks in at fixed "reporting points" along the way, providing the plane's position, air speed, and altitude. It isn't uncommon to maintain radio silence between reporting points because cruising at 35,000 feet is typically uneventful."

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2014/03/malaysia-air/

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

Scary stuff. Would some type of electrical failure stop all cell phone communications? Not a single call or text got sent. Does a such thing as a communications jammer even exist?

[Bruins]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

Scary stuff. Would some type of electrical failure stop all cell phone communications? Not a single call or text got sent. Does a such thing as a communications jammer even exist?

Not sure if this answers your question, but:

"Although modern flight management systems use GPS for navigation, that only tells the airplane where it is–it does not tell air traffic control where the plane is. It’s a bit like taking your iPhone into the heart of the Mojave desert: Your GPS will tell you where you are, but you can’t use Find My Phone because there’s no cell coverage.

[Knight165]

Re: Missing Malaysian Plane

Scary stuff. Would some type of electrical failure stop all cell phone communications? Not a single call or text got sent. Does a such thing as a communications jammer even exist?

Actually...there is.
I know guys who use it on trains and buses...it's got a short range(about 30 feet) and will jam a cell phone signal. It won't actually stop the incoming call...but you won't be able to use your phone to receive it.

....and most planes have multiple redundancies for electrical equip. A 777....probably has QUITE a few generators as a redundancy precaution.

M.K.
Knight165