The ATSB Bearded Popinjay promises due diligence on MH370?? -
On the 16th of February 2022 the ATSB released the following Media Statement:
Quote:Statement on Mr Richard Godfrey’s analysis of the location for missing aircraft MH370
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has not had a formal involvement in any search for the missing aircraft MH370 since the conclusion of the first underwater search in 2017, has not recommenced a search for the aircraft, and notes that any decision to conduct further searches would be a matter for the Government of Malaysia.
“The ATSB is aware of the work of Mr Richard Godfrey and acknowledges that he is a credible expert on the subject of MH370, but the ATSB does not have the technical expertise to, and has not been requested to, review his ‘MH370 Flight Path’ paper and workings. As such the ATSB cannot offer an assessment of the validity of Mr Godfrey’s work using WSPR data,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
“The ATSB does acknowledge that Mr Godfrey’s work recommends a search zone for MH370, a significant portion of which covers an area searched during the ATSB-led underwater search,” Mr Mitchell continued.
“When the ATSB was made aware that Mr Godfrey’s zone incorporates an area of ocean surveyed during the ATSB-led search, out of due diligence the ATSB requested Geoscience Australia review the data it held from the search to re-validate that no items of interest were detected in that area.”
The ATSB expects that review to be finalised in coming weeks, the results from which will be made public on the ATSB’s website.
“The ATSB acknowledges the importance of locating the aircraft to provide answers and closure to the families of those who lost loved ones,” Mr Mitchell said. “The ATSB remains an interested observer in all efforts to find the missing aircraft."
Mr Mitchell reiterated that any decision to conduct further searches for MH370 would be a matter for the Government of Malaysia, and that the ATSB was not aware of any requests to the Australian Government from Malaysia to support a new search for the missing aircraft.
Next via the UWA and Twiggy Forrest's philanthropy organisation:
Quote:Launch of Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre reveals the world in deep east Indian Ocean
01/02/2022 | 5 MINS (INCLUDING 3 MIN VIDEO) (P2 - Go to link above to view videos.. )
A world-leading research centre pushing the boundaries of frontier exploration and science in the deep sea has been officially launched in Perth by Minderoo Foundation Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest AO, and The University of Western Australia Vice-Chancellor, Professor Amit Chakma.
The Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre has been established through a major five-year grant from Minderoo Foundation’s Flourishing Oceans initiative. Its mission is to explore the submerged earth fractures of the east Indian Ocean, six kilometres below the surface, known as the hadal zone.
Never-before-seen footage released from the first expedition to the Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone off the midwest coast of WA in the eastern Indian Ocean, outside Australian waters, reveals some big surprises according to the Centre’s Founding Director – world renowned biologist, engineer, adventurer, explorer and author, Professor Alan Jamieson.
“It is fascinating, it’s like another world,” Professor Jamieson said.
“On the very bottom it is soft white sand but there were a lot of animals, it is very diverse and then along the escarpment, which is a 600-mile-long wall, about 2000 metres high, there were things there I still don’t understand. It’s going to take a long time to unpack it in terms of what’s going on geologically.”
The centre is the vision of Dr Forrest, whose own PhD research focused heavily on the biodiversity of the Indian Ocean’s Perth Canyon and its ecological importance. Dr Forrest said the deep sea held the key to unlocking many of the questions about life on earth in terms of biodiversity, ocean processes such as currents and circulation, and human impacts, including climate change.
“We need to consider the ocean as one big body of water,” Dr Forrest said. “We know a lot about the top 2000 metres and then as you get deeper, our understanding becomes less and less. It’s Minderoo Foundation’s aim to fill in the gaps for that deepest 50 per cent of the ocean so we can better understand how to treat the ocean as a whole and understand what it is telling us about the pressure we are putting on it.”
The Indian Ocean is the world’s third-largest ocean spanning 70,560,000 km² and accounting for 19.5 per cent of the world’s ocean area. With an average depth of almost 4000m, it is the least understood of the world’s five named oceans and very little is known about marine fauna and species at its depths.
UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma welcomed the investment in deep-sea research.
“UWA is proud to support this important collaboration contributing to much-needed research in one of the most unexplored parts of the world,” Professor Chakma said.
“It aims to comprehensively explore the deepest areas of the Indian Ocean – mapping the ocean floor, and characterising and discovering new fauna and marine species.”
Expeditions
The Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre has already completed a major expedition to the east Indian Ocean. It led the DSSV Pressure Drop on a one-month long campaign to the Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone, Wallaby-Cuvier Escarpment, Perth Canyon and the North Australian Basin in April-May 2021. There, researchers mapped these extraordinarily deep features, participated in 14 dives in the full ocean depth submersible DSV Limiting Factor, and completed 25 deployments of baited camera lander vehicles. Alan Jamieson led six of those dives to waters as deep at 6591m.
The results of that expedition include mapping the deep-sea biodiversity inhabiting both deep undersea volcanoes, the deepest parts of the fracture zone and the near-vertical walls of the abyssal escarpment and surveying what turned out to be a significant manganese nodule field at 4000-6000m depth.
In 2022, the centre is planning an expedition to the Diamantina Fracture Zone and Perth Canyon (March) as well as re-joining the DSSV Pressure Drop to dive in the deepest trenches around Japan in the North Pacific (June-July).
Science
In the first six months the centre has published various findings from a recent expedition including a global census of all fishes deeper than 5000m, plus the deepest-ever recorded squid, and a description of the fauna and habitats of the deepest places in Antarctica. It also has studies documenting large-scale seafloor disturbance at the deepest shipwreck ever found (The USS Johnston, a WWII destroyer sunk by the Japanese in the Battle off Samar) and its implications for deep-sea mining, deep ocean microbial studies on plastic contamination, and several studies relating to global genetic connectivity of some of the deepest animals in the world.
Technology
The centre is in the final stages of completing the construction of three new full ocean depth lander vehicles. These landers are equipped with baited imaging systems, collection devices and environmental monitoring sensors. The lander can operate to depths of 11,000m.
There are also plans to design and construct long-term sustainable observatories to be deployed at the base of the Perth canyon and another marine park off the WA coast. These observatories will operate for 6 to 12 months to monitor various ecological processes over long periods of time in some of the deepest areas off WA.
Ok now consider the following mapped tracking details of the UWA/Minderoo expedition and it's proximity to the original MH370 7th arc:
Then keep in mind this quote from Mike Chillit:
Quote:"..Keep in mind that the original 7th ping was calculated when everyone believed in “Zombie Pilot”, autopilot-to-the-end, etc. so the final ping has always been off by the distance the plane would fly during the final 9 minutes: 70 to 100 km.."
In the interest of 'due diligence' and considering the majority consensus (including former ATSB MH370 search director Peter Foley) is now firmly in the 'Pilot did it' camp, why wouldn't the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre not allow Geoscience Australia/ATSB/AMSA/NTSB (former MH370 SSWG and/or some other totally independent body of experts) access to the scanning footage/data etc. obtained during their expedition to the Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone...
Especially when you consider the following image (and summary explanation of how it was derived) from the area scanned during the Minderoo-UWA expedition - courtesy of Mike Chillit:
Quote:Germany’s Geomar, an oceanographic organization like Woods Hole or Scripps, unofficially searched for the plane the same time the rest of us did. They used a doctoral student named Jonathan Durgadoo who used a drift model known as particle drift to simulate the flaperon’ s origin in 2015-16. Durgadoo found that it probably started between Batavia Seamount and Zenith. There was plenty of reason to believe Durgadoo was close to the right place, not the least of which was the US satellite image of debris at Zenith. Before we knew it Geomar sponsored a scientific cruise to Zenith; but they called it a geologic/biologic cruise. But, miracle of miracles, they also used multibeam to scan the abyss, and that’s when they caught “the object”. Not yet clear if they knew they filmed it or were lucky. They initially removed it from public access, but they were required to send complete copies to Scripps and GEBCO. Scripps turned around and published the whole thing and I caught it.
Of course the image could be an unusually (B777) shaped rocky outcrop but surely in the interest of Popinjay's promise of 'due diligence' it is worth checking out? -
MTF...P2
Popinjay's ATSB & Geoscience Oz #MH370 review cont/-
Via the Oz:
Quote:ATSB did not miss MH370 debris in search zone, review finds
A review of data from the original search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 has concluded that it’s highly unlikely that aircraft debris was missed by the massive operation.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released the results of a data review by Geoscience Australia following new analysis by British aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey.
Mr Godfrey claimed he knew the precise location of the missing Boeing 777 after analysing hundreds of radio signals with the aid of technology known as weak signal propagation reporter (WSPR).
His proposed crash location was within an area of the southern Indian Ocean that formed part of the zone scoured in the original search for MH370 undertaken between October 2014 and January 2017.
Despite some scepticism about the accuracy of Mr Godfrey’s theory, the ATSB requested Geoscience Australia re-examine high resolution sonar imagery collected during that search.
Over the past two months, imagery from an area spanning 4900 square kilometres was reviewed, and 11 objects were identified that had not been previously analysed.
Eight of those were assessed as most likely geological features, and while three were identified as not naturally occurring, none were considered to be from an aircraft.
ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said the report therefore concluded it was “highly unlikely there was an aircraft debris field within the area reviewed”.
“The ATSB concluded its formal involvement the search for MH370 in 2017, but we acknowledge the importance of locating the aircraft to provide answers and closure to the families of those who lost loved ones and in the interests of aviation safety,” said Mr Mitchell.
“Can I thank Geoscience Australia for their work in applying their expertise and knowledge in reviewing the original search data.”
Geoscience Australia CEO Dr James Johnson said the imagery reviewed was of a very high resolution.
“This data allowed us to detect objects as small as 30cm by 30cm. If the aircraft was within the area we have reviewed, the sonar data would have shown a scatter field of highly reflective debris,” Dr Johnson said.
“I want to thank my team for the skill and heart they brought to this work and the ATSB for their leadership and partnership throughout this process.”
The Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board, including six Australians.
A long investigation led by the Malaysian Government failed to offer any explanation for the airliner’s disappearance which confounded experts worldwide.
Working with a range of organisations throughout the world, the ATSB established a proposed path for the Boeing 777 based on satellite “handshakes” with the plane.
That data was then used to determine a possible crash site for the aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean.
Around 120,000 square kilometres of seabed was searched by vessels towing sonar vehicles to capture every inch of the sea floor.
Another search has been proposed by US technology company Ocean Infinity next year, on a no find, no fee basis but the Malaysian Government is yet to respond to the offer.
Ocean Infinity is developing a fleet of robotic ships considered ideal for the search, because they will not have to return to land every month of so to be resupplied.
Plus via Airlineratings.com :
Quote:INCOMPLETE ATSB MH370 REVIEW CREATES DISBELIEF
By Geoffrey Thomas
April 22, 2022
The ATSB review of its historic underwater search data for the new location of MH370 identified by British aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey has been met in many industry circles with disbelief.
On Friday, April 22, 2022, the Australia Transport Safety Bureau issued the report on the review of its search data by Geoscience Australia and stated that; “The Geoscience Australia report notes that it is highly unlikely that there is an aircraft debris field within the area reviewed.”
However, the report states that only 29 per cent of the requested area was reviewed.
Also, the report states multiple times that “further data acquisition” and “additional data acquisition” are required.
It is perfectly clear from the report that there are multiple gaps in the search and it is important to note that even Ocean Infinity, with far better search equipment, had to make two sweeps to find the ARA San Juan, while AF447 was only found in Phase 4 of the underwater search.
According to Mr Godfrey, it is clear that “the previous search has in principle skipped a significant portion of the search area with the “holidays” and the use of equipment with insufficient performance (resolution) to find the target.
“MH370 could easily have ended up in one of these insufficiently searched areas.”
The Geoscience Australia report also notes that “there are significant regions, mainly beyond the 10 nautical mile radius from the proposed crash location, that have either no data, data collected by Ocean Infinity that is not part of this review, or data collected using shipborne multi-beam sonar, which has insufficient resolution to identify an aircraft debris field.”
Data collected by Ocean Infinity during a Malaysian Government-contracted survey in January 2018 were not reviewed as part of this process, as Geoscience Australia did not have access to this data.
The data reviewed included high-resolution sonar datasets acquired during Phase 2 of the original search for flight MH370.
These covered an area of about 4,900 km2, or 29 per cent of the area requested of 17,000 km2.
Geoscience Australia concludes that “however, there remains a significant area of 12,100 km2 within the 40 NM radius from the proposed crash location as well as 72.79 km2 area of gaps and holidays” [that has not been reviewed]
The “gaps” and “holidays” (72.79km2) as they are called are the following:
- Missing data – 1.57km2
- Equipment failure – 5.37km2
- Lower probability of detection – 48.91km2
- Off-tracks – 0.17km2
- Terrain Avoidance 8.44km2
- Shadow Zones 8.33km2
The report also revealed that the “review led to the identification of eleven additional contacts by GA. However, an independent external review of these contacts by an expert in deep water search and salvage operations determined that none of the contacts were likely from an aircraft debris field. As each of the anthropogenic contacts was identified as a single feature in physical isolation of other contacts, they were not categorised as being associated with an aircraft debris field. Verification of any features would require further data acquisition.”
Hmm...here we go again??? -
MTF...P2
HVH, MH370, Mangalore midair and the 4C's?? -
(4C's = Conflict of interest/Conspiracy/Cover-up/Cock-up)
To begin I refer to the following historical MH370 AP and media references:
Captain's Log 17.04.17: Hoody plays the TSI card on MH370
Quote:...Mr Hood, in an internal review of Mr McNamara’s decision, also refused to release the documents. “The activities of the ATSB with respect to assisting the Malaysian investigation are covered by the TSI Act,” Mr Hood wrote in his decision.
He advised that the act holds that if a serving or former ATSB staffer or consultant “discloses information to any person or to a court; and the information is restricted” they have breached the act, which stipulates a penalty of two years in prison.
In response to an earlier inquiry, Mr Hood would not say whether he would allow any ATSB staff who no longer agree with the “ghost flight” and “death dive” theory to publicly express their views...
Australia’s chief science agency CSIRO says it knows where MH370 can be found
Quote:AUSTRALIA’S chief science agency says it is more confident than ever that it knows the area in which missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 can be found.
The CSIRO said its new report, released on Friday, that the most likely location of MH370 was a new 25,000 sq km area, north of the original 120,000 sq km search area.
The Boeing 777 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board and is one of the greatest aviation mysteries.
The new area was revealed in December, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Greg Hood has described it as “highly likely” that the area identified by experts contains the aircraft.
Given the above it was therefore of much interest to me the latest additions to HVH's (semi-retired) CV:
Quote:Deputy Chair
Airservices Australia · Contract
Sep 2021 - Present 11 mos
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Member
CSIRO Marine National Facility Steering Committee (MNFSC) CSIRO Marine National Facility Steering Committee (MNFSC) · Part-time
Jun 2021 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
A quick Google search of the CSIRO MNFSC brings you to this link:
https://mnf.csiro.au/en/About/Governance...-committee
Quote:Mr Greg Hood, Member (Government Representative)
Deputy Chair - Airservices Australia
Govt Rep?? -
Got to ask what the hell experience, other than his previous association (see above) with the failed ATSB MH370 search, does HVH have in the area marine/ocean scientic research??
Couple that with the timing of his appointment to the ASA Board in the middle of the ATSB investigation into the Mangalore Mid Air crash, where back in 2020 IMO "Advance" on the UP succinctly summed up in his post the real and affordable solutions to mitigating the safety risks highlighted by the Mangalore crash:
Hooded Canary releases Mangalore mid-air prelim report
Quote:US vs Australian airspace
In the USA ALL IFR aircraft are separated by ATC.
Dick Smith has been trying to bring Australian safety standards up for at least 30 years by insisting on the same ATC separation here.
The ATSB report confirms what this forum has known for some time => both aircraft were visible to ATC via ADS-B tracking.
Airservices have a flow chart that demonstrates the workload of providing separation is LESS than the workload of only providing traffic.
WHY?
Each task requires ATC considering the trajectory of every aircraft in the sector.
To separate aircraft, the ATC makes a decision and issues an instruction.
If the ATC passes traffic then the pilot may respond with his decision to change altitude or track or otherwise avoid the conflict
BUT then the ATC has to assess this change to determine if a different conflict will occur and perhaps pass further traffic.
So let us stop accepting the nonsense argument that it costs more to provide separation compared to traffic information - it does not.
What is the total cost of this accident going to be?
Almost two decades ago Dick organised a trip by both Airservices and CASA staff to the United States with flights arranged to demonstrate the ease of use and safety of Class E airspace.
A very experienced US ATC from the Southern California Terminal Radar Control Unit addressed the team and pointed out how easy it was to provide separation and how safe the result.
John and Martha King of King schools tried very hard to educate the team on why US airspace is as safe as Australian airspace in terms of collisions per flight hour but has so much greater traffic density and thus greater actual safety.
A lot of very experienced pilots and controllers in this country know Dick was right back then and he is proven right again by this accident.
CAN WE LEARN FROM IT THIS TIME???
Which brings me to yet another coincidental Can'tberra bubble bureaucratic appointment - remember this?
MH370 Search Likely to Last Another Year Despite Debris Clue
&..this photo:
...with this post:
https://auntypru.com/forum/-Australia-AT...28#pid4528
And these FOI disclosure log entries:
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/...dacted.pdf &
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/...dacted.pdf
Not long after heading up the JACC Zielke was appointed COO of the CSIRO and was recently appointed the new
CEO of the Australian Research Council.
Interesting to note that over a similar timeframe that both HVH and Zielke have been in perfect positions to help diffuse, obfuscate any potentially embarrassing media and public attention given to several international and domestic aviation safety issues (MH370/Mangalore Midair/Essendon DFO crash/Pelair ditching/FAA & ICAO audits) - Just saying...
MTF...P2
The question “where is 'Iggins” has been asked many, many times: Silence, the stern reply... From
Sky News – tonight:-
"The NSW State Coroner's Court will review the disappearance of veteran Australian journalist and author Ean Higgins to decide whether the matter should progress to a formal coronial inquest."
"The review will be conducted by NSW Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan and is due to start later this month."
It should also include the six Australians and one resident that were on MH370, so eight in total.
V45 -
“It should also include the six Australians and one resident that were on MH370, so eight in total.”
Exactly. But, can a humble NSW Coroner break through the veil? Despite the many 'theories', notions, investigations and continued 'external' research, the big questions have never been answered satisfactorily. For many of us, the moment AMSA was unceremoniously dumped from the search and Beaker (he of the Simply Marvellous Horse pooh) took over, the little red flags were raised. This was compounded by the Minsky 'briefing, pre departure and when Canary Hood threatened his crew with gaol, for talking out of school concerns amplified; that alone rang all the bells. If only Foley could be 'un-muzzled' - there is a man we could all trust.
Something was, and IMO still is very, very wrong with the MH370 saga. No idea why, nor can I present a sensible argument as to what that 'wrong' is; but too many things just do not pass the pub test. The what and the why of Ean's 'disappearance' from the radar may help explain – who knows....But, it is a puzzle right enough.
#MH370: Where is 'Iggins? - Part II
Via the Twitterverse:
https://twitter.com/nihonmama/status/157...0350704640
Quote:- Higgins "disappeared".
- Disappearance *not suspicious* WHY?
- "post mortem report" (HOW, unless there's a dead body?)
He was a veteran journo, but neither
@australian nor others report his disappearance?
But it's revealed in a doc?
AYFKM? #MH370
Plus via
https://mikechillit.net/ :
Quote:MH370: Upcoming Coroner’s Review of Ean Higgins’ 2020 Disappearance
October 7, 2022 by Mike Chillit
It is premature to suggest that Greg Hood, former Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB), may eventually be charged in connection with the disappearance of veteran journalist Ean Higgins. But, that there was an atmosphere of animosity between the two individuals is undeniable. It would nevertheless be an unacceptable flight of fancy to speculate beyond what little is currently known: namely that Mr. Higgins vanished without a trace, much like the Boeing 777-200 he had covered for The Australian newspaper for six years. No physical evidence is known to have been found, apparently; no letter or note of despair; no corpse; no nothing.
Quote:
Figure 1: Ean Higgins was an accomplished journalist who worked for “The Australian” newspaper when he vanished in early 2020. A Coroner’s Review is now scheduled to examine that disappearance, two and a half years after it was first characterized as “suspicious”. Why did it take so long? Not known at this point. But there is a disturbing possibility: Mr. Higgins’ had a consuming interest in the disappearance of MH370. He also ardently believed his own Canberra government repeatedly lied about its efforts to locate the plane. Higgins was so certain of Canberra’s culpability for a search that seemed to languish endlessly that he published “The Hunt for MH370” shortly before he disappeared. The paperback version sold out quickly. Sadly, Mr. Higgins’ disappearance is not the first collateral calamity to befall those who have challenged Canberra’s integrity with regard to MH370. (Click to enlarge)
Jimmy Hoffa, déjà vu; Australian style.
Image 1: Ean Higgins, Journalist for The Australian and vanished “under mysterious circumstances” in early 2020. A coroner’s review is underway in New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. While Mr. Higgins’ age and other personal details have not been published at this point, it may be safe to assume he was not “shot in the back by a jealous husband”. There has certainly not been a “rush to judgment” in Australia given that Mr. Higgins disappeared more than two years ago. Mr. Higgins’ professional interests included the fate and terminal location of MH370. He published The world was just waking up to the fact that the plane had been confirmed at Zenith Abyss in 2017, but not published until late 2019. Higgins published a book on the plane’s disappearance in 2016.
Image 2: Greg Hood, Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2021. MH370’s debris field was located by Germany’s Geomar in June 2017, one year after Mr. Hood took the helm at ATSB. After Germany confirmed that MH370 crashed at Zenith Abyss, Hood promptly warned all ATSB employees that they would be criminally prosecuted if they revealed anything pertaining to the discovery. No announcement was made to the public or families of victims. Australia, of course, had spent millions of dollars searching a strip of seafloor 2,000 kilometers southwest of Zenith; a location simple mathematics confirms the plane could not possibly have been. Mr. Higgins ardently believed Hood was engaged in a coverup related to MH370. Hood retaliated with a strongly worded condemnation of Higgins, even after Hood had gone on record as intent on pressing criminal charges against any employee who shared information with the media, and after Germany’s Geomar is known to have scanned the plane’s debris field in 2017. Australia has still not acknowledged the location of the debris field, but Scripps of California and others have confirmed it.
Justice, like trying to get an official acknowledgment that MH370 was physically located, scanned, and filmed by Germany in 2017, appears to be a slow-motion proposition Down Under. It is well known, for example, that Canberra funneled money through a private foundation to put a private search vessel above Zenith Abyss in May 2021 to fully document the MH370 crash site. Yet, none of the still images or video footage has been released nearly two years later. Thanks to a German Multibeam scan in 2017, an unmistakable specular reflection from the depths of Zenith Abyss perfectly matches the shape and dimensions of a Boeing 777-200. In addition, telemetry places the plane within meters of that large shiny object at the exact same abyssal location. Only the right wing and engine appear to be missing. The possibility that the right wing had been sheared on impact was predicted in 2018 by Canadian investigator Larry Vance. If correct, it may explain why so little loose debris was ever found. The most common compounds in the depths of Zenith Abyss are well documented: lava, pelagic sediment (pelagite), and manganese nodules. None of it reflects sonar or light. Reflections from the depths of the abyss are from aircraft surfaces and have been mapped to a Boeing 777-200.
One of Ean Higgin’s collegues had this to say:
Ean Higgins was active until at least mid-2020. Since then (from what I can discover) he has disappeared off the face of the earth. I’ve still got his mobile number on my phone and until recently regularly would still send him SMS messages relevant to both the GA industry and MH370. So do I find it suspicious and a huge coincidence – you bet??
Quote:Greg Hood’s 2017 poison-pen condemnation of Ean Higgins.
Correcting the Record
MH370 reporting by The Australian
28 April 2017
Letter to the Editor of The Australian
I am writing to express my concern regarding the manner in which The Australian journalist Ean Higgins continues to inaccurately report on the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 – in particular I am concerned at the negative impact this inaccurate reporting is having on the knowledge of the search by the families of those on board the aircraft.
To reiterate, under the International Civil Aviation (ICAO) Annex 13 provisions, the government of Malaysia is responsible for investigating, determining and reporting the causal factors behind the loss of MH370. It is my understanding that their investigation team is well progressed in the development of a draft report. The role of the ATSB, at the request of the government of Malaysia, is to coordinate the conduct of the underwater search.
Many of Mr Higgins’ recent articles have been centred on the ATSB’s decision not to provide him with a series of emails between members of the group of experts advising the ATSB on the search strategy in 2016. The emails pertain to an analysis of the final series of satellite communications between the aircraft and the ground earth station which indicate that the aircraft was, at that time, in a high and increasing rate of decent. The analysis was performed by one of Australia’s leading scientists in the field, is based on solid evidence and it has been extensively peer reviewed and published in a scientific journal.
The implication of this analysis for the search is that the aircraft probably impacted the surface of the ocean reasonably close to where the transmissions were made (what is known as the 7th arc). This is contrary to the views expressed by Mr Higgins and Mr Byron Bailey from The Australian, who have been vocal critics of the search and have long contended that the aircraft was being actively controlled at the end of flight and was glided to a location well away from the area which has been searched. The analysis of the transmission data, when complemented by the recently published CSIRO drift-modelling analysis, provides the best possible definition of an area in which the aircraft is likely to be located.
Mr Higgins’ articles have also consistently attempted to create the appearance of contention between the search strategy experts and members of the ATSB’s search team where none exists. He has suggested in his articles that some ATSB officers have had second thoughts about the ATSB’s position in relation to the end of flight scenario and further;
“(the) Australian Transport Safety Bureau has invoked draconian legislation in refusing to release material about its search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, warning that any bureau employee who provides such information to the public or a court could face two years in jail.”
I find the use of this journalistic tactic particularly objectionable. No such warning has ever been issued, every member of the search strategy group and the ATSB’s search team understands, and is in agreement with, the science associated with the search and the implications on the search area of the analysis of the satellite communication data. Members of the ATSB’s search team are operating under the standard legislation that ATSB employees normally operate under, governing the disclosure and use of information.
Similarly Mr Higgins suggests in his most recent article that the work currently being performed by the ATSB was prompted by negative public opinion about the search. To quote;
“But he (Mr Hood) and his ATSB colleagues are no doubt thinking the best way out of this continuing world of pain is to find MH370, and behind the scenes that’s exactly what they are trying to help make happen.”
This is also incorrect – the CSIRO drift study work we have recently published was commenced in April 2016. It is the most comprehensive and accurate study of the point of origin of MH370 debris performed to date. It forms a part of the ATSB’s ongoing work to bring the best possible science to bear to find the aircraft.
It is particularly regrettable that Mr Higgin’s articles have now led to some of the MH370 next of kin expressing doubts about the ATSB’s conduct of the search, and by implication, our commitment to finding the aircraft. The ATSB’s search team, and the experts from many organisations both in Australia and overseas supporting the search, have worked with absolute commitment, dedication and a single minded focus on finding the aircraft to provide the answers for the families of those on board and to improve transport safety. It is extraordinarily difficult and challenging work.
Leaving aside his harassing and intimidating approach in dealing with my staff when requesting information, you can perhaps now understand why I find Mr Higgins’ approach to attacking the credibility of the search unwarranted. The ATSB reserves its rights not to interact with Mr Higgins.
Greg Hood
Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
MTF...P2
ps Another passing strange coincidence? Via the Twitterverse:
https://twitter.com/nihonmama/status/157...1087721473
Quote:..FOUND IT. Note the title.
"highlighted a peculiar reluctance by the Australian government to endorse CSIRO and ATSB research that suggests success is close at hand."
https://web.archive.org/web/201710200139...used-look/
Which brings us back to "disappeared" Ean Higgins. #MH370
Foley calls for Australia to back new search for MH370?? -
From a (somewhat surprising) source on Linkedin, the following was brought to my attention:
Quote:Graham Drummond
Manager Transport Safety at ATSB
1d • 1 day ago
“There are a lot of people who contributed to the original search and everyone who’s been involved in the search is really keen to get answers for the families.”
...
A spokesperson for Bridget McKenzie, the Coalition’s shadow transport minister, emphasised that the search had only been suspended, not closed.
“The families of those who were tragically lost with the disappearance of flight MH370 will not have closure until solid answers are obtained as to what happened,” the spokesperson said.
“If credible new evidence becomes available as to the location of the missing plane, this should be fully considered – noting the government of Malaysia is responsible for making any decision to resume the search for the missing plane.”
Quote:Australia should back new search for MH370, top official who led first effort says
Interesting that the Guardian got a informed comment, on behalf of the Shadow Minister Senator Bridgett McKenzie, however no comment from the actual Minister herself...err WTD??
MTF...P2
Chillit dissects GT's reincarnation of Godfrey's #MH370 #WSPR!! -
MH370 news yesterday with FIGJAM GT publishing Richard Godfrey's latest #WSPR theory on the location of MH370 - see here:
MH370: GROUND-BREAKING REPORT REVEALS LOCATION (Godfrey's report
HERE)
And courtesy 9 NEWS Oz, via Youtube:
Quote:
96,608 views Sep 1, 2023 #9News #BreakingNews #NineNewsAustralia
Subscribe and ?: http://9Soci.al/KM6e50GjSK9 | A report has been presented to the Malaysian Government that could finally lead to closure for the families of victims of the MH370 disaster.
The document suggests the final resting place of the doomed Malaysian Airlines flight could be northwest of Perth, ending a nearly decade-long search.
Despite years of conspiracy theories and ongoing speculation, aviation expert Geoff Thomas told Today the report is an accumulation of four years of research and it's findings will hopefully finally bring peace to the loved ones of those on board.
This was Mike Chillit's Tweep reply to these new revelations...
Quote:
Mike Chillit
@MikeChillit
#MH370 Just to briefly revisit Mr. Godfrey's reincarnation yesterday. I've overlaid his latest track on Google Earth's “Geographic Coordinate System; GCS”, which is a modification of the WGS84 datum, as it is known.
I'm now inclined to believe Mr. Godfrey's latest effort is probably intended to be farcical. To quote Rex Stout and his Nero Wolfe, "the man is not an idiot".
With that thought, his correction appears to me to be precisely correct and ends at Zenith Abyss. First image below. What took so long?
If you enjoy Mr. Godfrey's antics, by all means hang on his every #WSPR. But please don't forward any of it to me. Better things to do.
Ref: https://twitter.com/MikeChillit/status/1...7085606117
MTF...P2
Sky News MH370 ten years on (20 Feb '24): Popinjay to the rescue...
Courtesy Sky News Oz, via YouTube:
Quote:
Sky News Australia will premiere ‘MH370: Ten Years On’, the third instalment in its compelling documentary series examining the unsolved disappearance of flight MH370, on Tuesday 20 February at 7.30pm.
As the 10th anniversary of the greatest mystery in aviation history approaches, Sky News anchor and investigative journalist Peter Stefanovic continues the search for answers.
The documentary sheds light on the diplomatic difficulties with the Malaysian Government, the actions of Australian search authorities, and hears campaigners ask the question: was there a cover-up?
‘MH370: Ten Years On’ is the third instalment in the Sky News Australia series of documentaries that includes ‘MH370: The Final Search’ and ‘MH370: The Untold Story’ which remains the highest rated Sky News Australia documentary of all time.
Subscribers to SkyNews.com.au will be able to watch ‘MH370: Ten Years On’ from Tuesday February 20 at 7:30pm. The documentary is also live at that time on Foxtel, Flash and Sky News Regional.
Transcript
"Can we say that MH370 will be the last plane to disappear?"
Popinjay:
"Umm..!!??"
MTF...P2
Asking the 'right' questions.
The 'Sky News' latest production, looking into the MH 370 mystery -
HERE - will not, in all probability, become be a 'useful' tool for changing official attitudes toward finding the aircraft. It should be. - However, it does serve quite well to touch on several essential questions which demand answers. Not questions about the 'how' or the 'why' of the aircraft's disappearance; that will only be answered when the wreckage is found. The 'real' questions, related to why the aircraft has not been located reside within the attitude of the respective governments. IMO, that is a deeper mystery than the actual event itself; many intriguing, disturbing questions in this area remain unanswered, almost lost in time and silence now. For example:-
Sky News - "
Mr Waring also questioned why the Australian Transport Safety Bureau had been chosen to spearhead the operation."
That one item of interest has puzzled 'professional' interest since the appointment of 'Hood' to the ATSB and the inept Dolan to the mix. Wrong choices for 'investigation' yet the right choices for 'cooperation' with the status quo. To say there were better qualified folk available to conduct the orchestra would be no exaggeration.
"But the question really needs to be asked why the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is an aircraft investigation authority, not a search and rescue authority, not an organisation that has any experience of conducting a search, why they were put in charge of one of the largest and most expensive searches in human history," he said. - (Waring)..
P7 -
"Exactly. But, can a humble NSW Coroner break through the veil? Despite the many 'theories', notions, investigations and continued 'external' research, the big questions have never been answered satisfactorily. For many of us, the moment AMSA was unceremoniously dumped from the search and Beaker (he of the Simply Marvellous Horse pooh) took over, the little red flags were raised. This was compounded by the Minsky 'briefing, pre departure and when Canary Hood threatened his crew with goal, for talking out of school concerns amplified; that alone rang all the bells. If only Foley could be 'un-muzzled' - there is a man we could all trust".
Aye well; no doubt the silence will continue; but it is 'passing strange' that we can throw the odd 20 and 30 millions at a project without a second though; but cannot release a few pennies to support a search or even allow Twiggy and his crew to take a look. I wonder why not?
Toot - toot.