[Peetwo]

It has become quite obvious in recent times - especially in regards to the ATSB MH370 search efforts in the SIO - that our head ATSB muppet has almost an obsessive penchant for media attention...

Nowhere was this observation more prevalent than with Beaker's lunchtime interview with the SMH...

SMH: The 57-year-old is helping solve what remains the greatest aviation mystery of all time: the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

P9 : "This, all without any technical qualification (NFI in industry parlance). Doesn’t it therefore qualify (technically) as a ‘porky’? – in light of the Senate report of the Pel Air inquiry. I believe, some of the words used in Hansard transcript were: unreliable, disingenuous and untenable. Although industry further accords the “beyond all reason” approach as being directly attributable to “the team leader”. Yet our beloved Bea-cur can sit there; stuffing his now shaved face with spaghetti, intimating (in public) that ‘he’ (probably only he alone) will solve the MH 370 riddle: industry is overwhelmed and simply says “it’s beyond all reason”.

- See more at: http://auntypru.com/simply-marvellous-ho...r2zkR.dpuf

However, although Beaker quite obviously believes his own bull-shit and is drawn to the media limelight like a moth to a lamp, this thread will also attempt to record the exposure that other lesser lights within the bureau - may by happenstance - get from MSM & subjective media...
For example in recent days there has been some limited coverage on the latest update to the ATSB PelAir (cover-up) re-investigation.
First there was Planetalking - ATSB releases new month old images of Pel-Air wreckage
Next there was the AA article - ATSB conducts fresh survey of ditched Pel-Air jet

Specialist divers from the NSW Police Force and Australian Federal Police have conducted a fresh survey of the Pel-Air corporate jet that was ditched off the coast of Norfolk Island in 2009 as part of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) new investigation into the crash.


The ATSB said on Friday the underwater survey was conducted over two days on March 28/29 and discovered the wreckage of the corporate jet VH-NGA was still at its last recorded position about 4.5km west of Norfolk Island and submerged about 48 metres of water.

In an update on its website, the ATSB said the tail section of the fuselage containing the flight recorders was partially buried by the movement of sand, while both wings, both engines and the rear section of the fuselage and tail were still attached.

“As part of the re-opened investigation the ATSB is taking all reasonable steps to recover the flight recorders from the accident aircraft and download and analyse the data from them,” the ATSB said.

“The information obtained from this latest underwater survey will be used to assist the ATSB in its planning and assessment of options for the next phase of the project to recover the recorders.”

The Westwind corporate jet was conducting an aeromedical flight from Apia, Samoa to Melbourne when crashed near Norfolk Island after running out of fuel.

The ATSB report into the 2009 incident cited errors by the flightcrew and found the pilot in command of the aircraft Dominic James did not plan the flight in accordance with regulatory and operator requirements.

However, the ATSB investigation was the subject of a scathing assessment by a Senate committee which found, among other things, that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) withheld a number of documents critical of Pel-Air. A Four Corners investigation also highlighted serious flaws in the way the investigation was conducted.

In December, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss sought a fresh look at the 2009 crash after a Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) review found the ATSB did not follow proper process and had poor oversight during its original investigation into incident.

“The main focus of the re-opened investigation to date has been the review of documentation requested from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the operator and other organisations, as well as interviewing a number of personnel from these organisations,” the ATSB said.

“These activities are ongoing.”

 
Finally there was this from Oz Flying:

This 2015 photo shows the Westwind wreckage has not been disturbed on the ocean floor since the accident in 2009. (ATSB)


ATSB returns to Norfolk Island Crash Site
27 Apr 2015

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigators have completed a new survey of the crash site of Pel-Air Westwind VH-NGA.

The aircraft was ditched off Norfolk Island in 2009 after running low on fuel. The original investigation report became the subject of a senate inquiry in 2013, after which Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss urged the ATSB to re-open the investigation.

The latest survey, completed last month with the help of NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police, showed that the wreckage of the aircraft has lain relatively undisturbed since the last survey was done.

"Conditions for the latest survey were difficult, with large ocean swells, poor visibility and a strong underwater current, all likely as a result of the passage of Cyclone Pam to the north of Norfolk Island a couple of weeks previously," the ATSB stated. "Regardless of the less than ideal conditions, the survey exercise was successful and adequate for the ATSB to continue its planning for the next phase based on a good understanding of the state of the wreckage:

• The wreckage remains at its last recorded position, submerged in water to a depth of 48 m, approximately 4.5 km to the west of Norfolk Island
  
• Both wings, both engines, the rear section of fuselage and the tail remain attached and were accounted for during the survey
  
• The two major fuselage segments are no longer connected by flight control cables (as they were in 2009) and the front section of the passenger compartment has shifted slightly as a result of underwater currents, but the two segments remain close together
  
• The wreckage has been resting on a sandy-based ocean floor and as a consequence the tail section of the fuselage containing the flight recorders has been partially buried by the movement of sand. The left and right main landing gear have also been partially buried by sand
  
• Both engines, as well as the left and right wings, remain clear of the sandy ocean floor."
  

The survey was done to help the ATSB decide what its option are with regard to recovering the flight data recorders. So far, the new investigation has been restricted to reviewing documents an conducting interviews with staff from CASA, Pel-Air and other organisations.

 
MTF...P2
  

[Kharon]

Simply Marvellous Horse-pooh (SMH).


Oh yes, P2 – I had forgotten about that SMH article; probably by choice.  It was the first in a series of self promotion attempts, although the purists would say the 'happy troops' despatch from Mascot to help with MH 17 was the watershed.  Anyway – FWIW the SMH twiddle, from archives.... ..

SMH: The 57-year-old is helping solve what remains the greatest aviation mystery of all time: the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

This, all without any technical qualification (NFI in industry parlance). Doesn't it therefore qualify (technically) as a 'porky'? - in light of the Senate report on the Pel Air inquiry. I believe, some of the words used in Hansard transcript were: unreliable, disingenuous and untenable. Although industry further accords the "beyond all reason" approach as being directly attributable to the visionary "team leader". Yet our beloved Bea-cur can sit there; stuffing his now shaved face with spaghetti, intimating (in public) that 'he' (probably only he alone) will solve the MH 370 riddle: industry is overwhelmed and simply says "it's beyond all reason".

SMH :As head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, he is leading the search for the jet, concentrated deep in the southern Indian Ocean off the coast of Perth.

This 'leading' is done mind you, without any technical qualification (NFI in industry parlance). Doesn't it therefore qualify (technically) as a 'porky'? - in light of the Senate report into the Pel Air inquiry. I believe some of the words used in Hansard were: unreliable, disingenuous and untenable, industry simply says "it's beyond all reason".

SMH : "Sometimes I'm tempted to say 'oh yes, we've found it we're just not telling you'," he says. He quickly clarifies that he's joking.

They do say his water cooler nickname is "laughing boy". Oh yes, the famous Dolan sense of humour at work, a pawky wit and a fine sense of the ridiculous"; dry as sticks. Industry simply says "it's beyond all reason".

SMH : Since the disappearance, conspiracy theorists have been busy trying to solve the mystery themselves

I wonder why they (all 19,513,305 looking at the humble PPRuNe) would bother; when we have Martin, he of beyond all reason, showing the way. Industry simply says "it's beyond all reason". No, it's all good with Guru Beacur leading the way and guiding a happy, clappy crew of expert accident investigators to Nirvana....Mind you, it's not that they'll do very many, what with the cost of essential 'admin' to juggle and all.

SMH : It's because you've got this big mystery and everyone wants to know the answer and everyone wants to help. It's unhelpful, for the sake of the families more than anything else, in the sense that it has the potential to undermine confidence in what we are doing," he says.

Well, that's fair. What with Martin, being such a bloody Whizz bang, highly qualified investigator – it's just an insult to a fine, investigative mind to have these tendentious bloggers 'assisting'. 'Amateur' experts; are, like Annexe 13, surplus to requirements; and with such a gifted, qualified investigator at the helm, tendentious 'bloggers' – and all associated riff raff need not apply.

SMH - The Boeing 777 vanished with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March. There has been no sign of it since.

Finally – truth and reality in one small; but, oh so sweet paragraph. Bravo.

SMH : He opts for the spaghetti alla carbonara and I choose the tortellini di zucca.

And you managed to keep it down?. Oh, well done that leading light of journalistic clap trap.  Aye. No doubt the MH 370 families will sleep much better now, knowing that Be-a-cur can manage 'spaghetti"; the fish balls were (of course) - imported from Norfolk Island, in commemoration of the outstanding efforts, made on behalf of air safety.

SMH: Commitment to the public service has been a consistent feature of his life.

"True dat" edit ...Commitment to the public service, and only the public service has been a consistent feature of his life.

SMH - The position marked the start of 35 years in the Commonwealth public service, in which he has added various corporate management roles, including chief executive of Comcare and Chief Finance Officer in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Which, of course is why he is so well equipped to lead a crack team of clerical staff to assist; this, despite the 200 year deficiency in 'accident' investigations skills; no matter. Be-a-cur will come through with swimming colours, once again. Just as he did in the Pel Air inquiry – covered in glory, the praises of the Senate ringing in his heroic ears and the total, complete and utter support of the aviation industry which, by the by, cannot say enough good things about this doyen of safety, this pillar of the beyond all ducking reason model for accident investigation.

SMH : "I had a moment of revelation in front of a high school English class in Coffs Harbour as I did practice teaching. I looked at them, they looked at me and we realised this was never going to work," Dolan says.

What a Déjà vu moment, as history repeats; like a bad prawn. The music? – Oh, that's 'Believe it, if you like': played by the public service string quartet (conducted by?) yes; you guessed it – Our hero.  Oh, if the gods the power would give us, to see ourselves as others see us".

Sorry boys and girls; I have to stop here, can't type more, for the tears. Whether they be of laughter (only slightly hysterical); or, of sorrow (for those lost at sea) is uncertain. But, such is life; and, I may add, life is such. I believe I could go on, to the end of the SMH offering, but reality calls and tempus fugit (not to mention tempers).

Dinner Minnie and get that bloody cat off my chair.

How do you spell genius? – Ayup, Guinness is correct.  Now, where's my Choc frog...?..

Toot toot. 

[Gobbledock]

Wow Beaker, I hope you put in an accurate credit card remittance form to be signed off? We know you like to play with numbers and pots of money. It probably read something like this;
- $298 for meals and drinks
- $800 for cleaning the pooh off the restaurant floor
- $75 dry cleaning for the bile and shisen to be cleaned off Beakers shirt and tie
- $25 for waxing, polishing and buffing his bald melon (it was particularly shiny)
- $ 35 beard shaving plus an exfoliation of dried skin residue and makeup application
- $17 for that big ass glass of water that is almost the size of his boss MrDak's head!

Beaker Beaker Beaker, you really are a national embarrassment. Please, I beg you, no I implore you to find a deep dark hole (or a fantasy land where all the men grow beards and mi mi mi) and disappear just like MH370.

"A Beakerless world for all"

[Peetwo]

This 2015 photo shows the Westwind wreckage has not been disturbed on the ocean floor since the accident in 2009. (ATSB)


ATSB returns to Norfolk Island Crash Site
27 Apr 2015

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigators have completed a new survey of the crash site of Pel-Air Westwind VH-NGA.

The aircraft was ditched off Norfolk Island in 2009 after running low on fuel. The original investigation report became the subject of a senate inquiry in 2013, after which Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss urged the ATSB to re-open the investigation.

The latest survey, completed last month with the help of NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police, showed that the wreckage of the aircraft has lain relatively undisturbed since the last survey was done.

"Conditions for the latest survey were difficult, with large ocean swells, poor visibility and a strong underwater current, all likely as a result of the passage of Cyclone Pam to the north of Norfolk Island a couple of weeks previously," the ATSB stated. "Regardless of the less than ideal conditions, the survey exercise was successful and adequate for the ATSB to continue its planning for the next phase based on a good understanding of the state of the wreckage:

• The wreckage remains at its last recorded position, submerged in water to a depth of 48 m, approximately 4.5 km to the west of Norfolk Island
  
• Both wings, both engines, the rear section of fuselage and the tail remain attached and were accounted for during the survey
  
• The two major fuselage segments are no longer connected by flight control cables (as they were in 2009) and the front section of the passenger compartment has shifted slightly as a result of underwater currents, but the two segments remain close together
  
• The wreckage has been resting on a sandy-based ocean floor and as a consequence the tail section of the fuselage containing the flight recorders has been partially buried by the movement of sand. The left and right main landing gear have also been partially buried by sand
  
• Both engines, as well as the left and right wings, remain clear of the sandy ocean floor."
  

The survey was done to help the ATSB decide what its option are with regard to recovering the flight data recorders. So far, the new investigation has been restricted to reviewing documents an conducting interviews with staff from CASA, Pel-Air and other organisations.

 

Hitchen followed up on the above in his weekly wrap - The Last Minute Hitch: 1 May 2015

Continuing our look back to Australia's recent aviation past, the ATSB has been back to the crash site of Pel-Air Westwind VH-NGA at Norfolk Island. It's still where it was when Dominic James ditched it there in 2009. Since then we've had an ATSB investigation completed, a Four Corners report, speeches in parliament, a senate inquiry, a Canadian TSB review, the Forsyth Report, more speeches in parliament and now we're back to where we were in 2009: no definite understanding of the causes of the ditching. There's been a lot of taxpayers money under the bridge since 2009, and more flowing down the river, so lets hope this time we get what we should have been given then: an ATSB report to be proud of.

Hitch old mate I am not sure if I'll be holding my breath on that?? After all the ATSB head muppet who was complicit with the CASA instigated PelAir cover-up is still in charge - FFS...

MTF...P2  

[Gobbledock]

A friend of mine in rail safety sent me the following ATSB investigation link. It's not aviation related but it does involve the fabulous Beaker brothers. He advises me that the road and rail investigation quality has also declined in recent years and that many investigation reports also contain foolish wank words and are scripted in such a way that 2 year olds can understand them. So it seems that the beard on/beard off Beaker has also inspired a conglomerate of IOS in the rail industry??

http://www.railexpress.com.au/lateral-ha...atsb-says/



"Lateral harmonic wagon oscillation for all"

[Peetwo]

A friend of mine in rail safety sent me the following ATSB investigation link. It's not aviation related but it does involve the fabulous Beaker brothers. He advises me that the road and rail investigation quality has also declined in recent years and that many investigation reports also contain foolish wank words and are scripted in such a way that 2 year olds can understand them. So it seems that the beard on/beard off Beaker has also inspired a conglomerate of IOS in the rail industry??

http://www.railexpress.com.au/lateral-ha...atsb-says/

‘Lateral harmonic wagon oscillation’ caused 2014 derailment, ATSB says


Photo: ATSB


Oliver Probert - Sydney

April 1, 2015

The derailment of an Aurizon iron ore train in WA last year was initiated by “lateral harmonic vehicle oscillation,” the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said late last week.
On May 14, 2014, train 4413 – a bulk iron ore train – derailed on the Defined Interstate Rail Network (DIRN) between Stewart and Bonnie Vale, in WA.

Wagons and track were severely damaged during the incident.

A final report handed down on March 27 by the ATSB reported the believed cause of the derailment, and it’s a rather complex one.

The ATSB found:

…the derailment of train 4413 was most likely initiated by lateral harmonic vehicle oscillation induced by a combination of minor cyclic cross-level and lateral track irregularities just in advance of the point of derailment.
As a result of these irregularities, it was likely that the roll of wagon WOE33548K caused the left hand wheels to unload at a time when the leading left wheel came into contact with the left rail face – resulting in flange climb and derailment.

The wagon type that derailed, WOE class, had passed prescribed dynamic performance testing, and the track and wagons complied with mandated requirements, the bureau said.

But computer simulation undertaken after the derailment showed the lateral harmonic wagon oscillation was of sufficient magnitude to increase the likelihood of derailment at the site.

Simulations showed that iron ore wagons, with their short length, react more severely to 22m wavelength cyclic irregularities (as evident at this site) than do the typically longer intermodal wagons.

The ATSB said the area of track where the derailment took place is “known (to train drivers) as an area of rough ride.” But the bureau found that the system in place to report such track irregularities was “ineffective, and hence the opportunity was lost to check for uncharacteristic track qualities through the derailment site, before such qualities contributed to a derailment”.

As a result of the investigation, Brookfield Rail and Aurizon have developed enhanced procedures for reporting track irregularities, the bureau explained.

The pair have also jointly committed, through RISSB, to ongoing industry support and research into the cause of this type of derailment.

"Lateral harmonic wagon oscillation for all"

From what I hear the bureau rail investigators are literally clamouring for a rail accident to occur they are such a rare event, I wonder if this leads to over investigation and over analysis.

Back to Aviation AAI, I noticed the ATSB have initiated an investigation into this incident- Investigation number: AO-2015-049 

The ATSB has commenced an investigation into a serious incident involving a Raytheon B200, VH-ZCO, at Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, on 17 May 2015.


Soon after take-off, the stall warning horn sounded and the pilot noticed a lack of aircraft performance. The pilot then noticed that the wing leading edge de-ice boots were inflated. The pilot returned to Darwin with the boots remaining inflated until engine shut-down. Engineering staff then reset the de-ice system. There were no injuries and the aircraft was undamaged.

As part of the investigation, the ATSB will seek additional information from the operator and the pilot.

A report will be released within several months.

 WTF for... ??? Doh...that's right it is approaching the end of the financial year - FFS...

MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

P2, I agree with you. Beaker (aka the human abacus) will be desperately searching out ways to ensure his little pot of money is topped up to the brim for 2015/2016, hence a possible reason for the ridiculous long winded investigation into a straight forward occurrence. I wonder if Beaker will also be holding raffles, sausage sizzles and sitting in a tent outside his Cant'berra building and signing autographs of his new book 'Beyond Reason, a tale of two beards'? Then again he may sign autographed photos of himself, after all he is a media tart. So many pictures to choose from;
- Beard on
- Beard off
- Posing with giant glass on the table
- Posing with the Malaysian PM
- Posing provocatively in white spandex while mi mi mi-ing
- Posing in Lycra shorts with Abbott and Pumpkin Head on seatless bicycles

Anyway, enough of my shenanigans. I don't think any fashion statement will be of significance when he soon faces the Senate!! None the less I am sure the Senators will be holding bets behind closed doors as to whether he fronts them with or without the beard! I'm betting 4/1 he has the wooly covering. But I am ever so curious. Does the beard on again/off again routine also apply to Beakers pubic region??

"Safe facial hair for all"

[Kharon]

Good Morning little man!

When you log in today, remember to say a polite "Good morning" to the nice ATSB man who is assigned to 'keep an eye' on Aunty Pru.  Word filtering back through the fuel tanker network is that DJ has been obliged to wear the Section 62 muzzle; to prevent him from chatting with the IOS and writing home to Aunt Pru.  Just in case some vital 'evidence' slips through the net.

Well, the words horse, stable and door should give the witless Be-a-cur a clue.  How much more wasteful of meagre resource, totally inept, utterly pointless, and operationally irrelevant can ATSB get.  Consider the information the IOS holds, the independent investigations undertaken by PAIN and the automatic code of Omertà which applies to dealing with anything that CASA may get their filthy claws into and you have to wonder if the ATSB have even a tenuous grasp on reality.

No matter – just smile and nod at the gentleman wearing sunglasses, a trench coat and the truly dreadful false beard (does explain why the Muppet keeps growing 'em and shaving 'em off, saves money to recycle) lurking by the juke box, don't tell him even the Senate committee tea lady has more of a clue; or that the pot plants are wired, it will spoil his junior cyber spook day.

Have nice day y'all.........@..ISP # 62. half wit.

Toot – chuckle - toot...............

[Gobbledock]

Chief Commissioner for whiskers

So Beakers footstools like to read Auntypru daily? Well I've been researching Beakers likely mindset and his minions may want to know this; I think Beaker is conflicted, torn between sanity and insanity, caught between reason and beyond reason. The on again/of again facial manscape is the key to his personality, the inner muppet. At first I thought he was a pogonophile;

pogonophile
an admirer of beards; a student of beards.
See also: Beards

But then he started tinkering with the furry growth by growing/removing the facial mop on a tendentious basis. So I felt he could be more of a pogonophobic;

pogonophobia
an abnormal fear or dislike of beards.
See also: Beards

Either way, it would indicate that Herr Beaker is indecisive, conflicted, a money massaging creature caught somewhere between heaven and hell. Has he had a bad facial hair experience as a child, perhaps a bearded Aunty putting him to bed at night? Did he once date Conchita Wurst and he is holding on to the past? What about other Government departments, does he only deal with staff who sport beards? I don't know but I think there is much to scratch beneath Beakers skin, perhaps Heff or Nick can pry a little deeper into this career bureaucrat, tendentious beard wearer and nude conga champion??

"Safe pogonophiles for all"

[Peetwo]

Chief Commissioner for whiskers

So Beakers footstools like to read Auntypru daily? Well I've been researching Beakers likely mindset and his minions may want to know this; I think Beaker is conflicted, torn between sanity and insanity, caught between reason and beyond reason. The on again/of again facial manscape is the key to his personality, the inner muppet. At first I thought he was a pogonophile;

pogonophile
an admirer of beards; a student of beards.
See also: Beards

But then he started tinkering with the furry growth by growing/removing the facial mop on a tendentious basis. So I felt he could be more of a pogonophobic;

pogonophobia
an abnormal fear or dislike of beards.
See also: Beards

Either way, it would indicate that Herr Beaker is indecisive, conflicted, a money massaging creature caught somewhere between heaven and hell. Has he had a bad facial hair experience as a child, perhaps a bearded Aunty putting him to bed at night? Did he once date Conchita Wurst and he is holding on to the past? What about other Government departments, does he only deal with staff who sport beards? I don't know but I think there is much to scratch beneath Beakers skin, perhaps Heff or Nick can pry a little deeper into this career bureaucrat, tendentious beard wearer and nude conga champion??

"Safe pogonophiles for all"

No pics Gobbles but apparently our MH370 super sleuth muppet is getting warmed up for any potential inquisition from the Heff & the RRAT Committee tomorrow evening...

{From post #30 off the Less Noise & More Signal thread} 

MH370 recovery set to leave aircraft on sea floor  

Media Speculation Over Flight MH370 Runs Rampant5:29

• Play video
  

STILL MISSING. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Source: Getty Source: Getty Images 
 
MOST of the wreckage of MH370 will be left on the ocean floor when it is eventually found by searchers.  

Despite the complete absence of any debris being found, search organisers are well advanced in the process of contracting a company to undertake the recovery operation.
But it seems almost certain any effort will focus simply on components required for the investigation, such as the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder.



TOUGH GOING. Fugro Discovery experiencing bad weather in the search for MH370. Picture: by ABIS Chris Beerens, RAN. Source: Supplied 


An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman said plans for recovery activities in the event the aircraft was found, were agreed to by Ministers from Malaysia, Australia and China at a meeting last month.

“The plans are not a public document at present,” said the spokesman.
“However it is not expected that it would be necessary to recover the entire aircraft but rather selected components.”

Shortlist assembled

He said a short list of suppliers had been identified from the request for expression of interest process for the recovery operation.

WHAT HAPPENED? The theories about MH370’s disappearance
“The formal contracting of services for recovery will only occur if and when MH370 is positively identified,” the spokesman said.



DISCOVERY. The search for MH370 has so far uncovered an uncharted shipwreck but not the missing aircraft. Pic: ATSB via Getty Images Source: Getty Images 

It is not clear if the recovery will include the bodies of the 239 people on board, including six Australians.

The Malaysia Airlines flight disappeared on March 8 last year, on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

MH370: New ‘credible theory’ where plane went down

The lack of floating debris from the aircraft has been described as “not unusual” by ATSB Commissioner Martin Dolan, who said any flotsam was now likely in the middle of the Indian Ocean, or on the sea floor.

Winter stand-down

The search effort in the Southern Indian Ocean has been scaled down considerably for the winter months when bad weather will hamper the use of sensitive sonar equipment.
However crews have already moved out of the initial 60,000 square kilometre “priority area” into the expanded zone covering a total of 120,000 square kilometres of seabed.

MH 370 The theories

FOR 12 months, the world has waited and wondered about the fate of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 and the 239 onboard - a mystery so out of step with modern day technology no-one has been able to find it nor work out what happened.

Freak Fire
Sabotage
It Landed
Shot Down
Controls Hacked
Wild Weather
Pilot Suicide
Terrorists
Expert's View

Disclaimer: The plane in this interactive is for illustrative purposes only.

“Expert advice is that the highest probability of locating the aircraft is within the 120,000 square kilometre search area,” said the ATSB’s latest operational update.
“Beyond that, it is not possible to refine the search area to one of greater likelihood.”

To date the search operation has cost around $60 million with Australia and Malaysia jointly footing the bill.

Each country is expected to stump up another $50 million for the expanded search, and any recovery.

In case you missed it Gobbles here was the Beaker quote...

"..The lack of floating debris from the aircraft has been described as “not unusual” by ATSB Commissioner Martin Dolan, who said any flotsam was now likely in the middle of the Indian Ocean, or on the sea floor.."

So there you go (Simon Gunson et.al), there is the answer for the total lack of MH370 flotsam - from our resident ATSB search guru - it is in the middle of the Indian Ocean or sunk...FFS! 

MTF...P2
'Safe skies are beardless muppet skies'

[Peetwo]

MH370 recovery set to leave aircraft on sea floor  




 
In case you missed it Gobbles here was the Beaker quote...

"..The lack of floating debris from the aircraft has been described as “not unusual” by ATSB Commissioner Martin Dolan, who said any flotsam was now likely in the middle of the Indian Ocean, or on the sea floor.."

So there you go (Simon Gunson et.al), there is the answer for the total lack of MH370 flotsam - from our resident ATSB search guru - it is in the middle of the Indian Ocean or sunk...FFS! 

'Safe skies are beardless muppet skies'

Well if nothing else beardless Dolan (see above) believes his own waffle, at Senate Estimates this morning...

& Foley had a brief appearance...

Here was Dolan's dismissive - tick & flick - update on the PelAir (cover-up) reinvestigation...

IMO the best example of this Muppet's sheer bloody-minded arrogance & contempt for the Senate Committee & industry, was his response to Xenophon's questioning on the YMML/YMEN 3hr BOS/LOSA (Cirrus report) incident.

FCOL!! For the Chief Commissioner - of the so called transport safety watchdog - to totally discount the NX relayed concerns of professional ATCOs & Pilots is simply unforgivable, IMO this should be solid grounds for his instant dismissal by the miniscule...

Yeah right like that is going to happen...FFS     

MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

What bollocks. The only thing notable from those clips was Beakers eye shuffling, head wobbling, body movements and mi mi mi-ing. You could have hog tied him, dressed him up in a straight jacket, poked pins into his eyeballs and shoved 3 pineapples up his arse sideways and he would've looked more comfortable!!
What an arrogant, ignorant, dismissive dipshit. Please Senator Heff, remove that letter from your office door and nail Beaker to the door instead. Beakers comtempt and attitude towards Sen X was repugnant. I just hope Nick doesn't receive his own 'dipshit letter' because Herr Beaker actually looked as if he might do it!
The Essendon issue will surely be the icing on the cake for the taking of Beakers scalp? The following points should make the public, PM's office and ICAO cringe;

a) No formal investigation was initiated
b) The ATSB used an inaccurate and non formal web tracking tool to determine if a potential issue existed/occurred.
c) Once again shoddy department work that is based upon saving money rather than performing proper investigations. Beaker himself, yet again, made his point about a lack of resources. So if this is true, who should be accountable - Beaker? Pumpkin Head? Jo Hockey? Old mother Hubbard?
d) ATSB failire to check the radar images when this alone would have been the most reliable and accurate source of evidence.
e) ATSB relying upon ASA to do its own investigation. This wasn't a case of somebody spilling hot coffee in their lap. There was the potential for an aircraft conflict or worse.
f) Beaker, as the Chief Commisoner personally felt comfortable with the decision to not formally investigate!

ICAO doesn't need any more motivation to act than this. The state (Australia) has an investigative authority unable or unwilling to perform it's function under the Chicago convention and ICAO annexes due to incompetence, mismanagement and supposed financial/resource problems. ICAO are happy with this? The FAA are happy with this? Farmer Truss (who doesn't know about aviation and only knows about growing zucchini's and treading in bovine pooh) doesn't care and is happy about this?

Dear oh dear oh dear. What more can I say but 'cue the 60 minutes clock P2'.



Tick..tick..tick..tick..tick...

[Jacki_Binkley]

What bollocks. 
ICAO doesn't need any more motivation to act than this. The state (Australia) has an investigative authority unable or unwilling to perform it's function under the Chicago convention and ICAO annexes due to incompetence, mismanagement and supposed financial/resource problems. ICAO are happy with this? The FAA are happy with this? Farmer Truss (who doesn't know about aviation and only knows about growing zucchini's and treading in bovine pooh) doesn't care and is happy about this?
Dear oh dear oh dear. What more can I say but 'cue the 60 minutes clock P2'.
Tick..tick..tick..tick..tick...

What bollocks is right!!!  Can anything get any more blatantly obvious???  This whole farce of an investigation is a crying shame!!  WHO THE HELL IS IN CHARGE??  Its obvious that ATSB & Malaysia could care less about finding anything related to mh370.  Their actions or lack of clearly show its about something else.  Malaysia got their insurance money for the plane, and as long as the plane isn't found they don't have to pay out $$billions to the families, another crying shame.  

All the lies and false statements released by the powers that "be" (mickey mouse operations) are absolutely ridiciluous.  Conspiracy theories rule in this case, and that's just the way "THEY" want it.  In this day and age, the technology we have, there is NO EXCUSE for this blatant lack of real investigating in the case.

So from the get go the US classified the case, why? Nobody is saying anything but lies and more conspiracy theories.  Looks to me like a slam dunk of "shut the front door".  For whatever reasons, the world is being kept in the dark about what really happened that night.  so therein lies the juxt of the problem.  People can and will try and figure out what they can, but you can bet your @$$ that anyone who gets near the truth of the matter is attacked and discredited instantly.  

There are a few diligent souls out there who are really trying, they've picked apart the IMST data, shown what it was and what it wasn't.  Yet those same said people have been attacked, ridiculed, harrassed and why?????  Well because they are getting to the real truth, that it seems a whole lot of people don't want known.  IMST are fraudsters and we can prove it, many doubt their data is real, but the data is real, but it isn't saying what everyone thinks it is saying.  That said, its time for real investigators to step in and take over.  Enough bullshit has been slung.  Its time ICAO, BOEING, ;& real investigators take action.  If they don't, then that says an awful lot too, blatantly obvious keeping silent....hmmmmm    This plane isn't missing, its in the GoT and its time that the world woke up and saw this sham for what it really is!!

Beaker and his boys need to be knocked off their high horses, and quit wasting $$$$ on bogus searches.  The people need to take action and demand they be held accountable for their actions.

Its time for the families to know what really happened to their loved ones.  Enough already.

[Kharon]

We always get this brief hiatus between 'the events' and Hansard, which gives us time to watch and study the video.  It always impresses me just how much work goes on behind the scenes, back stage.  From the folk who clean the place up before and after, the 'tea ladies', the hard working Secretariat, camera and sound to the Senators crews and of course the Senators, all working toward a single goal.  Bravo.

We must make mention of our very own P2 (IOS legend and research guru) I am not certain how many hours he has unselfishly spent making the 'clips', posting them and then providing a unique take on events, but I reckon he's missed his golf this week.  Thanks mate, you're a star.

I wonder if that's why I get so cranky; when I have to sit through the double speak, the ducking and weaving of a creature like Dolan.  Both Heff and Sterle called 'bull-pooh' and 'bollocks'; clearly fed up with the performances of people they could cheerfully throttle.  Must wear thin, particularly when they know what the answers are.  What a job.

Hard to pick a man of the match from this estimates – the forwards, Back, Bullock, Gallacher, Heffernan, Sterle, Williams, Xenophon; all, as Jack Gibson would say  "played strong, done good" in the aviation grudge match. 

If you ever want to understand what the Senators are facing just watch Be-a-Cur doing his Uriah Heep act.  The committee know, Beaker knows, the whole ducking world knows; but there sit Beaker, Wilson, Staib and the others, all at it.  Shameless, brazen, protected, using every excuse known to mankind (and some that ain't) to slide around answering the questions.  There have been some classic contests, worthy of mention.  Time to find a comfy corner of the garden, pot of coffee, the steam driven laptop and set to work.

Toot toot.

[Peetwo]

Well Senate Estimates Hansard is out and the ATSB session can be viewed here.

As usual Beaker takes the award for being the bureaucrat with having absolutely NFI about his area of remit. He carries on this thick skinned charade, while continuing to give the Senate Committee the middle finger salute in typical salubrious fashion - UFB..  

Also good to his word (bottom of this passage)...

Senator BULLOCK:  This will, hopefully, be my last question on this subject. Going back to the review which was done by the Canadians into your investigations of these matters, that report has been received and it has recommendations. Have you advised the minister of your response to those recommendations?

Mr Dolan : I have informed the minister that the commission has accepted all the recommendations and we are progressively implementing them.

Senator BULLOCK:  Was that written advice?

Mr Dolan : I am trying to remember. There was certainly no detailed advice on the plan, which is an internal document, but I am happy to provide that to the committee.  

Senator BULLOCK: That would be nice, if we could have a copy of what you said was going to be your response to those recommendations.

Mr Dolan : I have a copy here, so perhaps if I table that now. Would that be of use to the committee?

Senator BULLOCK:  Yes, and I do not think you will hear from me again on this matter.

...Beaker has also tabled the ATSB response to the TSBC recommendations.

You can see from that document that indeed the ATSB has agreed with all the TSBC recommendations in principle - however after the PelAir cover-up & proven complicity with CASA why would we believe anything that comes out of this Muppet's mouth??

On MH370 I see that Peter Foley has yet again been forced to clarify evidence he gave at Estimates, see here:

And the clarification:

Dear Senator Heffernan,

Subject: Budget Estimates May 2015

I write regarding some information given at Senate Estimates on May 28, some details of
which were unintentionally inaccurate and could be misinterpreted.

In response to a question from Senator Rice in relation to the Integrated Marine Observing System acoustic detections around the time of the loss of MH370, I stated that there was a detection approximately an hour after the aircraft exhausted its fuel in a north-westerly direction - towards Diego Garcia and the Maldives.

This evidence may have been misleading and I wish to tender further information in relation to the analysis of acoustic detections in the search for MH370.

Low frequency hydro-acoustic signals present in the Indian Ocean were examined between March and June 2014 to determine whether they could provide any information to help define the search area. These signals were recorded by hydrophones as part of the United Nations Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) or the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS).

Recordings of low-frequency underwater acoustic signals from data loggers and hydrophones off the WA coast (these hydrophones are located in the Perth Canyon to the west of Rottnest Island not Carnarvon as I stated) were retrieved and analysed by Curtin University's Centre for Marine Science and Technology during the search for MH370.

The ATSB requested the Curtin University Centre for Marine Science and Technology CMST) and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation to analyse these signals in an attempt to detect and localise underwater sounds that could be associated with the impact of the aircraft on the water or with the implosion of wreckage as the aircraft sank.

One acoustic event of interest was identified that occurred at a time that could have potentially linked it to MH370. This event appeared to have been received just after 0130 UTC on 8 March 2014 on one of the IMOS recorders near the Perth Canyon (RCS) and at the CTBTO hydro-acoustic station at Cape Leeuwin (HA01 ). A detailed analysis of these signals resulted in an approximate localisation for the source of the event. Based on the propagation speed of acoustic signals, the timing of the event was compatible with the time of the last satellite handshake with the aircraft, which occurred at approximately 0019 UTC, shortly before the aircraft is calculated to have entered the ocean. The location of this acoustic event was, however, incompatible with the satellite to aircraft range derived from the handshake.

Using the three hydrophones from the Cape Leeuwin station, Curtin University subsequently calculated a precise bearing that showed the signal came from the northwest, in the central Indian Ocean, with the most likely location calculated to be 5.93°S, 77.22°E with a corresponding time of the event approximately of 0039 UTC.

There is however uncertainty about where the event occurred and therefore about the time taken for the signal to arrive at the hydrophone array.

In summary, all the acoustic events recorded around the time of the likely splashdown of MH370 were carefully analysed. The one event which may have occurred close to the right time came from a direction in the Indian Ocean which was not compatible with the data derived about the aircraft's position from the satellite handshakes.

I apologise for the inaccuracy and trust that this clarifies the matter.

While on MH370 I draw attention to my post Dolan correcting the record with the 'passing strange' ATSB response to international criticism today, this was the presser:

The capability of the MH370 search operation


2 June 2015

Recent news reports about the search for MH370 have included highly inaccurate assertions about the search and how it is being conducted.

The ATSB strongly refutes assertions that Fugro Survey Pty Ltd was not the best choice to undertake the underwater search or that the search methods are ineffective. The search is being carried out to the highest standards of effectiveness and quality.

“These attacks are unfounded and unfair”, said Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan. “The search for MH370 represents thousands of hours of work by hundreds of people who are dedicated, expert and professional. They are fully committed to finding the aircraft.

“The opportunity to tender services for the search for MH370 was open to the international underwater search industry. We received a number of tenders which encompassed a range of different capabilities and methods. A comprehensive and exhaustive evaluation process was conducted in line with strict Australian Government procurement and probity rules.

“I am very conscious that we must use taxpayers’ money responsibly. Fugro’s bid represented the best value for money and demonstrated that they could capably manage the technical aspects of this challenging search operation and deliver the necessary results.”

Fugro has been involved with numerous aircraft and helicopter search and recovery operations since the 1980s. They have been using the Edgetech Deeptow side-scan sonar systems since the mid-90s and have one of the largest commercial AUV fleets in the world for performing commercial surveys in deep water.

Their ability to detect man-made objects on the seafloor in ultra-deep water is evidenced by the recent detection of a previously unknown shipwreck.

“The debris in the shipwreck field was significantly smaller, and therefore harder to detect, than we expect to find with MH370,” Chief Commissioner Dolan said.
“The ATSB has put in place systems of review and expert quality assurance so we can be certain that the quality of search data meets the high standards we have specified,” said Chief Commissioner Dolan. “We selected Fugro on their capacity to meet those standards.”

As part of its quality assurance process, the ATSB has enlisted the expertise of Sherrell Ocean Services founded by Andrew Sherrell, one of the leading sonar search specialists in the world, who has worked on a number of commercial air investigations, including the search and recovery of Air France 447, TWA 800, and Egypt Air 990.

Mr Sherrell has been involved as the Quality Assurance Manager in many elements of the search for MH370, beginning with the tender process and continuing with the planning of the search and review of the gathered sonar data. Mr Sherrell said he is confident that the appropriate technology is being used.

“The equipment was tested thoroughly in ocean trials at a purpose-built test range to ensure the maximum swath width without compromising the detection capability. Fugro’s faster-than-average tow speed enables them to scan significant amounts of sea floor per operational day. As a result, we are seeing substantial coverage with the required level of resolution,” said Mr Sherrell.

“We have a rigorous and thorough quality assurance program that ensures appropriate overlap between adjacent swaths and positioning of each line as well. We are achieving very accurate and consistent results with a new state-of-the-art positioning system that gives us full confidence in the towfish position, even 9km behind the vessel.

“Furthermore, we verify this system by using the accurate bathymetry maps collected during Phase 1 of this search. By matching specific features on the seafloor, we can ensure that the positions being calculated are correct, and we do this for every single line of data collected. We also perform feature matching with the side scan sonar data between adjacent lines to ensure sufficient overlap of data is maintained. This is also done on every line as it is collected, with any deficiencies documented and catalogued.
“In addition, Fugro are using multibeam sonar to supplement the side scan sonar equipment; this covers the traditional “nadir” gap directly below the towfish. The multibeam ensures more complete coverage of the seafloor it passes over. This is optimising our rate of progress, and is a feature that is not available on some older systems that are still in use by other organisations.”

Without this type of system, a much higher percentage of seafloor would need to be covered twice to fill in this missing data. Duplicating coverage of the seafloor not only increases the cost of the search, but also the time required to cover the search area. Using a multibeam sonar in this way is a very efficient technique for covering large areas of seafloor.

“The challenges remain,” Chief Commissioner Dolan said. “The search zone is remote, the weather and sea conditions are difficult  and the search area is vast, but I’ve never had any doubt about the capabilities of Fugro, their commitment to the mission or their professionalism.”

 No comment..P2

[Gobbledock]

Dear Senator Heffernan,

Subject: Budget Estimates May 2015


I write regarding some information given at Senate Estimates on May 28, some details of which were unintentionally inaccurate and could be misinterpreted.

In response to a question from Senator Rice in relation to the Integrated Marine Observing System acoustic detections around the time of the loss of MH370, I stated that there was a detection approximately an hour after the aircraft exhausted its fuel in a north-westerly direction - towards Diego Garcia and the Maldives.

This evidence may have been misleading and I wish to tender further information in relation to the analysis of acoustic detections in the search for MH370.

Low frequency hydro-acoustic signals present in the Indian Ocean were examined between March and June 2014 to determine whether they could provide any information to help define the search area. These signals were recorded by hydrophones as part of the United Nations Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) or the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS).

Recordings of low-frequency underwater acoustic signals from data loggers and hydrophones off the WA coast (these hydrophones are located in the Perth Canyon to the west of Rottnest Island not Carnarvon as I stated) were retrieved and analysed by Curtin University's Centre for Marine Science and Technology during the search for MH370.

The ATSB requested the Curtin University Centre for Marine Science and Technology CMST) and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation to analyse these signals in an attempt to detect and localise underwater sounds that could be associated with the impact of the aircraft on the water or with the implosion of wreckage as the aircraft sank.

One acoustic event of interest was identified that occurred at a time that could have potentially linked it to MH370. This event appeared to have been received just after 0130 UTC on 8 March 2014 on one of the IMOS recorders near the Perth Canyon (RCS) and at the CTBTO hydro-acoustic station at Cape Leeuwin (HA01 ). A detailed analysis of these signals resulted in an approximate localisation for the source of the event. Based on the propagation speed of acoustic signals, the timing of the event was compatible with the time of the last satellite handshake with the aircraft, which occurred at approximately 0019 UTC, shortly before the aircraft is calculated to have entered the ocean. The location of this acoustic event was, however, incompatible with the satellite to aircraft range derived from the handshake.

Using the three hydrophones from the Cape Leeuwin station, Curtin University subsequently calculated a precise bearing that showed the signal came from the northwest, in the central Indian Ocean, with the most likely location calculated to be 5.93°S, 77.22°E with a corresponding time of the event approximately of 0039 UTC.

There is however uncertainty about where the event occurred and therefore about the time taken for the signal to arrive at the hydrophone array.

In summary, all the acoustic events recorded around the time of the likely splashdown of MH370 were carefully analysed. The one event which may have occurred close to the right time came from a direction in the Indian Ocean which was not compatible with the data derived about the aircraft's position from the satellite handshakes.

I apologise for the inaccuracy and trust that this clarifies the matter.

Let me guess Beaker, it was whales humping?? FFS Beaker, just ask the Chinese or the Americans for copies of their underwater transcripts and satellite data. It will be a lot more accurate and we all know they have it! Then again perhaps ask the Skipper of that British nuclear sub that just happenned to coincidentally pop up in the original search grid......

Tick tick tick....

[Gobbledock]

Our boy is at it again, the beard on/beard off 'freak of facial hair' gets his name up in lights. This time explaining the root cause of a 2013 Antarctic whirlybird prang. Beaker just loves the media attention. However his only experience with 'whiteout' is when his Business Class Champagne froths, bubbles and sprays into his eyes while he experience turbulence during yet another international work trip (holiday). Follow the below link to read some mi mi mi;

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-25...ed/6494792

Perhaps the aviation knowledgeable and incredibly gifted buffoon from Canberra can also provide some modern insight on the 1977 Erebus accident? After all, he is about as talented as Chippendale and about as honest as Muldoon. Then again with all this fame he may head to the big screen in a new Muppet movie, perhaps 'Beaker Does Malaysia' (sounds like porn though and nobody wants to see his pimply ass and tiny strudel), or 'Beaker Does Norfolk'?

"Mainstream Beaker commentary for all"

[Peetwo]

And again today Gobbles!! And will wonders never cease, he actually submitted a SR to a regulator or two??

Media release

Title
ATSB calls on US and European regulators to act on reducing helicopter fires
 
Date: 04 June 2015
A fatal Robinson R44 helicopter accident has prompted the ATSB to recommend safety improvements to helicopter fuel tanks in the United States and Europe.

Four people died in the March 2013 accident at Bulli Tops in New South Wales. The R44 helicopter they were travelling in was engulfed in fire after striking a tree and hitting the ground.

Following this accident, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and other international regulators, made it mandatory for R44 helicopter operators to replace the R44's all-aluminium fuel tank with a bladder-type fuel tank.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan said that bladder-type fuel tanks reduce the risk of post‑impact fire in the R44. But the ATSB remains concerned at the risk of post-impact fire in helicopters not fitted with crash-resistant fuel systems.

'We believe the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) can help improve the safety of many helicopter pilots and their passengers,' Mr Dolan said.

'We have issued safety recommendations to the FAA and EASA. We ask them to take action to increase the number of crash-resistant fuel systems fitted to existing and newly-manufactured helicopters.

'Under international convention, we would expect to hear from the FAA and EASA about their proposed responses to these recommendations by early September 2015,' Mr Dolan said.

The Bulli Tops accident was similar to other R44 accidents involving fatal post-impact fire that made survivability impossible. In each case, the R44s were fitted with all-aluminium fuel tanks.

Mr Dolan said, 'Statistical analysis of accidents in Australia and the United States over ten years found a higher proportion of post-impact fires involving R44s than for other similar helicopter types.'

The analysis also identified that, despite a 20-year-old requirement for new helicopters to have a crash-resistant fuel system, several helicopter types are being made without such a system. In addition, although modification kits are available for a number of helicopter types, they have not been incorporated in many of the existing civil helicopter fleet.
The ATSB's report into the Bulli Tops accident (AO-2013-055), released today, is available from the ATSB website.

 
Also covered by Hitch..  

The R44 crash site at Bulli Tops. Note the broken tree branches at the top right. (ATSB)



ATSB calls for FAA and EASA to act on Heli Safety
04 Jun 2015

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has called on US and European regulators to improve the safety of helicopter fuel systems.

The call comes as the ATSB today released the investigation report into the fatal crash of an R44 at Bulli Tops, NSW, in March 2013.

R44s have been subject to directives that require the standard aluminium fuel tanks to be replaced with bladders. The aluminium tanks have been blamed for several post-crash fires because they tend to split open on impact.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan said the bladder tanks reduce the risk of post-impact fires in R44s, but the ATSB remains concerned that aircraft not yet fitted with the modification remain at risk.

"We believe the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) can help improve the safety of many helicopter pilots and their passengers," he said.

"We have issued safety recommendations to the FAA and EASA. We ask them to take action to increase the number of crash-resistant fuel systems fitted to existing and newly-manufactured helicopters.

"Under international convention, we would expect to hear from the FAA and EASA about their proposed responses to these recommendations by early September 2015."

Robinson R44 VH-HWQ had just landed at a convention centre at Bulli Tops on 21 March 2013 when it became airborne again and drifted towards trees. After the rotor struck branches, the aircraft impacted the ground and rolled over. A fuel fire then prevented bystanders from rescuing the four people on board.

Damage to the helicopter cabin prevented the ATSB from determining why the helicopter became airborne again, but the report suggests is was most likely due to accidental cyclic or collective input.

The full report is available on the ATSB website.

 
MTF..P2

[crankybastards]

This dude can't handle what he's supposed to focus on here. What makes him think the Europeans or Americans take him seriously enough to read what he has to say. This self indulgence is for local consumption and personally, I find it distasteful and indigestible. Media tart baying for attention.

And that's put me off tart's forever.

[Gobbledock]

Beaker is indeed out to make a name for himself as a talented Investigative guru!! How much media can one prostitute ones self for?? However I hate to tell him but the Robbo fuel tank issue is old news. The Widowmaker has incinerated too many fellow pilots already, for a number of years, and the fix has been very slow due to 'international political' agendas. And lets not forget that Fort Fumble had to be dragged by the cuff yelling and screaming until they received adverse media attention and were forced to act. Sadly it was too late for some of our Pilots who died unnecessarily due to the piece of shit tank design, and then the cost of replacing the tanks with new bladders fell onto the operator FFS! Every chopper pilot and their first year engineering apprentice know about the issue, so as much as Beaker may have 'proactively petitioned EASA and the FAA to mandate changes', they will do as they please when they please, and won't be listening the facially furry mi mi mi-er from down under! But nice try Beaker, mixing with the big kids, but be careful you don't get sand kicked in your face again  

P.S Herr Cranky, I agree, Beaker is the type of 'tart' that makes one feel nauseous and put off tarts for life. However several times per year there are festivals aboard the Styx Houseboat in which plenty of tarts are shared around. It's a social and cultural experience, and the Beaker type tart is excluded. If Herr Cranky you are a good boy I will see if the Ferryman can spare you an invite. Cheers.