[Peetwo]

Courtesy Planetalking:

 

  


MH370 search will be extended if current zone proves empty

Ben Sandilands | Apr 16, 2015 4:14PM


A moderate sea state for Fugro Discovery, one of the search vessels

The next of kin of the victims of missing flight MH370 have been informed by text message that the ocean floor search will continue if nothing is found within the current priority search zone by a sonar scanning exercise due to finish by the end of next month.

However there is no official word  yet from the tripartite talks being held in Kuala Lumpur today between the search partners, Malaysia, China, and Australia, which is managing the search in an area located six days sailing time southwest of Fremantle in the southern Indian Ocean.

The talks are being held to review the search to date and decide on the further course of the quest to locate and retrieve wreckage from the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER which vanished early in a flight between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing on 8 March 2014.
Receipt of the text message by some of the relatives of the 239 people who were on board the flight is being reported by ChannelNews Asia.

According to these early reports a further 60,000 square kilometers of sea floor lying along or near the so called 7th arc of potential crash sites will be examined by deep sea towed sonar scanning devices if the current similarly sized priority area is exhausted without result by late in May.

& update... :

MH370 search extension comes with a not so subtle hint


Ben Sandilands | Apr 16, 2015 5:51PM


No wreckage means no closure for furious next of kin

While there were no surprises in the official statement at the end of today’s tripartite review of the MH370 search, there was one not so subtle hint from Australia’s deputy PM Warren Truss.

Mr Truss said he was confident that the search effort would find the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 ER ” if it is there”.

This is a significant change from the prior official line that ‘it is there, although precisely where is the issue’.

However the expected headline announcement, previously sent by text to the next of kin of the 239 people who disappeared with the jet when it diverted from its KL to Beijing flight on 8 March last year, is that there would be a phase two extension of the search if the current priority zone turns up nothing by the end of this May.

Mr Truss said phase two if needed would involve another 60,000 square kilometres of deep water towed sonar scanning of sea bed, which would on completion mean ALL of the area deemed most likely to contain the wreckage of the jet would have been searched.

Malaysia’s transport minister, Liow Tiong Lai, said the search so far had found 220 category three, six category two and a single category one object of interest on the ocean floor, all of which could have been from MH370 and on closer examination were found to be natural objects or from shipping.

Going through the comments made at the media briefing, Mr Truss also mentioned that the  search effort would not just find any wreckage if it was there, but was ‘within the range of the equipment’. This appears to be recognition that in the very deepest or most complex parts of the sea floor, in places up to 6500 metres  below the surface, and with 2000 metre cliffs, it could be that MH370 might be missed.

This concern has been mentioned in passing on several occasions in recent months.

And finally the DPM Truss media release:

MH370 Third Tripartite Ministerial Meeting

Media Release
WT107/2015
16 April 2015


Senior Ministers from Malaysia, Australia and the People's Republic of China met today to discuss the next steps in the search for MH370.
Malaysian Minister of Transport, Mr Liow Tiong Lai, chaired the meeting with the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Warren Truss MP, and the Chinese Minister of Transport, Mr Yang Chuantang.

Ministers acknowledged and expressed their appreciation to the nations that have provided assets, expertise and assistance for the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 over the past year.

Ministers also acknowledged the grief and sense of loss felt by the families and friends of those lost on board flight MH370. Ministers recognised the importance of the continuous communication to the Next-of-Kin in line with the governments' commitment to keep the families apprised of the latest developments.

The Ministers were given a detailed briefing on the thorough and rigorous work being undertaken to search for the aircraft. Discussions included details of the technology used in the underwater search, assessment and analysis of data collected, classification of sonar contacts as well as the challenges and risks in the search operations in such a remote and difficult location in extreme depths.

While acknowledging the significant work undertaken to date and that about 40 percent of the current search area is yet to be completed, Ministers acknowledged the importance of continuing the planning for next steps in the search. In this regard, the discussion focused on the recovery arrangements if the aircraft is found as well as the next steps if the aircraft is not found in the current search area of 60,000 square kilometres. Ministers agreed that it is critical to have arrangements in place to enable a timely and effective response for both scenarios.

In the event the aircraft is found and accessible, Ministers agreed to plans for recovery activities, including securing all the evidence necessary for the investigation in accordance with the requirements of Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention.

Should the aircraft not be found within the current search area, Ministers agreed to extend the search by an additional 60,000 square kilometres to bring the search area to 120,000 square kilometres and thereby cover the entire highest probability area identified by expert analysis. Ministers recognise the additional search area may take up to a year to complete given the adverse weather conditions in the upcoming winter months. Upon completion of the additional 60,000 square kilometres, all high probability search areas would have been covered.

Ministers remain committed to bring closure and some peace to the families and loved ones of those on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, recognising the positive and productive nature of the ongoing collaboration. All three countries reiterated their commitments to use best efforts in the search for the aircraft.

Ministers also emphasised that the families of the passengers and crew remain a priority and the governments will continue to provide updates whenever new information is available on the developments and outcomes of the search operations.

• Map showing the expanded search area
  

MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

FFS, why don't the Yanks or the Chinese just hand over the evidence they have as to where the plane finally went in????? One of these nations knows where it went in. When the Governments of today have the technology to detect a skidmark in your underpants as they hang on the washing line, or they can hear the sound of two ants humping from 10,000 metres I don't believe for millisecond that someone doesn't know where it is.

Bollocks

[Peetwo]

FFS, why don't the Yanks or the Chinese just hand over the evidence they have as to where the plane finally went in????? One of these nations knows where it went in. When the Governments of today have the technology to detect a skidmark in your underpants as they hang on the washing line, or they can hear the sound of two ants humping from 10,000 metres I don't believe for millisecond that someone doesn't know where it is.

Bollocks

Gold..pure gold Gobbles!   There is so much that various DIPs in their official capacity are not telling us, makes you wonder what is so bad that they are now all tarnished by association with the Malaysian Government's blatant obfuscation/cover-up of the tragic disappearance of MH370???

Moving on to a bit more local coverage of yesterday's Tripartite meeting.

From the OZ:

Searchers still sure they’ll locate flight MH370 debris  


April 17, 2015 12:00AM

Steve Creedy

Aviation Editor
Sydney




A ship’s crew work into the night to prepare a Dragon Prince seabed sonar towfish in the search for evidence of MH370. Source: Supplied
 
International and Australian experts are still convinced the remains of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are on the seabed in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia, despite contingency plans to double the search area.  

A meeting in Kuala Lumpur of transport ministers from Aust­ralia, China and Malaysia yesterday signed off on a plan to search a ­further 60,000sq km if the search of the current 60,000sq km high priority area fails to locate any ­debris by the time it ends late next month or in early June.

The additional search area is a high probability zone and it is understood experts believe there is a 95 per cent chance the plane is located somewhere in the 120,000sq km.

“The experts are so confident that we’re searching in the right place that they don’t countenance that there’s any other possibilities really,’’ Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss told The Australian yesterday. “And they keep re­doing the work and keep coming up with the same answers.’’

The search has been under way in the southern Indian Ocean off Western Australia since last year and the four vessels now involved had earlier this week covered about 61 per cent of the search area.

While the strip of seabed near to the so-called seventh arc was considered the area most likely to contain the wreckage, the variability in the analyses used to reach this conclusion means it could be outside this area.

The analysis was done by an international team of specialists who independently cross-checked the methodology but also worked collaboratively. They were drawn from air safety investigation organisations from Britain, the US and Malaysia, as well as Inmarsat, Thales, Boeing and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

The complex analyses of the handshakes, or communication pings, between the plane and an Inmarsat geostationary satellite was combined with assumptions about where the plane turned and how the Boeing 777-200ER kept flying until its fuel was exhausted.
The handshakes allowed scientists to initially calculate how far the plane was from the satellite when the contact was made; the characteristics of the B777 allowed them to stipulate where on the circle defined by that radius the plane was capable of reaching. This produced two arcs, one to the north and one to the south.

More complex analyses using Doppler shift, where frequency increases when two objects are moving towards each other but decreases when they are moving away, pointed to the southern arc in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia.

A problem for the searchers included the fact that the analyses generated thousands of possible tracks across a broad area.

The consensus was the highest priority search area extended along the arc for 650km with a width of 93km. The search area of 60,000sq km compared with 17,000sq km for the downed Air France flight 447, which ­squawked information as it hit problems but still took almost two years to find.

Mr Truss said suggestions that the aircraft had been seen in the Maldives were not credible and it was likely the reports involved a different aircraft.

“There are a million other ­stories about secretly landing in Russia or somewhere, but none of that has got any credibility,’’ he said. “The expert panels all around the world are so convinced that the satellite connections and ­seventh arc is where it is, they’re talking about basically zero per cent options for anything else.’’

Asked about the lack of debris from MH370 in the search area, Mr Truss said searchers in the Air France case had not found any surface debris 10 days after the crash, while the search near the seventh arc only started on the 11th day.

“So in reality, from the Air France experience, it would have all sunk to the bottom by the time we started the search,’’ he said.

The Kuala Lumpur meeting of Mr Truss, Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai and Chinese Transport Minister Yang Chuantang also agreed to set the groundwork for a recovery operation if the plane was found.

Australia has already identified potential suppliers for the sophisticated underwater robotic equipment that would be needed and Mr Truss said an operation could be in place within a couple of months.

Hmm...old Wazza seemed quite upbeat?? His minders obviously went to a great deal of effort to see that he was so well briefed that he couldn't drift into one of his usual vagaries & off message - examples....

..“The experts are so confident that we’re searching in the right place that they don’t countenance that there’s any other possibilities really,’’ Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss told The Australian yesterday. “And they keep re­doing the work and keep coming up with the same answers.’’..

..."There are a million other ­stories about secretly landing in Russia or somewhere, but none of that has got any credibility,’’ he said. “The expert panels all around the world are so convinced that the satellite connections and ­seventh arc is where it is, they’re talking about basically zero per cent options for anything else.’’...

...“So in reality, from the Air France experience, it would have all sunk to the bottom by the time we started the search,’’ he said...

      
Q/ Wonder if the so-called experts.. .. will be taking a look at Bobby Urlich's latest -  Addendum #4 ~ Contrail Data/New Route Fit - when considering the extended search parameters?? At least Bobby's new route theory gives a true starting point for the turn south towards the SIO. Probably bears expert examination on that basis alone. 

I also see that David Learmount is under the impression that the next phase (i.e. the additional 60,000 sqkm) will incorporate his favoured expert calculation, that of Captain Simon Hardy:

The last chance to find MH370?
By David Learmount on 16 April, 2015

In its just-released message saying that they are extending the MH370 search area, the Malaysian, Australian and Chinese authorities have not been specific about the precise geographical parameters of the extension.

But it looks as if the search will finally begin to encompass the area just beyond the south-western end of the Seventh Arc published search area, which is where Capt Simon Hardy’s mathematical calculations (published in December 2014 by Flightglobal) suggest it is most likely to be found.

This is a positive development, because Hardy’s calculations are by far the most plausible argument for the location of the lost aircraft. Nobody, including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau which is leading the search operation, has challenged the mathematical integrity of his calculations in the four months since publication.

In other words, if we are ever going to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, this is where we should be looking. If it is not there – and it might not be – there is a case for giving up the search.

The calculations, including those of the ATSB and of Hardy himself, have had to start with some assumptions. If the assumptions are wrong, so is the search area.

But absolutely nowhere else is indicated. Not by data it isn’t.

The ATSB says the search will have to be abandoned during the southern hemisphere winter, which gives the ships at least another month of useful work.

If, by that time, the aircraft has not been located, the search will resume again when the weather recovers, and the ATSB says it will continue searching until the “highest probability area” has been entirely covered.

There is no money for a search directed according to conspiracy theories or “what if” scenarios.  

MTF...P2

[Kharon]

In good faith.  That is quite a serious and 'binding' statement.  It implies, amongst other things, that one may believe that the purveyor, be it of goods, services or information, is Kosher (Halal if it pleases); in other words – is genuine, honest, trust worthy, ridgey didge, sound, true blue, fair dinkum and all the other one thousand and one methods of expressing faith, trust; and, an expectation of decency from ones fellow man (or Spousal Equivalent Unit). The most decent of human kind, unless under orders or duress, will behave in the ways of good faith and honesty: 'less they're bent.  Caveat Emptor.  One of the two problems I have dealing with the MH 370 tragedy is the absence of believing – in good faith.  

Warning – impeding ramble........  

The other, slightly more oblique is the escalating notion that both search and responsibility for the decisions made are Australia's.   I could live with that precept: provided Angus Houston and JAAC were 'front running'.  But they are not; certainly not publicly, it's all ATSB, Dolan and the 'Australian' Dolan decisions.  The Australian ATSB – this; the Australian ATSB that – all bollocks, all smoke viewed through mirrors.  But the world media are now quoting 'Australia' as the guiding light, Dolan the decision maker, banker and search 'Boss'.  - Bollocks - If they only knew eh? Dolan could not: not on his best day; find a cat, in a cathouse with a candle.  Would someone remind me just who's aircraft is lost, who is responsible for providing fact, data and such evidence as is available? I seem to forget.

I despair (well worry - a bit, sometimes) when I see hard work, honest thought, careful consideration, solid logic, nice calculation and freely donated intellectual property, fruit of countless man-(and woman)- hours unstintingly donated being denigrated as the imaginings of 'tendentious bloggers' and other riff raff.  The great, the good, the bad; and, even the self serving, wise ideas - all cast against the Dolan indifference and arrogance.  Publicly dismissed, by him, without consideration and it is not even his call.  Where are the Malaysian representatives, their experts, those responsible for analysing, then rejecting or adopting the better notions and standing by those decisions; - look toward the back door.  

The Malaysians are already heading toward the shadows, as Australia is eased more and more into the spot light glare; they'll be out of the back door as soon as the brawl starts.  Someone should have a quiet 'word' with the PM.   Forget grabbing the headlines; do not; not for a moment think you can win the bout (or votes) by competing in this arena. How long do you think it will be before the blame for a lack of progress, or searching in the wrong area becomes Australia's fault because the wrong man, made the wrong decisions; or, rejected a valid theory.  It does not have to be true; not for the press and what a handy scapegoat we will make, when push inevitably comes to shove.  Indeed, if this is a criminal act, then all bets are off.  Stop the search until it is known what was actually done, by who, to whom, why and who paid the bill.   

If the current search is standing down for the winter; the Malaysian government could use the down time to call up a think tank, examine every bit of evidence, fact and theory.  Correlate, compare, cross check and test, then use that data to re define the search area, accept the responsibility for making that decision and 'front' the project.  Better that than allowing the blame to fall squarely in Australia's lap.  

All the protection Australia needs is prescribed in ICAO Annexe 13, perhaps someone could read it and just this once, then use it, exactly as it is intended to be used.  

End of ramble.. Toot .toot...

[Gobbledock]

Kharon I agree - It is a Malaysian plane that has disappeared, so why aren't Malaysia leading the charge?? Why let a two-bit pony pooh outfit in Australia, which is led by a bean counting bearded/beardless Beaker who couldn't find his piss-horn in the dark? So it's really not a dilemma that is that complex really;

a) either the Malaysians are absolutely and unequivocally stupid and don't have the ability to find a mouse in a mousetrap, or:

b) they are very astute buggers and are acting like a child in need and hence been allowed to delegate the role to team Beaker as they know that Beaker and Co will fail?  

Then there is the third possibility and it could be that there is indeed some kind of high level conspiracy amongst several of the worlds most powerful/influential nations to cover this incident up. But for that to be the case there would have to be a very serious agenda behind this entire tragedy? Where's Julian Assange when you need him??

Either way you look at it the entire episode does not stack up, it follows no logical path (that is identifiable at this stage), and the actions (or inaction) of Malaysia and other involved is 'beyond reason'.

Tick tick tick

[Kharon]

Two bob's worth of idle speculation please.
Not sure if it's the politicians themselves, their 'advisors' or a combined effort which leaves the bad aftertaste.  Abbott may well have believed that MH 370 would be a happy paddle through a shallow, publicity rich, image building puddle.  Well, look before you leap is not a bad maxim, he is now in a deep, dark pit surrounded by unseen, voracious dangerous beasts.  Can his support crew dig him out – high drama indeed.  Before we watch the last scene and discover if it is to be a happy ending or a tear jerker; we need to work out how our hero landed in so perilous a state.  Herewith my idle speculative twiddle:-

News – High drama, mysterious disappearance of a passenger jet.  May have landed in the Australian SAR region.  Big headlines – huge.  Everyone assumed that this was a bog standard straightforward SAR event and just a matter of getting our resources into the right area.  Bringing in the excellent AMSA, Houston and our peerless SAR teams was the right and proper thing to do; bonus, lots and lots of lovely international coverage and photo opportunities.  So far – so good; and, apart from a couple of gaffs, Abbott made good mileage out of the event.
 
Real speculation from here; maybe the 'spooks' whispered to Abbott that all was not as it should be, nor was it what it seemed, Houston would be privy to that briefing.  From here we need to use a little imagination.  But let's assume the Murky Machiavellian Merde team were not privy to the spooks gabfest; but coincidentally needed to regain some kudos for their powerful department image which looked very shabby after being knocked in to a cocked hat by the Senators.  Credit, points and ego all, at low water.  Hmm, how to grab a share of the limelight?
 
A possible solution was through MH 370.  But, the AMSA were doing a splendid job of an ocean search and as there was not an airframe in sight, the ATSB act was back stage, licking it's wounds, wallowing in shame and desperate to have it's ego stroked. 
 
Serendipity came to the rescue – DoIT on a repair mission, Beaker in the dog house, Houston looking for a way out of the forecast pooh storm.  The die was cast – Exeunt Houston, stage left to a standing ovation; enter Beaker, stage right to whispers of "WTF is the Muppet doing up there".   Cue music, lights, camera: and;  'Action'.
 
The Malaysians are nowhere near dopey; a step to right out of the spotlight leaves the embarrassing Beaker centre stage, doing his Uriah Heep soliloquy.  When the brickbats are thrown, with any luck at all, he'll get hit with everyone of them – hard and often. 
 
Enough -  All idle speculation on my part, a twiddle to amuse, while away the time, ward off boredom between first and second coffee.  How about a time warp then, if not ET?

 
 
Bugger I'll be singing that all day now..
 
Toot toot.

[ventus45]

kharon

Real speculation from here; maybe the 'spooks' whispered to Abbott that all was not as it should be, nor was it what it seemed, Houston would be privy to that briefing.  From here we need to use a little imagination.  But let's assume the Murky Machiavellian Merde team were not privy to the spooks gabfest; but coincidentally needed to regain some kudos for their powerful department image which looked very shabby after being knocked in to a cocked hat by the Senators.  Credit, points and ego all, at low water.  Hmm, how to grab a share of the limelight?

You may be closer than you think Mr kharon.
If, as you suggest, the whole thing is "spook driven", it would explain a few things.
Engage Imagination Mode - Max.

Hypothetically, if there are actually big national interests of powerful states at stake here, I am pretty sure that the last person who would be told anything "really sensitive", by a major player, would be Abbott.  
It always struck me as a bit odd, that:-

1.  The originally famous, but now forgotten, "two tracks" of 400 and 450 knots, should have been produced so early, and allegedly, attributed to the NTSB.  The source data, clearly, was not from Inmarsat.

2.  The White House itself, drove the search to the SIO, while the Malaysians were dithering with "possible" radar indications.

3.  That AMSA, which, once the SIO had become the focus, and had been doing a professional job, was so suddenly, and so unserimoniously "dumped", and usurped, by a new, you could even consider it "novel" (did Sir Humphrey, or Jim Hacker, or "my good lady" emmigrate here ?) um, search co-ordination organisation, no, "agency", apparently very small, and indeed, very secretive, created, out of the blue, so suddenly, and without precedent.  Amazing really.  "Very Brave" - Prime Minister. Then again, perhaps not.

4.  In any case, someone had to be found to head this new beast.  He had to have some public "cred", but more importantly, he had to be "reliable", someone who can keep his mouth shut.  
Only one candidate springs to mind ?  

So, an only recently retired, ex Chief of Defence (but otherwise employed) with very close and long standing links to certain major players, was seemingly "drafted", and put in charge of said novel organisation.

Perhaps a very powerful state told Abbott to create the agency and get the man (well, suggested, or perhaps reccomended, or strongly recomended, or ....shirt-fronted, perhaps, behind closed doors ?) on the basis that, there are serious issues at stake here mate, never you mind about the details (Joe B from Brizzy would have understood !!), we will only talk to Angus.  Perhaps Abbott had little choice but to comply ?

So, it's all set up pronto, and AH gets the job and the brief.
Then, only days later, those supposed fdr/cvr pings, are almost miraculously run_over/found/heard, by a PLA ship heading down the 7th arc.
Media goes wild.
Pictures of rubber duckie, sailors, and hand held Dukane detector.
Credible ?
Only to idiots.
But "the show" goes on.
The "race" is on in earnest.
The batteries will only last for thirty days.
The towed pinger locater is flown out from state-side, arrives on scene, and gets more media air time and bullshit than anthing ever before.
Meanwhile, Ocean Shield races to the west, embarkes the TPL-25, and deploys, with much more fun and fanfare for the media.
"Contact" !  Two contacts - three !!
Scan and rescan.
Then silence.
No more pings.
Return to port.
Embark the Bluefin-21 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.
Redeploy.
Dive, search, dive again, repeat........
Days pass.
Nothing.
Return to port.
Analysis of what was heard continues ashore.
Weeks pass.

And finally, it is revealed.
Oh, um, not quite sure how to tell you this, but, um, well, you see, it's like this, um, sorry.
It turns out that, um, you know, those pings, were not the real deal, actually, they were the wrong frequency.
Um, we think they might have been scientific trackers, you know, scientist use them, to track, um, marine life, um, sorry.

Meanwhile, anything that may have been floating in the deep south, is long, long gone, to the bottom.
Now isn't that a shame.

Abbott-Hacker: What now ?
Humphry: We need a proven, proficient, obfuscator, to carry this forward, Prime Minister.
Hacker: Any takers ?
Humphry: None come to mind Prime Minister.  Any suggestions Bernard ?
Bernard: Perhaps - Beaker - Sir Humphry
Humphry: Bernard - somtimes you do surprise me !!   Excellent Man that Beaker Prime Minister !!
Hacker: Will he do it ?
Humphry: Of couse he will.
Bernard: I have him in the ante room Sir Humphry.
Humphry: Flabbergasted - Well wheel him in !!
Bernard: opens door ..........
Mimi, Mimi, Mimi, Mimi, Mimi, Mimi !!!!

And the show goes on ..................

[Gobbledock]

Warning!! The below article contains pictures of Truss playing handsies and Beaker (complete with beard). The article also contains musings and mi mi mi from Beaker;

http://mobile.news.com.au/travel/travel-...7315872082

So there you have it, the 'font of knowledge', the maestro of facial hair, leads the way by telling us they are now going to undertake some tasks that they should've considered 12 months ago!

Mi mi mi.......Muppet!!

[Peetwo]

Warning!! The below article contains pictures of Truss playing handsies and Beaker (complete with beard). The article also contains musings and mi mi mi from Beaker;

http://mobile.news.com.au/travel/travel-...7315872082

So there you have it, the 'font of knowledge', the maestro of facial hair, leads the way by telling us they are now going to undertake some tasks that they should've considered 12 months ago!

Mi mi mi.......Muppet!!

Geez Gobbles beardless Beaker one minute..then Beaker resplendent with full greying beard the next?? Bit like the regurgitated MMSM story to which you link, here it was earlier in the week with a few different details in the Irish Independent news:

Probe boss 'hopeful' of finding missing MH370 Malaysian Airlines plane

Published 17/04/2015 | 02:30



Open Gallery 1Government ministers from Australia, China and Malaysia said they would double the search area for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 if wreckage is not found in the current target area. Photo: Reuters

Martin Dolan, an Australian career civil servant, has had to get to grips quickly with the murky world of maritime accident investigation.

As the man in charge of the search for the missing MH370 Malaysian Airlines plane, he has also had to work out how to motivate a team searching for months for debris in vast, dangerous and seemingly hopeless waters. But he remains upbeat.

"Do I expect to find the aircraft when I wake up every day? The answer is, I don't expect to, I hope to... but over the period between now and May, we expect to find the aircraft in the search area," he said, speaking from the Australian Transport Safety Board's headquarters in Canberra.

He said this is because he is getting more hopeful, rather than less, after months of disappointment, because he believes that success is closer as more ground is covered.

The prize is a big one: answers to the tragic mystery of what happened to MH370, the passenger jet which disappeared complete with 239 passengers and crew on board on March 8, 2014.

After a surface search for debris failed in the immediate aftermath of the accident, a more in-depth search involving a complex plan has been in place. However, despite all the massive resources and painstaking efforts nothing of substance has been seen or heard of the plane or the passengers since it vanished.

Irish Independent

 
This was the comment this article drew from Ben Sandilands on twitter...

"...Always entertaining to see him claiming to be doing anything other than following instructions from KL..."

What I found interesting about that article was the date & time - 17 April 02:30. Was that Irish dateline time or Canberra time?? If Canberra time, WTF was Beaker doing on the blower at such an ungodly hour & does that also mean that the muppet was left at home while the miniscule traipsed off to the KL Tripartite meeting?? And what journo worth his salt would dare to ring a foreign country public official after midnight (Oz EST) for an interview??

Choccy frogs for ventus & "K" both excellent, speculative posts...the muppet being the fall guy certainly makes sense to me...

MTF...P2       

 

[Gobbledock]

Beakers advanced beard hair, yeah yeah!
The mystique of Beakers on again off again facial hair is almost as puzzling as the aircrafts disappearance!

- Perhaps 'Hair Beaker' (get it, Hair Beaker??) likes to change his facial appearance every time he changes the search grid for the missing plane?
- Maybe Beaker is imitating the Karate Kid - beard on, beard off, beard on, beard off?
- Does he grow the beard during the chilly Can'tberra winters, then shaves it off during the warm Can'tberra months when temps top 12 degrees?
- Has he caught some kind of facial skin disease, the type that occurs when one spends too much time with ones face mashed against a Ministers crusty white ass?
- Is the beard used as a loofah for Farmers Truss's back?
- Is the beard a good luck charm, something that he grows before flying internationally?
- Does Beaker have a 'beard MOU' with the Witchdoctor?
- Is Beaker trying to look like Hugh Jackman, the ATsB Wolverine?

Too many possibilities, too much to ponder...

[Kharon]

PAIN lodged with the Senate committee a serious objection to ATSB and Sangston investigating the Pel-Air report - here-; in that document the ICAO rules are mentioned with regard to Directly Interested Parties (DIP).  It believe it's time to stop pissing about and for those DIP with lots of skin in the game to assert their right to be involved.  Australia has an obligation, certainly; but China has a very direct interest.  

“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.”  Bonaparte.

Perhaps it's time the sleepy dragon flexed it's political muscles and took an active role.  Clever folk the Chinese, industrious, intelligent and not without influence.  Either that or find a honest, independent broker to manage the whole shooting match.  This is a SAR job, pure and simple not a political points scoring opportunity.  FFS – the relatives of 240 people are at the very least entitled to a honest appraisal; good news or bad, no matter; with the truth they can at least move forward, not trapped in a time warp waiting, waiting.  

But if I were one of the waiting, I would hate to think my happiness and well being relied on either the ATSB or it's masters.  
>. >. >.>...  

Ventus 45 – Choc frog, first post.  I'm still smiling.  On second thought and another smile; cancel the CF, have a Tim Tam, for imagination, wit, humour and a very canny response.  Well done - Thank you........

GD – Maybe it's all to do with being 'hare brained'; or perhaps, not having all the essential fixtures required for manhood, thus depriving him of the pleasure of growing fur in that region, it is a compensation thing; maybe the trick cyclists could properly explain it..... 


Toot toot.

[Gobbledock]

Perhaps 'Hair Beaker' is a bit like the bible character Samson? Every time Beaker grows his facial hair he receives incredible supernatural investigative powers? He receives amazing testicular strength, he can suddenly speak without mi mi mi-ing and he can make super human bean counting savings far beyond what any other government department can do? Then occasionally pumpkin Head comes along and cuts Beakers beard, rendering him inept and useless like a flaccid penis, like a Carboard cutout, like a Scarecrow, or like Farmer Truss?

Then again, I thought of Herr Truss, Pumkin Head and Hair Beaker when I read this article;

http://mobile.news.com.au/lifestyle/real...7291248835

"Safe field of dreams for all"

[Jacki_Binkley]

An interesting point was brought up at work the other day. Since the disappearance of mh370 we have been lied to from the get go. Malaysia did not see anything on their radar so they had to make it up. Did you know they have an ATC simulator that can run a fictional a/c to make it say what they want?? Is this what they did to match up with the IMST data? The point is they were all asleep, didn't notice they had missing plane til after the fact. Then they had to make up radar path to fit the IMST data, which btw was interpreted wrong, but thats a whole other story I can't get into right now.

Why did Malaysia let the US force their hand and the push the search to the SIO? Why didn't Malaysia keep searching in SCS & GoT, while the Aussies searched to where they thought the plane went according to the data, which was the only thing they were basing that on? Why did the US officials CONFIRM the cell phone pinged a tower? Again one more false piece of info to push the narrative the plane turned back, and what about the mayday call received by Utapao air base for emergency landing due to cabin decompression? The Factual report that just came out wasn't so factual after all, it was missing key items that were in the first report, aka the radar data!! hmmmm

The so-called 7th arc that they are focusing on in the SIO, also runs right through the SCS where the plane actually first disappeared, munch on that one for awhile.
I have believe from the get go that the radar was pure BS from the start, many intelligent folks have proved that it was indeed false, yet so many experts ran with it and then based their assumptions on it, hence the wild good chase in the SIO.

So who has the agenda in this scenario? First Malaysia lied, then bad luck came their way - mh17 and monsoon flooding more bad news for Malaysia along with a corrupt government. Then factor in the US role in this, pushing the SIO by announcing the IMST data from the whitehouse when Hishy denied it. Then also US official coming out with the cell phone pinging a tower. Now US is being plagued by tornadoes, clashes between black people and police forces all over the country causing unrest everywhere. Then we have the lovely ATSB and their cronies....who have been in the spotlight lately with the whole Pel-Air cover up, and mh370 or lack of. Millions of $$ wasted in a search going nowhere fast. Mr. Angus Houston didn't stay long after the ping pong episode because he knew it was a farce. Who is running this side show here anyhow? Not one shred of real evidence has proved this plane went down there, yet the bogus search goes on getting the mapping done of that part of the ocean that had never been scanned before.

Now the Aussies are being hit by major storms affecting everyone, high winds and flooding, very scary stuff indeed. The point I'm trying to make is KARMA baby. It seems as though governments don't care about the actual people who voted them in to their positions in the first place, yet they do things say and do things they shouldn't but get away with it because well, they are the government. So its the people who are suffering from all the government mistakes, because if Karma is a bitch, then Malaysia, USA and Australia are getting it ten-fold. This was the topic of conversation at work and I'd never looked at this way before, some more thoughts to ponder.

Ok off my soapbox again......

[thorn bird]

At what point does a Fairy Tale become a conundrum? At what point does a conundrum morph into an enigma?
All passing strange.

[Sheikh Yer Booti]

I'm not going to try and speculate or discuss potential causes here. There are plenty of experts on satellite technology etc than me here. What I do question, as per my previous post, is why ICAO haven't formed a suitable investigation team to lead the charge. ICAO have plenty of good history in putting qualified experts together for accidents with countries who don't have the necessary skills i.e Malayasia. The Gulf Air A320 off Bahrain was a good example. Also, accidents into Kathmandu with Thai and Pakistan. Beaker certainly does not fit the bill. He's not capable of investigating a coffee spill on the flight deck, yet alone a fatal prang! ICAO WHERE ARE YOU? DO YOU HAVE FAITH IN THE ATSB???? I don't, nor does any qualified accident investigator world wide. I've spoken to the heads of the NTSB and FAA and they are literally rolling around the floor in laughter every time our clown Beaker opens his mouth.

[Gobbledock]

Well ICAO should be interested in this thoroughly embarrassing load of pony pooh, after all they are accountable for this;
" ICAO defines the protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention)". Accepting Beaker and his misfits as being an 'acceptable form of compliance'  with annexe 13 makes me laugh. But remember ICAO does this in conjunction with the Chicago convention.It also does this as it is a component of the United Nations. As a reminder of what the UN is meant to do:-

" The organization is financed by assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states. Its objectives include maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, fostering social and economic development, protecting the environment, and providing humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict". 

Aagh yes, promoting human rights did I read? Well I don't see the rights of the missing air crew, passengers, and loved ones of the missing who are presumed dead, being adequately met, do you?

How long will this unacceptable farcicle mess be allowed to continue by those at the highest levels? Is the UN really a toothless tiger as many have long suspected? Is ICAO also just another toothless tiger that provides nothing more than a nice location for the aviation bureaucracies to visit during the Canadian summer and enjoy herbal tea and caviar while doing a spot of skiing at Whistler??

Polishing is completed and me thinks it is time to crank up the Houseboat engines. Mr Ferryman and Minnie, are you coming?? Toot toot

[Jacki_Binkley]

" The organization is financed by assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states. Its objectives include maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, fostering social and economic development, protecting the environment, and providing humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict". 

<<<<Aagh yes, promoting human rights did I read? Well I don't see the rights of the missing air crew, passengers, and loved ones of the missing who are presumed dead, being adequately met, do you?>>>>>>

Unfortunately this disaster/tragedy has been mislead from the get go.  Yes Malaysia was asleep at the wheel, they did not see a plane in real time, so they had to go back to their radars...again...they had nothing so they made it up.


Then enter Inmarsat.....more fraudsters who push the search out of the SCS all the way down to the SIO.  Did you read that part in the report where it said how many people were running each sector or radar stations?  Well apparently the one in charge at the ATC and primary radar were assistants....nope, no lead controller, only assistants who bungled it too.  Malaysia failed on every level to keep track of that plane.

The worst part of this is that everyone has been duped by IMST and I mean everyone.  This never been used before technology of tracking a plane obviously doesn't work does it?  Or they really screwed up royally and interpreted it all wrong!!!!  I mean how can a plane falling -12800 fpm from 350FL fly anywhere but down?????  3 minutes at that rate where did it go?  There is no conspiracy theory as to what happened to the plane, the only conspiracy theory is what happened after it went down.  And that my friends is the real truth!!!!!

The families are the ones who have been drug thru every kind of yoyo-circus created by incompetence and ignorance of the leaders of this investigation.  If one of my family members had been on this plane, I would be past the point of infuriated and be on the warpath to get the real truth.  They deserve to know what really happened and its time that Malaysia admit to their major screw up and tell the truth.  But unfortunately this group of Najib and his cronies come from a long line of corrupt and arrogant SOBs who would rather eat dirt than admit they screwed up.  These poor families have been living a nightmare that never ends because they can't have any closure.  

It is time for Malaysia to step up and admit their role in this farcicle and also for Inmarsat to admit they also screwed up.  I know I will never step foot in a plane again until these injustices have been served.  Its time for ICAO to step in and do an audit in Malaysia on their practices or lack of training in necessary areas for the safety of all future flight passengers.  Its also time for someone to investigate IMST for their role in this farcicle too.

This should NEVER be allowed to happen ever again!!!  Time for the real investigators to come in and shake up the shenanigans that have gone on far too long.  Time to bring closure to the families.

Ok getting off my soapbox now...

[P7_TOM]

Iron to it's magnet.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Today’s admission by Australian officials that the southern Indian Ocean area where pings were detected is not the crash site of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been described as evidence of “a giant cover-up” by some distraught family members of those on board the missing airliner.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malays...5ObM0.dpuf

The North star of the blame game: Australia – The world and it's wife knows the ATSB management is under a cloud, open to suggestion and easily led astray. Comments ranging between outright corruption to gross incompetence are heard every time ATSB or MH 370 are mentioned in the same sentence.

But still the powers that be insist on centre stage, with all the spotlights facing Dolan. - FCOL someone tackle the fools.

Let us redraft and edit this piece from the Malay Mail to reflect what the world should be reading:-

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Today’s admission by Malaysian officials that the southern Indian Ocean area where pings were detected is not the crash site of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been described as evidence of “a giant cover-up” by some distraught family members of those on board the missing airliner.

Some one give Abbott a shout; tell him the bloody Ostrich house is on fire..Again.... .

[Kharon]

30 days has September.

APRIL, June and November – all the rest have 31.

So, the high level mathematics conclusion is MAY, as the last month of the MH 370 search has 31.

Today – in Australia it is May fifth.  There are now 26 remaining days before someone has to own up and declare themselves wrong and call for an open forum to discuss where the aircraft could be. Who took it, why and who benefited. 

5 days.

Tick, tock.......

[Gobbledock]

It seems that Beaker may have found a new way to top up that pot of money that he just loooooves molesting;

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-13...ck/6467624

Or perhaps they have found the Flying Dutchman? Never mind, the Styx Houseboat is still patrolling the worlds waterways and keeping an eye out for new passengers. I'm pretty sure I have Beakers boarding pass here somewhere.....

Tick tock.....errrrr I mean splish splash

"Safe shipwreck findings for all"