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MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper

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21–30 of 118 posts

Re: MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper

#21
post #9
post #3

people install satellite security systems on $200K cars. Couldn't airlines do the same on a $100M plane.

Yes, and they do. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_dependent_surveillan... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_Communications_Addres... These systems were manually disabled.

Point is a $100 spot device could be added (powered by Li AA's) as a backup system. This would have independent power supply and obviate the "need for cicuit breakers" being accessed. Or something like a lo-jack or whatever. Its completely embarassing to Boeing. Almost as bad as the pilot has a 64mb i phone and the [edit: voice recorders] holds only 2hrs? WTF. An Iphone might not itself survive, but the media allocations for the seem absyrdly low.

Re: MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper

#22

Ignoring for the sake of argument the tragedy of hundreds of people getting murdered / kidnapped, this is the most captivating news event we've had in a while.

Russia invading Ukraine wasn't captivating?

But it doesn't effect my life. Being an avid traveler and flown on a 777 numerous times and flew with Malaysia Airlines I want to know what happened.

Re: MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper

#24

Ignoring for the sake of argument the tragedy of hundreds of people getting murdered / kidnapped, this is the most captivating news event we've had in a while.

I'm curious, is the possibility that the passengers are still alive being discussed by any major news outlet? I have read tons of coverage but the authors implicitly state the passengers are lost.

After all that has happened, anything seems possible. Don't give up hope.

Re: MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper

#26
I may be missing something, but this seems like a very misleading headline.

The actual article states that the plane "dropped 5,000 feet (1,500m)" and later that the "twinjet descended 1,500m or even lower". This simply means that the plane descended by a relatively small amount compared to 35,000 - 40,000 foot cruising altitudes, not that it was skimming the ground at 5,000 feet.

Re: MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper

#28
post #12

> Today, Reuters reports that the last words from the cockpit of missing MH370 – "all right, good night" – were uttered after someone on board had already begun disabling one of the plane's automatic tracking systems.

I wouldn't necessarily read that in and of itself ominously. They said that as they were leaving Malaysian air traffic control jurisdiction. That the ACARS had already been disabled is what's interesting.

Re: MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper

#29

Ignoring for the sake of argument the tragedy of hundreds of people getting murdered / kidnapped, this is the most captivating news event we've had in a while.

I'm curious, is the possibility that the passengers are still alive being discussed by any major news outlet? I have read tons of coverage but the authors implicitly state the passengers are lost.

The only circumstances in which they would be alive would be if it was a hijacking, the plane landed relatively safely, and they were being held hostage & incommunicado somewhere. It does seem the unlikeliest of possibilities at this point.
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