Ace of Spades HQ

March 18, 2014

NBCNews: Flight 370's Westward Turn Began 12 Minutes Before Co-Pilot's "All Right, Good Night" Sign Off
— Ace

That's what NBCNew says. I think it's possible they're overerading this a little, but I'll get to that.

The missing Malaysia Airlines jet's abrupt U-turn was programmed into the on-board computer well before the co-pilot calmly signed off with air traffic controllers, sources tell NBC News.
The change in direction was made at least 12 minutes before co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid said "All right, good night," to controllers on the ground, the sources said.

Here's why I think they're overreading this a little. First, the timeline:

1:07 am: Last ACARS transmission

1:19 am: "All right, good night" signoff

1:37 am: Scheduled ACARS transmission that never came, because ACARS had been disabled

My problem is that they are saying the turn began at 1:07am. We've seen mistakes made before with timing, based on ACARS -- the Malaysians claimed that ACARS was turned off before the signoff, when they really meant it was turned off sometime after 1:07am. "After 1:07am" quickly became at 1:07 am.

I am guessing that the ACARS transmission itself contained the flightpath changed. And that would have come in at 1:07 am, right? 12 minutes before the 1:19 am signoff.

But just because the flightpath change is programmed into ACARS doesn't necessarily mean the jet began to execute the turn yet.

Megyn Kelly was trying to get people to be firm on this point on her show, and people seemed to be saying "probably" or "maybe" as to whether they knew the plane was already turning at 1:19 am, as opposed to programmed to turn.

Whether the jet had already begun to turn or not, it does seem very important that the instruction was already keyed into the Flight Management System before the copilot's signoff.

Posted by: Ace at 05:34 PM | Comments (212)
Post contains 319 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Dribs and drabs.

Posted by: NCKate at March 18, 2014 05:38 PM (y7PFk)

2 So, my question now would be could the information be programmed into the computer without the co-pilot realizing it?

Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 05:38 PM (hFL/3)

3 The Truth Is Out There

Posted by: Fox Mulder at March 18, 2014 05:38 PM (e8kgV)

4 The main difference this point makes is in what one think the copilot's role in all this was.

Posted by: Andy at March 18, 2014 05:39 PM (vGQV1)

5 This is all a bloody waste of time.

Posted by: Jack at March 18, 2014 05:39 PM (gWHwW)

The point is a plane is missing. What does it matter when the turn was entered or executed? What difference does it make!?!

Posted by: Conservative Crank at March 18, 2014 05:40 PM (sQ0LB)

7 In Search of ....

Posted by: toby928© at March 18, 2014 05:40 PM (QupBk)

8 6 The point is a plane is missing. What does it matter when the turn was entered or executed? What difference does it make!?! /s Posted by: Conservative Crank at March 18, 2014 09:40 PM (sQ0LB) Quit stealing my schtick!

Posted by: Hillary! at March 18, 2014 05:41 PM (UAMVq)

9 Those Boeing 777s are awfully big squirrels, aren't they.

Posted by: Nuts at March 18, 2014 05:41 PM (6Z9cJ)

10 Aliens. Ancient ones.

Posted by: Giorgio Tsoulakos at March 18, 2014 05:42 PM (UAMVq)

11 Is this something ?

Posted by: 60 Minutes at March 18, 2014 05:43 PM (qQk+U)

12 My theory is...this will turnout to be more mundane (in a very relative sense) but the ultimate answer will have been obscured by something we thought was a fact that will turn out to have been entirely wrong. Or it was aliens.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 05:43 PM (ldFt4)

13 We may never know anything about this disappearance.

Posted by: Judge Crater at March 18, 2014 05:43 PM (l3vZN)

14 Who would put a Muz in charge of an airplane. I denounce natch.

Posted by: nip at March 18, 2014 05:43 PM (SxlUl)

15 We may never know anything about this disappearance.
Posted by: Judge Crater at March 18, 2014 09:43 PM (l3vZN)
You are probably right.

Posted by: Amelia Earhart at March 18, 2014 05:44 PM (51wwJ)

16 This plane will be found when it is finally located.

Posted by: John Madden at March 18, 2014 05:45 PM (6Z9cJ)

17 Yes, the changes have to be entered before execution, preferably a while before planned execution. We don't know who made the change: the pilot, the copilot, or someone on the ground who had hacked the system.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 18, 2014 05:45 PM (/i3Yt)

18 Megan's on this like flies on shit. I am burned out on this burned out plane. Kbdabear's take at wired is what happened. Electrical fire.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 05:45 PM (0FSuD)

19 14 This plane will be found when it is finally located. Posted by: John Madden at March 18, 2014 09:45 PM (6Z9cJ) Well, it could of gone that way, or the other way.

Posted by: Yogi at March 18, 2014 05:46 PM (0FSuD)

20 How does a plane fly for 7 hours with an electrical fire?

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 18, 2014 05:46 PM (bCEmE)

21 until they actually find the wreckage (if they ever do), i figure everything we've been told, are being told or will be told is a fing lie to protect the face of the various governments involved.

this entire goat rope is a perfect argument for why you never give first world technology to barbarians, no matter how well you think they are assimilated.

under pressure, they default to barbarian.

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 18, 2014 05:46 PM (q+fqH)

22 Are all of the waypoints preprogrammed, or are they entered as the flight progresses?

Both methods make logical sense.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 05:46 PM (QFxY5)

23 This development does seem to rubbish that "fire onboard - turning back for a long runway" theory, though.

Posted by: Andy at March 18, 2014 05:47 PM (vGQV1)

24 I have a theory about the plane: there never was a plane.

Posted by: M. Night Shamdamadingdong at March 18, 2014 05:48 PM (08Wlc)

Sadly, hope diminishes, with every passing hour and day.

My prayers for all affected in connection with that misbegotten flight.

Jim

Sunk New Dawn

Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (vvk2F)

26 Megyn Kelly was trying to get people to be firm Posted by Ace at 09:34 PM Comments Pffff.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (qyfb5)

27 under pressure, they default to barbarian.

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 18, 2014 09:46 PM (q+fqH)

We will kill you for impugning our honor and calling us barbarians!

Posted by: Enlightened 7th century Muslims at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (QFxY5)

28 What part does the volcano actually play in all this?

Posted by: NCKate at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (y7PFk)

29 This missing plane fiasco is an in your face live demonstration as to why you should be willing to trust the government to run your lives!

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (o3MSL)

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (QFxY5)

31 18 How does a plane fly for 7 hours with an electrical fire? Posted by: Tami at March 18, 2014 09:46 PM (bCEmE) Good question, but the fire might have been mostly smoke, aka, kills everyone, but doesn't destroy the guts of the plane. They mentioned this on Megan's show. Heavy plane, full fuel, hot weather could lead to a blown tire that smolders for a while and then flares up. Lot's of smoke, fire outside main body of plane.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (0FSuD)

32 Are all of the waypoints preprogrammed, or are they entered as the flight progresses?

--
To the best of my knowledge, commercial flights preprogram the whole route based on winds and economy, but there is always the option to change, so that pilots can avoid weather that crops up along the way, or turbulence.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 18, 2014 05:49 PM (/i3Yt)

33 How much money that we don't have are we spending on this crap!?

Posted by: freaked at March 18, 2014 05:50 PM (JdEZJ)

"Megyn Kelly was trying to get people to be firm..."

Posted by: Ace at 09:34 PM

I'm not sure that there is much effort involved.

http://tinyurl.com/mphamc8

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 05:51 PM (QFxY5)

35 Can the ONT be a mystery plane free zone plz?

Posted by: The Political Hat at March 18, 2014 05:51 PM (AymDN)

36 31 How much money that we don't have are we spending on this crap!? More than we are spending defending the Ukraine, that's for sure.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 05:51 PM (0FSuD)

37 Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 09:46 PM (QFxY5) I'm not an ATP (airline pilot) but everything I've ever read about it is the full flight is programmed in as part of the pre-flight. Now, just because you file a route and air traffic control clears you to fly it doesn't mean they wont change your route mid-flight requiring changes be entered into the FMS. So the answer to your question is...both.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 05:51 PM (ldFt4)

38 Related: The fact that the turn was initiated by way of keystrokes hurts any theory of a smoke or depressure problem, imo. I think the natural reaction to such an emergency would be to grab the yoke and turn the plane around, not input 7-8 keystrokes to do so. Pilots, what say you?

Posted by: Meremortal at March 18, 2014 05:51 PM (1Y+hH)

39 Good question, but the fire might have been mostly smoke, aka, kills everyone, but doesn't destroy the guts of the plane. They mentioned this on Megan's show. Heavy plane, full fuel, hot weather could lead to a blown tire that smolders for a while and then flares up. Lot's of smoke, fire outside main body of plane. Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 09:49 PM (0FSuD) And no distress call...at all?

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 18, 2014 05:51 PM (bCEmE)

40 31 How much money that we don't have are we spending on this crap!? Posted by: freaked at March 18, 2014 09:50 PM (JdEZJ) Don't worry, it's coming out of Obama's stash.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (UAMVq)

41 Electrical fire and emergency turn towards nearest landing strip is at odds with the programming for the that turn happening before the co-pilot signed off to Malaysian ATC. If things were going to hell in a handbasket he should not have said all right good night vs "SOS, we are shutting down systems and heading for ####"

Posted by: PaleRider at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (dkExz)

42 While we're all fixated on the mystery plane from Lost, what is O doing? Has he already surrendered to Vlad the Magnificent and been made Prezident for Life of the USSA?

/because if he is, I need to brush up on my Russian...

Posted by: shibumi who is exceptionally cynical today at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (25HWz)

43 If I ever start to want fiber gummies just put me down.

Posted by: freaked at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (JdEZJ)

44 This missing plane fiasco is an in your face live demonstration as to why you should be willing to trust the government to run your lives! Posted by: Hrothgar at March 18, 2014 09:49 PM (o3MSL) when the police of many countries are only days away?

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (nqBYe)

45 Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 18, 2014 09:49 PM (/i3Yt)

Or the sudden and odd desire to fly the plane into the Indian Ocean at 500 knots/hr.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (QFxY5)

46 George Bush and Halliburton did it on the orders of the Dark Lord Dick Cheney...or they are part of a new episode of "Lost".

Posted by: politically incorrect old irishman at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (SvFwc)

47 33 Pretty sure ONT is mostly done by now. 50/50 on 370 content.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 18, 2014 05:52 PM (ojnk6)

48 shibumi and mandarin

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 05:53 PM (nqBYe)

49 Two words: Smoke Monster

Posted by: toby928© at March 18, 2014 05:53 PM (QupBk)

50 Posted by: PaleRider at March 18, 2014 09:52 PM (dkExz)

This kind of reckless talk will not get you invited onto the cable news shows.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 05:53 PM (QFxY5)

51 something is mostly smoke, that's for sure

Posted by: Bigby's Fapping Hand at March 18, 2014 05:54 PM (KgN8K)

52 Just to throw a theoretical out there, if I wanted to avoid another commercial airliner being turned into a missle, I would install a system that could take control of an airliner from the ground, and fly it away from a city, and crash it into the ocean.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 18, 2014 05:54 PM (/i3Yt)

53 "Flight MH370: No explosion or crash detected, UN N-watchdog says"
Times of India

http://tinyurl.com/pwyp66t

So...it did not crash?

Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Bossy Redneck Queen at March 18, 2014 05:54 PM (baL2B)

54 41 If I ever start to want fiber gummies just put me down. Posted by: freaked at March 18, 2014 09:52 PM (JdEZJ) You suck, you miserable lowlife! Wait, maybe that's not what you meant...

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 05:54 PM (UAMVq)

55 Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 09:49 PM (0FSuD) This is the "magic bullet" theory. Even if Rosie is right and fire can't melt steel, it can melt aluminum and control wires. Basically this theory requires it to be a Goldilocks fire...not too big as to crash the plane and not too small so as to cause no problems but just right to do what needs to be done to make this theory work. Possible? I guess. Likely? Not as much.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 05:54 PM (ldFt4)

56 Stupid question: When a plane is flying over multiple countries, how does the pilot communicate? Does he need to know the language of each country?

Posted by: disgusting oratory at March 18, 2014 05:55 PM (LHgfw)

57 51 "Flight MH370: No explosion or crash detected, UN N-watchdog says" Times of India http://tinyurl.com/pwyp66t So...it did not crash? Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Bossy Redneck Queen at March 18, 2014 09:54 PM (baL2B) An updraft caused by global warming blew it into space.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 05:55 PM (UAMVq)

58 And no distress call...at all? Posted by: Tami at March 18, 2014 09:51 PM (bCEmE) Electric fires will fuck up a radio. Also, once fire was discovered they are shutting down systems to try and isolate the fire, which would explain the time differences between radio shut downs. It's the most logical theory I've heard, except for the aliens and the UFOs

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 05:55 PM (0FSuD)

59 So the answer to your question is...both.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 09:51 PM (ldFt4)

RINO.

[Thanks...]

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 05:55 PM (QFxY5)

60 I wouldn't believe anything we say. Seriously, we have no fucking idea what we are doing. Probably cause of Jewish sorcery. Or lesbians. We're still investigating that.

Posted by: Malaysian Military and Govt at March 18, 2014 05:55 PM (ZPrif)

61 54 English is the official language in aviation.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 18, 2014 05:55 PM (ojnk6)

62 Posted by: disgusting oratory at March 18, 2014 09:55 PM

English

Posted by: Frank at March 18, 2014 05:56 PM (7Nabg)

63 Eventually the floaty bits will wash up somewhere. Message in a bottle.

Posted by: Daisycutter at March 18, 2014 05:56 PM (LyV/0)

64 smoke monster? like the smog monster in Godzilla?

Posted by: Bigby's Fapping Hand at March 18, 2014 05:56 PM (KgN8K)

65 Probably cause of Jewish sorcery. Or lesbians. We're still investigating that. I'll check out the lesbian angle. Off to the Internet!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 05:56 PM (UAMVq)

66 Posted by: disgusting oratory at March 18, 2014 09:55 PM (LHgfw) There's an international treaty that makes English the official language of aviation. This is honored to greater or lesser degrees in different places.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 05:57 PM (ldFt4)

67 Who gives a fuck anymore? Eastern Europe is under attack

Posted by: TexasJew at March 18, 2014 05:57 PM (U+u4A)

Has anyone looked into HAARPs activity lelel at the time?

Also worth looking into is the Masonic Tractor Beam site.

Posted by: bonhomme at March 18, 2014 05:58 PM (hFWpp)

69 i'm in the ufo, (if the were flying high) black hole (same)or a new triangle camp (flying low).

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 05:58 PM (nqBYe)

70 I'll check out the lesbian angle. Off to the Internet! Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 09:56 PM (UAMVq) There are no lesbians in Malaysia, it's a Muslim country, don't you know?

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 05:58 PM (0FSuD)

71 Dude, it was late at night, I was hungry as shit. Let it go.

Posted by: Governor Christie at March 18, 2014 05:58 PM (Aif/5)

72 We're still better than Indonesia, though. Those are some backwoods, backwards pieces of shite. All divided up into a couple dozen islands, each one more backwards and primitive than the next. Seriously, Indonesia can kiss our Malaysian ass.

Posted by: Malaysian Military and Govt at March 18, 2014 05:59 PM (ZPrif)

73 Occam's Razor..the simplest explanation is probably the most likely explanation

Posted by: Tuna at March 18, 2014 05:59 PM (M/TDA)

74 Electric fires will fuck up a radio. Also, once fire was discovered they are shutting down systems to try and isolate the fire, which would explain the time differences between radio shut downs. It's the most logical theory I've heard, except for the aliens and the UFOs Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 09:55 PM (0FSuD) Again....for 7 hours?!

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 18, 2014 05:59 PM (bCEmE)

75 Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 09:57 PM (ldFt4)

The Obama administration is in the final phase of talks to change the official language of aviation to Spanish.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 06:00 PM (QFxY5)

76 Who gives a fuck anymore? Eastern Europe is under attack Posted by: TexasJew at March 18, 2014 09:57 PM (U+u4A) That's way over somewhere and doesn't mean anything , i just want to know why my neighbor has a nicer ipad than i and how can i get one.

Posted by: LIV's at March 18, 2014 06:00 PM (nqBYe)

77 There's an international treaty that makes English the official language of aviation. Interestingly enough, it's also the lingua franca of the United Federation of Planets. I'm thinking this plane got pulled into a time vortex and is dodging dinosaurs as we speak, or 193 million years ago.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at March 18, 2014 06:00 PM (X9Ixg)

78 anyway at this point i have little hope for the passengers.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:02 PM (nqBYe)

79 65 ah yes the Jewish homeland is under attack

Posted by: Helen Thomas at March 18, 2014 06:02 PM (KgN8K)

80 Don't. Care. thatisall.

Posted by: tangonine at March 18, 2014 06:02 PM (x3YFz)

81 All of this wrangling over minutiae obscures the heart of the matter: stealing the plane appears to have been the objective, not ransoming the passengers or using them as hostages. (He said, stating the obvious.) So unless the plane crashed, bad guys of whatever affiliation now have a passenger aircraft and--possibly--the sophistication and know-how to penetrate a target nation's airspace and kill lots of people. If armed with a WMD of any sort--gas, germ, nuke--they could conceivably kill a whole city of people. It's like a bad James Bond movie. Fun times.

Posted by: troyriser at March 18, 2014 06:03 PM (ptcFO)

82 Interestingly enough, it's also the lingua franca of the United Federation of Planets. Esparanto came in a close second when the votes were tallied.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 06:03 PM (UAMVq)

83 The Obama administration is in the final phase of talks to change the official language of aviation to Spanish.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot)

You got it wrong ... Obama is changing the official language to Austrian.

Posted by: Frank at March 18, 2014 06:03 PM (7Nabg)

84 The fire also knocked out every other cell phone on board. Because Science!

Posted by: nip at March 18, 2014 06:03 PM (SxlUl)

Occam's Razor..the simplest explanation is probably the most likely explanation

Partial credit. The simplest explanation that accounts for all the facts is the most likely.

Posted by: bonhomme at March 18, 2014 06:03 PM (hFWpp)

86 Where is HervÃ© Villechaize when we need him?

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 06:04 PM (aDwsi)

87 / ugly sock

Posted by: Bigby's Other Hand at March 18, 2014 06:04 PM (KgN8K)

88 We've seen Raiders of the Lost Ark. We know what Jewish sorcery can do. And you might melt some hillbilly Indonesian faces off, but you'll never melt our proud Malaysian faces!

Posted by: Malaysian Military and Govt at March 18, 2014 06:04 PM (ZPrif)

89 How much money that we don't have are we spending on this crap!? Posted by: freaked You might say, how much money are we spending to protect the good name of Boeing, one of the biggest export companies in the United States? They sell BILLIONS of dollars in aircraft every year, and employ thousands of highly paid taxpaying employees. Read up on the failure of the British Comet, I think the earliest jet airliner, and beautiful if flawed airplane. Was this a failure of the aircraft or something nefarious? Stay tuned.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at March 18, 2014 06:04 PM (RFeQD)

90 The Obama administration is in the final phase of talks to change the official language of aviation to Spanish. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) You got it wrong ... Obama is changing the official language to Austrian. Posted by: Frank at March 18, 2014 10:03 PM (7Nabg) wouldn't he change it to the language of the most beautiful sound in the world if he were to change it?

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:04 PM (nqBYe)

91 Partial credit. The simplest explanation that accounts for all the facts is the most likely. Posted by: bonhomme ----------------------- UFO..., how many times do I have to say it?

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 06:05 PM (aDwsi)

92 I have a problem with NBC's latest timeline. We know (or think we do) that the last words from the plane were, "All right, good night." I don't know what the ATCs said right before that, but I assume it was along the lines of, Contact Ho Chi Minh approach control on [designated freq]. Now, if the plane started turning radically westward twelve minutes earlier, ATC's last transmission should have been something like, "MH 370, you are turning well off course - say intentions."

Posted by: JPS at March 18, 2014 06:05 PM (osvHk)

93 are there devices (normally)on board to stop cell transmissions?

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:05 PM (nqBYe)

94 Plane? What plane?

Posted by: Godzirra at March 18, 2014 06:06 PM (jucos)

95 its a Boeing. probably still bouncing around somewhere

Posted by: Bigby's Other Hand at March 18, 2014 06:06 PM (UY2qM)

96 da plane, da plane!

Posted by: TATTOO at March 18, 2014 06:07 PM (nqBYe)

97 *whistling innocently*

Posted by: Elder Gods at March 18, 2014 06:07 PM (UAMVq)

98 Malaysia Flight 370? Never heard of it.

Posted by: Charlie Gibson at March 18, 2014 06:07 PM (Aif/5)

99 Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 10:04 PM (nqBYe)

Pointing out that the joke could have been much, much better is so typical of Morons.

[and you are correct!]

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 06:07 PM (QFxY5)

100 Posted by: troyriser at March 18, 2014 10:03 PM (ptcFO) My question about that theory is...why? If an organization has this level of expertise and resources, there are a hell of a lot easier ways to get a plane. Why pick one that has have half the world looking for you. Nothing makes sense about this whole deal.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 06:07 PM (ldFt4)

101 @72 Sure, if the fire is a smoldering tire, it's not going to affect the auto pilot or the engines. Just going to kill everyone.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:08 PM (0FSuD)

102 The Indian Ocean? Never heard of it.

Posted by: Charlie Gibson at March 18, 2014 06:09 PM (bN3zc)

103 It's probably good training for our guys but jeez we have got to be spending a billion on this exercise.

Posted by: freaked at March 18, 2014 06:09 PM (JdEZJ)

104 Anyone thought to check out those alien airfields in the Andes I told you about in the 70's?

Posted by: Leonard Nimoy at March 18, 2014 06:09 PM (5buGz)

105 98 misdirection! sure why not

Posted by: Bigby's Other Hand at March 18, 2014 06:09 PM (UY2qM)

106 DrewM, i still wonder if the passenger list , all of the tech guys were of high value?

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:09 PM (nqBYe)

107 When Megyn and her guests were discussing possibility of a fire on the plane, one of her "experts" said the 777 had a fire suppression system. The other expert said it didn't. Anybody here know which is correct?

Posted by: Nylon66 at March 18, 2014 06:09 PM (YELrK)

108 Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 10:08 PM (0FSuD)

The pilot and copilot have excellent oxygen masks that will protect them from all but the most catastrophically lethal atmosphere.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 06:10 PM (QFxY5)

109 81 The Obama administration is in the final phase of talks to change the official language of aviation to ~~Spanish~~ Jive. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) FIFY

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:10 PM (0FSuD)

110 I can't begin to imagine the torment the families are enduring. They must come out of their skin with each new report.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at March 18, 2014 06:10 PM (DmNpO)

111 Well, if it did start its turn before the sign-off, then that shows culpability on behalf of the co-pilot. You cannot NOT know that thing is turning... Regardless, it's going to boil down to the Religion of Pieces, and we'll find out what their true intentions were (are?) soon enough. Like many others here, I believe we know, and have known, what the sad fate of this airliner and the passengers is or was already.

Posted by: shredded chi at March 18, 2014 06:11 PM (gF7gm)

112 Tinhat teaparty time: Obama would be embarrassed by Putin's invasion so he needed other news to clog the media. He arranges for the disappearance of the flight as it safely lands at a remote US air base. Two or three weeks later they leak that they took the flight secretly because of the high level terrorist suspects that they knew were going to be on board (make use of those stolen passports).

Posted by: doug at March 18, 2014 06:11 PM (uJ8q7)

113 charlie brown, sadface. i did not mean to rain on the just ( a joke i missed) and it was unjust of me. 3rd glass of wine. is it showing? i dare not try to stand up.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:11 PM (nqBYe)

114 If the flight crew and passengers had just been aborted this never would have happened! It's all you SoCons' fault!

Posted by: ooM ooM .rM at March 18, 2014 06:11 PM (UAMVq)

115 If an organization has this level of expertise and resources, there are a hell of a lot easier ways to get a plane. Why pick one that has have half the world looking for you. Nothing makes sense about this whole deal. Posted by: DrewM. Expertise is one thing, buying a $300 million dollar airplane is another. You just don't waltz down to Drew's Used Airliner Emporium. Even big state-run airlines buy planes on credit. Even a used, high hours 737 is not cheap. And they just don't sell to just anybody. And there is a lot of paperwork that tracks these sales, and who is buying them.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at March 18, 2014 06:11 PM (RFeQD)

116 105 no fire suppressor but it does have that shoulder thingy that goes up

Posted by: Bigby's Other Hand at March 18, 2014 06:11 PM (UY2qM)

117 I am surprised someone hasn't offered the 777 for sale on ebay.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (0FSuD)

118 I saw the same thing happen in Airplane! Everyone had the fish.

Posted by: Lesley Nielson at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (5buGz)

119 When Megyn and her guests were discussing possibility of a fire on the plane, one of her "experts" said the 777 had a fire suppression system. The other expert said it didn't. Anybody here know which is correct? *** I'd check the aviation forum but all the assholes who've never flown a plane but think they know it all have run off the majority of actual pilots and aviation insiders

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (DmNpO)

120 @90 JPS All along I have been asking about the ATCs of Malaysia and Vietnam. How can a jumbo stray for hours without generating any apparent concern?

Posted by: Beagle at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (eF7d/)

121 Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 10:09 PM (nqBYe) Maybe. Again, it just seems like they picked the hardest possible way to do something. All of these theories make perfect sense right up until they require a massive leap of logic that would make Michael Bay go, "I don't know. It's a little out there" if it were a movie. I just think there's something we're counting on to make it all work that turns out to not be true. Maybe the engine system "pings" weren't from this flight or something.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (ldFt4)

122

If an organization has this level of expertise and resources, there are a hell of a lot easier ways to get a plane.

What about places that can't get an American plane without "modifications"? Like the plane we gave to China that turned out to be full of listening devices.

Posted by: bonhomme at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (hFWpp)

123 Neidemeyer and children on flight. sometime i hope that it was blownup just to have it finished. i guess i'm a pessimst

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (nqBYe)

124 ...they have a nice radius drawn on the map based on fuel load for beijing ...if this is a terrorist operation how do they know there wasn't help from airport crew and the plane wasn't fully loaded with fuel...if so it could then be anywhere

Posted by: E.T. at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (uGlk8)

125 Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 10:11 PM (nqBYe)

No!

I was joking. You made it perfect.

I'm just jealous that you were more clever than i was.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 06:12 PM (QFxY5)

126 Occam was an optimist.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 06:13 PM (g4TxM)

127 or is that a piss'da'miss

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:13 PM (nqBYe)

128 Yeah, sorry, but I think the fire theory is bogus in the extreme.

Posted by: Walter Freeman at March 18, 2014 06:13 PM (kqGWM)

129 Still don't believe hijacking. A couple of ways to shut down all the comms on a plane including cell phones: 1. Blow it to bits in midair 2. Crash it into something big, like the planet Earth

Posted by: Trimegistus at March 18, 2014 06:13 PM (MUlDD)

130 I guess every out of work 777 pilot has a gig now on the news.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:13 PM (0FSuD)

131 Sure, if the fire is a smoldering tire, it's not going to affect the auto pilot or the engines. Just going to kill everyone. Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 10:08 PM (0FSuD) Then it's not going to affect their ability to issue SOME sort of distress call. Nah, not buying the fire theory. At least not with what we 'know' at this point.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 18, 2014 06:13 PM (bCEmE)

132 It's always the last place you look.

Posted by: ALH at March 18, 2014 06:14 PM (btTLZ)

133 Know what Malaysia has a lot of? Snakes. Just sayin.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at March 18, 2014 06:14 PM (X9Mnx)

134 126 Yeah, sorry, but I think the fire theory is bogus in the extreme. Posted by: Walter Freeman at March 18, 2014 10:13 PM (kqGWM) OK, we going with the UFOs and aliens?

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:14 PM (0FSuD)

135 Drewm, Tech . tech. depending on their skills. value. but yeah it probably isn't that i just can't shake the idea. CharlieBrown, bologna, you are always leaps and bounds ahead of me in well.. practically all commentary and thought. this was a lucky stumble.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:15 PM (nqBYe)

136 Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 10:12 PM (ldFt4)

I think that people are conflating the considerable skills of an experienced pilot with the machinations of a huge and complicated conspiracy.

If we assume that the pilot had evil intent, then all of the data make some sense.

He confused the search he knew was coming, and simply flew the plane into the Indian ocean.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 06:15 PM (QFxY5)

137 Well, there certainly isn't any evidence that it wasn't aliens.

Posted by: Nylon66 at March 18, 2014 06:16 PM (YELrK)

138 OK, we going with the UFOs and aliens? Posted by: Nip Sip ----------------- Well, yeah. It simplifies everything, and cuts the speculation to zero.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 06:17 PM (aDwsi)

139 if this is a terrorist operation how do they know there wasn't help from airport crew and the plane wasn't fully loaded with fuel...if so it could then be anywhere Posted by: E.T. "Terrorism" is a broad brush. Think of the plane as a weapon for a "counter strike" option. What if people in the Malaysian government were in on this from the beginning? What would the Chinese do, as the majority of the passengers were Chinese citizens, if this came to light?

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at March 18, 2014 06:17 PM (RFeQD)

140 Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at March 18, 2014 10:11 PM (RFeQD) Google "777 for sale". There's a bunch of them. Not cheap but if you can pull this off (and presumably get a nuke or some sort of WMD to deliver) you can work up a dummy company. More to the point, what's so special about a 777? Plenty of old long-haul jets in use all over the world that would do the job and could be had cheap and quietly.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 06:17 PM (ldFt4)

141 OK, we going with the UFOs and aliens and boobies?

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 10:14 PM (0FSuD)

FIFY

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 06:17 PM (QFxY5)

142 ok than ,gremlins.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:17 PM (nqBYe)

143 @129 Tami, hard to issue a SOS if you are a) dead or b) have no working radio. Just saying, this same thing happen with a french plane, but they landed. The entire cockpit was burned out. Remember, they have OX in the cockpit. The altitude shifts didn't happen, bad data.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:17 PM (0FSuD)

144 there had already been a report i believe that said fuel amt was specific for the mileage for already determined destination.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:18 PM (nqBYe)

145 Pilot: "I'll teach those infidel --muslim expression for SOB's here-- a lesson..."

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 06:19 PM (aDwsi)

146 Okay, aliens and UFO's. That would explain the armada of Chinese fishing boats searching the moons of Jupiter for debris.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 06:19 PM (g4TxM)

147 OK, we going with the UFOs and aliens and boobies?

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 10:14 PM (0FSuD)

We're going with the classic '80s documentary, Heavy Metal, which covers both.

If any of you jerks had done your research, you'd know it showed how the Loc-nar caused bombers to disappear in the South Pacific during WWII for exactly those reasons.

Posted by: AD at March 18, 2014 06:19 PM (bN3zc)

148 Tami, hard to issue a SOS if you are a) dead or b) have no working radio. *** c) or both

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 06:20 PM (g4TxM)

149 "OK, we going with the UFOs and aliens?" I'm going with deliberate action by one or both pilots.

Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 06:20 PM (hFL/3)

150 Drew that's why i really don't think the plane itself as a reward for the act. you can buy them, and you wouldn't have eyes on a plane of similar features being pin pointed for an attck.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:20 PM (nqBYe)

151 NDH, I'm a private pilot with VFR and IFR ratings for multi engine that used to be on those forums. The amount of stupid that is accepted as fact on them is incredible. I'm not Commercial or jet rated, but couldn't take all the crap from the keyboard commandos.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 18, 2014 06:21 PM (ojnk6)

152 Gremlins, fucking gremlins. Shaftner is on the case. http://tinyurl.com/kpzze49

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:21 PM (0FSuD)

153 "OK, we going with the UFOs and aliens?" I'm going with deliberate action by one or both pilots. Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 10:20 PM (hFL/3) *** Do we know if either of them was from another planet?

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 06:21 PM (g4TxM)

154 Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 10:15 PM (QFxY5) Ok. That would be different. If the pilot has a personal vendetta then he's not really trying to "steal" the plane for later use, he's just pissing some people off. The airline? The Malaysian government? Still, where's the plane? It's not like a triple 7 is just going to show up somewhere unannounced while the world is looking for one and people don't put 2 and 2 together. Or he just committed suicide and took a shitload of people with him.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 06:22 PM (ldFt4)

155 unless they'he' thought that a Crash would have been thought the end result And thought his'their flying off to another space and hiding would.. anyway the plane itself doesn't see likely now as wouldn't it have been better to Use that plane that night?

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:22 PM (nqBYe)

156 Do we know if either of them was from another planet? Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 10:21 PM (g4TxM) Malaysia...close enough.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 18, 2014 06:22 PM (bCEmE)

157 @132: If you wanna go with an innocuous explanation, then I'd say rapid depressurization is much more likely than a fire, but I doubt that happened either. Personally, I'd guess a pre-meditated non-suicide hijacking that may have ended tragically with a crash into the ocean. I'd also say the theory of MH370 piggybacking the radar signature of SA68 into central Asia is a non-trivial possibility. If so, then we're not gonna hear the end of this story anytime soon, but it's not over yet. *shrugs*

Posted by: Walter Freeman at March 18, 2014 06:22 PM (kqGWM)

158 Tami, hard to issue a SOS if you are a) dead or b) have no working radio. ----------- MacGyver could do it. A Bic lighter, a couple of coconut shells, duct tape. Voila! Radio.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 06:22 PM (aDwsi)

159 Malaysia...close enough. Posted by: Tami at March 18, 2014 10:22 PM (bCEmE) WINNER!

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:23 PM (0FSuD)

160 Do we know if either of them was from another planet? Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 10:21 PM (g4TxM) well they did use a witch doctor to help find the plane

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:24 PM (nqBYe)

161
98 Why pick one that has have half the world looking for you.

Intro....duce....inggggggg the ah..maze..inggggg Moe...hammed!

Posted by: CO at March 18, 2014 06:24 PM (I3+56)

162 MacGyver could do it. A Bic lighter, a couple of coconut shells, duct tape. Voila! Radio. Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 10:22 PM (aDwsi) *** How about dead MacGyver? He'd have to rig up something to defibrillate himself with first.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 06:24 PM (g4TxM)

163 Why would he commit suicide? Was he is some kind of relationship with his gay friend who just got prison time?

Posted by: freaked at March 18, 2014 06:24 PM (JdEZJ)

164 My money is on Iran...not that they want the plane but the techie passengers that know about airplane radar cloaking.

Posted by: E.T. at March 18, 2014 06:25 PM (uGlk8)

165 @150 Did anyone see that twilight zone episode? The ending is not shown in that clip. The mechanics go out to the plane and see a torn up wing and footprints. Scary as shit.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:25 PM (0FSuD)

166 I think its plausible that he made a left turn, descended to fly below the primary surveillance radars in the area and flew out into the IO to a fuel stop. Maybe the Maldives. Then north into Pakistan or Iran. I dont buy the electrical fire/smoke in the cockpit scenario. Even if it were a complete loss of all prime movers, the battery would power at least one com/nav and probably one flight control computer. Assuming two pilots, one is flying and calling ATC while the other is executing the checklist. And no ELT or EPIRBs.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at March 18, 2014 06:25 PM (60Vyp)

167 Ya know a despondent lovesick individual could be unpredictable.

Posted by: freaked at March 18, 2014 06:26 PM (JdEZJ)

168 How about dead MacGyver? He'd have to rig up something to defibrillate himself with first. Posted by: Seamus ------------- No sweat. Coconut shells, couple of coat hangers twisted into transformers, and a battery. Zzzzzzzzzzzt...

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 06:27 PM (aDwsi)

169 i wish i could steal a few guys to build me a computer.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:27 PM (nqBYe)

170 I'm a private pilot with VFR and IFR ratings for multi engine that used to be on those forums. The amount of stupid that is accepted as fact on them is incredible. I'm not Commercial or jet rated, but couldn't take all the crap from the keyboard commandos. *** It's a darn shame because, up until a few days ago, it was quite the interesting place wherein the debate and discussion was respectful and based more upon experience and knowledge than speculation.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at March 18, 2014 06:27 PM (DmNpO)

171 No sweat. Coconut shells, couple of coat hangers twisted into transformers, and a battery. Zzzzzzzzzzzt... Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 18, 2014 10:27 PM (aDwsi) **** (Monty Python voice

Where'd ya get tha coconuts?

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 06:28 PM (g4TxM)

172 Or he just committed suicide and took a shitload of people with him.

Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 10:22 PM (ldFt4)

This is my theory.

If I am correct, it is simply a mass murder using a technologically sophisticated method.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 06:28 PM (QFxY5)

173 The missing plane was a Boeing 777. The planes used to bomb Kaddafi in retaliation for the Pan Am bombing were F-111 fighter bombers. 777 - 111 = 666 THE END IS NEAR

Posted by: Hollowpoint at March 18, 2014 06:30 PM (X9Mnx)

174 @170 Could be, but everyone seemed pretty sable. Course, so did that 6'3" chick dating Jagger and she hung herself. What a waste of legs.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:30 PM (0FSuD)

175 Can the find my phone app help find the plane?

Posted by: AwfulMcNasty's Boxers at March 18, 2014 06:30 PM (0YtjT)

176 168 That it is, because I used to enjoy going there and learning factual info. It has cratered. I'll go back and talk to those who actually have real knowledge when this 370 kerfuffle has been solved or just gets old and goes away.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 18, 2014 06:30 PM (ojnk6)

177 How soon before someone starts taking bets on where and what happen to the plane? ebay listing to come?

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 06:31 PM (0FSuD)

178 I did B-52G and KC-135 nav eqipment in the USAF '72 - '76 (Master Technician - hence Radar handle). The question, which I cannot answer because we didn't have such advanced systems at that time, is what point the programmed instruction took effect. Was it immediately upon entry into the FMS or was there was a later waypoint programmed in that would have initiated the heading change at a predetermined time or location? There is a link making the rounds about some pilot who says that everyone is ignoring the obvious, i.e., catastrophic electrical failure and/or fire, that would have prioritized the crew to aviate, navigate, voice com. I do not buy this, inasmuch as it is popular and an easy answer. Although the 777 is a fly-by-wire and therefore dependent on the avionics, in a massive electrical failure they would have changed course manually - less risk. Same with a fire. If a slow burn fire, as posited by this pilot, there would have been no calm handshake voice com. As I posted on FB, Marianne, Ginger and Mrs. Howell are wearing burkas, the Professor is reprogramming the transponder to transmit Mode 4 IFF (Identification Friend From Foe) codes, and the Skipper is training Gilligan to crank start large RR turbofan engines. I hope all of this sheds light.

Posted by: Radar at March 18, 2014 06:32 PM (KzmOC)

179 It bugs me, a lot, that there is so much information coming in from all directions, that no reporter appears to be looking into the information they have, now added to the rest.

We never heard it all about the fake passport "good" boys, did we? Or even if reporters are asking questions as, Malaysia! The good boys from Iran. No biggie!

What were the three large hunks of stuff in the sea, seen by, if memory serves, a Chinese satellite? We know the Malaysians said they sent a boat there and it was "nothing" but it was a pretty large nothing.

The Chinese were quick to say none of their peoples did this! Over 150 of the passengers were from China, and their ambassador said that, so it must be so. It is also likely to greatly dampen speculation that Uyghur separatists from China's far western region of Xinjiang might have been involved in the plane's disappearance. (note: I have no freaking idea what a Uyghur separatist is, but someone, early, said it had their fingerprints).

What was the "oil slick"? Of course, that was the wrong sea! But no one said what it was. Oh, well.

Ok, so...this was programmed in. Who usually does this? The clean-crew? Blonde guests in the cockpit with the co-pilot? Or, the pilot. Or, the pilot from his simulator special Iranian remote control thingie?

"When asked about the range of military radar at a news conference on Thursday, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said it was "a sensitive issue" that he was not going to reveal."Even if it doesn't extend beyond that, we can get the cooperation of the neighbouring countries," he said.
AP report from 3/14...oh, yeah,that cooperation is working well!

India, who does not always even use their radar all of the time, says no way did this plane go over them!The Times of India, 5/24/10 reported this:

A busy airport should ideally have two radars Â— an approach radar and a secondary surveillance radar that has a range of 250 nautical miles. While countries across the world are aiming at complete radar coverage, India seems to be still in the dark ages as radar infrastructure has not matched the air traffic growth.
A majority of small airports in the country do not have a radar at all. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has installed only one of the radars Â— either the surveillance radar or the approach radar Â— at small airports. Most of the small airports in the country including Mangalore, Kochi, and Nagpur do not have approach radar that is crucial for safe landing. Even though air safety experts and AAI officials do not feel that approach radar is compulsory, the accident at Mangalore underscores the necessity of having such equipment in place at the earliest.
AND
The passengers on board were engineers and other experts working to make Freescale Semiconductor chip facilities in Tianjin, China, and Kuala Lumpur more efficient, said Mitch Haws, vice president, global communications and investor relations."These were people with a lot of experience and technical background and they were very important people," Haws said. "It's definitely a loss for the company."

What the hell is going on with Thailand to not give information for 10 days? I know nothing of the politics except Japan and China are fighting over islands sometimes. This reeks of cover up and/or someone shot down plane. Except:

The UN nuke/explosion experts now report no crash, no explosion, no radioactive particles. Which is great news! Yay. Except: no crash or explosion means where is it? Per professional blog of pilots, the Drudge photo of big white plane in mystery jungle is probably bs.

And, my favorite story, as yet unanswered by Morons and/or the news, is what about the 20 engineers from a Texas company whose company specialized in, of all things, "invisible shields" for military planes. They were all of Chinese or Maylasian nationals, from the little bit reported and now ignored by all but ChristyB, train and plane investigator and aging supermodel. The name of the company of the missing 20 engineers is Freescale Semiconductor.

It reported: "It is conceivable that the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 plane is 'cloaked', hiding with high-tech electronic warfare weaponry that exists and is used.

"In fact, this type of technology is precisely the expertise of Freescale, that has 20 employees on board the missing flight."

The anonymous author on the site makes reference to the capabilities of Israel making an attack on Iran. They said any attack would include jamming the electric grid, Internet, and cell phone network, using devices such as one that mimics a maintenance cell phone signal that commands the cell network to "sleep."

The report also references a story from Fox News that explained that new stealth technology makes airplanes invisible to radar, and can also make them hard to spot with the naked eye.

"The general public might not hear about how far the US has really come, because it is and should remain classified," firearms expert Chris Sajnog, a former Navy Seal, said. "Other countries are still playing catch-up Â— but they're closing the gap."

http://tinyurl.com/ndlv75o

http://tinyurl.com/q2sscsw

So, if some reporters are reading this, you might want to remember some of the information that has been buried and unanswered. Or not.

And, on top of everything, we know how transparent our own gubment is when it comes to investigating stuff (see: Benghazi).

Over and out and good-night. xoxo

Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Bossy Redneck Queen at March 18, 2014 06:33 PM (baL2B)

180 Just spit-ballin' here, but I've seen reported that two-thirds of the passengers were Chinese nationals. Out of the (roughly) 160 Chinese nationals, how many were dissidents? Was there one special snowflake that China could not allow landing in Beijing? Inquiring minds, and all that crap...

Posted by: AltonJackson at March 18, 2014 06:33 PM (JMmQ9)

181 Bin laden is alive and wants to upfit this jet like Air Force one. Call it flying carpet one.

Posted by: AwfulMcNasty's Boxers at March 18, 2014 06:33 PM (0YtjT)

182 No one told us the ONT is up.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 18, 2014 06:34 PM (bCEmE)

183 pilot For example, a 1994 paper by Timothy J. Ungs titled "Suicide by Use of Aircraft in the United States, 1979-1989" states that the NTSB reported nine fatal accidents attributed to pilot suicide during the 1979-1989 period. NTSB investigations identified evidence of important adverse psychological factors in most of the pilots, including depression or negative life events. In 1998, Anthony S. Cullen reported in his paper titled "Aviation Suicide: A Review of General Aviation Accidents in the U.K., 1970-96" that out of 415 general aviation accidents, three definite cases of pilot suicide and possibly another seven occurred in the United Kingdom. Again, the pilots' previous psychiatric problems, familial instability and alcohol misuse were identified as causal factors. In Germany, Bernhard Maeulen reported in his 1993 paper titled "An Aeronautical Suicide Attempt -- Suicide and Self-Destructive Behavior in Aviation" that: suicide@ etc

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:34 PM (nqBYe)

184 @pilot suicide site

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:35 PM (nqBYe)

185 If an organization has this level of expertise and resources, there are a hell of a lot easier ways to get a plane. Why pick one that has have half the world looking for you... ...i'm pretty sure they're extremely amused at the "response" thus far. paper tiger.

Posted by: concrete girl at March 18, 2014 06:35 PM (Gq4PC)

186 i'm (and have been) with poster C0 (here) (karachi) and General McInerny (pakistan in general)

Posted by: concrete girl at March 18, 2014 06:39 PM (Gq4PC)

187 And, my favorite story, as yet unanswered by Morons and/or the news, is what about the 20 engineers from a Texas company whose company specialized in, of all things, "invisible shields" for military planes. They were all of Chinese or Maylasian nationals, from the little bit reported and now ignored by all but ChristyB, train and plane investigator and aging supermodel. The name of the company of the missing 20 engineers is Freescale Semiconductor. It reported: "It is conceivable that the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 plane is 'cloaked', hiding with high-tech electronic warfare weaponry that exists and is used. "In fact, this type of technology is precisely the expertise of Freescale, that has 20 employees on board the missing flight." christy wowow if that is true.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 06:41 PM (nqBYe)

188 They're dead Jim.

Posted by: Burnt Taoist at March 18, 2014 06:53 PM (80R0X)

189 It's in Pakistan.

Posted by: Teh Most Interesting Man at March 18, 2014 06:56 PM (dTh2r)

190 14 This plane will be found when it is finally located.
Posted by: John Madden at March 18, 2014 09:45 PM

They need to call a timeout in the search

Posted by: Andy Reid at March 18, 2014 07:49 PM (aTXUx)

191 Aliens...they were beamed.

Posted by: Ohiovoter at March 18, 2014 07:52 PM (ylljg)

192 170 Or he just committed suicide and took a shitload of people with him. Posted by: DrewM. at March 18, 2014 10:22 PM (ldFt4) This is my theory. If I am correct, it is simply a mass murder using a technologically sophisticated method. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (anti-Irish Bigot) at March 18, 2014 10:28 PM (QFxY5) Wouldn't he have made a bigger splash?

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 18, 2014 08:02 PM (HVff2)

193 "Alright/goodnight" sounds normal to me when making frequency changes with ATC. So is getting the scores of important games, asking the controller if so and so is working along side of him and her and other homey things. There's a deep rapport between controllers and pilots. Always has been. Always will be.

Posted by: Citation X driver at March 18, 2014 08:30 PM (lsszJ)

194 Ace,

ACARS and the aircraft navigation systems are TOTALLY separate.

ACARS is only a communication tool, used for data uplinks and comm between the the aircraft and the company.

It has no connection to the FMC (Flight Management Computer) besides uplinking data at the flight crews command.

In other words, ACARS is a fancy VHF (or SATCOM if overwater) way of exchanging data. And it only works one way. For example: I request winds for FL 370 through ACARS. ACARS sends that info to my airline's dispatch center and about 30 secs later I have a message pop up asking if I would like to upload the wind data into the FMC.

There is no way a company dispatcher can know what route I have programmed into my FMC via ACARS. The two systems only communicate one way.

BTW, I'm a pilot for a one of the three biggest airline and have flown Boeing aircraft for the last 15 yrs (although not the 777).

-phat

Posted by: phat at March 18, 2014 08:57 PM (DHhoY)

195 I think the plane just glided all the way to to gilligans island.

Posted by: CNNAnchorBabe at March 18, 2014 09:22 PM (1PqiV)

196 192 Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there a number of different packages airlines can have for ACARS? IIRC the engine-monitoring stuff that we know Malaysia Airlines had was part of ACARS. In any case it's mostly just semantics as to whether it was, because we know 1) MH370 had it, 2) it communicated over SATCOM, 3) until it (but not SATCOM) was shut down. An engine-monitoring system would surely pick up the actual turn as soon as it started affecting the engines. This report seems to be suggesting that it actually gets fed and passes on the waypoint data too, so it could also report waypoint changes before any actual turn (though to Rolls-Royce rather than Malaysia Airlines).

Posted by: anonymous irishman at March 18, 2014 09:35 PM (DJgfL)

197 It seems that ADS-C was the likely source of the waypoint information.

Posted by: anonymous irishman at March 18, 2014 09:46 PM (DJgfL)

198 Depending on the fuel load, Somalia is well within that plane's maximum range. Just saying.

Posted by: viking at March 18, 2014 09:49 PM (yUJxn)

199 The plane can't possibly have turned before transponders off or Malaysian ATC would have seen it immediately.

Posted by: anonymous irishman at March 18, 2014 09:50 PM (DJgfL)

200 Reports of the plane seen flying low over the Maldives could make sense for an Islamic terror plot. The Maldives are an Islamic nation like Pakistan or Iran. They aren't just majority Islamic, but their government is explicitly Islamic, and they have FOUR international airports with runways capable of landing intercontinental commercial flights. With assistance from someone with just a little bit of authority at one of these not-very-busy airports it could be possible to land an extra airliner and without much notice either refuel it and send it back up or park it under cover. Investigators should be all over the Maldives airport, if the Islamists will let them in.

Posted by: Alec Rawls at March 18, 2014 09:51 PM (kTTUz)

201 Agree. The reports out of the Maldives are interesting.

Posted by: viking at March 18, 2014 09:57 PM (yUJxn)

202 I heard it reported that the pilot had 4 Indian Ocean island flight plans on his simulator. Were the Maldives one of the flight plans? Anyone know?

Posted by: viking at March 18, 2014 10:03 PM (yUJxn)

203 China v. the Maldives
I'm taking China and the over.

Posted by: SFGoth at March 18, 2014 10:06 PM (rCV9m)

204 China v. the Maldives
Posted by: SFGoth

Heh

Posted by: viking at March 18, 2014 10:08 PM (yUJxn)

205 Witnesses in the Maldives saw a Flight 370 looking plane heading to the southern end of the islands, so it if landed it seems that it must have landed at GAN International, which has a runway 8,694 feet long, enough for a fully loaded 777 to land and enough for a fuel only 777 to take off.

Posted by: Alec Rawls at March 18, 2014 10:11 PM (kTTUz)

206 So, its plausible.
I wonder why the plane's fuel load has been kept back. The question has been asked but not answered. Also possible fuel out of KL was sufficient. Certainly had the capacity.

Posted by: viking at March 18, 2014 10:21 PM (yUJxn)

207 From news.com.au: "Malaysian newspaper Berita Harian reported yesterday that investigators have found five airport runways, which included the Male International Airport in the Maldives, loaded in MH370 pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad ShahÂ’s homemade flight simulator."

Posted by: Alec Rawls at March 18, 2014 10:27 PM (kTTUz)

208 And . . . there it is. How do you like that?

Posted by: viking at March 18, 2014 11:02 PM (yUJxn)

209 Terrorists have stolen the plane! They now have a way to drop a nuke as far as Western Europe .. Or they could fly to Africa and refuel, then make it as far as Eastern US coast. No terrorist org will take credit until after this happens, if they take credit at all.

Posted by: UnkleFabio at March 19, 2014 12:32 AM (jEV5Y)

210 The Maldives sighting doesn't fit with the SATCOM arcs at all though. There's no way the plane could have got from either of the arcs to the Maldives in an hour (or likely at all, after seven hours of flying with little fuel left). There are also lots of supposed plane of debris sightings by now: they largely contradict each other, so most of them must be wrong.

Posted by: anonymous irishman at March 19, 2014 01:56 AM (DJgfL)

211 plane *or* debris

Posted by: anonymous irishman at March 19, 2014 01:56 AM (DJgfL)

212

My radar experience is a short class in ground surveillance radar ca 1969. So maybe somebody not tied to the Stone Age can help me out here.

Maldives. Diego Garcia. Are they close enough that the US facilities--whatever they are--on D-G could spot the aircraft? If so, at what altitude would the terrain--aka curve of the earth--mask the aircraft?

Would the fuel use at low altitude preclude getting that far? Would a hi-lo flight profile fit the known--haha--facts?

Posted by: Richard Aubrey at March 19, 2014 02:37 AM (sEWAz)

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