Qantas aircraft to be used in search operation

[Edward Terry]

A QANTAS plane will join in the search today for a 16-year-old girl, attempting to sail around the world solo, whose emergency beacons began signalling in the southern Indian Ocean. from The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/teen-solo-sailor-feared-lost/story-fn3dxity-1225878270127).

Does anybody have further details on the aircraft to be used?

[David C]

ABC radio quoted a "A320 Airbus " ... A Jetstar example perhaps or just more inaccurate reporting ..

Dave C

[NeilP]

I heard A330 due to it's range...

[Sarah C]

Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Carly Lusk told Radio 3AW:

"We’ve actually chartered a Qantas airbus, so that’s a Qantas [jet] without the normal passengers obviously, to depart Perth around 8am eastern time,’’.

[Rhys Xanthis]

It's en-route to the boat at the moment, I also believe it is an A330.

Not sure which route they pinched it from though. Singapore or eastern states plane...

Some moron from WA Police reckons it's an A310...lol.

[Chris Z]

Its a QF A333...QPF to be exact.

[Rhys Xanthis]

Its a QF A333...QPF to be exact.

Thanks for the info.

Wonder how long she can fly for given almost empty load...

They'll have to do low altitude passes (at least beneath the clouds) so I doubt they will be able to last for too long, considering it's going to take 4-5 hours to get there.

[steve k]

I thought a P3 Orion would have been more suitable for the task involved, perhaps not?

[Adrian B]

Based on reports from all the newspapaers (so they are prob wrong), she appears to be about 2-2500 nautucal miles on a track from Southern WA to the island of Île Amsterdam. I dont know if she had tracking on her website like Jessica Watson did, but her website is diverting ot her blog. A look at the BOM chart shows the 60 knot winds blowing in an East north easterly direction, so she is actually being blown towards the Australian coastline.

Hope she is found alive and well. Yet another global vision of Austrlian aviation coming to the aide of those in need.

[Matt R]

P3 Orion

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Three-countries-in-Search-and-Rescue-for-Abby-Sunderland/70615

a P-3 from Perth wouldn't be able to spend that long in the search area. wikipedia says 8900km ferry range, and she's more than 3000km off the coast.

[Chris Griffiths]

a P-3 from Perth wouldn't be able to spend that long in the search area.

If there was a P-3 in Perth, if the nearest avail was at RAAF Edinburgh (likely), that is several more hours of transit time from the search zone.

OT, I know but I am just shaking my head at the wisdom of sending ones daughter out into the Southern ocean in a fin keeled Cruise/racer style boat.

[steve k]

I just cant see the gain in sending a pax jet as it cannot drop supplies, ok it can direct shipping in the area to the location, but thats about it really.

[Matthew Chisholm]

http://www.amsa.gov.au/About_AMSA/Corporate_information/Recent_Events/2010/June-WildEyes.asp

[Matthew Chisholm]

http://www.amsa.gov.au/About_AMSA/Corporate_information/Recent_Events/2010/images/2010-June-WildEyes3-Full.JPG

[Adam W]

Not sure which route they pinched it from though. Singapore or eastern states plane...

The A/C was ex QF 78 from Singapore. No need to upset any scheduled flight as long as it is back by 2130 at the latest. The QF68 from Hong Kong will turn around as the QF77 to SIN. The return QF67 to Hong Kong doesn't depart until 2215 so normally on a Friday there is an A330 sitting on the ground all day.

[Matt R]

If there was a P-3 in Perth, if the nearest avail was at RAAF Edinburgh (likely)

Well yeah, but surely they'd refuel in Perth.

[Chris Griffiths]

Well yeah, but surely they'd refuel in Perth.

I'm sure they would but with the transit time to Perth + the slower transit to the Search zone it would add many hours.

Would be surprised if an Orion is not yet either involved or on standby to join the search.

[Matthew Chisholm]

Boat has been located and is upright. Boat is ok, rigging is down. Female sailor is ok, comms via plane to boat radio working ok.

Sailor to be rescued.

Source: Aust Search & Rescue to her family via 2ue.

[damien b]

I am a bit late into this topic but i was involved in a SAR operation on the Ilse of St Paul which is not far from where Wild Eyes was last known to be. I was with the RAAF as an technician acting as an observor on a C-130H. Range concerns forced us to fly to Mauritius to allow the C-130H to drop food and shelter out to a ship wrecked fishing crew on the island and allow 1 hour over the island for communications with the fishing crew. Our flight time including the 1 hour over the island was around 12 hours and we were at the maximum range for the aircraft with our load. The French Navy based at La Reunion eventually rescued the crew 12 days after they were ship wrecked.


Good news indeed if Abbey Sunderland has been found alive and well.

[Matthew Chisholm]

Think the reason the Airbus was used was cause it was the only plane they had that could go the distance.

[Torin Wilson]

They have found her and are in communications with her.

[Rhys Xanthis]

She obviously wouldn't have known the QF Jet was coming looking for her...that would be quite the surprise I think!!!

[Raymond Rowe]

QFA1350 A333 11:05 11:15 all times are Zulu.Which is about 1905 local time perth.Been flying for approx 11 hours.

[Matthew O]

Great to know that she has been found! Her well-being has occupied my mind all day!

Incidentally, while contemplating today's events, I wondered if there is a hi-tech, unmanned drone aeroplane that could be stationed permanently on a remote island like St Paul's. It could then be despatched quickly (by remote control) to the GPS position of stricken vessels etc. Maybe it could be first on the scene to establish / relay communications. Just a thought!

M.

[Nigel C]

Matthew O, while the idea in principle is good, to maintain and house it out there would for the very odd bit of use would be very cost prohibitive.

Unfortunately our current Fed Govt is likely to see this type of thing as being a wonderful idea and would station 10 of them out there, just in case the first 9 went U/S when it really counted.:rolleyes:

[Matt R]

http://www.smh.com.au/world/plane-and-rescue-ship-set-to-reach-stranded--abby-this-evening-20100612-y428.html?autostart=0

The Australian Defence Force joined the rescue today by deploying two Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C aircraft.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the chartered plane needed to be in line of sight to make contact via VHS communications.

Air-dropped video tapes? :)