MH370 - Missing

[Greg Hyde]

Orions can't air refuel.

That why it is 4-5hrs out and back and about 2hrs over search area.

They have 2 merchant ships in the search areas.

It's a pity that the the new HMAS Canberra hasn't been commissioned yet as it could be used as a floating helo base within the search area.

[Grahame Hutchison]

From NEWS.COM.AU ...

Four aircraft have been tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to focus on the 23,000 square kilometre search area, which is about 2500 kilometres southwest of Perth.

The first search plane set off from Perth at 6.15am local time (9.15am AEDT). It was expected to take four hours to reach the search area.

A civil Gulfstream jet and a second RAAF P3 Orion was due to leave at approximately 11am (AEDT), and a third RAAF P3 Orion at 1pm (AEDT).

The United States Navy P8 Poseidon aircraft is due to head to the search area at approximately 4pm (AEDT).

Not quite a Gulfstream, but looks like VH-TGG is the corporate jet involved in the search, departing Perth at 08:43 WST for Perth..

From FlightAware ...

VH-TGG GLEX Perth Int'l (YPPH / PER) Fri 08:33 WST Fri 14:14 WST

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde

Orions can't air refuel.

That why it is 4-5hrs out and back and about 2hrs over search area.

They have 2 merchant ships in the search areas.

It's a pity that the the new HMAS Canberra hasn't been commissioned yet as it could be used as a floating helo base within the search area.

HMAS Success has a MH90 on board, that's all they need at present.

[Grahame Hutchison]

VH-TGG is now on descent back into Perth passing through FL160

[Mark Grima]

A couple private aircraft involved today, Vh-TGG again I think and a G5. Both are in the area now I understand.

Apparently the weather is pretty good today, hopefully it helps!

Cheers

M

[Jayden Laing]

VH-ICV (Global Express) & VH-LAL (G550) are also helping today! I heard that a Chinese Air Force IL-76 is enroute to Perth to lend a helping hand!

[Mark Grima]

Yeah I was just looking a bit more into it and realised TGG seemed to be on the ground!

[Bob C]

All this activity reminds me of the successful search by the RAAF and RAN for Tony Bullimore and Thierry Dubois when they went missing in waters far to the south west of W A during an Around The World Yacht race in January 1997.

Lets hope that the search for MH370 has a similar result.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Interesting flight plan for VH-TGG yesterday - Depart Perth, fly for 11 hours and only make two left turns, then return to Perth - all the time keeping your eyes peeled.

[Greg Hyde]

ABCNews24 reporting that Chinese Satellite images found a 22x13m object in the ocean 120km SSW of the earlier Australian image.

A new target for sunrise tomorrow morning