Qantas aircraft to be used in search operation

[Chris Griffiths]

Originally Posted by Matt R

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/Co...e-WildEyes.asp

[Matthew Chisholm]

[Adam W]

Originally Posted by Rhys Xanthis

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]

Originally Posted by Chris Griffiths

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]

Originally Posted by Matt R

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.