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.

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]

Originally Posted by Chris Z

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]

Originally Posted by steve k

P3 Orion

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/...nderland/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.