Aviation
Missing Malaysia plane: Omission stands out in Data reports
LONDON – Raw satellite data and other documents released by Malaysian and Australian authorities confirmed views that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 ran out of fuel, but failed to explain key assumptions investigators have used to establish search zones in the Indian Ocean.
The 45 pages of satellite data—detailed communication logs between the aircraft and a satellite—were provided to the Department of Civil Aviation of Malaysia by satellite firm Inmarsat.
Still, there were some glaring omissions. Australian and Malaysian authorities failed to disclose important details concerning their assumptions about the speed and altitude of the missing jetliner, while Inmarsat’s material left out specifics about its calculations.
Earlier calculations by investigators highlighted how differences in assumed speeds—amounting to 50 miles or more per hour—dramatically affected where the Boeing 777 may have gone down. Along with various altitude and fuel-consumption assumptions, air-safety experts have said such variables could shift the most likely point of impact by hundreds of miles.
The Australian report said Flight 370’s final “digital handshake” with the Inmarsat satellite didn’t coincide with previous regular hourly transmissions. That was likely due to its electrical systems resetting when the plane ran out of fuel, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau summary said.
Modeling of fuel burn at various flight paths and aircraft speeds support the idea that fuel exhaustion occurred near that last attempted link-up.
Families of some of the 239 passengers and crew on Flight 370 demanded the data release to open analysis of the flight path to other experts. However, some said the data were difficult to understand, despite a summary prepared by Inmarsat experts explaining how to read tables.
“We do not understand the report. We need an expert to explain it to us,” said Sahril Shaari, a cousin of Muhammad Razahan Zamani, who was on Flight 370.Jonathan Galaviz, who heads the aviation practice at consulting firm Global Market Advisors, lauded the effort by Malaysia to be transparent and said the raw data will help universities or individual experts independently verify the analysis.
Inmarsat’s notes are generally consistent with earlier public statements by investigators and the British satellite operator, and don’t appear to shed new light on the techniques experts used to chart the presumed path of the jetliner after it veered off course, disappeared from radar and went missing in the early hours of March 8.
Investigators, including those from the U.K., Australia and the U.S. have verified Inmarsat data and concluded that the Boeing Co. 777 jet flew to the remote southern Indian Ocean, thousands of miles off course and far from any land mass, and then crashed after likely running out of fuel.
Investigators are still poring over the data in their effort to narrow down the search area, Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia’s defense minister, said Monday. International experts have stood behind their calculations after repeated reexamination of so-called digital handshakes between the satellite and jet, and reviews of assumptions for flight speed, altitude and fuel consumption.
No flight-related debris has been found, even after a massive search involving 26 nations.
The search for the missing aircraft will now focus on mapping the ocean floor in a roughly 20,000 square-mile area around where experts believe Flight 370 went down.
The long-awaited release of the data coincide with disclosure of a few more details about the presumed accuracy of the transmissions between the jet and a satellite orbiting more than 22,000 miles above the Earth.
These results underscore investigators’ confidence in the technical analysis that underpins plans for a retooled search, expected to begin this summer.
But based on skeptics’ previous reactions to the release of data, the information could provide ammunition for criticism.
According to the Australian agency, the possible path of the jet—sketched by a composite of satellite signals, calculations by Inmarsat and other experts, and other jet signals—ultimately were determined by experts to be accurate to about 10 kilometers, or 6 miles.
– WALLSTREET JOURNAL
An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
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It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
Nigeria has acquired 12 pre-owned Alpha Jets from the French Air Force as part of efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The deal, facilitated through SOFEMA, a French military and aeronautics company, was announced by Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on via X on Thursday.
He said, “All the 12 aircraft are ready for shipping.”
The Alpha Jet, a product of Franco-German collaboration, is a versatile military aircraft designed for light attack and advanced training missions.
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Equipped to carry bombs, rockets, and missiles, the aircraft also features a gun pod for close air support.
The NAF already operates 11 Alpha Jets, but this latest procurement signals a significant boost to its fleet.
Dada also confirmed that the Air Force is expecting 24 M-346FA light attack aircraft, ordered during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The first batch of these Italian-made aircraft is expected to arrive early next year.
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, described the acquisitions as a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to bolstering the armed forces.
“This renewal of our aircraft fleet reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians,” Abubakar said.
The announcement comes on the heels of President Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The visit, which took place from November 27 to November 30, highlighted deepening ties between the two nations.
To ensure the sustainability of its expanding fleet, the Air Force has proposed establishing a local maintenance hub.
Speaking in October, Abubakar noted that six units of the M-346FA aircraft were already in production, with the initial batch of three expected to be delivered in early 2025. The full fleet is projected to arrive by 2026.
“These developments underscore the importance of creating a domestic support system for the long-term upkeep of our aircraft,” Abubakar added.
As the holiday season draws near, Aero Contractors has introduced a minimum ticket price of N80,000 for all local flights.
The move, which will last until January 2024, aims to ease the financial burden on Nigerians amid the high cost of living.
Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press briefing, describing the fare reduction as a gesture to help Nigerians celebrate Christmas and the New Year without the stress of steep ticket prices.
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Sanusi said, “We understand the economic hardship Nigerians are facing, especially with high ticket prices, and we know the holiday season is nearby.
“In the spirit of Christmas, Aero Contractors has introduced what we call pocket-friendly Christmas prices. These fares, starting at N80,000, will apply to all our destinations, allowing Nigerians to travel without excessive costs.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, an economy class ticket from Lagos to Abuja was priced at N99,643, while business class tickets were being sold for N189,167.
Sanusi further explained that the initiative was designed to make it easier for families to reunite during the holidays.
“This is a way for us, as an organization with a long history of serving Nigerians, to give back to our loyal customers. We want to make it possible for families to meet their loved ones during this festive season without worrying about exorbitant travel costs,” he added.
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