AirAsia missing flight with 162 people onboard

An AirAsia Airbus A320-200 Jet/Flight is missing with 162 people onboard, 

The AirAisia QZ8501flight, reported bad weather to Jakarta Air Traffic Control and lost contact at 6:17 am on Sunday. It was scheduled to land at 7:57 am local time

The plane was flying for 41 minutes when contact with ground control was lost.

Bad weather today forces the search and rescue operations over the Java sea to stop till monday due to poor visibility and heavy weather.

#PRAYFORQZ8501

Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner intercepted by Italian Typhoons

A Boeing 787 from Air India was intercepted by the Italian Air Force Eurofighters after suffering radio silence with Air Traffic Control.

The 787 was flying between Delhi and Rome as Air India AIC123 flight was intercepted by two Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon interceptors from Grosseto airbase on Oct. 16.

“According to the Italian Air Force, the aircraft, registration VT-ANQ, lost radio contact with the Air Traffic Control agencies and entered the Italian airspace unauthorized. For this reason the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) cell at Grosseto airbase was scrambled to intercept, identify and escort the liner, as done last month with a Lebanese A320 following a bomb threat.”

The two F-2000A jets of the 4° Stormo (Wing) reached the B787 at 24,000 feet to the southeast of Rome. The Typhoons identified the civil plane and shadowed it from distance, not to be seen by passengers and once at 30 kilometers from destination, they were cleared to return to their base.

Original Story By David Cenciotti from the Aviationist

Garuda Indonesia signed with Boeing for 50 / 737 Aircraft

Garuda Indonesia has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 50 aircraft model 737 MAX 8 valued at list price in 4,900 million ( 3,865.6 million), the American manufacturer reported.

The firm order includes 46 737 MAX 8 the other four units 737-800 Next - Generation 737 will transform MAX 8 Today , Garuda Indonesia has in its fleet of 77 Boeing 737 aircraft will be added.

The CEO of Garuda Indonesia, Emirsyah Satar , said , "The 737 MAX 8 is a" brilliant future ", which will allow the airline to continue its international expansion and fleet modernization plan in response to market demands .

Meanwhile, the senior vice president of sales in Asia - Pacific and India Boeing, Dinesh Keskar , said that " this request will continue the great tradition of service that Garuda Indonesia has placed in Boeing ."

This model integrates the latest generation engines from CFM LEAP -1B International, with wing tips of advanced technology to operate with the highest levels of efficiency, reliability and comfort during flight .

As for fuel consumption , the 737 MAX is 14% more efficient than the Next-Generation 737 and 20% greater than the 737 Next - Generation Original said the builder, which ensures that operating costs per seat are " 8% lower than its competitor A320neo . "    Currently , Boeing has orders for 2,295 aircraft of the 737 MAX 8 from 47 customers worldwide .

Etihad Airlines first Airbus A380 y Boeing 787

Leveraging nearly simultaneous roll outs of the first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9, Etihad Airways introduced the new paint scheme of their planes.

Inspired by the landscapes of the desert of Abu Dhabi and the modern architecture of the booming emirate livery Etihad seeks to represent as a company belonging to a cultural center in constant progress and innovation, but it is firmly rooted in its history and traditions.

"The new livery is striking and continues our commitment to break with convention and do things differently. It's a real divergence design standards pounds of a traditional airline and highlighted in the sky and in every airport where we fly, "said James Hogan, CEO of Etihad.

With about 100 aircraft in service, the makeover on all aircraft made ​​within three years, and began with the presentation of the A380 and B787-9 made ​​on 25 and 27 September, respectively.

According to the fleet plan, Etihad will receive 14 aircraft in 2015 and including the first A380 B787-9 respectively. In total there will be seven B787-9 four A380s, plus a six A321 A320.

Following the roll out, the first A380 and B787 will be subject to the installation of new interiors presented a few months ago, including the product "The Residence". Both aircraft will be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year. On December 27, Etihad is planning the inaugural flight of its A380 in Abu Dhabi route - London Heathrow.

For the first months of 2015, the company expects to receive two additional A380s allowing you to perform three daily operations simultaneously as followed. In 2015, Etihad A380 should be in service on routes to London (LHR), New York (JFK) and Sydney.

Etihad has orders for 10 A380, the same number as its northern rival Qatar Airways and considerably lower than neighboring Emirates. As with most other operators of the A380, the plane will have a specific place for certain routes.

The commercial services will start B787-9 1st December in Abu Dhabi routes - Düsseldorf and Abu Dhabi - Doha. It will be the first aircraft to wear the new livery on regular commercial flights. In the first quarter 2015, the B787-9 fly to Washington (IAD) and Mumbai while to June it will do to Brisbane and Moscow (DME).
Etihad B787-9. Photo: Etihad Airways
For the arrival of Etihad B787 fleet represents an interesting to increase the efficiency of their operations and open new routes worldwide opportunity.

"With the economy the aircraft, the B787 will be in a place very, very central to our operation and future expansion," said Peter Baumgartner, COO, Etihad. The airline has already identified about 40 possible new routes for B787-9.

Etihad has orders for 41 and 30 B787-10 B787-9, which makes it one of the most important clients of the B787 family. Like the A380, the B787 will be equipped with new interiors and classes of service, but not including the product "The Residence", reserved exclusively for the A380.

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Aerobatics at Farnborough 2014.

Dreamliner Aerobatics

Near Vertical takeoff, touch and go's, 360 turns, and other combar style flying in a Boeing 787-9 are featured in this spectacular video. A top pilot in an incredible airplane, almost looks like an RC plane from the camera angles.

The Boeing 787 -9 has show amazing capabilities in different air shows around the world. It demonstrate an incredible rate of climb, turning and slow flight capabilities.

[gallery ids="2284,2283,2282,2281,2280"]

About  Farnborough 2014

Celebrating 100 years of Aviation History, witness a hearty selection of the great and the good, stemming back from WW1 and spanning through to modern day technology.

The Farnborough Airshow takes place at the Farnborough Aerodrome in Farnborough. However you plan to travel to the show, getting there is simple. We have a whole host of resources on site to ensure you enjoy your day. It is a large site, so please pick up a show guide when you arrive and familiarise yourself with the location of all our facilities.

http://www.farnborough.com/

 

Emirates New Boeing 777x Order

The world’s largest airline by international traffic wants 115 400-seat 777-9Xs and 35 smaller 777-8Xs. The deal, first announced in November, is the largest single order in aviation history.

 Emirates, the largest airline by international traffic, signed off on an order for 150 Boeing 777X planes to renew and extend what is already the world’s largest widebody fleet.

The order is worth $56 billion at list prices, but airlines get large discounts so the real price is likely around $31 billion, according to data from aircraft valuation firm Avitas.

Boeing's New 777X in the Dubai Air Show?

The Dubai Air Show begins this Sunday with all eyes on the fierce rivalry between Boeing and Airbus. Boeing is expected to garner more than $80 billion in new orders while Airbus pushes its A350. Jon...

The deal for 115 400-seat 777-9Xs and 35 smaller 777-8Xs firms up a commitment announced last year and comes with an option for 50 more aircraft taking its value to $75 billion at list prices, Dubai-based Emirates said in a joint statement with Boeing.

[caption id="attachment_2244" align="aligncenter" width="626"] BOEING-EMIRATES-777x[/caption]

The first aircraft are due for delivery in 2020.

The largest single order in aviation history positions Emirates as lead operator of the first twin-jet able to haul a jumbo’s payload, aided by a revamp with new General Electric engines and Boeing’s largest-ever wing.

The Gulf carrier, the No. 1 operator of both the current-generation 777 and Airbus A380 superjumbo, is splurging on capacity as it builds Dubai into the leading hub for long-haul transfer flights.

[caption id="attachment_2243" align="aligncenter" width="646"] emirates-777x-boeing[/caption]

The 777X order was initially announced at the Dubai Air Show in November, and is being firmed up days before next week’s Farnborough expo outside London.

While financing options haven’t been announced, some U.S. carriers led by Delta Air Lines have protested government-backed competitors, including Emirates, receiving loan guarantees from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which helps foreign companies buy American goods. Atlanta-based Delta has said the bank’s charter should expire at the end of September unless the 80-year-old lender drops its support for such purchases of widebody jets.

 

From Bloomberg News

767-300/Airbus / Go Around / Near collision in Barcelona

Two passenger planes nearly collided at an airport in Barcelona on Saturday when one airliner taxied across the runway while an was coming pin to land. A plane enthusiast caught the near-collision on video at the Barcelona El-Prat airport Saturday morning.

[caption id="attachment_2238" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Barcelona-Near-Miss-Go-Around-767-300-airbus[/caption]

An UTair Boeing 767-300 (VQ-BSX) incoming from Moscow as UT5187 and Aerolíneas Argentinas Airbus A340-300 (LV-FPV)...

The Utair 767 was about to land on Runway 02 while the Argentinas was crossing the runway.

By the time russian pilots sight Argentinas (they were taxiing to Holding point of RW25R for take-off) on runway while they were on final approach, they did their best making an impressive and close go around.

After that incidence the plane landed safely on runway 02, and the Argentinas took-off heading Buenos Aires

The plane on the runway, an Aerolineas Airbus A340 from Argentina, was taxiing to a waiting point before takeoff, while the UTair Boeing 767 on approach was arriving from Moscow.

The airliner from Moscow looped around and landed safely a short time later.

From AeroBarcelona/YouTube

Il PRAT DE LLOBREGAT GOOGLE MAP / Runaways

The New & Old Boeing 747

Lufthansa is celebrating the arrival of its latest Boeing 747, the 1,500th 747 ever built by U.S. jetmaker Boeing. The airline has affixed a special "1500th" logo to the jet to commemorate the milestone.

The jet – tail number D-ABYP – was officially handed over to Lufthansa on Saturday at Boeing's 747 assembly line facility in Everett, Wash. The carrier then flew the jet to its main base in Frankfurt, where the 1,500th 747 landed on Sunday at 9:17 a.m. local time.

USA TODAY: Boeing's 1,500th 747: 'Not your mother's jumbo jet'
PHOTOS: Behind the scenes at the 747 factory ahead of the 1,500th delivery
VIDEO: Milestone: The 1,500th Boeing 747
PHOTOS: Boeing rolls out a mean-looking Seahawks 747 jumbo jet

"It's an honor for Lufthansa that the anniversary jumbo will fly in the colors of the Lufthansa crane," Nico Buchholz, Head of Group Fleet Management for Lufthansa,says in a statement. "For decades, Lufthansa has been one of the aircraft manufacturer's closest advisers -- a pioneer when it comes to developing new, environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient aircraft."

The milestone 747 taken by Lufthansa is the 76th 747 to be taken by the carrier since Boeing began the aircraft line in the late 1960s. It's also the 14th of Boeing's newest model of the 747 – the 747-8 Intercontinental – to join Lufthansa's fleet. The German airline expects to take 19 "Dash-8s" in total, a figure that it says will make it "the world's largest operator of 747-8s among passenger airlines."

BOEING 747 PHOTO GALLERY

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Also browse the 747 chronology, take a quick look at the 747 Program important dates, read about the early versions of the 747.

Model	First Order	Rollout	First Flight	Certification	First Delivery	In Service	First Airline in service	Last Delivery
747-100/SR/B	04/13/66	09/30/68	02/09/69	12/30/69	12/13/69	01/21/70	Pan Am	9/86 Japan Air Lines
747-200	12/19/68	09/10/70	10/11/70	12/23/70	01/15/71	06/71	KLM	12/90 USAF
747-200F	03/03/69	11/23/71	11/30/71	03/07/72	03/10/72	04/19/72	Lufthansa	11/91 Nippon Cargo
747-200C	03/27/72	02/28/73	03/23/73	04/24/73	04/30/73	05/73	World Airways	9/88 Martinair
747SP	09/10/73	05/19/75	07/04/75	02/04/76	03/05/76	04/25/76	Pan Am	12/09/89 Abu Dhabi Govt. (UAE)
747-200M	04/08/74	10/30/74	11/18/74	03/07/75	03/07/75	03/07/75	Air Canada	12/09/89 - Abu Dhabi Govt. (UAE)
747-300M	06/11/80	01/14/83	02/14/83	03/05/83	03/05/83	03/83	Swissair	9/90 Sabena
747-300/SR	06/11/80	09/21/82	10/05/82	03/07/83	03/01/83 (to UTA)	03/28/83	Swissair	10/88 Japan Asia
747-400	10/22/85	01/26/88	04/29/88	01/10/89	01/26/89	02/09/89	Northwest
747-400M	04/09/86	03/23/89	06/30/89	01/10/89	09/01/89	09/89	KLM	04/10/02 KLM
747-400D	12/18/88	02/18/91	03/18/91	10/10/91	10/10/91	10/91	Japan Air Lines	12/95 All Nippon Airways
747-400F	09/13/89	03/08/93	05/04/93	10/22/93	11/17/93	11/17/93	Cargolux	5/7/09 Nippon Cargo Airlines
747-400ER	12/19/00	06/17/02	07/31/02	10/29/02	10/31/02	11/07/02	Qantas	7/30/03 Qantas
747-400ERF	04/17/01	09/05/02	09/02	10/16/02	10/17/02	10/02	Air France	11/10/09 LoadAir Cargo
747-8F	11/14/05	11/12/09	2/8/10	08/19/11	10/12/11	10/12/11	Cargolux
747-8	12/6/06	01/28/11	03/20/11	12/14/2012	4/25/2012		Lufthansa

The new A380 Jet Luxury in Dubai

Dubai International Airport has surpassed Heathrow as the world's busiest global hub, while three Gulf airlines—Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad—are scooping up passengers. Boarding a lavishly appointed Airbus A380 at Dubai's $4.5 billion Terminal 3, Graham Boynton examines the tectonic shift in aviation that threatens to leave the West's cramped, bare-bones carriers in the dust. [caption id="attachment_551" align="aligncenter" width="640"] a380-dubai-international-airport[/caption] This is Dubai International Airport's $4.5 billion Terminal 3, the exclusive province of Emirates airline. Covering nearly 18.5 million square feet, it is the largest air terminal on the planet. Dubai International also ranks alongside Singapore's Changi, Hong Kong International, and Beijing Capital International as the most passenger-friendly. Every week from this airport's Jetways, 130 international airlines operate more than 6,000 flights to some 260 destinations on every continent except Antarctica. In January 2013, Dubai International opened Concourse A—aviation's first facility dedicated entirely to Airbus A380 superjumbos. Located in Terminal 3, it is a magnificent building. Huge first- and business-class lounges connect directly to the A380 upper decks; economy-class passengers board from the lower level. The new concourse has already increased Dubai's traffic to 75 million passengers a year, moving it past London's Heathrow as the world's busiest international airport. By 2018 that number is expecte.  

http://a380airbus.com/

All about the BOEING 777 200

About  The Boeing 777-200.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes is an American company that manufactures aviation aircraft used by most commercial airlines. The company also designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communications systems, according to the website of the company.
The Boeing 777 belongs to a family of widebody and twin engine, is one of the largest in the world with the capacity to carry more than 300 passengers at a speed range between 5,235 and 9,380 nautical miles.

[caption id="attachment_2213" align="alignnone" width="760"] Boeing_777-200-British-Airways-BA[/caption]

The Boeing 777 range consists of six aircraft, including five passenger models are capable to fly from point to point, without having to stop and the other is a freighter model.

[caption id="attachment_2209" align="alignnone" width="702"] Transaero_777-200_BOEING-flight_deck-cockpit[/caption]

Why can they fly nonstop?

The commonly called "Triple Seven" has the largest diameter in the turbofan engines with models of airliners, which commonly fall into the category of medium-sized aircraft. The 777 has six wheels on each main landing gear, a circular fuselage cross-section and a tail shaped blade.
On the website of Boeing Commercial Airplanes potential buyers of its Boeing 777 aircraft that can carry 301-368 passengers in a three-class configuration with a range of up to 17,395 km (10.808 miles) reports.

The following are the models of Boeing 777:

• The model 777-200 carries 305 passengers with a range of up to 9,695 km (about 6024 miles).


• The 777-300 model can accommodate 368 passengers with a range of up to 11,135 km (6.918 miles).


• The 777-200ER (Extended Range) carries 301 passengers over distances up to 14,260 km (8.860 miles).


• The 777-300ER (Extended Range) carries 365 passengers over distances up to 14,685 km (about 9124 miles).


• In May 2005, Boeing launched the 777 Freighter. Based on the platform of the 777-200LR, 777 Freighter to fly 9,045 km (5.620 miles) with maximum payload.

BOEING 777-200ER GALLERY

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Thai Airways

About Thai Airways

Thai Airways (a trading name of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI)) (SET: THAI, Thai: บริษัท การบินไทย จำกัด (มหาชน)) is the national flag carrier of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline has its corporate headquarters in Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and primarily operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. THAI is a founding member of the Star Alliance. The airline is the largest shareholder of the low-cost carrier Nok Air with a 49% stake, and it launched a regional carrier under the name Thai Smile in the middle of 2012 using new Airbus A320 aircraft

Thai Airways  Royal Silk Class

On board THAI flights Royal Silk class passenger enjoy segregated cabins, with two-abreast seating. On long-haul flights, newly installed shell seats offer 60 inches (five feet) of stretch-out space, with 170 degrees of recline for sleeping. Each electronically controlled seat is equipped with telephone and laptop power outlet**. The interactive Audio Visual On Demand entertainment system offers literally hundreds of channels, for movies, music, information and games.

Thai Airways  Royal First Class

On board, in the privacy of their segregated cabin, passengers receive exceptional, friendly, and personal hospitality from a dedicated cabin crew member. Luxury innovations include the newly installed sleeper seating. Electronically controlled, with 180 degrees of recline and almost seven feet of space in which to stretch out, these seats are truly state-of-the-art (click here for seat demonstration.) Each seat is equipped with the interactive Audio Visual On Demand entertainment system, plus in-seat telephone and laptop power outlet.*

Thai Airways Image Gallery

[caption id="attachment_2219" align="aligncenter" width="702"] Thai-Aiways-Boeing777300 - Photo From Airplane-Pictures.net[/caption]

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The Boeing 787 Dreamliner Cockpit

A Dream Cockpit for a Dreamliner. The Boeing 787

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner cockpit is a state of the art cockpit system which resembles a futuristic look of what modern aircraft cockpits must look like.  The 787 cockpit features the most advanced avionics systems and glass displays as well as ergonomic features for the pilots confort and usability.

Boeing 787 Cockpit Photos

[caption id="attachment_2172" align="alignnone" width="700"] Boeing-787-Dreamliner-cockpit[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2172" align="alignnone" width="700"] Boeing-787-Dreamliner-cockpit[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2171" align="alignnone" width="700"] Boeing-787-Dreamliner-cockpit-360[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2170" align="alignnone" width="700"] Boeing-787-Dreamliner-cockpit-modern[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2169" align="alignnone" width="700"] Boeing-787-Dreamliner-cockpit-zoom[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2168" align="alignnone" width="700"] Boeing-787-Dreamliner-cockpit-panorama[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2167" align="alignnone" width="700"] Boeing-787-Dreamliner-cockpit-captain[/caption]

Emirates Boeing 777

Fly Emirates  Boeing 777 300ER Photos

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Emirates Boeing 777, and then some. Facts, figures, and an inside look at the many exciting features that make this aircraft one of the world's most luxurious.

Learn more about the aircraft and the airline at www.emirates.com/usa

Fly Emirates has become one of the most important airlines in the World using Boeings 777 and also Airbus A380 in their fleet. The luxury of both the airport terminals and the interior cabin of the aircrafts has never been seeing in history of commercial aviation in general.

Emirates Boeing 777-300ER Photo Gallery

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The New Boeing 777x

Get to know the new Boeing 777X

The 777X is a twin-engine, twin-aisle success redefined. We like to think of it as the future of flight unfolding.

 

Building on the success of the 777 and 787 Dreamliner, the 777X is the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world. Its folding raked wingtip and optimized span deliver greater efficiency, significant fuel savings and complete airport gate compatibility. And its GE9X engine is the most advanced, fuel-efficient commercial engine ever.

Performance, however, is just part of the story. The interior of the 777X is inspired by the comforts and conveniences of the 787 Dreamliner and will include larger windows, a wider cabin, new lighting and enhanced architecture — all of which will be custom tailored for a unique 777X experience.

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The Submarine Search for Missing Malaysia Mh370 Flight

Australian search officials may need to use a different underwater vehicle to scan the ocean floor for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, after the first submersible mission was cut short because the ocean floor appears to be more than 4,500m deep.

The head of Australia’s joint coordination centre, Angus Houston, announced on Monday that the Australian defence vessel Ocean Shield would no longer be using the towed pinger to attempt to locate noises from the black box of flight MH370 and would instead deploy a remote submersible, the Bluefin-21, to continue the search.

But the submersible’s mission was cut short after it exceeded the limits of its operation – 4,500m below sea level – and was forced to return to the surface, according to a release from the centre on Tuesday morning.

“After completing around six hours of its mission,Bluefin-21 exceeded its operating depth limit of 4,500 metres and its built in safety feature returned it to the surface,” the release said.

“The six hours of data gathered by the autonomous underwater vehicle is currently being extracted and analysed.”

The release indicates the water may be deeper than has been previously thought. On Monday Mark Matthews, the United States navy captain who oversees the use of the Bluefin-21, told Guardian Australia that if the vehicle exceeded its limits more than once it would no longer work.

New United Airlines Boeing 787-9 debut Melbourne-LAX

United Airlines' First Boeing 787-9 Rolls Out of Factory

Newest Dreamliner is longer, travels farther and carries more passengers

[caption id="attachment_2103" align="alignnone" width="620"] Boeing-787-9-United-787-Dreamliner-Interior[/caption]

CHICAGO, April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines' first 787-9 Dreamliner rolled out of final assembly Tuesday evening at Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility. The rollout marks the first major milestone in the aircraft's production ahead of its expected delivery this summer. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the second and newest member of the fuel-efficient 787 family.

[caption id="attachment_2101" align="alignleft" width="300"] Boeing-787-9-economy-seats[/caption]

With the fuselage stretched 20 feet longer than the 787-8, United's 787-9 will fly more than 30 additional passengers and up to 300 nautical miles farther with the same exceptional environmental performance, including up to 20 percent less fuel burn per seat and up to 20 percent fewer emissions than similarly sized aircraft. The airline is the North American launch customer for the aircraft.

United Airlines has confirmed new non-stop flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles as the first route for its Boeing 787-9s, the new stretch version of the Dreamliner, in a move that should please passengers on both sides of the Pacific.

It represents a major upgrade in service from the US carrier, which had already announced plans to phase out its ageing 747s which lack seat-back in-flight entertainment in economy class from April. They will be replaced by newer 777s on the Melbourne-Sydney-Los Angeles and Sydney-San Francisco routes.

[caption id="attachment_2102" align="alignnone" width="524"] Boeing-787-9-seating[/caption]

United will launch the new six-day-a-week flights on October 28, subject to government approvals.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/united-airlines-to-fly-new-boeing-7879-dreamliners-on-melbourne-route-20140220-333u1.html#ixzz2yVqAwGjI

 

 

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Leaders Say Search Won't Stop

Leaders of the two countries heading multinational efforts to solve the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 pledged Thursday that no effort would be spared to give the families of those on board the answers they need.

[caption id="attachment_2038" align="alignnone" width="620"] Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, right, chats with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak at Perth International Airport as Razak prepares to depart Australia after his visit during the search of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, in Perth on Thursday. Najib met with Abbott and got a briefing by Angus Houston, the head of a joint agency co-ordinating the search. (Paul Kane/Associated Press)[/caption]

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak flew to Australia for briefings on the search for the missing plane and talks with his Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott, whose country is overseeing the hunt in a huge and remote patch of the Indian Ocean.

"It is a very difficult search — the most difficult in human history. But as far as Australia is concerned, we are throwing everything we have at it," Abbott said in a media appearance with Najib.

No trace of the Boeing 777 has been found nearly four weeks after it vanished in the early hours of March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Ten planes and nine ships were involved in search operations Thursday, scouring the ocean far off Australia's southwest corner where investigators believe the plane may have ended up after unknown events occurred on board.

Najib, whose government has been harshly criticized by some victims' families for giving sometimes conflicting information about the flight and for the slow pace of the investigation, said everyone involved in the search is thinking of the families of victims who are waiting desperately for news.

"I know that until we find the plane, many families cannot start to grieve," Najib said. "I cannot imagine what they are going through. But I can promise them that we will not give up.

Malaysia Flight MH370 : 300 objects found in Indian Ocean via Thai Sat

A Thai satellite has detected 300 floating objects in the Indian Ocean, about 200 kilometers from the international search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH 370.

Anond Snidvongs, executive director of Geo Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, said that Thaichote satellite or Thailand Earth Observation Satellite, has recorded the objects in the Indian Ocean, on March 24 at 10am local time.

mh370 300 bojects thai satellite 2 211x300 Malaysia Flight Mh370 : Thai Thaichote satellite detects debris,
Taichote Sat Image multiple objects
The site was about 2,700 kilometres from Perth of Australia and about 200 kilometres from the international search area where the ill-fated flight is thought to have come down. Some objects were more than two metres long, Anond said.

The detection is resulted from Thailand’s cooperation with Malaysia in finding the missing jetliner.

He said images of the findings had already been submitted to the caretaker premier and that caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul will forward the images to his Malaysian counterpart to examine if they were of the debris of MH 370.

Thaichote or Thailand Earth Observation Satellite is a remote sensing satellite for natural resources observation.

Malaysia has concluded that the flight “ended” in the Indian Ocean and all passengers are presumed dead.

Malaysia Air, Flight MH370, Flight MH370 crashed in south Indian Ocean' - Malaysia PM

Malaysia's prime minister has announced that missing flight MH370 crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

Najib Razak said this was the conclusion of fresh analysis of satellite data tracking the flight.

[caption id="attachment_2027" align="alignnone" width="444"] Marker buoys in place where Mh370 Debris[/caption]

Malaysia Airlines had told the families of the 239 people on board, he said.

The BBC has seen a text message sent to families by the airline saying it had to be assumed "beyond reasonable doubt" that the plane was lost and there were no survivors.

"With deep sadness and regret I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight #MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean."
 

[caption id="attachment_2028" align="alignnone" width="445"] Search Planes drop marker buoys in place where debris is found[/caption]

There were 227 passengers on flight MH370, many of them Chinese.

Relatives of those on board who watched the announcement at a Beijing hotel wept with grief, and some were taken away on stretchers by medical teams.

mh370.

[caption id="attachment_2018" align="alignnone" width="590"] Japanese P-3C Orion aircraft on at RAAF Base Pearce.[/caption]

The crew of the Chinese IL-76 aircraft observed two large objects and several smaller ones spread across several square kilometresstate news agency Xinhua reported.

 

It is the third possible sighting in the area off western Australia that has become the focus of the search effort.


Australian and China radar echoes had picked up several objects about 2,300km (1,430 miles) from Perth, a statement added.

[caption id="attachment_2016" align="alignnone" width="590"] Malaysia MH370 Map with fuel range[/caption]

Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 people on board.

The search for the Boeing-777 now in its third week, 10 aircraft are combing a huge patch of the southern Indian Ocean, with two Chinese military planes joining Australian, US, New Zealand and Japanese aircraft. More ships are on their way and the US is dispatching a specialised device to help locate aircraft flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

[caption id="attachment_2021" align="alignnone" width="590"] MH370 Sat Debris Photo[/caption]

The Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, said that the crew of an Australian P3 Orion had located two objects: the first grey or green and circular, the second orange and rectangular. An Australian navy supply ship, the HMAS Success, was on its way to attempt to recover the objects, with Malaysia's transport and defence minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, suggesting the vessel should reach them by Tuesday morning if not before.



But a US Navy P8 Poseidon was unable to find items seen by a Chinese plane earlier in the day, Australian search co-ordinators announced.

 

Boeing 777 orders

Review of Boeing 777 Orders and News

Malaysia not Subject to FAA Safety Directive

(Reuters) - Boeing Co on Wednesday said the missing 777 Malaysia Airlines jetliner was not subject to a new U.S. safety directive that ordered additional inspections for cracking and corrosion on certain 777 planes.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week ordered additional, repeated inspections of certain Boeing 777 aircraft, warning that corrosion and cracking could lead to rapid decompression and damage to the structure of the aircraft.



 

Boeing 777 Operators

United Airlines placed the launch order for the 777 program on October 14, 1990 when it purchased 34 Pratt & Whitney PW4084-powered 777-200s valued at US$11 billion with options on an additional 34.^[11][12] Subsequent versions of the 777, including the 777-200ER, 777-200LR, 777-300, 777-300ER, and 777F, have been launched by Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The following table lists milestone dates for each model of the aircraft.

Model	Launch order	Launch customer	Go-ahead	Rollout	Maiden flight	Certification	First Delivery	Service entry
777-200	October 15, 1990	United Airlines	October 29, 1990	April 9, 1994	June 12, 1994	April 19, 1995	May 15, 1995	June 7, 1995
777-200ER	June 14, 1991	British Airways	October 29, 1990	September 3, 1996	October 7, 1996	January 17, 1997	February 6, 1997	February 9, 1997
777-200LR	February 27, 2000	Pakistan International	February 29, 2000	February 15, 2005	March 8, 2005	February 2, 2006	February 27, 2006	March 3, 2006
777-300	June 14, 1995	Cathay Pacific	June 26, 1995	September 8, 1997	October 16, 1997	May 4, 1998	May 21, 1998	May 27, 1998
777-300ER	March 31, 2000	Air France	February 29, 2000	November 14, 2002	February 24, 2003	March 16, 2004	April 29, 2004	May 10, 2004
777F	May 24, 2005	Air France	May 24, 2005	May 21, 2008	July 14, 2008	February 6, 2009	February 19, 2009	February 22, 2009

Mixed News about Malaysia 777, MH370 Flight

Mixed Conclusions arise on the internet news services about Missing Malaysia 777 Boeing Flight MH370

Update 1: Says MH370's Flight Path Was Altered By Computer Command, Not Manual Controls.

The Slate: Update, March 17, 9:45 p.m.: Flight MH370's initial turn off course, to the west over Malaysia, was programmed into the plane's computer system not manually maneuvered, according to senior U.S. officials. The New York Times, who is reporting the latest development, says the command would have involved seven or eight keystrokes into the Flight Managment System, a computer which sits between the pilot and the co-pilot. It is not clear if the command was programmed before or after the airliner took off.

The latest information, if true, suggests the diversion was initiated by a pilot or someone with very specific technical knowledge. Investigators are still analyzing radar tapes that show the first few movements of the plane after it went off course. The airliner appears to have tracked along several so-called waypoints, or pre-established locations in the sky, as it travelled from its scheduled path. Here's the New York Times with the details:

According to investigators, it appears that a waypoint was added to the planned route. Pilots do that in the ordinary course of flying if air traffic controllers tell them to take a different route, to avoid weather or traffic. But in this case, the waypoint was far off the path to Beijing. ...

Normal procedure is to key in a five-letter code — gibberish to non-aviators — that is the name of a waypoint. A normal flight plan consists of a series of such waypoints, ending in the destination airport. For an ordinary flight, waypoints can be entered manually or uploaded into the F.M.S. by the airline.

Update 2 : America's Head of Home Security says :the crew of missing flight MH370 were overcome trying to save the plane from a fire in the cargo hold.

From Mirror.co.uk : March 18, 2014 America's former head of air security believes the crew of missing flight MH370 died heroically trying to save the plane from a fire.

Billie Vincent, former head of security for the Federal Aviation Administration throughout the 1980s, has dismissed theories of a terror attack or suicide mission.

Instead he believes the pilots struggled to save their aircraft after a blaze in the cargo hold until they were eventually overcome by smoke.

Latest updates on search for missing jet

Mr Vincent, who was an expert witness in the Lockerbie bombing trial, said: “The data released thus far most likely points to a problem with hazardous materials.

“This scenario begins with the eruption of hazardous materials within the cargo hold – either improperly packaged or illegally shipped – or both.”

Mr Vincent believes a fire started in the cargo hold and gradually destroyed the plane’s communications systems.

He says toxic fumes would have quickly overwhelmed the passengers and cockpit.

Mr Vincent guesses that one of the pilots managed to put on an oxygen mask and tried to turn the plane back to Kuala Lumpur.

He puts the plane’s rapid ascent and descent down to the crew simply not being able to see properly until they manage to stabilise at 23,000 ft.

Mr Vincent added: “The airplane then continues flying until no fuel remains and crashes – most likely into the ocean as there has been no report of any Emergency Locater Transmitter (ELT) signal which can be received by satellite if the crash were on land.”

And Mr Vincent, who played a key role in negotiations after the hijackings of US planes during the 1980s, insists it is unlikely the aircraft was sabotaged.

He said: “There is no indication that either of the pilots was criminally involved in the disappearance of this aeroplane.

“Neither has Malaysia released any data indicating anything amiss in the security clearance of the passengers for this flight.

“The one question raised about the two passengers travelling on stolen passports has been cleared indicating that they were planning on illegally claiming refugee status in another country, probably Germany.

“I have yet to see anything released about the nature and content of the cargo carried in the cargo hold of MH370.

“Hazardous cargo can be legally carried on passenger aircraft. However, the amount and type of such hazardous materials are strictly controlled.”

Boeing 777 Flight MH370 Flown off course, deliberately

Investigators have concluded that at least one person with considerable flying experience flew the missing Malaysia Airlines jet off course for seven hours in a "deliberate action" after turning off its communication systems.

From CNN, TIME, Saturday 15, 2014



Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced at a press conference on Saturday that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared a week ago with 239 people aboard, appeared to be intentionally steered off-course by at least one person with considerable flying experience.

“This has been a situation without precedent,” said Najib, adding that the plane’s disappearance was the result of a “deliberate action by someone on the plane.”

Authorities are very confident that the jet’s transponder was disabled during the flight, he added, and that the last satellite communication from the aircraft came about seven hours after takeoff. The investigation has been “refocused” into the passengers and crew members.

[caption id="attachment_1925" align="aligncenter" width="460"] Map of possible flight routes/capabilities of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370[/caption]

Satellite data confirms that the plane turned to fly in a westerly direction soon after reaching the South China Sea. Two “corridors” have been identified where the plane may have flown: a northern sector around the borders of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and northern Thailand; and a southern sector stretching from Indonesia to the southern Indian Ocean. Search efforts will now be concentrated in these vast expanses.Captain Ross Aimer, an aviation consultant who was formerly an instructor for the 777, tells TIME that a pilot with “considerable skill and experience” could land the aircraft in as little as 3,000 ft (900 m). “It’s conceivable that if this was a calculated set-up they may have an old military field somewhere in the middle of some jungle,” he says. “You could even land it on a beach or small strip of land.”

[caption id="attachment_1923" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Malaysia Airlines Flight Mh370 Corridors map[/caption]

Other theories that gained steam in the last few days, including pilot suicide, an in-flight bomb or mid-air disintegration, seem to be being put on the back-burner. However, Najib insisted that all avenues were still open.

“Despite media reports that the plane was hijacked,” he said, “I wish to be very clear: we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate from its original flight path.”No motive for any hijacking has been established and no demands are known.

(MORE: ‘I’m Safe’: Last Status Update of Teenager on Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight)

Other possible theories might include a loss of cabin pressure rendering passengers and crew unconscious, and a malfunctioning autopilot causing the plane to veer off-course. However, the seemingly deliberate route and numerous direction changes would make that unlikely.

The aircraft had 227 passengers and 12 crew on board when it departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Beijing at 12:21 a.m. local time on March 8. The Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, or ACARS, was disabled just before the aircraft reached the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, and shortly afterwards, near the border between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic control, the aircraft’s transponder was switched off. Investigators conclude that any gap would be unlikely in the event of an explosion.

Despite a massive search, no wreckage has yet been found in the immediate vicinity of where communication was lost between Malaysia and Vietnam. Najib said in the press conference that Malaysia had ended its search in the South China Sea. A search team boasting 43 ships and 58 aircraft from 14 nations has been enlisted.

Earlier, an American official said investigators were examining the possibility of “human intervention” in the jet’s disappearance, addi

TomNod activates crowdsourcing search in Satellite images of Malaysia Mh370

Crowdsourcing MH370 Online Search

TomNod is using his online crowdsourcing platform to help search for the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, Flight MH370. The platform allows internet users to log in and view actual satellite images and mark possible findings on the search area.

Capture of TomNod Online Platforma for Crowdsourcing Search of MH370.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and its 239 passengers vanished from radar while en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.

Go to TomNod Website Now

HOW IT WORKS?

1 Join the Tomnod team as you view the planet and mark what you see.

2 Others on the team mark the same images -- you get nods when they agree with you.

3 In places where the team agrees, we find the strongest marks.

Help them  tag...

• Wreckage / Airplane Wreckage


• Raft / Life Raft


• Other / Anything interesting or suspicious


• Oil Slick / Oil Slick in Water

Malaysia Airlines Mh370: Stolen Passports not linked to terrorism.

Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said: "He [Iranian man] is not likely to be member of terrorist group"

The 2 men travelling with stolen passports in the Mh370 Malaysia Airlines are not supposedly linked to terrorism.

Malaysian police named one as Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad, 18, and said he was probably migrating to Germany.

Interpol identified the other as Delavar Seyed Mohammadreza, 29.

View Photos here
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26525281

The Search for MH370 continues

[caption id="attachment_1903" align="alignnone" width="590"] BBC's Alice Budisatrijo says searchers are 'using the naked eye' to try to find the missing plane[/caption]

Four areas of investigation were focused on the possibility of human agency, the police chief said: hijacking, sabotage, psychological problems or personal problems with passengers or crew.

Two-thirds of the passengers were Chinese. Others were from various Asian countries, North America or Europe.

Relatives have expressed frustration at the lack of information about the plane's fate.

At least 40 ships and 34 aircraft are taking part in the search in the seas off Vietnam and Malaysia.

[caption id="attachment_1904" align="alignnone" width="590"] Mh370 Extended Search Area[/caption]

 

Q&A: What happened to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370?

By Martin Abbugao (AFP) – 20 hours ago

Singapore — Nearly three days after it disappeared while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, mystery still shrouds the fate of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and the 239 people on board.

No debris from the Boeing 777-200ER has been recovered despite an international search involving the navies and air forces of several Asian nations as well as the United States.

Following are some questions surrounding the disappearance and the search, and answers by industry experts who spoke to AFP:

Q: Could the plane have disintegrated in mid-air?

The failure of the plane's pilots to send a distress signal has given rise to speculation there was a sudden catastrophe -- possibly caused by a mechanical failure or an explosion.

The lack of wreckage recovered so far also suggests a high-altitude disaster which spread debris across an area too wide to be easily detected.

"If it had been an impact at sea level of the whole craft, chances are more debris will be found immediately," said Chris de Lavigne, an expert on aerospace and defence issues at business consultancy Frost & Sullivan.

Sudden, accidental structural failures are considered extremely unlikely in today's passenger aircraft. This is especially so with the Boeing 777-200, which has one of the best safety records of any jet.

Authorities said the plane was at cruising altitude, 35,000 feet (11 kilometres) above sea level, when it last made contact.

"It's the safest point in the flight," de Lavigne said. "It's an extremely safe aircraft with very, very few incidents in its history. This is just overly puzzling."

Q. Have there been other plane mysteries like this?

Air France flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in June 2009 while on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing 216 passengers and 12 crew. Debris was not found for days and it took years to locate the wreckage. Investigators eventually concluded that both technical and human error were to blame for the tragedy.

Adam Air flight 574 with 102 people on board disappeared from radar in January 2007, also at its cruise phase during a domestic flight in Indonesia. Debris was found nine days later after an extensive search and it took months to recover the plane's black box.

Indonesian authorities said the pilots lost control after becoming preoccupied with malfunctioning navigational equipment.

Q: What are the theories on what happened to MH370?

"One possibility is a mid-air explosion," said Gerry Soejatman, an Indonesia-based independent aviation analyst.

"The other is when there is a simple problem and then the crew tries to diagnose it, gets caught up in it and then they don't realise what's happening and the plane crashes. That's what happened with the Air France case. At the moment, until we find anything, it has to be one of these two scenarios."

De Lavigne said that at this stage, with so little information, all possibilities must be considered.

"It's either a serious mechanical failure or something a little bit more sinister," he said.

"It's pretty surprising that there was no SOS call from the plane and it just disappeared. It would lead to the conclusion that something fast and drastic happened."

Malaysian authorities have launched a terror investigation, but are refusing to rule anything out, including a possible hijacking.

Q: Why is it so hard to find evidence?

The region being searched, including the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea, are busy shipping lanes with large amounts of flotsam that will complicate the search for any wreckage.

"When they see something, it is not blatantly obvious that it is a wing or tail. They have to go and examine what it is, it takes time," Soejatman said.

Q: Why have authorities not picked up any signals?

Aircraft have an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) which is designed mainly for when the plane crashes on land and pilots are still trying to control it. In the event of a major crash, it may not work.

"Basically what this beacon does is simply say 'I've been activated, find me!'" Soejatman said. "It is not fool-proof but it is the best thing that we have at the moment."

The plane also has a "black box" consisting of the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. If immersed in water they should activate a "pinger" that can draw investigators to the location. However, the sound cannot be heard over long distances.

"You need a ship equipped with a listening sonar to pick up the signal within the area," Soejatman said, cautioning however that the shallow waters of the MH370 search site could create interference.

The missing Boeing 777-200ER was also equipped with ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System), a system which sends short messages to ground controllers -- either automatically or manually depending on the airline.

"If Malaysia Airlines does have these messages, that would be very useful" to determine events before it lost contact, Soejatman said.

Malaysia Airlines' chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya told reporters at a press conference late Monday that the missing aircraft was equipped with ACARS, but did not provide any further details.

An airline representative later confirmed: "The aircraft has got the ACARS system which transmits automatically. There were no distress calls. No information was relayed."

Q: Is security at Kuala Lumpur International Airport questionable?

Revelations that at least two people aboard the plane were using stolen European passports have heightened fears about a security breach.

Rohan Gunaratna, a terrorism expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said the passport issue could indicate a "glaring flaw" in the airport's immigration clearance.

He noted that Interpol maintains a database of stolen passports that should have raised alarms at the immigration counter.