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RAAF continues MH370 search missions

written by australianaviation.com.au | March 17, 2014

Two RAAF Orions are involved in the search for MH370. (Defence)
Two RAAF Orions are involved in the search for MH370. (Defence)

Malaysian authorities have re-tasked one of two Australian maritime patrol aircraft that are supporting the search for Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370, Defence has confirmed.

“[On Sunday] one RAAF AP-3C Orion commenced searching the Indian Ocean to the north and west of the Cocos Islands,” stated Chief of the Defence Force General David Hurley on Sunday evening. “This aircraft is expected to recover to the Cocos Islands overnight and launch from that location on Monday to maximise mission time in the expanded search area.”

The second RAAF Orion involved in the effort will continue to search to the west of Malaysia. Australia has provided the aircraft to assist the Malaysian government since March 9. Operating out of Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth, they had flown 51.5 hours on search missions as of the time of the statement from General Hurley.

Subsequently on Monday Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament that after a request from Malaysia that Australia would assume responsibility for the ‘southern vector’ search for the missing Boeing 777-200, and that Australia would commit more resources to the search.

“They [the two Orions] remain available to assist in whatever way the Malaysian authorities wish and it’s my intention to talk later today with the Malaysians to see if there’s additional help that Australia can offer,” the Prime Minister said.

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Comments (6)

  • Ron

    says:

    Is that a feather prop out the window?

  • Tyler

    says:

    That’s a prop that ain’t spinning. P3s often shut down one engine whilst on station to maximize endurance.

  • Tyler

    says:

    But yes it is feathered in that position

  • Dane

    says:

    It’s the only engine that doesn’t have an electrical generator attached to it I believe.

  • Soothsayer

    says:

    Auto-feathers when the engine is shutdown to increase loiter endurance. In standard config, #1 Eng. is the only engine without both a Generator and an Engine Driven Compressor (ECS).

  • JACK CAIRNS

    says:

    HI FOLKS – MOST LARGER WESTERN WORLD MILITARY , ESP. AIR FORCES , KNOW EXACTLY WHAT AIRCRAFT ARE AIRBORNE AT ANY GIVEN TIME – SAME APPLIES TO SHIP LOCATION – NO , THEY DON’T USE GROUND RADAR FOR THAT TASK – SO THEY WOULD HAVE PLOTTED THAT FLIGHT UNTIL IT LANDED — CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY NO ONE HAS ASKED THE MILITARY THAT TOUGH QUESTION – OR WOULD THEY GET THE USUAL ANSWER – THAT IS CLASSIFIED TECH. DATA ?! – THANX J.C.

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