Plane missing in Antarctica

[stallie]

The broken lines indicate the edge of the glaciers.

[FICU]

If they are at 13,000, what issues arise from the altitude, other than the cold?

Hypoxia and or altitude sickness could be an issue and also make it tougher to keep warm.

Positive thoughts!

[Lost in Saigon]

It is direct..... http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=NZSP-s83.9 ... =wls&DU=mi

[bigsky]

And, what are those meandering broken lines that we use for trails on our maps up here?

Click on the link that LIS posted on page 7. Then blow the map up, there is a legend explaining all markings.

[cncpc]

The broken lines indicate the edge of the glaciers.

Thank you.

[Lost in Saigon]

And, what are those meandering broken lines that we use for trails on our maps up here?

Click on the link that LIS posted on page 7. Then blow the map up, there is a legend explaining all markings.

Here is the legend from that map.

[cncpc]

And, what are those meandering broken lines that we use for trails on our maps up here?

Click on the link that LIS posted on page 7. Then blow the map up, there is a legend explaining all markings.

Here is the legend from that map.

Yes, thanks. I finally managed the technical challenge of enlarging it. Didn't see the magnifying glass at first.

[ramsky]

Rescue mission in Antarctic: no luck spotting missing aircraft

CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 7:59AM EST
Last Updated Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 10:21PM EST

A break in the weather has allowed a Twin Otter rescue aircraft to land about 50 kilometres from where a plane carrying three Canadian crew members is believed to have gone down in the Antarctic.

The search plane touched down at Beardmore Glacier on Saturday (local time) but the crew reported that because of low cloud cover, they did not spot the missing aircraft owned by Calgary-based Kenn Borek Air. The plane disappeared Wednesday on a flight over the Queen Alexandra mountain range, said New Zealand's Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The rescuers are setting up a base camp to use as a launch pad to get into the area of the missing men's last known position. Two helicopters are en route to the base camp along with a DC-3 plane carrying supplies. A C-130 Hercules aircraft was circling the site where the missing plane's beacon activated hoping to spot the plane or the men. It was to land later with its supplies at Beardmore Glacier.

The missing Twin Otter's emergency locator transmitter was activated around 10 p.m. local time Wednesday as the plane travelled from a U.S. research station at the South Pole to an Italian research base in Terra Nova Bay.

The signal came from the north end of Antarctica's Queen Alexandra range -- about halfway between the South Pole and McMurdo Station. While searchers have flown over the area since the plane vanished, their hunt has been hampered by heavy cloud cover and at time hurricane-force winds, said officials.

The beacon stopped transmitting likely because the battery -- good for approximately 24 hours-- died and there has been no contact with the crew. But their plane was equipped with survival suits, cold-weather tents and food and water to last up to five days.

Experienced pilot missing

Friends have identified the pilot as Bob Heath from the Northwest Territories, an experienced pilot in both the Antarctic and Arctic. Heath has more than 20 years’ experience flying in extreme conditions.

His wife, Lucy Heath, told the Calgary Sun newspaper that she'd been called by airline officials and told "Bob's plane was down, and they were trying to reach it."

She said she was just waiting for more news: "I'm so worried."

Heath, who lives in Inuvik, N.W.T., has logged thousands of hours teaching young flyers in regions from the Maritimes to northern Ontario and administers tests to other pilots, said Roger Townsend, who was a co-pilot with Heath out of Red Lake, Ont. Flying with Heath was always a learning experience, Townsend said.

"He used it as an opportunity to impart knowledge. He's a true instructor with an extraordinary passion for teaching and training."

On the online networking site LinkedIn, Heath writes that he typically spends this time of year coaching and mentoring other pilots to upgrade their skills in polar regions.

Media reports have identified the copilot as 25-year-old Mike Denton, a newlywed from Calgary whose photographs of planes appear on the Kenn Borek Air website. The third crew member has not yet been identified.

Officials from the Canadian High Commission in Wellington are working closely with local authorities organizing the search from New Zealand.

"Consular officials stand ready to provide consular services as required," said spokesperson Barbara Harvey.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/rescue-miss ... -1.1129028

[swordfish]

If you spot the site on Google Earth, they are in an area that is well below 13,000'. Depending on the accuracy of the Google Earth images there, they are at an elevation of 8000'. This is a short distance (3 nm) from the highest point nearby, 4347 m (14,258') I assume to be Mt Elizabeth, identified by Lost in Saigon.

If it's right, it's on a surface that gradually lowers in height (glacier?) but I can't tell the direction as the map has been rotated, and I have difficulty assigning polar directions in that part of the world, because everything's "North" on their track line! Easiest way to describe it is that the glacier where they are lowers towards the Beardmore Glacier to the right of their track, that eventually ends up in ocean (Ross Ice Shelf)

I got that elevation by panning around...I couldn't find a point at 4480 m. on Google Earth.

IF the fix is correct, they're in an area where they can easily breathe, and didn't drive into a mountain, sloping glacier, and high hopes for a survivable landing.

[cncpc]

If you spot the site on Google Earth, they are in an area that is well below 13,000'. Depending on the accuracy of the Google Earth images there, they are at an elevation of 8000'. This is a short distance (3 nm) from the highest point nearby, 4347 m (14,258') I assume to be Mt Elizabeth, identified by Lost in Saigon.

If it's right, it's on a surface that gradually lowers in height (glacier?) but I can't tell the direction as the map has been rotated, and I have difficulty assigning polar directions in that part of the world, because everything's "North" on their track line! Easiest way to describe it is that the glacier where they are lowers towards the Beardmore Glacier to the right of their track, that eventually ends up in ocean (Ross Ice Shelf)

I got that elevation by panning around...I couldn't find a point at 4480 m. on Google Earth.

IF the fix is correct, they're in an area where they can easily breathe, and didn't drive into a mountain, sloping glacier, and high hopes for a survivable landing.

Yes, very positive perspective.

[stallie]

If it's right, it's on a surface that gradually lowers in height (glacier?)

That lat/lon shows up as a ridge line (ending in a 2740m 'knoll').

[swordfish]

WRT Satellite Phones - can anyone 'in the know' say if there's 100% satellite coverage over Antarctica? Is it conceivable that if they are on the 'wrong' side of the mountain, then the phone would not work due to lack of coverage?

I would assume their service provider is Iridium, who advertise world-wide coverage, 24/7. The Globalstar system doesn't cover the Arctic/Antarctic regions very well, according to their coverage maps. The phone antenna simply needs a clear view of the sky, so if the aircraft is inverted, the sat phone probably won't work*. The antenna depends on the aircraft fuselage for "half" of the radio wave, but the other "half-wave" comes from the tiny antenna on top of the fuselage.

If that's facing downwards, or even covered with enough blowing snow, it will work with diminished effectiveness. On our medivac aircraft, however, the whole phone could be removed from its cradle and used as a portable. However, it's more likely they are console-mounted in those aircraft operating in the Antarctic, for ease of use in the cockpit.

*The same applies to the ELT. If the plane is in unusual attitude, that would account for the signal working while the battery was strong; as the battery got weaker, the antenna may be positioned in a manner that the weaker signal will also suffer from a poor radiation pattern.

[Lurch]

Part of a plane missing in Antarctica may have been spotted but rescue crews are yet to confirm the sighting.

A break in the weather has allowed planes into the area and ONE News understands part of the tail section of the plane has been spotted from the air.

Meanwhile searchers still hope to finding the missing crew alive.

"It's only been three days and they do have a lot of equipment with them," Tracy Brickles from the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/possibl ... ne-5326356

Lurch

[Lurch]

Just saw this

The wreckage of the Twin Otter aircraft missing in Antarctica since Wednesday night has been found.

The aircraft wreckage is on a very steep slope, close to the summit of Mt Elizabeth. It appears to have made a direct impact that was not survivable. No details are available on the cause of the crash.

The next of kin have been informed.

The site of the crash is at a height of 3,900m (13,000 feet) at the northern end of the Queen Alexandra Range, within New Zealand’s Search and Rescue Region – halfway between the South Pole and McMurdo Station (approximately 680km or 370 nautical miles in each direction).

Two helicopters, including a Southern Lakes helicopter on contract to Scott Base, reached the site at around 7.15pm (NZ time), having travelled from McMurdo Base this afternoon to a forward base at Beardmore Glacier, about 50km from the crash site. A landing was not possible. They were able to survey the site briefly before returning to the Beardmore Glacier site.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) has coordinated the search for the aircraft, working with United States and Canadian authorities.

RCCNZ Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Tracy Brickles said it was very sad end to the operation.

“It has been difficult operation in challenging conditions but we remained hopeful of a positive result. Our thoughts are now with the families of the crewmen.”

God Speed Boys

Lurch

[sky's the limit]

Extremely sad news. My best to all of the families and those who worked closely with these fine people.

stl

26 January 2013, 7.45pm

The wreckage of the Twin Otter aircraft missing in Antarctica since Wednesday night has been found.

The aircraft wreckage is on a very steep slope, close to the summit of Mt Elizabeth. It appears to have made a direct impact that was not survivable. No details are available on the cause of the crash.

The next of kin have been informed.

The site of the crash is at a height of 3,900m (13,000 feet) at the northern end of the Queen Alexandra Range, within New Zealand’s Search and Rescue Region – halfway between the South Pole and McMurdo Station (approximately 680km or 370 nautical miles in each direction).

Two helicopters, including a Southern Lakes helicopter on contract to Scott Base, reached the site at around 7.15pm (NZ time), having travelled from McMurdo Base this afternoon to a forward base at Beardmore Glacier, about 50km from the crash site. A landing was not possible. They were able to survey the site briefly before returning to the Beardmore Glacier site.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) has coordinated the search for the aircraft, working with United States and Canadian authorities.

RCCNZ Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Tracy Brickles said it was very sad end to the operation.

“It has been difficult operation in challenging conditions but we remained hopeful of a positive result. Our thoughts are now with the families of the crewmen.”

[FICU]

Tragic!

Condolences to all of you here who knew the crew and to their families.

['effin hippie]

Well F***.

It has been my pleasure and privilege to know you gentlemen. God Speed.

ef

[pez]

Awful news.

My thoughts are with the families and friends.

Condolences and warm wishes.

[the_cr]

Extremely sad news, it's clear the crew was well loved in the small world that is aviation.

My condolences to the family and friends of those involved.

[Mr. North]

What a tragedy. Godspeed gentlemen!

[Gear Jerker]

Good god. Rest in peace, and condolences to all family and friends. How horribly tragic.

[snoopy]

Dammit. RIP.

Kirsten B.

[DanWEC]

Godspeed, men. Brothers. My thoughts are with the families tonight.

[stallie]

Sad news. RIP.

[hazatude]

My condolences to all.