On 3/27/2014 4:04 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"Daryl" wrote in message
...
On 3/27/2014 3:32 AM, Keith Willshaw wrote:
On 26/03/2014 23:51, Daryl wrote:
On 3/26/2014 4:19 PM, Keith Willshaw wrote:
On 26/03/2014 20:23, Daryl wrote:
On 3/26/2014 1:15 PM, george152 wrote:
On 27/03/14 07:21, Keith Willshaw wrote:

Especially given that the average depth of water in that area
is
around
4 km. Finding it will require a towed array.

Keith

First find the debris field.
Then work your way back to begin scanning the ocean floor.
It'll take time and surface ships.
Nukes have other duties than looking for downed aircraft

The debris will have floated for about 100 miles riding the
currents. No
help from that.


As it happens you do get some help from that. The winds and
currents can
be used to estimate the position of the crash. That technique was
used
to find the remains of Air France 447. They combed the likely
area using
a towed sidescan sonor until they found the submerged debris
field.

Keith

How deep was the area that 447 went down in.

More than 4,000 metres, it was the South Atlantic


This one went down in one
of the deepest oceans. You pretty well have t be right on top of
it to
pick up anything. And it has to be done fast before the battery
runs
down on the black box. Once the battery is gone, it will never be
located unless some Scifi things creap up. Now I know that the
Seaview
could probably find it.


They found AF-447 in similar water depths AFTER the battery had run
out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26680633

However it will certainly be harder than for AF-447 if for no other
reason than the location being so remote and if the debris is in a
topologically complex area such as a ravine they may never find it.

Keith


AF-447 is a red herring. For the most recent, the depth in KMs in
that area is over 7000 or 23,000 feet or almost 5000 feet. That's
average depth. As you stated, add in the mountainous nature it gets
even more difficult. Now, add in that pieces falling off on the way
down will go through many different thermals and water direction and
using those pieces that float will be worthless since it may have
gone through many directional water streams on it's way to the
surface.

Yes, it's not impossible that they can find it. But it's highly
improbable when cost is considered. How many millions of dollars
will be spent each day until it becomes no longer financially
viable. I think they are going to hit that limit in the next few
days.

If the ships and planes have been paid for, does it -really- cost that
much extra to have them performing this task instead of another?
jsw



Yes, it does and the cost of fuels, personnel and wear and tear comes
into play. Also, it takes them away from their other missions.

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