Wednesday, March 19, 2014

KISS....Keep It Simple Stupid

We tend to make things more complicated than they need be.  Case in point: the search for the missing Malaysian Airlines triple-7.  My friend Elaine Webb shared on Facebook an article by an experienced Canadian pilot, Chris Goodfellow, which gave a simple and entirely credible explanation of what might have happened.


He pointed out that pilots, especially those as experienced as the Malaysian Airlines pilots, are constantly updating in their mind where the nearest divert airfields are in case of an emergency.  This would include airfields ahead, beside, and behind them.  This way if something goes wrong, they don't have to think where they could go....they already KNOW where to go.

He theorizes that there was some sort of fire, probably electrical, that caused them to pull the circuit breaker(s) to identify and control the fire.  This could have caused the interruptions in communications.  Then the pilot turned towards the nearest, longest runway in the area (13,000') at Pulau Lankawi, which is why he made the sudden left turn. 

He didn't return to Kuala Lampur because he knew he would have to cross over an 8,000' mountain ridge, and he might not be able to make it.  His divert field at Pulau Lankawi was on the same approximate heading (in the direction) he was going after his turn.  Mr. Goodfellow believes the plane crashed somewhere between its last known location and Pulau Lankawi, and that's where investigators should be looking.

But what about reports that land radar had the plane crossing back over the Malaysian peninsula and heading back out into the Indian Ocean?  Just today it was said many believe there are too many powerful radars along that route for a plane to get through quietly unannounced.  Hmmmm....

Interesting hypothesis.

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There was a story in the news this morning that was accompanied by this picture:


The caption called this "the face of cold authority".

  

Then it dawned on me....Putin looks like the ice-cold villain in the James Bond movie Casino Royale.  Look at the expressionless eyes and the tight lipped mouth.  Let's hope Pootie Pooh suffers a similar fate as Bond's nemesis.

Hump Day!  :)

S

12 comments:

  1. I was thinking it was hijacked and it landed somewhere, your pilots theory is interesting and makes sense except for the calm "Good night" after stuff was turned off. Hope we find out soon and the real story has no nefarious outcomes.

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    1. I know, every reasonable theory seems to have a "but" attached.

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  2. I read that and then read a Slate article that immediately debunks that theory because apparently the plane was still maneuvering after this pilot said the plane's crew would be unconscious. Maybe it's like the Twilight Zone episode where a plane accidentally goes back in time to claymation dinosaur times and then keeps trying to move forward in time. At this point it's equally plausible.

    The Bond villain has more hair, but then it's been 7 years since that movie came out.

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  3. Latest headline says the search is now concentrating on the Indian Ocean.

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  4. My two cents. They will end up on the Island where the "Lost" series took place.

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  5. It's such a wonderful mystery that it's a shame it involves so many lives. I fear we may never know what happened.

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  6. Yes, I too read criticisms of his theory from other pilots, who pointed out that one of the first things a pilot would do in a smoke-filled cabin would be to put on an oxygen mask, whatever Chris Goodfellow believed. They weren’t entirely satisfied with his idea that he’d turn off all the electrical busses except that for the autopilot either, pointing out that it wouldn’t be normal procedure to turn off the transponder in such circumstances. I have no idea which is the most likely myself, but it’s certainly a puzzling affair.

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  7. Mr Putin a bad guy? Sad to see you are falling for Washington press propaganda.

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    1. So you think he's a good guy? He's a thug IMO. And a bigger hypocrite than any of our Washington hypocrites, too.

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  8. I read in the German newspaper today that several people on an island in the Maldives reported the plane flying at low altitude over the area.

    And yes, we may never know. I agree with Stephen - such an itriguing mystery; it's just heartbreaking that so many lives are lost.

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  9. Striking resemblance between younger villain and today's Putin. I happen to think he and O are on the same page. Obama just wishes he had as much autonomy. Philosophical soulmates. Just a bit of a difference in immediate interests, but certainly not due to real principles and values

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