Oh Dear - Missing Plane

More than likely.

Originally Posted by plowsie

Seems like this is bringing back the discussions of flights across the Atlantic with only two engines is such a bad idea.

How do you know if it was engine related?

ETOPS is the regulation that allows certain aircraft and operators to fly more than 60mins from a diversion airport on two engines. It was brought in when it was realised how reliable engines were becoming.

Without ETOPS we would still be flying around in tri-jets, lugging unnecessary weight, buning excess amounts of fuel, and paying for it in our ticket prices, whilst killing baby polar bears (if you believe in all that).

Think how much has been saved over a few decades since ETOPS was brought in. Offset that against all the incidents of double engine failure not involving running out of fuel (I can't think of one of the top of my head).

Of course there are still those who say ETOPS - Engins Turning or Passengers Swimming!

Originally Posted by MrTom

How do you know if it was engine related?

I don't as said, been watching on the news. Just going by what they have been saying....

The people on the news are having discussions about the two engines thing, not me.

EDIT: And now, the search area is a completely different place as to where they said it was lost from, sometimes, I really hate the news.

Fair enough. Seems like a daft debate to be having on the news right now though.

Wouldnt matter how many engines it had if it lost all power due to a short.

Modern jets are bloody good gliders though. I remember a air crash investiagation where this blode managed to glide it something ridiculas, then find a run way and land it! I'll see if I can find some of it on youtube and add it in my edit.

EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDN6tgTz0mM

thats only part one, but if you watch the whole thing its quite a good one.

Ah man, this kinda stuff makes me feel sick. I hate flying anyway, i hope to god they managed to ditch and the life rafts etc deployed but realistically if they lost all power then the controls would have been useless.

[anna]

At this point it´s not good to speculate too much on what has happened. The news is the worst culprit of this as they try to fill out the story until they have something to go on.

I hope it isnt as bad as it looks right now.

[Sir Trev]

The media will wheel in any so-called experts and skeptics with opinions and push the hype to overdrive if it means increasing their coverage.

It can happen.

I read a mail the other week about a US Air mechanic coming home from Japan. Not long after take off he reported about a stream coming from one of the wings (like the airflow that goes white). Lots of arguing with the cabin crew later, he had the pilot come have a look.

Flight was immediatly turned round, the "white air" was in fact fuel and they would have run out hundreds of miles out to sea.

The bloke was given a free upgrade to 1st class on the next day flight....

So it can happen.

This will bring out lots of "arm chair" experts and people will spout a lot of stuff that makes little sense, please wait for facts rather than speculate on as yet unsubstantiated media reports.

My thoughts are with those on board, and all those waiting for them.