Flight Mh370 Search

[10ClarionSt]

There is one aspect of this that has not been mentioned. The transponder on all commercial aircraft sends out an identifying signal. It alerts the ATC of the relevant country that an aircraft has entered it's airspace. It shows on radar as a small disc with an identifying number of the aircraft. If there is only a disc, and no number, then the transponder has been turned off. It can only be turned off manually. On MH370, the transponder was off for quite some time. Under internationally agreed procedures and protocols, in these circumstances, there is a procedure that means two fighter jets will intercept the aircraft, in case it is under threat from terrorists onboard. There has been no mention anywhere of this procedure being implemented and it is baffling why it didn't happen.

[douglas9401]

Out at sea, the transponder on flight MH370 would not have been able to tell authorities where the plane was.
"If the transponder is outside radar range the transponder doesn't receive anything and if it does receive anything it may not be able to respond with enough signal strength - so the controller can't see it," Professor Middleton said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-19/tracking-flight-mh370-acars-and-transponder/5331124

[malagabob]

There are many theories behind the planes disappearance none proven. It was flown to Afghanistan. North Korea, shot down because it was a threat to the US base at Diego Garcia. The controls were hacked by a passenger. A part was washed up on a beach and shows the signs of a controlled landing at sea. Maybe we will never know.

[NoMercy]

I've read countless theories and conspiracy theories behind the disappearance of MH370, from the plausible to the downright insane.

My money sadly goes on a deliberate at of sabotage by the pilot.

[Peter Pedant]

// A part was washed up on a beach and shows the signs of a controlled landing at sea.//

parts have been washed up and apparently there is a private individual who goes round collecting them - they are now encrusted with various animals and vegetables - and analysis shows......
that bit of the aircraft has travelled a very long way indeed, and it is not possible to credibly predict where it hit the water on the start of its long voyage now some years ago

[Buenchico]

An aircraft's transponder doesn't send transmit the same code all time. The air traffic controller taking charge of a plane's movements gives the pilot a 4-digit squawk code to enter into it. That code ceases to have any relevance when the plane leaves that air traffic control area (e.g. when it's over the middle of an ocean) so it's a perfectly logical step to switch the transponder off at that time (to avoid transmitting an incorrect code when entering a new ATC area later on).

The only time a pilot might then turn the transponder back on would be if he declared an emergency and sent out the emergency code (7700). Even so, if he was out of radar range of an ATC centre, there would seem to be little point in doing so.