Malaysian radar not reliable, says Houston
Published: Jun 24, 2014 5:00 AM | Updated: Jun 24, 2014 6:54 AM
MH370 Malaysia’s air defence radar is not properly calibrated, preventing analysts from determining the exact altitude for the missing Malaysian Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370.
MH370 Malaysia’s air defence radar is not properly calibrated, preventing analysts from determining the exact altitude for the missing Malaysian Airlines System (MAS) Flight MH370.
The New York Times (NYT) quoted unnamed officials today as saying that this revelation is the main evidence for the upcoming major shift in the search area, which is still being determined.
Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) chief Angus Houston (right) and Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief commissioner declined to discuss the specifics of Malaysia’s military radar, but both agreed that it is unreliable.
“The primary radar data pertaining to altitude is regarded as unreliable,” the NYT quotes Houston as saying.
He said while it was clearly possible that MH370 flew below 23,000 feet (7,000 metres) at some point when it is still under radar coverage, he doubted that anyone could prove that the aircraft had soared and swooped, as some early media reports had claimed.
The report said a military radar needs to be recalibrated regularly to fit local atmospheric conditions in order to provide reliable altitude readings.
Previously, The New York Times had quoted unnamed US investigators claiming that based on Malaysia’s military radar, the aircraft climbed to 45,000 feet (13,700 metres), above the approved altitude limit, made a sharp turn to the west, and descended unevenly to 23,000 feet, below normal cruising levels, after disappearing from the civilian radar.
MH370 was last seen on civilian radar cruising at 35,000 feet (10,700 metres), where fuel consumption is more efficient, before contact was lost and it was later tracked as an unidentified aircraft on military radar.
However, revelations that the Malaysian military radar has not been calibrated has helped investigators determine that the aircraft was probably in controlled flight and not seriously damaged, the report said.
The steadier flight would allow the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to fly further, hence the forthcoming change in search area - which is expected to be announced by the end of the month.
The New York Times (NYT) quoted unnamed officials today as saying that this revelation is the main evidence for the upcoming major shift in the search area, which is still being determined.
Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) chief Angus Houston (right) and Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief commissioner declined to discuss the specifics of Malaysia’s military radar, but both agreed that it is unreliable.“The primary radar data pertaining to altitude is regarded as unreliable,” the NYT quotes Houston as saying.
He said while it was clearly possible that MH370 flew below 23,000 feet (7,000 metres) at some point when it is still under radar coverage, he doubted that anyone could prove that the aircraft had soared and swooped, as some early media reports had claimed.
The report said a military radar needs to be recalibrated regularly to fit local atmospheric conditions in order to provide reliable altitude readings.Previously, The New York Times had quoted unnamed US investigators claiming that based on Malaysia’s military radar, the aircraft climbed to 45,000 feet (13,700 metres), above the approved altitude limit, made a sharp turn to the west, and descended unevenly to 23,000 feet, below normal cruising levels, after disappearing from the civilian radar.
MH370 was last seen on civilian radar cruising at 35,000 feet (10,700 metres), where fuel consumption is more efficient, before contact was lost and it was later tracked as an unidentified aircraft on military radar.
However, revelations that the Malaysian military radar has not been calibrated has helped investigators determine that the aircraft was probably in controlled flight and not seriously damaged, the report said.
The steadier flight would allow the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to fly further, hence the forthcoming change in search area - which is expected to be announced by the end of the month.
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