Maybe the airline knows and is just paying all the news agencies to not show it.....wait that's the plot for Anchorman 2

Quoted from jwent6688 Not gonna fire up any conspiracy theories, I just find it hard to believe that Boeing would build such a sophisticated airplane and still leave the ability of th pilots to manually turn off the transponders. Just about every new car you could buy today either has GPS or Lojack and could be found instantly... And they don't cost $265 million...

You turn the transponder on right before take-off and off again right after or before you land. They don't want a bunch of planes squawking while sitting on the ground. Husband told me. He's a pilot. Also, sometimes atmospheric pressure, blah blah something, can mess-up the transponder so it gives out the wrong altitude and stuff like that. I think. I don't remember everything.   

My uncle hunts up in no mans land Canada every year. We got him a SAT phone for $600. Doesn't use cell towers. Signal straight to satellites. Why doesn't this plane have the same technology?

I'm sure I'm ignorant as to why. Just wish someone could explain it to me so I could understand.

James

Seems like just the case for Spooky Mulder.

Quoted from jwent6688 My uncle hunts up in no mans land Canada every year. We got him a SAT phone for $600. Doesn't use cell towers. Signal straight to satellites. Why doesn't this plane have the same technology? I'm sure I'm ignorant as to why. Just wish someone could explain it to me so I could understand. James

Has your uncle ever been deep sea diving with his sat phone?

Well... it looks like the Aussies have found it in the water.... surprise, surprise.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Has your uncle ever been deep sea diving with his sat phone?

Flight data recorders are designed to survive crashes as well as being at the bottom of the ocean. Can't understand why transponders wouldn't be made with same ideas in mind. Not trying to start an argument, I just like to understand technology.

James

My half-baked theory; a clap of lightning may have knocked out everything like an EMP.  

Whatever happened, again, thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

Planes get hit by lightning a lot more than people think.




Phil

  


^WHOA!

Direct hit.

Quoted from dogglebe Planes get hit by lightning a lot more than people think. Phil

Hasn't been a confirmed crash on a commercial airliner since 1967 due to lightning. They say almost all commercial airplanes get struck by lightning once per year. Doubt that would take out an advanced 777, but what do I know?

James

Quoted from jwent6688 Flight data recorders are designed to survive crashes as well as being at the bottom of the ocean. Can't understand why transponders wouldn't be made with same ideas in mind.

Maybe it is designed to survive crashes, but no signal can be picked up from the bottom of the ocean. I don't know, and I can't be arsed to google. I just rather go with the accident premise over being kidnapped by aliens.

Maybe it's behind  a giant couch cushion, I'm always losing shit there

Mark

Quoted from irish eyes Maybe it's behind  a giant couch cushion, I'm always losing shit there Mark

I'm in Perth and waiting for the currents to wash it up onto our beaches !!!!!!

Alex