1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,440 Welcome back to Vanished Skies, the podcast where we comb through the clouds of mystery 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:10,280 surrounding Malaysian flight 370, seeking clarity in one of modern aviation's most perplexing 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:11,280 puzzles. 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:16,120 I'm your host Ed Skerritt, joined by the ever-insightful Marilyn Skerritt. 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:21,480 In our last episodes, we set the stage with the history of the ill-fated flight and delved 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,520 deep into the initial 10 minutes that may hold the key to understanding the sudden veer 7 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:28,200 from its intended path. 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:33,800 We explored the intricate dance of communication between air traffic control and the cockpit, 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,720 the pivotal directives, and the poignant silence that followed. 10 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:44,040 Tonight, we pick up the thread in the stillness of the early morning of March 8, 2014. 11 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:49,960 Captain and first officer, seasoned and trainee, embarked on what was to be a routine flight 12 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:55,720 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, a flight with a duration calculated at just over five and 13 00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:01,600 a half hours, carrying hopes, dreams, and unanswered questions. 14 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:07,280 As we previously discussed, the captain had logged in for duty at 2250 local time, leading 15 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,960 the pre-flight proceedings with the precision expected of an experienced examiner. 16 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:17,320 Twenty-five minutes later, the first officer followed suit, stepping into the cockpit amidst 17 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:25,280 his transition from the Airbus A330 to the Boeing 777, a leap across engineering philosophies, 18 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,720 each with their own language of levers and dials. 19 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:35,080 With the flight released at 2315 by the MS Operations Dispatch Center, a fuel order for 20 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:41,200 a journey spanning over seven hours was placed, anticipating the variables of the skies, an 21 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:48,960 assurance against the unpredictable, then a clearance request issued, a pushback, engines 22 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:55,360 roaring to life, the dance of lights on the runway, guiding MH370 to its ascent. 23 00:01:55,360 --> 00:02:03,240 The first twist in our tale unfurls at U-4253 when Lumpur Departure redirects the aircraft, 24 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:08,040 cancelling the standard instrument departure, and sending it instead towards Waypoint E. 25 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:12,140 Garry, but as the plot thickens, so do the questions. 26 00:02:12,140 --> 00:02:16,680 Why was there no record of an updated ETA after the clearance to Eigari? 27 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:22,720 How does the absence of subsequent ACARS transmissions fit into this labyrinth of loose ends? 28 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:28,040 Stay with us as we continue our journey into the unknown, piecing together the events that 29 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:32,720 led to a vanishing act that has echoed through the annals of aviation history. 30 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:38,840 This is Vanished Skies, and tonight's episode promises to delve deeper into the echoes in 31 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:44,200 the ocean, the signals that could lead us to answers, and the riddle that remains. 32 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,240 What really happened to Malaysian Flight 370? 33 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,080 Now let's dive in. 34 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:50,720 Welcome back, listeners. 35 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:55,920 Today we dive deep into the technological heart of our investigation, the satellite communications 36 00:02:55,920 --> 00:03:01,760 or SATCOM system, and the mysterious pings that have become a cornerstone of the MH370 37 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:02,760 enigma. 38 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:07,320 Imagine a dartboard, as you said, but one that's floating in space and capable of reaching 39 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,560 thousands of miles across the Earth. 40 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,480 This isn't a game of precision, but one of reach and response. 41 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,640 The satellite pings we've been hearing about operate on a similar principle. 42 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:22,320 Their electronic handshakes, signals sent out by the ground station that travel to the 43 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,880 aircraft and expect a response back. 44 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:31,080 However, they don't give us a precise location, rather a range, a circular arc of possible 45 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,600 locations where the plane could be. 46 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:38,840 Much like the radius extending out from the center of a dartboard, these pings are crucial. 47 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:44,200 They're like digital echoes, reverberating across the vastness of the skies and oceans. 48 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,600 Every handshake narrows down the search field, telling us that the aircraft was at least 49 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,560 within reach of the satellite's long electronic arm at that moment. 50 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,840 Now, let's simplify this. 51 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:59,720 When you send a text message, it goes from your phone to a cell tower, right? 52 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:05,320 In the case of an airplane, it's similar, but the cell tower is a satellite in orbit. 53 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:09,440 The ACAR system on the plane, like a mobile phone, sends a message. 54 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,040 The ping, which travels up to the satellite and then down to the ground station. 55 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,640 It's an automated, I am here from the plane, but here's the catch. 56 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:24,160 While your text message says, I am at the cafe on Fifth Street, the ping only says, 57 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,680 I am somewhere on this huge circle that could be thousands of miles wide. 58 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,880 As we progress through today's show, we'll reconstruct the flight path and try to make 59 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,360 sense of where MH370 could have traveled based on these satellite pings. 60 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,200 It's a complex puzzle, but together, we'll piece it together. 61 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,040 Stay with us as we connect the dots in the sky. 62 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,840 Reflecting on our first episode, we delved into the intriguing world of dyslexia and 63 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:51,560 its three-dimensional cognitive approach. 64 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:56,440 Google Earth, in a similar vein, empowered us with a three-dimensional canvas. 65 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:01,640 It enabled us to experiment with various scenarios, positioning aircraft at different 66 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:08,680 altitudes, aligning them with precise timelines, and exploring potential flight paths. 67 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,480 This tool granted us the flexibility to adjust variables in real time and 68 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:19,760 observe the outcomes, enhancing our exploration into the MH370 enigma. 69 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:20,960 That's right, Ed. 70 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:26,840 And speaking of 3D, our biggest ally in visualizing MH370's path was Google Earth. 71 00:05:26,840 --> 00:05:32,200 This tool, often overlooked, became our window into every conceivable detail of the flight, 72 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:33,360 minute by minute. 73 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:38,280 Indeed, Google Earth isn't just about street views and virtual tourism. 74 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:44,440 We've tapped into its vast capabilities to map out MH370's journey, aligning satellite 75 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,200 pings with geographical locations. 76 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:52,880 It's like stepping into a time machine, capturing the essence of each crucial moment. 77 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:54,240 Absolutely fascinating. 78 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:59,960 It segments the flight into phases, pre-takeoff, takeoff, cruise, diversion, and beyond. 79 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:04,080 What it reveals isn't just a flight path, but a narrative, one that might challenge 80 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,240 the prevailing theories out there. 81 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:07,520 Now let's dive in. 82 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:13,440 We have our initial stage, from takeoff to the moment MH370 diverted towards the Indian 83 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:14,440 Ocean. 84 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:19,520 This is where the plot thickens, where every theory is put to the test against hard data. 85 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:20,880 It's here we ask. 86 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:25,240 Was it a carefully crafted deception, a deliberate act by someone who knew exactly what they 87 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:30,800 were doing, or was it a cascade of human errors, a string of miscalculations leading to an 88 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,600 unforeseen tragedy? 89 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,160 And that's where Google Earth truly shines. 90 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:40,200 It doesn't speculate, it presents a factual account, tracking the aircraft from the departure 91 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:45,200 gate to its last known coordinates, pinpoint accuracy that leaves little room for wild 92 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:46,200 conjecture. 93 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:51,080 By using this, we can postulate potential paths. Could the flight's final trajectory be simpler 94 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:56,560 than we thought? Does it really take a mastermind to end up where MH370 did? Or could a trainee's 95 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,400 slip up amidst routine operations be the key to this mystery? 96 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:05,080 What's compelling is that with Google Earth, we've simulated satellite positions to cross-verify 97 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:10,360 the distances and angles. We've essentially recreated the investigative tools used by experts 98 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,320 right from our own homes. 99 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,840 That brings an authenticity to our discussion. 100 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,840 We aren't just talking theories, we're applying practical investigative techniques to present 101 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:23,960 our findings to you, our listeners. And we invite the experts to challenge our conclusions 102 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:25,560 with their own tools. 103 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:31,760 So as we embark on today's episode, remember we're not just passively recounting events. 104 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:37,200 We're actively engaging with the data, asking hard questions, seeking answers in the depths 105 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,680 of the ocean and the heights of the sky. 106 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:44,680 Stay with us as we chart these troubled waters and skies, mapping out the journey of MH370 107 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:50,920 with a mix of analytical precision and human understanding. Because in the end, it's about 108 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,880 finding the truth in the data and the stories behind the numbers. 109 00:07:54,880 --> 00:08:01,440 Maryland, before we do our deep dive into episode 3, we at Vanishing Skies Mystery behind MH370 110 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,640 Unsolved want to thank everyone that helped getting us on the following streaming podcast 111 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:06,640 platforms. 112 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:13,080 Vanished Skies, the MH370 Mystery, Unsolved, is now available for your listening on these 113 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:21,280 awesome platforms, Spotify, Podcast Index, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Deezer, 114 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:22,280 and YouTube. 115 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,720 Welcome back, everyone. Today, Maryland and I are going to unravel the mystery behind 116 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:32,320 MH370 and how Google Earth played a pivotal role in understanding its satellite information. 117 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:37,320 That's right, Ed. Remember when we discussed dyslexia in our first episode and how it relates 118 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:42,960 to 3D thinking? Well, Google Earth allowed us to visualize and experiment with MH370's 119 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:47,400 data in a three-dimensional space, which was crucial for our investigation. 120 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:52,840 Absolutely. Google Earth isn't just a mapping tool. It's a powerful resource for analyzing 121 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:58,040 complex data. We started by pinpointing the exact position of the Malaysian airplane at 122 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:03,800 Gate C1 and then moved to the satellite's location in the ocean, considering its altitude, 123 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,040 latitude, and longitude. 124 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:10,840 Exactly, Ed. With these coordinates, we were able to track the plane's movements and calculate 125 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:15,600 the distance between the satellite and the ground station in Perth, Australia. This distance 126 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,200 measurement is crucial for understanding the satellite pings. 127 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:24,160 Right. The satellite communicates with the plane by sending signals known as pings, and 128 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:29,120 by analyzing the time it takes for these signals to travel, we can determine the plane's location 129 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,120 on each of the seven rings. 130 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,280 And that's not all. By understanding the distance and time between each ping, we can 131 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:39,640 create a detailed timeline of the plane's journey, helping us piece together the events 132 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:41,560 leading up to its disappearance. 133 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:47,680 Our theory is broken into three phases. Similar to the plane's five phases. Pre-taxi, taxi, 134 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:52,520 takeoff, climb, cruise. Since the plane diverted, we will not speculate on the rest of the flight 135 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:53,520 phase. 136 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:59,760 Exactly, but we made it very simple. Our three phases. Most information. Minimum information. 137 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:04,960 To lease available information. So basically, Gate to Aigari. We used the two Rolls-Royce 138 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:10,080 Engine Monitoring reports along with ATC radar and radio communications between crew and 139 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:15,760 air traffic controllers. Five, ASCAR reports, including in-Marsat information. 140 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:21,800 Then from Waypoint, Aigari to the Indian Ocean, we lost communication, ACARS reporting, and 141 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:26,320 transponder functionality. These are all tasks that fall under the responsibility of the 142 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:31,640 pilot monitoring. It's worth noting that both the radio and transponder switches are located 143 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:32,840 next to each other. 144 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:38,040 So basically, we have Butterworth Military Air Base radar and in-Marsat information. 145 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:43,520 I mentioned a minimum amount of information, but unfortunately, the situation worsens. 146 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:48,360 Around 2.30 a.m. Malaysian time, just when we thought it couldn't get worse, we lose 147 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:55,480 track of MH370 from Butterworth Military radar, disappearing from air traffic control monitors. 148 00:10:55,480 --> 00:11:00,760 We are left with the final in-soul contact with MH370, which is the infamous in-Marsat 149 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:06,200 satellite data. While technology has advanced rapidly in our modern era, its progress in 150 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:11,120 aviation hasn't quite matched that pace. Satellites provide us with directional and 151 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:15,800 distance information, but they are limited in that they only give us one direction and 152 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:21,320 distance. To solve this mystery, we need to utilize tools like Google Earth, which helped 153 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,200 us visualize and navigate the vastness of Earth. 154 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,440 Now that we've explored the three phases of our investigation, I want to introduce a 155 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:33,880 segment I find particularly intriguing. It's called You Be the Judge, where we'll delve 156 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:39,780 into an NBC article that I believe was pivotal in its reporting, but perhaps jumped too quickly 157 00:11:39,780 --> 00:11:45,000 into speculation. After listening to this podcast, I'm curious to hear your thoughts. 158 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:50,800 Now it's time for You Be the Judge. NBC News article, written March 18, 2014. 159 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,040 Missing Jett's initial turn was entered using computer. The use of the flight management 160 00:11:55,040 --> 00:12:00,080 system suggests the change of course was carried out by somebody in the cockpit who was knowledgeable 161 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:06,000 about airplane systems. The first turn of Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was made using 162 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:11,120 the Jett's computer system rather than its manual controls, authorities confirmed to 163 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:16,520 NBC News, reinforcing the theory that the plane was deliberately diverted. The course of 164 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:21,360 the Beijing-bound flight was changed by entering navigational instructions into the flight 165 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:27,360 management system, FMS, the cockpit computer that directs the plane along a flight plan 166 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:32,240 chosen by pilots. It is not clear when the instruction to turn west was entered into 167 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:37,080 the FMS, but its use suggests the change of course was carried out by somebody in the 168 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:42,200 cockpit who was knowledgeable about airplane systems. The FMS is controlled by a display 169 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:47,000 panel between the two pilots. Information from the FMS is among the data transmitted 170 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:51,760 by the aircraft communications addressing and reporting system, AS cars, which sends 171 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,840 information back to the airline's maintenance base. According to a report in the New York 172 00:12:55,840 --> 00:13:01,480 Times, investigators believe that a navigational waypoint was added to the planned route. Pilots 173 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,760 do that in the ordinary course of flying if air traffic controllers tell them to take 174 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:11,120 a different route to avoid weather or traffic. But in this case, the waypoint was far off 175 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:16,480 the path to Beijing, the newspaper reported. At least six theories are under investigation 176 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:23,080 after the Boeing 777 vanished on March 8th, but all remain unsubstantiated. The plane 177 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:28,880 landed somewhere for reasons unknown and isn't able to communicate with the outside world. 178 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:34,160 Experts say that's technically possible, but almost unimaginable. A sudden catastrophic 179 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:40,280 event like mechanical failure or decompression as when a plane carrying golfer Payne Stewart 180 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:47,080 crashed in 1999. Hijacking or terrorism, no credible group is known to have claimed responsibility 181 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:53,160 for the plane's disappearance. Crew sabotage, including pilot suicide, for example. Pilot 182 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:58,960 error, this is considered unlikely as both pilots were very experienced. Outside human 183 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:08,480 intervention, such as bad weather or a meteor strike. Pilot error, this is considered unlikely 184 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:15,320 as both pilots were very experienced. Outside human intervention, such as bad weather or 185 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:20,400 a meteor strike. What do the listeners think? Were both pilots that experienced enough to 186 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:26,840 not make any errors? It's a fact. Pilot error contributes to 85% of all commercial flights. 187 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:31,800 Now consider student pilot, last day of training, overnight flight, and has not passed any of 188 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,320 the required tests to see if he was competent enough to fly without an observer. Let's 189 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:41,440 hold that thought for a later episode, just remember in You Be the Judge. According to 190 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:47,200 a report in the New York Times, investigators believe that a navigational waypoint was added 191 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:52,360 to the planned route. Is our theory consistent with a waypoint added? Yes, and we will address 192 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:57,680 that when we discuss flight path and autopilot later on in our series. It's coming to the 193 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:04,960 end of episode 3. Vanished skies mystery, MH370 unsolved. As we conclude episode 3, we'll 194 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:09,680 pick up right where we left off, diving deeper into the intricacies of in-marsat satellite 195 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:15,360 information and delving into the three phases of solving the MH370 mystery. Stay tuned for 196 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:34,920 more in our next episode.