What happened to Flight MH370? Based on satellite data calculated by investigators a crash site in the Indian Ocean. Now the Malaysian government has published the underlying protocols – but there is skepticism among experts.

Together with UK-based Inmarsat, the Government of Malaysia for the first time published satellite data underlying the calculation of the final position of flight MH370. Independent experts and relatives of passengers had asked for some time to make the information accessible to clarify the fate of missing for three months machine.

The now published PDF document with a circumference of 47 pages contains communication protocols of satellites, the Inmarsat operates. Although all positioning and wireless systems of the Boeing 777-200 were turned off, the machine had last made ​​contact with one of the satellites once per hour – much like a mobile phone that anfunkt a transmission tower in the network search.

Based on these data, investigators had calculated a route, which should have the Malaysia Airlines aircraft also performed well on the southern Indian Ocean. Accordingly, the Boeing would have crashed with 239 people on board in the remote marine region west of Australia. The decisive factor in this calculation include the runtime of the signals from which a distance from the satellite can be derived to the aircraft. So far, Malaysia had the data on this kept under wraps – much to the annoyance of many relatives.

Search for flight MH370:”A lot of junk you do not need to know”

Already sign up first though experts to speak, who also hold the published material is inadequate. Key hypotheses algorithms and metadata, which led to the results of the investigators, would not be standing in the document. Included is instead “a lot of junk you do not have to necessarily know,” said Michael Exner, an expert on microwave radiometry. “Probably two or three sides of which are important. The rest is noise. It does not contribute to a better understanding of the case.”

The British astrophysicist and science writer Duncan Steel on the other hand writes on his website, a part of the data could explain why the investigators had settled on the southern route if possible . But for more detailed analyzes are necessary , which would take some time to complete . At the same time also expressed his disappointment with the Steel late release . “I can see no reason why you can not have nine or ten weeks ago could have made this information available . ” Large parts of the pdf document are irrelevant ; about 18 rows in it are of importance . Nevertheless, it is good that the information is publicly available now .

Based on the calculations , an international search command west of Australia had , he looks for weeks after debris or signals the flight data recorder – without success. Although a special unit of the U.S. Navy had registered ultrasonic sounds that would fit into a black box , the Fund was never confirmed , however .

In a next phase of the insert will now be sought in a much larger area for the missing machine. The area covers approximately 60,000 square kilometers , which is slightly smaller than Bavaria. The nature of the seabed in the area is largely unknown.

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