Statement By Acting Transport Minister
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 25 March 2014 20:16
Pic: mDKUALA LUMPUR: Following is the statement by Defence Minister and acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein at a press briefing on the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370which went down in the southern Indian Ocean, at the Putra World Trade Centre here today:
"As the search for MH370continues, we remain focused on narrowing the search area.
"With such strong cooperation from our international partners, the challenge is no longer diplomatic. It is now primarily technical and logistical.
"Because the scale of the investigation is now much more complex, the release of technical and logistical information will be handled differently. As you have seen today, this means that Malaysia Airlines will take the lead in communicating with the families.
"As the search area has narrowed, new challenges have arisen, including managing resources in a remote search and rescue effort. We continue to work closely with our friends and partners as we seek to marshal more specific resources in support of the operations in that area.
"Last night, the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) announced that according to new analysis of satellite data, Inmarsat and UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have concluded that flight MH370ended in the southern Indian Ocean.
"Today, I will provide further details of how the data was analysed, as provided to us by the UK AAIB.
"This information is quite technical in nature. So, although I will give you as much information as I can, I will not be in a position to answer questions about this data analysis today.
"However, we will accept written questions which will be answered as soon as possible. We will be providing this information as a press release at the end of this press conference. This is the information provided to us by the AAIB.
Further Details
"In recent days, Inmarsat developed a second innovative technique which considers the velocity of the aircraft relative to the satellite. Depending on this relative movement, the frequency received and transmitted will differ from its normal value, in much the same way that the sound of a passing car changes as it approaches and passes by. This is called the Doppler Effect.
"The Inmarsat technique analyses the difference between the frequency that the ground station expects to receive and one that is actually measured. This difference is the result of the Doppler Effect and is known as the Burst Frequency Offset.
"The Burst Frequency Offset changes depending on the location of the aircraft on an arc of possible positions, its direction of travel, and its speed.
"In order to establish confidence in its theory, Inmarsat checked its predictions using information obtained from six other B777 aircraft flying on the same day in various directions. There was good agreement.
"While on the ground at Kuala Lumpur airport, and during the early stage of the flight, MH370transmitted several messages.
"At this stage, the location of the aircraft and the satellite were known, so it was possible to calculate system characteristics for the aircraft, satellite, and ground station.
"The Inmarsat technique analyses the difference between the frequency that the ground station expects to receive and one that is actually measured. This difference is the result of the Doppler effect and is known as the Burst Frequency Offset.
"The Burst Frequency Offset changes depending on the location of the aircraft on an arc of possible positions, its direction of travel, and its speed.
"In order to establish confidence in its theory, Inmarsat checked its predictions using information obtained from six other B777 aircraft flying on the same day in various directions. There was good agreement.
"While on the ground at Kuala Lumpur airport, and during the early stage of the flight, MH370transmitted several messages.
"At this stage, the location of the aircraft and the satellite were known, so it was possible to calculate system characteristics for the aircraft, satellite, and ground station.
"No flights from Perth to the search area took place today, due to bad weather.
"Six Chinese ships are currently in the search area. They are expected to arrive within the vicinity of MH370’s last-known position by tomorrow morning. These ships include the ice breaker ‘Xue Long’.
"HMAS Success is also currently in the search area.
"The American Towed Pinger Locater - an instrument that can help find a black box - is currently en route to Perth and will arrive tomorrow. The system will be fitted onto the Australian ship, Ocean Shield, which is due to dock in Perth on 28th March.
"The Ocean Shield, fitted with the Towed Pinger Locater, is due to arrive in the search area on 5 April.
- BERNAMA
