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For starters, the only problem I know of that a Boeing would have operating above its service ceiling is dealing with frozen fuel.
That said, if the engines flamed out, you have to restart the engines at a lower altitude where the air is more dense. I believe at least FL200. Entering a high speed dive is not the procedure to restart flamed out engines on a large passenger jet.
I'm no expert on flameout procedure, but this was a similar high-altitude scenario:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wikipedia
...They set the autopilot to climb at 500 ft/min to FL410. This exceeded the manufacturer's recommended climb rate at altitudes above FL380. In the attempt to reach FL410, the plane was pulled up at over 1.2g, and the angle of attack became excessive to maintain climb rate in the thinner upper atmosphere. After reaching FL410, the plane was cruising at 150 knots (280 km/h), barely above stall speed, and had over-stressed the engines. The anti-stall devices activated while they were at altitude, but the pilots overrode the automatic nose-down that would increase speed to prevent stall. After four overrides, both engines experienced flameout and shut down. The plane then stalled, and the pilots recovered from the stall at FL380 while still having no engines. At that altitude, there were six airports within reach for a forced landing. This led the pilots to pitch nose down in an attempt to restart the engines, which requires a dive sharp enough to attain the required 300 kt for a windmill restart to make the blades in the turbines windmill at 10% N2 (turbine rotational speed). The captain did not take the necessary steps to ensure that the first officer achieved the 300-knot or greater airspeed required for the windmill engine restart procedure and then did not demonstrate command authority by taking control of the airplane and accelerating it to at least 300 knots.
If you read the article, you see that there were serious consequences to their actions.
Very doubtful that at least one military doesn't know the most probably track of the plane. I mean, since 911 and probably before, at least the US would have tracking capabilities to insure commercial aircraft carrying weapons couldn't easily penetrate US borders. The problem with releasing the information is that it would reveal US capabilities in a public forum.
Likely, China's military knows as well. The resolution of the released sat images was hardly what they are capable of resolving. They aren't on par with the US but they aren't living in caves either.
With the plane likely to have crashed with no survivors, there is little to be gained from giving out information that might tell everyone what is possible. If the plane crashed into an ocean or sea, it isn't likely anyone survived so why give it up just to find debris that will eventually be discovered anyway?
At that altitude it could be extremely small pieces and spread out. It takes time to find it. They pulled resources away too soon. I combine that with the shady behavior of the governments.
That, or the pilot stole it and sold it to terrorists if he had financial problems.
God, both those pilots lost their lives. Sad. So they entered a stall in which you do need to pitch the nose down and increase the speed. But they also, as the article says, over stressed the engines.
"Despite their four auxiliary power unit-assisted engine restart attempts, the pilots were unable to restart the engines because their cores had locked. Without core rotation, recovery from the double engine failure was not possible. It was after these unsuccessful attempts that they declared to ATC that they had in fact lost both engines"
God, both those pilots lost their lives. Sad. So they entered a stall in which you do need to pitch the nose down and increase the speed. But they also, as the article says, over stressed the engines.
"Despite their four auxiliary power unit-assisted engine restart attempts, the pilots were unable to restart the engines because their cores had locked. Without core rotation, recovery from the double engine failure was not possible. It was after these unsuccessful attempts that they declared to ATC that they had in fact lost both engines"
Yeah. A little joy ride created multiple problems and ended up taking their lives. Before reading about this accident, it never dawned on me that the engines could seize up. By diving and attempting to use ram air to start the engines, they ended wasting valuable altitude. There is no way they could have known, though.
More and more this is looking like a suicide. Here the. Armored cockpit works against everyone because as soon as the other pilot leaves the armored door keeps the other pilot out. Anyway it was xsponder off and then some sort of desparate suicide from one of the pilots.
Don't think this aircraft had SATCOM installed judging by the pics as there is no SATCON antenna. . HF coverage is attrocious in that part of the world. VHF is non exsistant. Since when do they have radar coverage over the ocean? Even if they they did fly around for 4 hours before the final plunge there is no way to get back in the cockpit once the lone suicidal pilot has decided to lock out the other pilot. He could have flown around for 4 hours before he finally decided to take his own life.
More and more this is looking like a suicide. Here the. Armored cockpit works against everyone because as soon as the other pilot leaves the armored door keeps the other pilot out. Anyway it was xsponder off and then some sort of desparate suicide from one of the pilots.
Don't think this aircraft had SATCOM installed judging by the pics as there is no SATCON antenna. . HF coverage is attrocious in that part of the world. VHF is non exsistant. Since when do they have radar coverage over the ocean? Even if they they did fly around for 4 hours before the final plunge there is no way to get back in the cockpit once the lone suicidal pilot has decided to lock out the other pilot. He could have flown around for 4 hours before he finally decided to take his own life.
Tonight's guest on Charlie Rose (did not get the name) basically said in his *personal opinion* person or persons other than the pilots were flying the plane in the hours before the crash. Based upon current media and other reports from authorities the guest stated the following:
Someone turned off the transponders. Then they turned off (something else wasn't paying attention), but what they did not know or realize is that the plane still gave off *pings* saying "I'm here, I'm here... etc...). It was those pings that were picked up.
This theory also (in the guest's opinion) explains why the plane made a turn (south?) and went out over the Indian ocean. Once there the jerking climbs and dives the guest said told him that person or persons whom did not know how to fly that plane were in control. Person or persons would force the plane to climb way beyond it's capabilities and then it had to come down. This went on until the plane crashed.
Oh and the guest also stated that passengers could have been incapacitated by depressurizing the cabin. Passengers would only have about ten or so minutes (or less) of air before they passed out.
Am paraphrasing but you can catch the interview on Charlie Rose, his shows are archived for viewing usually 24 hours after broadcast.
The guest did not think highly of the Malaysian authorities who he feels are keeping a tight lid on things and then keeping the USA and others at arms length. Even when they finally let assistance in his and other views are they aren't sharing all information.
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