MH 370 is NOT coming to a city near you

[Edge]

I've been listening to KTAR in the shop, AM radio is a no go with the lights. So I'm driving yesterday with KTAR on and the commentators start whipping up hysteria over whether or not this plane could be used someday to attack the USA.

 

I wanted to reach thru the radio and slap the airway morons for their ignorance on the topic of radar and their inability to find facts. Mostly, there is no flying under US radar, we have it covered.

 

I joined the USAF at the end of the Carter Admin. (now the second worst president in US History) Trained to operate the FPS-77 radar, and old but excellent unit that was actually a B-52 air to air radar and was scavenged for USAF WX stations to interrogate cloud formations. After weather school, I was sent as an aid to the chief meteorologists for NORAD 26th Air Defense HQ. Once there, I spent the next several years training on radar systems from ground and flight control to tactical and Doppler (And at NORAD I did get to see the BIG MAP .

 

We Americans are fortunate that our hard work and love of freedom has built the best military on the planet. Any aircraft, big or small, entering US airspace is interrogated, long before it reaches our soil. If that aircraft is not talking back to us, interceptors are scrambled for a visual and more than likely, forced down or if need be, taken down.

 

Thanks for letting me vent.

[bowhuntaz1]

Thanks for the info, and thank you for your service

[Edge]

Thanks for the kind words.

But when I compare my stint in the service to others, I'm truly humbled. My kids too have served, son is a marine combat vet and daughter retrieved wounded marines off the field in Iraq. They are my heroes.

[AverageJoe]

Would they be able to change the planes identification numbers at all or is there some kind of digital tracking info?

[Snapshot]

I am surprised the media hasn't claimed that Space Aliens beamed flight MH370 aboard their spaceship.

 

However, I wouldn't be shocked if a country like Iran, or North Korea was involved somehow. In reality I think those poor people on that airplane are at the bottom of the ocean somewhere. Sad.... but true.

[Edge]

The transponders are onboard and squawking for the safety of the aircraft. But that transponder signal had to relate to a specific aircraft (tail numbers), on a preapproved and filed corresponding flight plan.

 

Here's how it worked at NORAD decades ago when I was a young buck.

 

Airman stood at a mostly coastal map of the US that was the size of a theater screen. The 26th Air Defense entailed the airspace from El Paso TX to Vancouver, BC. Every blip that occurred on that radar map that was heading in to US airspace, had a cursor placed on it. Instantly a window would appear giving the aircrafts speed, heading and elev. All aircraft coming into our airspace must have a flight plan on file and the planes ID will show up in that window when interrogated. No flight plan, no tail numbers appearing in the box, the nearest fighter interceptors are launched to make a visual, friend or foe.

 

Not sure what the protocol was as far as the decision deciding on forcing the offending aircraft down or splashing it.

[Edge]

Here's what I think happened, it's pretty boring compared to some of the theories .

 

Fire on board, communications capabilities lost. Pilot turns back and takes the plane up to 45,000 to extinguish the fire. Navigation systems fried, pilot is using celestial navigating and looking for a suitable landing spot. None found, eventual splash.

[JOEDKILLA]

Covering issues that actually affect you and me are no where near the top of revenue and ratings starved corporate media networks. They don't $ELL. You know what does? Speculation, conjecture, and soap opera drama about a plane! The real tragedy is that the anguishing families looking for answers now have to watch and listen to networks desperate for profits turn their loved ones into a supernatural sideshow.

[Edge]

We are hearing that several countries may or may not have seen the plane on their radar. I can assure you, if an unidentified echo appeared on an American radar, it would be a big, big deal and the sighting would be brought to a favorable conclusion.

 

Because some of these countries are so relaxed with airport security and air control, they're not allowed to fly here. I've flown to China and the Philippines many times, often at bargain rates on a milk run. Lucky to still be here, but what an education.

 

Hoping the families of the passengers and crew find peace.

[MathewQuigly]

Good info Edge, although that's not as entertaining conspiracy theory it's down to Earth and makes sense. I hope but kinda doubt the plane made a safe landing and their just waiting to be picked up