F4E Mx

The oxygen line theory would explain a lot. I don't understand, in light of the Egyptair fire that gutted the cockpit, why AD 2012-13-05 gives the operator 18 months to replace the hoses. It seems it would be an emergency AD note with a 'replace before further flight' restriction. If the oxygen line does turn out to be a factor the airline will get tagged for not changing the line, Boeing will get tagged for installing the defective line it in the first place, and the FAA will get tagged for the 18 month compliance window. If I were a pilot on the 777 I would make extremely sure the lines had been changed out. Before further flight

galaxy flyer

The last known position is about 370 nautical miles from the oil rig--well over the horizon; impossible it was the B777 being seen on fire.

GF

galaxy flyer

iceman

Yes, the Sig crash. Paint, undisclosed, caught fire, airplane virtually burned down in the traffic pattern.

GF

jungle

Eyewitness reports placed this woman in the crew hotel the night prior to that fateful flight. Gee, it is fun to write news.

Or maybe she was looking for her husband. Right now the National Enquirer has far more credibility than the NYT or CNN.

Twin Wasp

You don't understand the business of aviation.

F4E Mx

Twin Wasp,
40 years of aviation here and have worked with the FAA on at least ten different AD notes as an employee of an engine manufacturers as well as an employee of an airframe manufacturer. What part of the 'business of aviation' don't I understand?

cardiomd

Yep - almost all cabin pressure recall checklist step 1 oxygen masks and regulators ON.... of course depends on the oxygen and mask delivery system working.

Medically, most people would lose useful consciousness at cabin altitude 30k ft within 20-30 seconds. If plane was started down though via the FD, and reached 12,000 ft as per some reports within 20 minutes, everybody would wake back up with little more than a bad headache and maybe some brief confusion.

Obviously smoke changes everything.

cardiomd

Update - found a nice FAA publication on the conscious time after decompression. They are somewhat more generous than my estimate. Page 13 of the text for those interested.

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/a...%2061-107a.pdf

No permanent damage though would result unless very long exposure >30 minutes to these altitudes. So, if plane started down, would rapidly regain consciousness when cabin altitude dropped to 18,000 feet or so.

FDXLAG

The O2 line theory is a very nice theory. So is the suicide theory. And the terrorist theory. And the black hole theory.

One must assume that some 777s are undergoing AD 2012-13-05 as we speak. Have there been any that have shown evidence of friction or wear. If so, I will gladly join your call to ground all 777 aircraft if not, I can wait.

I will concur that all civil aviation agencies recommend Black Hole avoidance; if avoidance is not possible minimize exposure should one pop up along your flight path; do not fly directly into a black hole.

JJ21

I agree with SyGunson...you can not rule out eye witnesses ever....

1) a perfect example of why eye witness speak the basic truth and more importantly should not be discounted regarding this accident...the Boeing 777 that crashed in SFO, eye witness said the plane "flew straight up then cart wheeled over"...experts on all the news channels said this was impossible for an aircraft to do and that witness should be discounted....then guess what someone stepped forward and gave the FAA film footage of the plane accident = the crash was exactly how witnesses described.

2) the first time I ever witnessed a night space shuttle launch I was in college in Daytona.....when the space shuttle launched (75 miles from where I was) it light up the whole apartment complex where I was living, you would have thought it was day time...I have seen the "bright light" from the Space Shuttle clear across the other side of florida too.

4) If you can see contrails during the day miles away and miles up in the air you certainly can see something on fire during the night time.

3) Things that Malaysia Airline has not released...how many lithium batteries were on board the aircraft 10,25,100 batteries/how where they packaged/how long did they sit in the Airline holding cargo area before being loaded on board the aircraft (hours or days)/what were the temperatures in the cargo holding hanger/how long did they sit on the aircraft before the aircraft took off/who shipped the batteries/where the shippers on the aircraft/was there say a shipment of seafood packed in dry ice in the same cargo bay as the batteries? these are very important questions that have not been answered.

5) the day time temperatures from this crews takeoff airport were approx 93-99 degrees during the day time and approx 80 during the night time. If these lithium batteries sat for hours/days in the Airline cargo hold hanger area before being loaded on to the a/c then these batteries could have heated up substantially before even being loaded on to the plane. What is the temperature inside the cargo hold area.

6) there have been 140 incidents/accidents with lithium batteries. Could they have been the fire source that the oil rig operator witnessed?

nothing can be ruled out.