Malaysia: Files were deleted from flight simulator

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By IAN MADER

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Investigators are trying to restore files deleted last month from the home flight simulator of the pilot aboard the missing Malaysian plane to see if they shed any light on the disappearance, Malaysia's defense minister said Wednesday.

Hishammuddin Hussein told a news conference that the pilot, Capt. Zaharie Ahmad Shah, is considered innocent until proven guilty of any wrongdoing, and that members of his family are cooperating in the investigation. Files containing records of simulations carried out on the program were deleted Feb. 3, Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu said.

It was not immediately clear whether investigators thought that deleting the files was unusual. They will want to check those files for any signs of unusual flight paths that could help explain where the missing plane went.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 with 239 people aboard disappeared March 8 on a night flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Malaysian authorities have not ruled out any possible explanations, but have said the evidence so far suggests the flight was deliberately turned back across Malaysia to the Strait of Malacca, with its communications systems disabled. They are unsure what happened next and why.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140319/DACKP9QO1.html

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A Chinese relative of passengers aboard a missing Malaysia Airlines plane cries as she holds a banner in front of journalists reading 'We are against the Malaysian government for hiding the truth and delaying the rescue. Release our families unconditionally!" at a hotel in Sepang, Malaysia, Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Malaysian authorities examined new radar data from Thailand that could potentially give clues on how to retrace the course of the Malaysia Airlines plane that vanished early March 8 with 239 people aboard en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Twenty-six countries are looking for the aircraft as relatives anxiously await news. (AP Photo) MALAYSIA OUT

[davidpdx]

1. The whole thing with the flight simulator is bizzare

I don't think Malaysia is hiding anything, I think they are having a hard time trying to investigate just what happened.

[RKP5637]

2. Yep, agree! The whole thing is getting so bizarre that most IMO have no idea what

is going on. There is the chance some really sophisticated tracking systems know more, but who knows. About his flight simulator, that to me is something I don't find unusual. We had small flight simulators at school. To me, it's not unusual for someone really into flying to have some type of simulator at home with the technology available today. It's almost akin to a video game.

[MADem]

5. A lot of people have those things.

I think they're boring as hell, but some people find them relaxing.

I tried it once--a friend of mine had one--and I drove the plane into a building.

It "wasn't my thing" but some people enjoy it. They certainly sell enough of those stupid overpriced things to keep the franchise afloat....

http://www.pilotshop.com/catalog/pspages/hotseat-pp3-sim.php?gclid=CPegp6ntnr0CFUoV7AodmUoAxA

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. I've been getting in to it a little the last couple months.

Last edited Fri Mar 21, 2014, 12:00 AM - Edit history (1)

I am surprised at how much I enjoy flying the sim. I've been a private pilot for years and still fly. These gadgets are kinda fun AND can be used for training purposes - instrument approaches, navigation etc. although that is not my goal.

I currently have just the off the shelf FSX software but plan on upgrading to the PMDG 737 or 777 for about 80 bucks. These upgrades are very realistic in that the systems operate like the real thing. They come with a manual that covers everything from start up to shut down to emergency procedures.

There are virtual airlines with people who are training to be air traffic controllers or just hobbyists. You can buy VERY realistic scenery and airports. You can buy realistic and/or real time weather.

The link you posted is for the less ambitious with lots of money. A more realistic looking system can be made out of plywood.

I show these to the boyfriend and he says "don't even think about it! It's bad enough we have a table saw in our living room"

This guy is an air traffic controller and private pilot who owns an airplane:

made from plywood:

closer to what the Malaysian pilot had:

[MADem]

10. That first one is WILD! Talk about dedication! nt

[Blue_Tires]

7. Very few people go that route...

True sim-heads build their own at a fraction of the price...Youtubes are full of custom home builds...

[MADem]

12. Yes...and the real lazy/less serious just use that Flight Simulator software.

I don't see anything nefarious in a pilot getting into this kind of thing, but that's because I know someone who enjoyed this as a hobby.

[Yo_Mama]

14. I don't either

The press coverage lately has been less than helpful.

[MADem]

16. I also looked at his "repair the window" in his kid's house video on YT.

He seems like a good guy--not a "terrist" or some other sort of "evildoer." I hope they go slow and not "Richard Jewell" the guy; this little drip-drip-drip business can make the most innocent of things (e.g. flying, virtually, to places you'll never be assigned to fly IRL) look nefarious.

[ok_cpu]

21. It's about as odd as Tiger Woods having a putting green at home. n/t

[MADem]

22. I don't disagree--and like I said, I've tried it and didn't like it, though I know a few who really

enjoy it as a hobby.

[countryjake]

18. Back in the 80s, when Nintendo first came out...

many of my friends were old Navy vets and they literally became obsessed with playing this flight simulation game where you landed a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier. These guys had been green jackets, blue jackets, the rainbow colors of men who had ensured a safe landing or take-off and none of them had ever actually flown a plane during the war, but they did know everything about the process of hooking a jet.

The Nintendo NES happened to belong to me, so my living room became a virtual boat as my friends spent hours enjoying attempting to do what they'd never been trained for. Me, I crashed every single plane I ever tried to land (and I never even attempted it in the presence of those fellas, they'd go into absolute meltdown if one of them did such a thing).

I think it's completely understandable that anyone who loves actually flying a plane or ever dreamed of flying would find enjoyment playing around on a flight simulator.

[davidpdx]

19. I guess it would really have to be something you like to invest the money in it

[MADem]

20. There is a thing that Microsoft puts out ( I think) called FLIGHT SIMULATOR.

You can buy jazzy little joysticks and whatnot, hook them up to the computer via USB, and have a cheap-o version of the fun for just a couple hundred bucks.

That's what I tried out (an earlier version, mind you) when I (shudder) ran my model into one of the WTC after taking off from JFK in the mid nineties. I had no idea what the hell I was doing with the controls, so it was a short flight and I was mocked, roundly. The building survived in the model, though--and I hit the thing near the middle.

I didn't like flying into things, though, so I said "To hell with this." I honestly found it a bit boring but I can understand the interest, having known people who really enjoyed that kind of thing.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. My heart goes out to the families.

It must be tortuous to wait for news every day, and there is a possibility they may never get closure
about the missing family members.

[shireen]

4. deleting data in the simulator is not unusual

They could have been old files, or he needed to make more space on his hard drive. Seems like the press is clutching on to any small insignificant detail and blowing it out of proportion.

I really hope all those high resolution spy satellites are being put to use. This is one instance where they could truly do some good for those families.

[magical thyme]

9. that was my immediate thought too...

I read some articles with that factoid included. Turns out it was a teeny factoid in the midst of the press release or whatever, but of course multiple editors pulled that factoid out for the provocative headline.

But everybody on a computer knows that the day comes when you need to start cleaning out.

And the pilot had a good reason to have a flight simulator. he's a pilot and enjoys it.

[BlueStreak]

26. AP news reported the files were deleted A FREAKING MONTH AGO

I don't blame the Malaysians for trying to follow every lead. That is what they should do. But the media sensationalism is ridiculous. I wonder how many files I have deleted in the past month. And if I am planning to abscond with a plane on a complicated flying mission that I have to do a lot of simulator training for, I',mm not going to delete that A MONTH BEFORE my mission. I'm going to keep practicing that up until the last day, and then maybe delete the file.

[SoapBox]

11. Good comparison...

The lame-o media and politicians are all over the Captain's home built simulator...but, the ground and skies are oozing with billions (trillions?) of dollars of high tech spy equipment, that they can't or won't use to find the plane.

[cbdo2007]

17. If it was on land it would be easy to find....but they don't have "high tech spy equipment" good

enough to see things underwater.

[louis-t]

13. Anyone ever go on Google Earth and see a plane?

I have. Pretty clear picture, too. Wish I could remember where it was.

[AtheistCrusader]

15. Temporary files get 'deleted' too.

That news tidbit could mean just about anything.

[SoapBox]

8. So maybe...

The Idiots in Charge have bungled this search so badly, that the Captain is an easy target, especially since he was an "opposition" supporter?

Generally sounded like he was smart, sharp and well respected, from a few interviews over the last days...however, I've wondered why the lame media hasn't published interviews with either family.

[blackspade]

23. The authorities are desparate to pin this on the pilots.

[ellisonz]

24. I actually think that's the last thing they want...

...it's also starting to appear to be 1 of 2 probable theories (the other being mechanical failure).

They wouldn't want that because it:

1) Shows the dysfunction of Malaysia Airlines
2) Since the motive would likely be political, shows the corruptness of the Malaysian political system (google Anwar Ibrahim)
3) Directs international blame (esp. China) towards Malaysia hurting international prestige and investment

I think the Malaysian authorities very much want this to be mechanical failure and not terrorism.

[blackspade]

25. I follow your thinking...

Hopefully something will turn up to stop the endless speculation.