Abby Sunderland - search plane leaving shortly

[canetoad]

I posted this in another thread but it's buried.

Airbus leaving Western Australia this morning to search.
Perth is around 3 hours behind Melbourne, so that plane will be leaving pretty shortly.


"We’ve actually chartered a Qantas airbus, so that’s a Qantas without the normal passengers obviously, to depart Perth around 8am eastern time,’’ Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Carly Lusk told Radio 3AW today.

"We’ve got Qantas crews on there, as well as 11 trained air observers from the West Australian fire and emergency services, and two Fremantle water police officers.’
http://www.theage.com.au/world/search-on-for-teen-sailo...

Ms Lusk said it would take the aircraft about four hours to reach the search area, located approximately 3200km west/south-west of Perth.

* * *
I really hope they have sucess in finding her alive quickly. Her father, who is Aussie btw, made this comment:
‘‘in God’s hands’’ and ‘‘there are a lot of people praying for her’’. I'd much rather trust the trained personnel doing the searching.

[Suich]

1. Thanks for the update, canetoad!

I hope they report back with some good news.....



:scared:

[canetoad]

2. They can't do anything but search

as the article goes on to say, but they can relay news and position to the ships.

[treestar]

3. I hope they find her

4 hours away, wow.

[rzemanfl]

4. Doesn't the Australian air force or navy have reconnaissance

aircraft?

[canetoad]

5. Probably not

We're behind the times here ya know.

Seriously, more fuel, more pairs of eyes in the Airbus.

[Liberal In Texas]

7. She's probably beyond the range of shore-based search and rescue

aircraft. They're probably hoping to spot her and direct naval rescue ships to her position. That's my guess.

[O is 44]

6. I really hope they find her safe...scary n/t

[marions ghost]

8. glad to hear this

:thumbsup: thanks Australia

I know something about the South Indian ocean--it can be stormy and unpredictable.