SAR of MH370
- Lesson Learnt
Noor Izhar Baharin
Department of Civil Aviation, Malaysia
SCOPE
Introduction
Malaysian SAR
Organisation
SAR MH370
International Effort
Challenges
Lesson Learnt
Conclusion
HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT
• At 00:41 LT (16:41UTC) on 8 March 2014, Saturday, a Boeing 7772H6ER, registration 9M-MRO and call-sign MH 370, departed
from runway 32 Right (32R) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
(KLIA), Malaysia on a scheduled flight to Beijing, China.
• On board the aircraft were 2 flight crew, 10 cabin crew and 227
passengers (a total of 239 persons on board).
• MH370 was reported missing after passing waypoint IGARI while
en-route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
WHAT HAPPENED?
SAR ORGANISATION
CABINET
NATIONAL SAR COMMITTEE
TREASURY
NATIONAL SEC. COUNCIL
MARITIME SAR (M-SAR)
AERONAUTICAL SAR (A-SAR)
A-SAR WORKING GROUP
(CHAIRMAN : DG DEPT CIVIL AVIATION)
M-SAR WORKING GROUP
(CHAIRMAN : DG MMEA)
MARITIME ENF. AGENCY
DEPT OF CIVIL AVIATION (DCA)
ARCC/ARSC
MRCC/MRSC
Marine Dept
Pollice
Airforce
Navy
ASSISTING SAR DEPTS & AGENCIES
Fire and Rescue
SAR MH370
• SINGAPORE AIRSPACE (FIR)
• IGARI – AIRSPACE
DELEGATED TO MALAYSIA
• SAR RESPONSIBILITY –
SINGAPORE SRR
• IGARI – TRANSFER POINT
BETWEEN KL/ HCM
FIRST PHASE : EAST & WEST OF
PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
EAST (SECONDARY RADAR LAST
KNOWN POSITION)
Search Area:
213,000 sqkm in the Eastern SCS.
Countries Involved Search:
Malaysia, China, Singapore, Brunei,
Indonesia, USA, Japan, Vietnam,
Thailand, Philippine
WEST(PRIMARY RADAR LAST
KNOWN POSITION)
Search Area :
4.56 million sqkm
Straits of Malacca, Andaman Sea, Bay of
Bengal, West of Sumatra
Countries Involved Search:
Malaysia, China, Mynmar, Singapore,
USA, UAE, Australia, New Zealand,
Indonesia, India, Thailand, Korea
12 March
8 March
7
DAY 8 : 15 MAC 2014
FIRST PHASE : TOTAL SEARCH AREA
• Northern search area = 4.8million sqkm;
• Nations shared radar info and confirmed
MH370 did not fly over their airspace.
8
SECOND FHASE
15th March 2014, based on the International Investigation Team experts
report which consisted of INMARSAT, NTSB, AAIB, MAS and DCA,
Prime Minister announced that the SAR Operation on the Eastern and
Western parts (First Phase) of Peninsular Malaysia will be suspended. .
MH370 TRACK BASED ON ACARS, PRIMARY
RADAR & SATELLITE DATA
SECOND PHASE: NORTHERN CORRIDOR
LAOS, VIETNAM,
MYANMAR, CHINA,
INDIA, PAKISTAN,
BANGLADESH,
UZBEKISTAN,
KAZAKHSTAN,
KYRGYSTAN,
THAILAND,
CAMBODIA,
NEPAL,
TAJIKISTAN,
TURKMENISTAN,
LAND
•Asset : Aircraft
(Malaysia &
International)
•Satellite Tracking (USA,
France, China, Australia)
Note : G – G
Coordination, lead by
MOFA
SECOND PHASE: SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN
INDONESIA
SRR
SEA
•Vessel
•Aircraft
•Satellite (USA, France,
China, Australia)
Note : G – G
Coordination, lead by
MOFA
AUSTRALIA
SRR
INTERNATIONAL EFFORT
26 Countries involved Comprising
82 aircraft and 84 Vessels
INTERNATIONAL EFFORT
MAS CAREGIVERS
601 caregivers and
volunteers to assist the family
members of
passengers MH370.
700++ NOK’S
Status Update on Refinement Search
Area
MH370 Search Strategy Working Group (SSWG)
SAR : CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
• Based on International Aeronautical and Maritime Search
and Rescue [IAMSAR] Manual
ICAO Annex 12, Search and Rescue
CHALLENGES
NOK’S
WEATHER
MEDIA
CHALLENGES
•a) Due to the complexity of the MH370
event, compounded with the absence of
conventional data, such as aircraft last
known position, altitude, speed, actual flight
route to determine the correct datum,
hindered the effectiveness of the SAR
operations.
•b) Absence of distress beacon detections.
• c) The verification of the military radar
data took longer than expected and this
resulted in the KL ARCC initially conducting
the search in the Eastern and Western areas
of Peninsular Malaysia.
•
d) The insufficient number of
adequately dedicated SAR
personnel at the KL ARCC
hampered the rostering of SAR
personnel in the RCC over a
prolonged period of time as all SAR
personnel are air traffic controller
rostered for operational duties at
KL ATCC. At the same time, many
SAR trained officers were also
assigned tasks in ops room at
various locations either at the main
operations room, hotels in the city,
and briefing to the Next of Kin
other than training for KLIA2
opening.
CHALLENGES
e) The outdated directory of SPOC
within the Asia Pacific region as stated
in ICAO documents delayed the
transfer of information between the
respective RCC’s.
f) Incomplete detailed information
made available to the KL ARCC on how
certain search area was derived
hampered fast action by other States,
as they are acquiring this information
to do their SAR operation.
•
g) The participation of numerous
military organizations during the
search required continuous
detailed briefings to be given. This
turned out to be a daunting task.
The availability of a Liaison Officer
from BASARNAS and AMSA at the
KL ARCC ensured smoother
coordination of the SAR operation.
•
h) The lack of understanding on
Annex 12 provision by many
parties hampered RCC direction in
the SAR operation
CHALLENGES
• Managing SAR
involving
multidiscipline,
multinational parties,
civil and military need
a well structured
organization
supported by a legal
framework
LESSON LEARNT/RECCOMENDATIONS

Establish requirements for real time global tracking of commercial
aircraft;

Extend the transmission life of Underwater Locator Beacons installed
in flight recorders on all commercial aircraft;

Increase recording time of Cockpit Voice Recorder beyond 120
minutes;

Review Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures on handing over aircraft
between FIRs.

Improve Civil/Military airspace coordination & communication.

Review Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

To establish a legal framework defining the roles and responsibilities of
various agencies in supporting SAR operations
LESSON LEARNT/RECCOMENDATIONS

Handling of media;





To have good communication team;
Written statement/text;
Nominated spoke person;
Statement to be transparent, verified and corroborated;
Handling NOK;




Set up NOK committee;
Appoint special care-givers;
Continuous updating progress;
Understand emotion, cultural and belief;
Conclusion
There is more to SAR
than flying missions
SAR needs:
• regulation
• legislation,
• Structured Organisation
• management
• proper planning,
• documentation and
• effective coordination.
THANK YOU…