Metro missing south of Sydney

[Kurt A]

Airtex exists:
http://www.airtexaviation.com.au/pages/aircraft.html

[Mick F]

Latest News

Plane wreckage found on ocean floor

April 10, 2008 10:22am
Article from: AAP

THE search for a plane missing off Sydney has located two large pieces of metal on the ocean floor believed to be part of the twin-engined Metroliner.

A sea and air search continued throughout the night for the freight aircraft with just the pilot aboard, which took off from Sydney airport at 11.30pm (AEST) yesterday bound for Brisbane on a mail run.

About 6am (AEST) today search teams first found boxes, bags and fibreglass debris believed to be from the aircraft.

"(That debris) certainly is consistent with the missing aircraft," Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said on Sky News.

"There were mail bags located, there was a bit of an oil sheen on the top of the water and there's also some debris which we believe is some of the fuselage.

"My understanding is there are two large pieces of metal that have been located on the bottom of the ocean there and that would indicate that that is also part of the aircraft."

The metal is too deep for police divers to reach and Ms Jiggins said specialist equipment was on its way to the site.

A navy SeaHawk helicopter, private aircraft, NRMA CareFlight, Polair and water police have been involved in the search and HMAS Diamontina, a minesweeper equipped with sonar, is now also at the site about 9km southeast of Bundeena in the Royal National Park.

The male pilot was the only person on board the Metroliner, operated by Airtex Aviation.

Shortly after take off last night, the pilot reported problems.

"Ten nautical miles (18.5km) southeast of the airport, air traffic control got a broadcast from the pilot that he was having problems," a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said.

"Shortly after that the aircraft disappeared off the radar at about 4000 feet."

Fishermen told Macquarie radio they saw the plane go into a 45-deg angle dive before bursting into flames.

"What actually has caused the aircraft incident will be a matter now for the Australian Safety Transport Bureau to investigate," Ms Jiggins said on Sky.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Hi Kurt,

Just checked out Airtex and Avtex and they both operate out of Hanger 501 at Bankstown. Only guessing, but they could be the same company group, as I could not find an Airtex on the CASA register as Operator or Registration Holder, only Avtex.

[Nigel C]

More from www.news.com.au

Pilot stood no chance - police

April 10, 2008 03:07pm

THE pilot of a plane on a mail run that went down off Sydney had "zero" chance of survival, police say.

The 43-year-old Sydney man was at the controls of the twin-engine Metroliner when it went down in the sea late last night.

The Metroliner was on a mail run from Sydney to Queensland for Airtex Aviation.

Inspector Glenn Finniss of the Marine Area Command said the plane hit the water at high speed.

"The wreckage that's been recovered thus far would indicate a high speed impact into the water and the survivability of that was very, very minimal," he said.

"Because of the search ... we did last night and this morning, the chances of survival are zero."
The search for the pilot would be called off at nightfall, he said.

The pilot reported problems to air traffic control a short time after taking off from Sydney airport at 11.30pm (AEST) yesterday.

The plane dropped off the radar moments later.

Retrieving the wreckage would be difficult because it was4.5 nautical miles off Bundeena, south of Sydney, and 117m down, Insp Finniss said.

It was too deep for police divers and the navy to reach, he said.

Police would have salvage experts raise the wrecked plane, which could take up to five days.

"The possibility is that his body is still trapped inside the wreckage," Insp Finniss said.

[Mark Grima]

Considering the air and sea search involved this is a terrible fact: Airtex are the only private company based at Bankstown (and Sydney area and much of NSW as far as I am aware) that is certified by AUSSAR (Australian Search and Rescue) to operate air searches. In fact I did my Air Observer course with Airtex, through the SES only about 6 weeks ago. We flew in both their Cheiftans.

Does anyone know if the pilot was an Airtex staff member?

May he rest in peace.

M

[Nigel C]

As stated in the article above, it was a 43 year old male pilot.

[NickN]

May s/he rest in piece.

Bad time for a faux par like that.

Peace would sound better.

[Mark Grima]

Thats what i get for doing to much at once. Post corrected and apologies.

[NickN]

It's ok mate, I have had some real corkers in my time too.

[Will T]

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/...200802204.aspx

Condolences to the family of the pilot.