TWO LOCKHEED C-130H-30 Hercules from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia - TUDM) arrived at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce, Western Australia, on March 29 to join the international search effort for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370. Arrival of the RMAF aircraft saw support for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority-led search, dubbed Operation Southern Indian Ocean, increase to seven countries. They were joined by a third TUDM Hercules on April 6. Already involved were a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion, two US Navy P-8A Poseidons, two People's Liberation Army Air Force Il-76s, two Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force P-3C Orions, a Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream V, one Republic of Korea Navy P-3C Orion and a Republic of Korea Air Force C-130H Hercules. The search aircraft were all operating from RAAF Pearce. These were all in addition to the Australian aviation assets involved, which included five RAAF AP-3C Orions and were boosted on March 28by the arrival of a Royal Australian Navy S-70B-2 Seahawk from 816 Squadron. This was flown into RAAF Pearce from HMAS Albatross, Nowra, New South Wales, on March 28 on board an RAAF C-17A. It is supporting the search effort operating from the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Tooiuoomba (FFH 156). Despite extensive searching since the March 8 disappearance of MH370, operated by Boeing 777-2H6ER 9M-MRO, no trace of it or its 239 passengers and crew had been found as AFM went to press.
No comments:
Post a Comment