Mxsmanic wrote:
writes:

CAP has been conducting searches every day since the aircraft was
reported missing. According to the news, there were 20 sorties last
Saturday, and 10 (I think) on Sunday. The search is continuing.

Just out of curiosity, wouldn't a few good satellite photographs allow
a much wider area to be examined more quickly?

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Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.


Spy satellites work well when you don't want someone to know you are
watching. ;)

If there are survivors, they can signal a live, low-flying aircraft.
The search crew looks not only straight down, but sideways (Searches
can be parallel lines as close as necessary, though 1-mile spacings are
usual. So we can be looking about 1/2 mile sideways, more or less.)
It's surprising how aircraft tend to slide under trees, etc. and can't
be seen from straight up. Many times, we have to look for "clues",
such as ground damage, burn marks in trees, etc. Unfortunately, many
wrecks aren't recognizable--just scattered aluminum.

With multiple aircraft, we can cover quite a bit of territory
simultaneously. If an aircraft is found, we can circle or otherwise
communicate directly with ground teams to lead them to a site.

Speaking of ground teams, there are quite a few people working a search
who are not in the air. Mission base has people handling information,
planning, communications, logistics, dealing with families and other
officials, etc. Ground team members are also trained in their
functions. They are all volunteers.

A major advantage is that the crews work for free! Actually, we pay
for the privilege since we do spend money training, etc.

In addition, CAP members are qualified to assist in other types of
disasters, as part of the national Incident Command structure. We've
worked floods, hurricanes, whatever; this is either with air capability
or just as food-carrying ground pounders.