Civilian Missing Plane Search Called Off – VariEze,

I wonder what the time difference was between loss of comms in the uk and his location in Switzerland?

Therein lies the mystery.

As he was flying Cambridge to Lydd he would not have filed a flightplan.

For a UK VFR flight it is very unlikely that any radar service would be tracking him. Certainly were I flying that route I’d sign off from Cambridge and would be unlikely to call anybody until passing Southend. Once clear of them no requirement to talk to anybody until 10 miles (or whatever) from Lydd.

That being the case, who called out SAR?

Moggy

On SAR, we once scrambled a heli to find an aircrew wrist-watch beacon which had been set off. The Aircrew chap was quite upset to find a Sea King following him down the M1……

I wonder what the time difference was between loss of comms in the uk and his location in Switzerland? I assume a Request News signal with the aircraft callsign was sent across the European air traffic network.

I can think of many occasions when SAR callouts have happened due to hillwalkers and mariners who fail to inform the correct people when they change plans. It seems unfair when light aircraft get more publicity like this case.

Totally thoughtless but that’s the way some people are, as long as they’re doing what they want they don’t care how much worry, work and expense they are causing for others

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8082829.stm

Almost good.

Latest info is that the Swiss pilot on a test flight from Cambridge changed his destination without informing anybody, landed elswhere and is safe. (t.b.c)

Who triggered the SAR operation remains to be told.

Moggy

I hope this has a good ending.

Apparently a VariZe

I agree with you in that hope…

Maybe it’s more a GA section matter?