CNN's Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance joined the crew of a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion to witness the work of teams searching for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Their task? Spotting debris in thousands of miles of vast, empty ocean.
Combing the ocean from a P-3 Orion —
CNN's Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance joined the crew of a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion to witness the work of teams searching for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Their task? Spotting debris in thousands of miles of vast, empty ocean.
Matthew Chance/CNN
Spotters take 30 minutes turns at peering out of the aircraft windows for any debris that could be traced to the missing airliner. So far, hundreds of objects have been sighted, but nothing linked to MH370.
Combing the ocean from a P-3 Orion —
Spotters take 30 minutes turns at peering out of the aircraft windows for any debris that could be traced to the missing airliner. So far, hundreds of objects have been sighted, but nothing linked to MH370.
Matthew Chance/CNN
The P-3 Orion is fitted with sophisticated radar and optical equipment, which is constantly analyzed by specialists on board. But the most important piece of equipment, according to search teams, is the human eye.
Combing the ocean from a P-3 Orion —
The P-3 Orion is fitted with sophisticated radar and optical equipment, which is constantly analyzed by specialists on board. But the most important piece of equipment, according to search teams, is the human eye.
Matthew Chance/CNN
About 1,000 miles (1609 kilometers) from land, one of four engines is switched off in an effort to preserve fuel and remain in the search area for a longer period of time. P-3 Orions on the MH370 search missions have enough fuel to fly three hours to the search area and search for five hours before flying the three hours back to RAAF Base Pearce.
Combing the ocean from a P-3 Orion —
About 1,000 miles (1609 kilometers) from land, one of four engines is switched off in an effort to preserve fuel and remain in the search area for a longer period of time. P-3 Orions on the MH370 search missions have enough fuel to fly three hours to the search area and search for five hours before flying the three hours back to RAAF Base Pearce.
Matthew Chance/CNN
For visual searches, this RNZAF P-3 Orion operates below 1000 feet (304 meters), and on this mission descended as low as 240 feet (73 meters).
Combing the ocean from a P-3 Orion —
For visual searches, this RNZAF P-3 Orion operates below 1000 feet (304 meters), and on this mission descended as low as 240 feet (73 meters).
Matthew Chance/CNN
Smoke markers (left) and sonobuoys (right) are used to track objects of interest spotted in the ocean by search teams.
Combing the ocean from a P-3 Orion —
Smoke markers (left) and sonobuoys (right) are used to track objects of interest spotted in the ocean by search teams.
Matthew Chance/CNN
On the flight deck of the Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion. This flight is searching a 50 by 50 square mile zone, more than 1,000 miles (1609 kilometers) from the west coast of Australia.
Combing the ocean from a P-3 Orion —
On the flight deck of the Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion. This flight is searching a 50 by 50 square mile zone, more than 1,000 miles (1609 kilometers) from the west coast of Australia.
Matthew Chance/CNN