'They have done a good job so far': former MAS CEO
PUBLISHED ONMarch 17, 2014 6:27 AM
Question: Tan Sri, what is your take on this episode?
Answer: Ever since the news broke, I have been following it closely and talking to a lot of MAS employees on the reports that emerged. It puzzles me and it has become a guessing game. There was no information from the cockpit, as if there were people manipulating the flight. So many countries are involved in the search-and-rescue (SAR) operation. If it is not in the water, then it should be somewhere else. They are now searching in the Indian Ocean. This is complex and I do not think anyone can make a guess of where it is. I can only pray that they (the passengers and crew members) are safe.
Question: As far as we know, there was no crash, no explosion, no communication. If you eliminate all these scenarios, it seems the only remaining explanation is foul play, either hijacking or sabotage. How do you reckon that the transponder and all other communication and tracking equipment have been disengaged? It appears the aircraft could be masquerading or hiding in plain sight.
Answer: It is possible, or was it a sabotage? After so many hours and so many days, the plane must have landed somewhere and it simply cannot land anywhere. There has to be a proper airport, weather conditions, so on and so forth (as considerations). Not many airports can accommodate such a large aircraft which requires at least 2km of runway. It is highly improbable and very dangerous for a pilot to land on shorter runways. The available technology should be able to detect the aircraft.
Question: Do you feel the investigation is up to mark?
Answer: In view of such an extraordinary and unprecedented incident in the aviation history, I must say they (Department of Civil Aviation, (MAS, the Armed Forces, government and others) have done a good job so far. They have to put together a team and we cannot expect anything better and extraordinary in such an environment. The standard operating procedures are highly regulated and follow the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Air Navigation Order, 1957. The DCA is the lead agency. While MAS has a reduced role in investigations, it has a lot of questions to answer. The team has done all they can.
Question: Can you tell us about your experience from the Tanjung Kupang Boeing 737-200 crash in 1977 (Malaysia's worst aviation disaster) when you were helming MAS?
Answer: The first thing we did was to establish that the aircraft was hijacked. We then quickly assembled a team and reported the matter immediately to the DCA and Ministry of Transport (MOT). An operations centre was then established. Otherwise, things could have gone haywire. There must be a leader in such a situation where the information gathered is analysed before being made public.
Question: Do you feel that there are too many people (from the investigating team) handling the media?
Answer: We need as many people as possible, but there must be a coordinating team to help agencies and authorities liaise with each other. However, one person ought to coordinate and provide answers. It appears the acting transport minister was fielding questions with the DCA director-general (DG) handling the technical aspects. In any case, it is usually the DCA DG who should be in full command, according to the law.
Question: What happens when an aircraft is involved in an accident in Malaysian territory?
Answer: Firstly, it depends on which country the aircraft carrier is from. The owner of the aircraft will report the matter to an inspector in their country, which in this case is the DCA. The DCA will initiate investigations. From then on, the airline will only deal with the status of the passengers and crew and their next of kin, while the DCA is in charge. If the accident happened outside of Malaysia's territorial waters or airspace, then the foreign agency will take over. In this case, we assume it happened in our territory.
Question: Can such a large aircraft like a B777 be tampered with to render it invisible, even given all the available modern, state-of-the art satellite and radar technology?
Answer: Someone out there can use force to threaten the pilot to disengage communication and tracking devices. But, how far can they go? Can they hide the aircraft? Different aircraft have different devices. It will take someone with expertise to handle such complex devices to do so. Even pilots going into the B777 cockpit would not know what to do, unless they have been trained.
Question: If we can eliminate all the possible dimensions discussed, thus far, can we conclude hijacking as a last straw?
Answer: We cannot rule out such a scenario but we have to be realistic. If this is true, where would they go? Where would they have forced the aircraft to land?
Question: Have the relevant parties filed an air accident report to probe the incident and have forensics been addressed?.
Answer: Considering legal implications involved, I believe this has been done. But details will not be made public yet as everything is still uncertain.
Question: Have the authorities missed something in this case?
Answer: I think they have done everything possible. I can't think of anything more than what has already been done.
Question: The civilian and military radars have different functions. Shouldn't the military radars be able to spot the plane even if the transponder was turned off?
Answer: Even if the civilian radars are unable to spot the missing aircraft, I believe the more advanced-technology military radars can detect the flight path even if the aircraft was not squawking (with the transponder switched off).
But it depends on how low the plane was flying.
Question: Do you still believe that MAS and its crew are world class?
Answer: There is no doubt about this. Their pilots, engineers and crew are well-trained.
Question: What can you say about the pilot having a simulator at home?
Answer: There is nothing wrong with it.
I think he has a keen interest to expand his experience and explore to keep abreast and improve his scientific knowledge, to better himself.