Australia to search ocean the size of Ukraine for missing Malaysian 777

Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has released details of its operation to search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing 777 jetliner with 239 passengers and crew on board which mysteriously vanished about an hour into a Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight on the 8th of March. Satellite data has indicated there was a possibility that MH370's last contact could be in the southern Indian Ocean in what is known as the "southern corridor". An area totalling 600,000 square kilometres (see image below provided by AMSA), or roughly the size of Ukraine - inclusive of Crimea - located 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) from Perth has been designated as the search zone. The search area was developed based on information made available to AMSA on Monday, and being will be refined in conjunction with other agencies.

Six aircraft have been allocated to the search; four Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion maritime patrol/anti-submarine aircraft, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-3K2 Orion and a United States Navy (USN) P-8 Poseidon. All six aircraft are expected to reach Perth tomorrow (19th March) and it is expected that five daylight sorties will be flown on the 19th. One AP-3C has already redeployed to RAAF Base Pearce, north of Perth from the Cocos (Keeling) Island and has already flown a search sortie today with more AP-3Cs being deployed from RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia.

Back-of-envelope calculations show that the Orions will probably take about five hours to transit to/from the search area from Western Australia, which will leave them with at least two hours of fuel available to search the area. By shutting down up to two engines (see photo above of a RAAF AP-3C flying with one engine shut down), the Orions will be able to conserve fuel and extend loiter time over the search zone.

More from Greg Waldron over at Flightglobal

Kiwi Orion takes time off from Ex Bersama Shield to locate lost sailor

A sailor who was washed overboard from a merchant vessel 600 nautical miles northwest of Singapore had been found by a P-3K Orion anti-submarine aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The aircraft was preparing for participation the Five Power Defence Arrangement's Exercise Bersama Shield in Malaysia when it received a mayday call from the merchant vessel reporting a man lost overboard.

VIDEO: Ex Kiwi Flag 2012 [HD]

Held at the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) base at Whenuapai, Exercise Kiwi Flag is a multilateral, tactical air mobility exercise which aims to improve the interoperability and partnership of the participating nations. The RNZAF is exercising with international air force partners on their way to the Air Force Air Show at Ohakea Air Base on Saturday 31 March. This video by the New Zealand Defence Force, gives us an insight into the exercise.

Countries involved in the exercise, which is based in Auckland are the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia (CASA CN235), Republic of Singapore Air Force (C-130H Hercules), Royal Australian Air Force (C-130J Hercules), the United States Air Force (C-17 Globemaster III) and the United States Marine Corps (KC-130J Hercules). The host nation is taking part with it's C-130H Hercules.

The exercise sees fixed wing tactical training comprising low level flying and airdrop of cargo and personnel to Kaipara and Raumai Air Weapons Range.

The exercise forms a key part of readiness training for the New Zealand Defence Force and its international partners and runs from March 24 to April 5.

First upgraded Orion handed over to Royal New Zealand AF

After the completion of upgrading in the United States, the first of six Royal New Zealand Air Force's P-3 Orions has been handed over to the RNZAF. Designated P-3K2, the upgrade includes improvements to the type's communications, navigation, surveillance and data management systems, and will b capable of supporting overland as well as traditional maritime operations.

New Zealand seeks fresh bids for stored Skyhawks

After deciding to send 9 of it's fleet to aviation museums, the remaining eight mothballed Royal New Zealand Air Force A/TA-4K Skyhawks have again been put up for sale. The Skyhawks will be sold "without any warranty as to fitness for purpose or airworthiness", with earlier plans to sell the Skyhawks as a going concern abandoned.

Nine Kiwi Skyhawks heading to museums

The decade-long saga of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's mothballed A-4K Skyhawks has come to end, with nine Skyhawks to be given away to museums and some being sold as spare parts. Eight of the jets will go to public museums in New Zealand and one to Australia.

New Zealand outlines plans to replace P-3Cs and C-130s

Despite ongoing programs to upgrade both fleets, the Royal New Zealand expects to replace its P-3 Orions and C-130 Hercules within the next 15 years. The replacement plans were announced in a defence white paper, the nation's first in 13 years.

New Zealand receives first upgraded C-130

New Zealand's first upgraded Lockheed Martin C-130H has returned following a life-extension programme. L-3 Communications was responsible for this aircraft and will upgrade a second aircraft, while the New Zealand government has yet to decide on a contractor to upgrade three other aircraft.

Mothballed RNZAF jets cost $34 million to upkeep

The Royal New Zealand Air Force's mothballed fleet of A-4 Skyhawk and MB339 trainers cost NZ$34 million (US$25 million) to upkeep over the past nine years. A buyer is still being sought for the aircraft.

RNZAF Hercules upgrade deal agreed

The New Zealand government has concluded an agreement to complete the lond delayed upgrade of the RNZAF's C-130s. The next priority would be to upgrade its P-3 Orions and purchasing new helicopters.

Pitch Black 2010 draws to a close

Exercise Pitch Black 2010 drew to a close last night with the final flying sorties at RAAF Darwin.

RNZAF Hercules upgrade deal close

Stuff.co.nz is reporting that the New Zealand government is close to a deal to complete the long delayed contract to upgrade the RNZAF's C-130H Hercules.