#MH370: Beginning of the end of a long search?

After almost 17 months of confusion and false starts, finally the ocean seems to have decided to give-up its secrets. The above piece, which has been identified as the left Flaperon from a Boeing 777 aircraft, washed-up on a beach in Reunion Island on 29 Jul 2015.

While the object is presently on its way to the BEA (the French aircraft accident investigation agency), investigators have concluded, based on photographs and videos, that the object came from a Boeing 777, and Flight 370 is the only Boeing 777 known to be missing. Therefore, there is little doubt on what the official investigation will conclude in a few days’ time, once their investigation is complete.

Flaperons are control surfaces on the wing of an aircraft that help to stabilize the plane during low-speed flying during take-off and landing. They combine the functions of flaps and ailerons. Flaps are used to create lift or drag depending on their use, while ailerons keep the plane from rolling over. They are generally at the rear, or the trailing edges, of aircraft wings. They are deployed during take-off and landing and stowed during flight. They combine with other parts of the wing to increase the surface area of the wing when the aircraft needs extra lift. If you look outside a window seat while seated at a location over the wing end, or slightly behind it, you will be able to see the Flaperon rolling out with a humming sound when the aircraft is coming in to land. On take-off, they are extended while the aircraft is still on ground, and pulled in when the aircraft reaches a safe altitude. You can see these parts move during the flight. The flaperon on a Boeing 777 sits between two sets of flaps on the inside segment of the wing right behind the engine, though the location can vary depending on aircraft type.

So, where does this lead us? Unfortunately, there are still no quick answers. Such a small part is unlikely to provide any concrete clues as to what happened to MH370, or even where it crashed. However, as can be seen from the below drift model map which was drawn-up by the Australian researchers over an year ago, location where this has been found is consistent with the 12-18 month drift model, and this tells us that, in all probability, the search efforts are focussed in right area of the ocean.

Further, if there is one piece, then there are also likely to be other pieces in that area. This boosts confidence that in days to come we may be able to recover many more debris from MH370, not only from Reunion Islands, but also from other coastal areas as per the drift model. If that happens, the story which will emerge from analysis of a number of pieces could be very different from what we can gleam from just one piece.

One thing is certain, the position of crash as predicted in my book “Into Oblivion: Understanding MH370” stands vindicated. There is now no doubt that the aircraft ended its flight in the Southern Indian ocean and in the general area as calculated and published in “Into Oblivion”. The end of this unfortunate drama has begun and I am hopeful that it will reach its conclusion before too long.

Stay safe,

The Erring Human.