I'm stumped by the altitude asphyxia. After 43,000 it seems everyone would have gone out in seconds if not given high pressure oxygen, and that thing climbed to 45,000 ft. None the less, this is the strangest aviation mysteries...
It is not altitude asphyxia. It would be hypoxia at altitude. The cabin is pressurized at about 8000 feet . So even though the aircraft is at 35,39,42 thousand feet, it will feels as thought you are at 8000 feet.
Agreed, hypoxia. But how do people on board survive a climb to 45,000 without pressurized oxygen? This whole thing is the strangest damned thing...
The pilot was a Muslim. Take that for whatever you will. However, he was seen wearing tshirts saying "democracy is dead," and was known to be affiliated with militants. He's got a pretty decent simulator in his home, which proves nothing, except he would know how to turn off ALL tracking/locating devices. Throw in two Iranians with stolen passports who booked with cash, and my money is on the Captain of this flight being the saboteur.
I don't know why this day and age that transponders and other communication/tracking devices can be shut off by anyone, including the pilots. The black box should be transmitting data, including GPS as the plane flies - once a minute updates should be OK.
The people on board survived because that 777 never went to that altitude. It is too heavy with the fuel on board for the flight to China , and does not have the wing to get up there and stay up there. The air conditioning system taps air from the low pressure compressor ( the jet engine ) by a series of pneumatic ducts. These ducts feed this hot compressed air to a compressor/ expansion turbine with other locations . The compressor and the expansion turbine are connected together by a common shaft ( like a turbocharger in a car ) .The hot compressed air is used to turn this turbine assembly and the air is expanded into a larger area than the turbine which cools the air , and through a mixing manifold and,for use in the flight deck to cool the electronics, and the cabin. You are in a pressurized environment with plenty of oxygen as long as you have bleed air , and nobody opens up the outflow valve.
There are valid reasons to turn off transponders. Transponders need to be shutoff because they can provide erroneous signals. You turn off one , and then you switch over to the alternate transponder , and keep going on your flight. If you ever had an issue involving electricity on the flightdeck, you will be begging to turn stuff off NOW. I have heard stories , to where i said BS that is not possible . It happens. I don't need to shut off the communication equipment. I just go to the CDU ( console that has the screen and all the buttons ) , choose the ACARS menu , change the frequencies, or log off completely . Satcom is the same way. All these idiots you hear , pulling circuit breakers . This is a 777, you go through the CDU. You also better be carfull with what you wish for , because it will be the flying public that pays for all these gizmos .I can also see the government going to all the pilot unions , " There will be a mandatory safety of flight fee . All pilots of commercial widebody aircraft will be charged $10.00 a month. This safety fee will entail the maintenance of our new safety program . We will be able to listen in on you conversations from the flight deck at all times during flight operations to insure the safety of the flying public . You do care about safety of the public don't you ?.
That is the certified ceiling for a 777 , that's correct http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/777family/pf/pf_facts.page That does not mean that they usually cruise at that altitude . Usually 32 to 39 thousand feet is standard depending on weather , and the route. LEAPup was referring to a report that the 777 in question, was flying up at 45,000 feet from a supposed military surveillance radar contact. This is an obvious lie . Why are major news media pushing this lie ?. You found the certified ceiling for that 777 , I posted a link to it , how hard was that. Why the media lie. Sounds allot like that media lie that there is a person who " fat fingered " an order and caused a significant crash in the market. Another lie that was pushed by the major media. You don't just go to 43,100 feet after take off . There is a flight plan that has to be followed . What was the flight plan for that 777 to Beijing ?. The media who are interested in lies, are not interested in that question , are they? . What was air traffic control doing when that 777 deviated from its flight plan ? . Did not contact the pilot. Did not contact the dispatcher. Did not contact the airline. Did not contact the military to inform them that there is a 777 that has departed it's filed flight plan , and ... . Nothing, it appears they did nothing.