Air France 447 - Brazilian Navy Command and Aeronautical Command - Press Release 26

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12/06/2009 - 16h50
Press Release- English

PRESS RELEASE 26

INFORMATION ON THE SEARCH FOR AIR FRANCE FLIGHT 447

The Brazilian Navy Command and Aeronautical Command inform that the Frigate Bosísio has arrived to a location nearby Fernando de Noronha where the helicopters, a H-60 Blackhawk and a H-34 Super Puma, of the Brazilian Air Force, initiated at 5:50 am (Brasilia time) the transport of the 25 bodies from the ship to the archipelago.

Ten days from the beginning of the activities, the aircraft involved in the operation have flown a total of 700 hours. Of this total, the Brazilian Air Force has carried out 597 flight hours and other nationalities (USA and France) the remaining. The aircraft most involved in the mission, the C-130 Hercules, C-105 Amazonas and P-95 Bandeirante Patrol, have flown a total of 490 hours. The R-99 flew 80 hours accomplishing an average of three electronic scanning missions a day.

Meteorology indicates that the weather and visibility shall interfere with the search efforts in the proximity of the TASIL aeronautical way point (the limit at which the responsibility for air traffic control is Brazils), where most of the search effort is concentrated. Independently of the limits imposed by the meteorology, the searches will be carried out in areas that offer conditions for low level visual flight. Sea conditions are favorable, with up to one meter waves. The maritime current has changed from North to a Westerly direction, with a speed of around 1,1 kilometers per hour.

The number of military personnel and means, as well as the operational pattern being employed in the Search Operation, remain unaltered from information previously disclosed.

NAVAL SOCIAL COMMUNICATION CENTER
AERONAUTICAL SOCIAL COMMUNICATION CENTER