if it borke up in the air then there would be plenty of visable parts floating

around....

the "tracking beacon" you talk of is whats called an "IFF" (Identity, Friend or Foe) transponder - - it is a form of secondary surveillence radar, where a ground radar from an airfield (or coastal radar) interrogates a moving target (aircraft) and asks for some aircraft info (identity, no. of passengers, fuel state, destination) - this technology is also used in militay circles to decide which aircraft are friendly and which are enemy! - the only way not to see this info is if 1, its not working, 2, its been switched off, 3, its flying "under" the radar (why would you fly a passenger jet at approx 2000 ft?).....

so "something" strange has happened IMO as only one of the above must be true.....

Posted By: Cheltenham_Canary, Mar 10, 09:19:12