A SCOTTISH tech company is playing a key role in the search for Amelia Earhart’s missing aeroplane.
The famous American pilot disappeared alongside her navigator Fred Noonan while attempting to become the first woman to complete a circumnavigational flight around the world in 1937.
Investigators believe that Earhart and Noonan disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.
Now, after a 90-day mission at sea, American marine robotics firm Deep Sea Vision claim to have found Earhart’s Lockheed Electra aircraft on the ocean floor.
Specialists at Scottish company Clarus Networks Group provided low earth orbit satellite technology for the mission, allowing the team to access high-speed internet on their search vessel.
READ MORE: Fergus Ewing backs plans for golf course on protected Scottish beach
Until now, it had not been possible to access high-speed internet so far out in the Pacific Ocean.
Deep Sea Vision has released a sonar imagery of what they believe to be Earhart’s plane, which was found using an autonomous underwater drone.
The drone, nicknamed Miss Millie, helped the company search for more than 5200 square miles of ocean, reaching depths of 6 kilometres and staying underwater for up to 36 hours.
High-speed internet allowed Deep Sea Vision’s 16-person crew to transmit and manage the sonar data collected by Miss Millie, as well as facilitating video calls back to shore.
Tony Romeo, the chief executive of Deep Sea Vision, said the Scottish company’s work made a “huge difference”.
He said: “Our search mission took us to one of the most remote oceans in the world, but working with Clarus we were able to maintain superfast connectivity.
“This was critical to our mission, allowing us to handle the massive amounts of data sent by our marine robotics and to Facetime with my 6-year-old daughter back home who also had plenty of exciting things to show me.
“We only made the sonar discovery at the tail end of our expedition, so having fast connectivity had a huge impact on keeping crew morale high and allowing us to communicate with support teams back on shore.
“We are partnering with Clarus for our future search missions, including our return to investigate the site further, hopefully bringing closure to the legacy of an aviation pioneer.”
Deep Sea Vision said they believe they are one step away from bringing closure to the mystery of Amela Earhart’s disappearance.
However, they are keeping all information, including the exact location of what they believe to be crash site, strictly confidential.
The director of maritime and energy at Clarus Networks Group, Chris Schonhut, said he was “proud” to play at part in solving the mystery.
“The enormity of Deep Sea Vision’s mission demonstrates the sheer power of advanced satellite connectivity, allowing the team to search the largest and deepest ocean as a world first,” he said.
READ MORE: Avian flu causing 'catastrophic' decline of Scotland's seabirds
“By installing low earth orbit satellite internet on the search vessel, Clarus used Starlink Maritime to deliver superfast connectivity to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawiaii and Australia, where it would have otherwise been impossible.
“This advanced satellite connectivity can handle the huge amounts of data produced by advanced marine robotics, as well as supporting the 16-person crew on their 3 month mission.
“We are proud to continue to support Deep Sea Vision, providing reliable and fast connectivity for their pioneering missions.”
Deep Sea Vision say the aircraft sits at a depth of around 16,400 feet.
However, while the sonar images have intrigued some archaeologists, others say it is too early to know if the image really does show Earhart’s aircraft.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel