The Indonesian government has awarded contracts for recovery of the crashed Adam Air 737's recorders that have lain on the ocean bottom off Sulawesi since New Year's Day. Phoenix International, Inc. played the key role in the successful discovery on 19 February of Adam Air Flight 574, lost west of Pare Pare, South Sulawesi in 5,500 feet of water. The Boeing 737-400 aircraft and its 102 passengers and crew were lost on a flight between Surabaya, Java and Manado. Phoenix was under contract to the U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, NAVSEA 00C(SUPSALV). Aboard the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office survey ship, USNS MARY SEARS (T-AGS 65), a Phoenix team mobilized a Towed Pinger Locator (TPL-40), L-3 Klein System 2000 side scan sonar, and an operations crew conducted the search and mapping effort. The TPL-40 is a passive listening device capable of receiving the acoustic emissions of the salt-water activated beacons that are common emergency equipment on board all commercial aircraft. Upon deploying the TPL and acquiring signals from the beacons, the Phoenix operations crew methodically worked to home on the beacons to refine their locations. Once localized with some accuracy, the crew conducted a detailed side scan sonar survey of the entire debris field. Phoenix is SUPSALV’s prime contractor for conducting underwater search and recovery operations to water depths of 20,000 feet worldwide. It's not known whether or not they have been awarded the entire recovery contract. However Phoenix is expected to commence on scene work in early July. Related Articles