BEA, the French Aviation Investigative Agency has called off the search for AF-447′s black boxes. The Airbus 330-200 crashed into the Atlantic May 31st. It had automatically sent a series of failure codes (24 in 15 minutes) to Air France maintenance via the aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS). These codes seemed to detail a series of flight control failures and then airframe failure. The debris field also seemed to verify this theory. BEA has pointed to the pitot system however add the caveot; “a factor but not the cause“. There have been two similar pitot failure incidents with the A 330-200 aircraft and one with a 320, since the mishap, all landed safely.

Apparently the 10 day delay getting on station, by the French Navy, was critical. I guess they should have accepted the offer of help from the US Navy. It is apparent to me that the cause will never “officially” be found. Six hundred A330/340 series aircraft continue to fly passengers every day.