Newsroom
As part of a mission to locate and document the remains of the 1977 aviation accident off Madeira, the Madeira Oceanic Observatory (OOM at ARDITI) deployed its recently acquired DriX H-8 Uncrewed Surface Vessel and R7 Remotely Operated Vehicle to carry out a comprehensive underwater survey and inspection campaign.
Led by OOM as the scientific authority, the project reflects how robust, field-proven systems can support demanding ocean operations, delivering the data quality required for both scientific analysis and heritage documentation.
Historical context: a significant aviation accident
The accident occurred on 18 December 1977, involving a Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle 10R operating a charter flight from Geneva to Funchal. During its final approach to Madeira Airport, the aircraft ditched into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 4 km from the runway threshold. Of the 57 people on board, 36 lost their lives, while 21 passengers and crew members were rescued by local fishermen and emergency teams.
The aircraft fuselage remained on the seabed for several decades and was only formally located in October 2011, when divers identified the wreck at approximately 110 metres depth, with sections of the fuselage still relatively intact.
This historical event is considered one of the most notable aviation accidents associated with operations at the then particularly challenging Funchal aerodrome, occurring only days after another fatal accident involving a different aircraft at the same airport.
A technology partnership built on operational performance
For this mission, OOM deployed Exail’s DriX Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) in combination with the R7 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) , a pairing designed to ensure continuity between wide-area mapping and targeted inspection.
DriX H-8
ROV R7
This choice was driven by clear operational requirements:
- High-resolution bathymetric accuracy
- Stability in open-ocean conditions
- Reliable deep-water intervention capability
- High-quality visual data acquisition
By combining these capabilities, OOM was able to structure a survey workflow that maximizes both efficiency and data integrity, from initial seabed mapping through to detailed visual confirmation.
Bathymetric survey with DriX H-8 and EM172 Multibeam Echosounder
The survey phase was conducted using DriX equipped with a Kongsberg EM712 multibeam echosounder, enabling OOM to acquire a high-resolution 3D model of the seabed. This dataset provided critical insight into:
- The precise location of the aircraft wreckage
- The spatial distribution of debris across the seabed
- The environmental context required to safely plan ROV operations
DriX’s ability to operate with stability in offshore conditions ensured consistent data acquisition, even in a complex and exposed environment such as the waters off Madeira.
Inspection and documentation with Exail R7 ROV
Following completion of the mapping phase, visual inspection operations were carried out using the Exail R7 ROV, down to 110 meter depth.
The ROV enabled:
- High-definition imaging of the fuselage and surrounding debris
- Visual documentation of the current state of the site
- Confirmation of structural and morphological characteristics of the aircraft remains.
Client perspective
“The combination of high-resolution bathymetric data from DriX and precise visual inspection with the R7 ROV allowed us to approach this mission with a high precision . These technologies enabled us to efficiently locate, map, and document the wreck while ensuring safe and controlled operations.”
the OOM team
This feedback reflects how integrated, reliable systems can directly support mission success in complex offshore environments.
Supporting scientific insight and maritime heritage preservation
The mission goes beyond technical achievement. By updating both the positional data and visual record of the site, OOM contributes to:
- The documentary preservation of a significant chapter in Madeira’s aviation history
- Advancement of scientific knowledge regarding aircraft impact sites in marine environments
- The valorization of submerged historical heritage
This project highlights how Exail’s autonomous and remotely operated systems support clients like ARDITI in addressing complex offshore challenges. By enabling precise mapping, reliable inspection, and high-quality data acquisition, these technologies help transform high precision surveys into actionable results, while ensuring that missions are carried out with the rigor, and efficiency they require.
In ARDITI’s hands, the DriX H-8 has already covered approximately 160 km² at sea. Now, with the acquisition of the DriX O-16, ARDITI is further expanding its fleet, reinforcing a more modular, integrated, and scalable approach to ocean operations in the Atlantic.
Many thanks to the ARDITI team for their support and collaboration in the writing of this article.
