Jul
29
Site Status Change
Filed Under Airline | Leave a Comment
Due to the demands of the day job and workload from other projects I am leaving this Blog as it now stands as a reference for those who want it.
If anyone feels that they would like to take it over, please drop me a line.
Kind regards,
Norman
Jul
2
787 design finalised
Filed Under Airline, Boeing/Airbus | Leave a Comment
The video says it all really, the -9 variant looks to be the one to watch for its increased capacity and range. It sits nicely between the 787-8 and the 777.
Jul
2
We have been there before, we will go there again.
Jun
8
32 A380s for Emirates
Filed Under Airline | Leave a Comment
Dubai-based carrier Emirates Airline on Monday placed an order for an additional 32 Airbus A380 jets, at a list price of $11.5 billion. Emirates is already the top client of the A380, with 58 on order. “”Emirates has supported the development of the A380 from the earliest days, and today’s order – the single largest A380 order ever – is the best endorsement I can imagine,” said Airbus CEO Tom Enders. Airbus is owned by European aerospace and defense giant EADS.
This comes as a surprise during times like these. What a vote of confidence in the industry, either that or an exceptional deal with an option to drop it if the bottom falls out of the World’s economic system.
Bloomberg states that migrant worker movements around the Middle East will account for a fair proportion of the growing capacity, quite what will happen if the UAE feels an intensified chill wind has to be sitting somewhere in the picture. Building in Dubai virtually stopped dead when the crisis blew, has it re-started or surged even since? Well, ‘Faint heart ~ Fair Maiden’ and all that… Good Luck Emirates.
Or – could it be that Emirates believe that they may be set to pick up large tranches of travellers laid horseless after the progressive collapse of the Euro-US airline system. A kind of post apocalyptic bonanza that enables a huge market share-grab? A grim thought and potentially a risky 11.5 Bn$ bet.
Confidence does seem to be a feature the closer you get toward Asia, strange when you consider Japan is overdrawn to the value of 100% of its annual ’salary’, I wonder what the interest is on that? Mind you, not much of the ‘Black Stuff’ in Japan to lend ‘fragrance’ to the proceedings.
Were my bank manager faced with such an equation he would spin in his chair.
Jun
8
Pilot undersupply
Filed Under Airline, Pilot Industrial | 1 Comment
I brought a NZ Airlines captain/IFALPA ‘wheel’ (a very interesting man to listen to) to Singapore from Sydney on his way to the UK for a conference. During conversation with him it emerged that there is a growing worldwide concern that there will be a large under-supply of pilots for the industry coming over the horizon. He quoted the example; last year the USAF trained more UAV pilots than they did FW pilots.
The US carriers are paying their pilots far less than they did, pilot supply is becoming critical in some commuter sectors as those who have been furloughed earlier or have trouble making ends meet are turning elsewhere for their daily crust. Having (re)established a decent income they look at the daily grind of the commuter pilot and say…. “No thanks, I don’t need that any more having spent too much time and effort in the new day job to get knocked back again.”
Predictabubble? And the answer to the problem is…..
May
18
Ahhh, De Havilland
Filed Under Nostalgia | Leave a Comment
The nearest most of us get to the essence of De Havilland is the Tiger Moth. My luck shone on one occasion; in the ’70s I was doing a little aerial survey work out of Strathallan (Auchteradar) in Scotland and as luck would have it, I was hanging around waiting for the weather to clear. Standing three square on the grass exactly as you see above a Mosquito. It was Kermit Weeks’ latest acquisition in to have a long range fuel system fitted whilst in transit on its way to its new home in the USA. I climb aboard and breathed in the atmosphere for an hour, what opportunity and what a steed. It may even have been the same day that the photograph above was taken as the weather was similar – we needed fairly clear skies.
Back to reality, the Tiger is of course that much more accessible, still fairly widely available if becoming less so as the years roll by. On a recent trip my colleague up front let slip that he had one tucked away on the family ’strip. After a few minutes he had me hooked with his tales of dope, fabric and Gypsy Major engineering challenges – all liberally sauced with colourful renditions of the joy to be had inserted inside large formations of Tigers sweeping across southern England. Out came his laptop and onto the ScanDisk Cruzer went a bunch of photos, a sample of which I post here for your delight. I am still waiting for some text to attach from Duncan, it will turn up soon I am sure.
Read on and tell me you don’t also say, ahhhh – De Havilland!
May
12
Ash & Cash…
Filed Under Air Traffic Control, The World and everything | Leave a Comment
Every time that volcano poops into the atmosphere it costs someone somewhere millions. The devastating effect it’s having on air travel is unprecedented. We are used to these things happening in the remoter regions or perhaps in the Caribbean, that’s fair play and par for the course. Having a strategically placed vent on the earths crust that can close down ALL Atlantic traffic is… well, plain unsporting.
Apr
2
Pam Ann – go on, Google her
Filed Under Humour | Leave a Comment
Mar
30
Song of the Solar System
Filed Under Mysteries | Leave a Comment
I love this use of graphics and a form of haunting music to put the solar system and the rotation of the planets around the sun into a time perspective.
Solar Beat
Mar
22
Boeing being bullish!
Filed Under Boeing/Airbus | Leave a Comment
Boeing have stepped up production on the 777 and 747-8 series aircraft. This chimes with rumours being heard around the bazaars, not necessarily related to BA. More orders for the 747-8? Boeing must be delighted!
The new production plan ups output to seven aircraft per month rather than the five they had cut back to after a decision point last year. It seems strong demand has inspired this and it is due to kick in around mid 2010.
Interesting. This wouldn’t be a move taken ‘on spec’ would it? Strong demand normally means that airlines/leasing companies have expressed firm interest and backed it up with production line options.