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Commercial Jets Being Turned Into Flying Weather Stations

Accurately predicting weather is a science that had seen tremendeous  advances over the years , but now a new system using commercial airliners as flying weather station could make forecasting more precise than ever .

Even though they still use the old fashioned weather balloons to take measurements of the wind , temperature and humidity twice a day in different locations which works tolerably well .

Lets put it this way , if we could have fleets of sensors flying around the country in different locations , that's the thinking behind this new program that  leverages data sent from commercial jets equipped with special weather sensors .

Don't you just love science ? I do.

Plane Conveying Spain's World Cup Team Struck By Lightning..

It's been repirted that the plane , IBERIA FLIGHT 2907 , the spain's world up team wstruck by lightning as it was making it's approach into Madrid.

Thank God it landed safely at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport with no reported injuries to the team , passengers , nor damage to the plane.

IATA: two-thirds of travelers prefer to check-in online or automatically

"The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged aviation stakeholders to develop and use information technology (IT) to drive improvements in the passenger experience. “We must always remember that we fly people and cargo, not planes. So our mindset has to be oriented to view things from the perspective of the customer in all that we do—including how we design, integrate and implement IT systems,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Speaking at the Air Transport IT Summit jointly hosted by SITA and Airline Business magazine, Tyler identified three areas where through working together and guided by global standards, opportunities exist to use IT to provide a better passenger experience. “In doing so, we will deliver greater value in commercial aviation’s second century,” said Tyler.

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Armenia : Etihad Appoints A New General Manager

The national airline of the United Arab Emirate ( UAE ) ,appoints a new general manager for Armenia , Mr Roberts Douglas . Mr Douglars resumes appointment immediately , as the head of the airline's sales and marketing operations from its new Yerevan's office. Congrats to Mr Roberts Douglars.

Virgin Atlantic Is 30 Already !

How time flies , Virgin Atlantic airways is 30 years old ,  the organisation was built by Sir Richard Branson in the early 80's , 1984 , with 40 aircraft in virgin's fleet  , the oldest aircraft in the house is a 20 year old jumbo jet named  lady penelope , their fleet of aircraft is being refreshed with new airbus A330 aircraft ,later this year they await the boeing 787 dreamliner .

Virgin airline has been around for a while , the British base award wining airline has celebrated its 30 years of existence and still waxing strong . Congratulations to Sir Richard Branson and the entire staff of Virgin Atlantic .

Airline Loses Flight Delays Appeal

Despite waiting six years to bing a case against the airline ( THOMSON AIRLINE ) to justice , Mr Dawson, from Peterborough , an airline passenger has won his case at the court of Appeal over flight dealys.

Mr James Dawson , has been awarded £ 1,488.73 claim.

Legal experts said that " the ruling could lead to more than 11 million passengers claim and cost the airline up to £4bn.

In Memory Of The Lost Souls On DANA Air Flight 992...

It is 2 years today that we remember the crash that occurred  on Sunday, June 3, 2012, the aircraft crashed into a furniture works and printing press building in the Iju-Ishaga neighbourhood of Lagos , Nigeria . The crash, believed to have been caused by dual engine failure and subsequent forced landing , resulted in the deaths of all 153 people on board and ten more on the ground . 

The crash of Flight 992 was and is currently the deadliest aviation disaster involving a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, as well as the second-deadliest involving an MD-80 in general behind Inex- Adria Aviopromet Flight  1308 . It is also the second-deadliest airplane crash on Nigerian soil, behind the Kano air disater in 1973 . 

To the departed souls , we remember you and we pray that your souls rest in peace in the bosom of the all mighty God. AMEN 

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Venezuela In Debt : Owes Copa Airline USD$ 500 mln.

This is overwhelming , copa airline said on Friday 30 may that the venezuela government owes it approximately USD$ 500 million in unrepatriated  revenue , that is approximately 12%nof what the local airline association says it owed the airlines due to currency control.

A New Airline Established In Tanzania , Fly-SAX has announced the appointment of Brown Francis as general manager of SAX-Tanzania

Subject to receiving regulatory approvals from Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, the new airline’s maiden flight is expected to resume operation  in the second half of 2014.

  “We are launching a new airline to meet the ever-increasing demand for low-cost, efficient and safe air travel within Tanzania from the country’s own citizens as well as international tourists visiting the country,” said Don Smith, CEO and Founder of Fly-SAX and Fly540 Kenya . Don Smith the CEO says  I look forward to him to making it a great success ,  ' “I am delighted to be working again with Brown Francis. 

Brown Francis, 49 years, is a veteran of the airline industry with over 25 years experience. He joins SAX-Tanzania from Fasjet, where he held the position of Director for Industry Affairs for Tanzania since late 2012. Prior to that, Mr Francis was General Manager of Fly540 Tanzania, where he worked closely with Don Smith from 2009 until 2012. Additionally, Mr Francis worked as operations manager for regional Air Services Arusha for 12 years. 

A New Finance Director To The BBA Group Aviation.

The BBA Aviation Group appoints new Finance Director

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The BBA Aviation plc announces that Mike Powell has been appointed to the Board as Group Finance Director with effect from 1 July 2014, succeeding Mark Hoad who, as previously announced, steps down on 30 June.

Mike Powell joins from AZ Electronic Materials, a FTSE 250 company with international reach, where he has held the role of Chief Financial Officer since 2011.  Prior to this Mike was Group Finance Director of Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd having previously spent 15 years at Pilkington plc in a variety of senior finance roles.

Commenting on the appointment, Simon Pryce, BBA Aviation Chief Executive said:

“We are delighted to welcome Mike to BBA Aviation.  He has an excellent track record as a Group Finance Director with extensive experience working across all aspects of group finance on an international basis and will be a great asset to the Group.  We look forward to working with Mike and to his positive contribution as we continue to execute effectively on our growth strategy.”

Mike Powell commented:

"I am very excited to be joining BBA Aviation, a company with a strong track record and a clear strategy to deliver on the many growth opportunities ahead of it. I look forward to playing a key role in the Company’s continued operational and strategic progress.”

Asiana Secures Its First Airbus A380 Jumbo Jet

Asiana Airlines, one of South Korea’s two major airlines, received its first Airbus A380 jumbo jet Monday, making the carrier the 11th operator of the world’s largest aircraft.

The double-deck plane is the world’s largest commercial aircraft flying today.  It was delivered to the airline’s chairman, Park Sam Koo, by Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier, in Toulouse, France.

Asiana has five additional A380s on order.  Each is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.  The planes are in a being delivered in a three-class configuration, with a total capacity of 495 passengers.  There are 12 first-class First Suites, 66 fully lie-flat business-class seats in Business Samarium, and 417 seats in coach.  ]

The airline is set to get familiar with these routes, from Seoul to Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok, and will then deploy it the Seoul-Los Angeles route.

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine plane that had its first flight in 2005 and entered commercial service in October 2007.  A typical configuration is 525 seats and the plane can hold as many as 853 in an all-coach configuration.

Asiana, which has an all-Airbus fleet, also has 30 of the new Airbus A350 XWB jets on order.  It currently operates A330 and A320 planes on its routes.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)

Farthest flight by a paper airplane

The farthest flight by a paper aircraft is 69.14 meters (226 feet 10 inches), achieved by Joe Ayoob and aircraft designer John M. Collins (both USA), at McClellan Air Force Base, in North Highlands, California, USA on 26 February 2012.

The plane was constructed from a single sheet of uncut A4 paper. Joe Ayoob flew the aircraft designed by John M. Collins.

Source And Photos :  Guinnessworldrecords

Cargo cult....They call it " Gift from the skies "

Cargo cult....They call it  " Gift from the skies "

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In the late 19th century certain millenarian movements started to form in the Melanesia, which subsequently became known as Cargo cults. The name derives from the apparent belief that various ritualistic acts will lead to a bestowing of material wealth ("cargo"). The Melanesians believed that Western goods are created for them by the spirits of their ancestors, but are controlled by the white people by means of deceit. This cult’s specific trait is that its religious practices involve imitation of aviation-related operations.

The most widely known period of cargo cult activity occurred among the Melanesian islanders in the years during and after World War II. A small population of indigenous peoples observed, often right in front of their dwellings, the largest war ever fought by technologically advanced nations. The vast amounts of military equipment and supplies airdropped to troops on these islands meant drastic changes to the lifestyle of the islanders, many of whom had never seen outsiders before. 

The cult leaders explained that the cargo would be gifts from their own ancestors, or other sources, as had occurred with the outsider armies. In attempts to get cargo to fall by parachute or land in planes or ships again, islanders imitated the same practices they had seen the soldiers, sailors, and airmen use. Cult behaviors usually involved mimicking the day to day activities and dress styles of US soldiers, such as performing parade ground drills with wooden or salvaged rifles. The islanders carved headphones from wood and wore them while sitting in fabricated control towers. They waved the landing signals while standing on the runways. They lit signal fires and torches to light up runways and lighthouses.

Many even built life-size replicas of aeroplanes out of straw and cut new military-style landing strips out of the jungle, hoping to attract more aeroplanes. The cult members thought that the foreigners had some special connection to the deities and ancestors of the natives, who were the only beings powerful enough to produce such riches. Nevertheless, as the practises didn’t result in returning of the airplanes with the cargo, most of the Melanesians subsequently abandoned their beliefs.

Although most cargo cults have disappeared over the last sixty-five years some of then are still active. One of the most widely known of the latter is theJohn Frum cult on formed on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. This cult started before the war, and only became a cargo cult afterwards. Cult members worship certain "Americans" (such as John Frum and Tom Navy), who they claimed had brought cargo to their island during World War II, as the spiritual entity who would provide the cargo to them in the future.

Source and photo: Wikipedia

NASA's New X-48C Flying Wing Airplane Uses 50% Less Fuel Than Standard Aircraft

Researchers at NASA have developed a revolutionary flying wing aircraft that uses 50% less fuel than standard planes. The new manta ray-esque X-48C is based on the X-48B Blended Wing Body aircraft, which flew 92 flights

at NASA Dryden between 2007 and 2010. The X-48C improves upon its predecessor with its low-noise, fuel-efficient hybrid wing body (HWB) design.

The X-48C uses an extremely efficient type of engine called an ultra-high bypass ratio engine, which the aero engineering teams at NASA say could use half as much fuel as conventional aircraft. 

It may take 8 to 10 years for the technology to be implemented into conventional aircraft says the NASA manager " Fay Collier "  .

Source: Technologyreview

Photo: NASA

Air Canada Flies Dreamliner To Toronto

Air Canada has completed its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight with the arrival of AC7008 at Toronto's Pearson airport this afternoon carrying 100 of the airline's employees on its maiden voyage. Air Canada is the first Canadian airline to fly the new aircraft which, with its long-range and unsurpassed fuel efficiency, will play a starring role in the airline's international expansion strategy. Air Canada has orders for 37 Boeing 787 aircraft.

It is an exciting day for them at "Air Canada"  as they bring home their first dreamliner . The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with its range, passenger capacity and operating efficiencies is virtually custom-designed to allow us to grow in international markets on a cost-competitive basis, and our new on-board product will enhance our position as North America's leading airline," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"With the Dreamliner we are premiering our new three-cabin interior. It features the next generation lie-flat pod in International Business Class, a new Premium Economy cabin and our redesigned Economy cabin with our upgraded In-Flight Entertainment system available free at every seat," added Benjamin Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

Source and Photo: Air Canada

Heathrow set to link the whole of the UK to growth

Heathrow is to step up its campaign for expansion by telling the Airports Commission that it is the only option that can connect every part of the UK to the world’s long-haul growth markets.

New rail connections will mean that more than 70% of the UK’s population will be within three hours of Heathrow by public transport. A new fast connection to High Speed 2 at Old Oak Common means journey times between Heathrow and Birmingham will be cut by 1 hour 38 minutes, journey times to Leeds will reduce by 2 hours 08 minutes, and journey times from Manchester will reduce by 1 hour 53 minutes. New direct access to the Great Western Line will cut journey times from Cardiff by 37 minutes. Passengers will no longer face the inconvenience of having to travel to Heathrow via central London or negotiating the London Underground network with luggage.

Heathrow Chief Executive Colin Matthews said:

“If we want growth for the future we need connections to the world’s fast growing markets and that means a hub airport like Heathrow. But we also need to bring the benefits of additional trade, tourism and economic growth to the whole country, not just to London and the South-East. That is why we are setting out our ambition to connect Heathrow to every economic centre in Britain.

“New air and rail links including HS2, Western Rail, Southern Rail and Crossrail will transform journey times from Heathrow compared to today. Millions more people will have quick access to the UK’s global hub and be within easy reach of the world’s markets.”

Anna Goodband, Principal, Liverpool School of English said:

“The School relies on Heathrow to attract students from across the world with new routes to China and the Far East vital for our future expansion.”

Jenny Stewart, Chief Executive of Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce said:

“An expanded Heathrow with improved rail links would bring huge benefits to Liverpool, offering speedier journey times to the airport and driving trade, jobs and growth through improved access to overseas’ markets”

Heathrow is already the UK’s best connected transport hub. It has the only dedicated non-stop airport express link. It has the UK’s busiest bus and coach station. It is the only airport with a London underground connection. It is the best connected airport to the strategic road network with the M25, M4, M40, M3 & M1 motorways all within close proximity. It is in a better geographical location for most UK passengers and companies than other options for airport expansion.

By the time a third runway opens, the major public transport improvements that will have been delivered include Crossrail, an upgrade to the Piccadilly Line, Western Rail Access, High Speed 2 and Southern Rail Access. Heathrow’s public transport mode share is expected to increase from 40% to more than 50%.

Source and photo: Heathrow

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