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Poowin Bunyavejchewin

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  2. Posted · Edited by Poowin Bunyavejchewin · Report reply

    Today, I would like to show you some information from IATA about the new Bangkok Int'l Airport.

     

    From: BEHRENS David

    Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 8:12 AM

    Subject: Bangkok, Thailand: Suvarnabhumi Airport Updates

     

    ATTENTION: Airlines Operating into Bangkok, Thailand

     

    Although everyone believes politics will force a 28 September 0300

    (local Bangkok time) opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport, there is still

    a (very) remote possibility that enough public pressure (such as the

    Bangkok Post news story below) could bring the operational

    stakeholders back in control of the opening date.

     

    The latest on the Bangkok 3-letter airport codes are as follows:

     

    1. Suvarnabhumi Airport will keep the NBK code until 28 SEPT at

    03:00 local (27 Sept 2000 UTC) - then this code will disappear.

    (NBK is currently being used for international test flights at the

    beginning of September & the 2 weeks of domestic flights).

     

    2. Suvarnabhumi Airport will take the code BKK on 28 SEPT at 03:00

    local time (27 Sept 2000 UTC).

     

    3. Don Muang will take the new code DMK on 28 SEPT 28 at 03:00

    local time (27 Sept 2000 UTC)..

     

    In the area of operations, we have met with Aerothai, Department of

    Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Transport and voiced our concerns

    with the non-standard runway designators, the non-standard ILS and

    the design of instrument procedures. Although there has been some

    agreement and understanding in the meetings on the issues, we do not

    know what will be corrected and are not sure if the agreement to

    notify the differences with ICAO and record them in their AIP (GEN)

    will occur before the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Therefore,

    we have compiled a list of the issues we have identified and how

    they differ (when they do) to the ICAO Standards and Recommended

    Practices (see attachment).

     

    Finally there have been many questions on whether Don Muang can be

    filed as an alternate airport. Although we have nothing official

    stating either way, we have been assured by many that Don Muang will

    remain available as an alternate aerodrome. As for the airport

    itself, our understanding is that after 28 September Don Muang

    Airport will handle only government & military flights, along with

    private & charter flights.

     

    Best Regards,

     

    Dave Behrens

     

    David C BEHRENS

    Director

    Safety, Operations & Infrastructure Asia Pacific

    Tel. +65 6239 7161

    Fax +65 6536 6267

    behrensd@iata.org

     

    International Air Transport Association

    77 Robinson Road, #05-00

    SIA Building, Singapore 068896

     

    --------------------------------------------------------------

     

    All set for an in-your-face landing

     

    Bangkok Post

     

    16 Aug

     

    Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's determination to rush

    Suvarnabhumi Airport's opening on Sept 28, is perilously putting a

    great risk of severe disruption, if not total paralysis, to

    Thailand's air transport. Looking at the circumstances surrounding

    the airport's readiness and listening to well-intended observations

    by aviation professionals, it is a foregone conclusion that the

    facility will not be up and running smoothly on Sept 28, which is

    barely 43 days away.

     

    Most of the more than 70 international carriers, even Thai Airways

    International, are most unlikely to be able to completely establish

    themselves at Bangkok's 125-billion-baht new airport, whose crucial

    systems are not ready, either.

     

    That is due largely to the fact airlines have not been given enough

    time to set up offices and integrate themselves with global systems

    of their groups and Suvarnabhumi's own airport information

    management.

     

    On paper, the Airports of Thailand (AoT) Plc ''granted'' permission

    for airlines to move into the new airport on July 19. But in

    reality, airlines have not been able to do so until lately, partly

    because of their own internal preparation problems, like getting

    budgets and securing supporting facilities, and airport access

    difficulties. My recent terminal tour showed that most of

    the ''offices'' purportedly for airlines remain empty rooms, with

    names of the carriers printed on white A-4 size sheets of paper

    stuck on glass walls or aluminium counters with scotch tape.

    Airlines would normally need six months to prepare themselves at a

    new site, ensuring that their complex computer systems worked

    efficiently and staff are suitably familiarised with the new

    operating environment and systems.

     

    It is common knowledge in the industry that the AoT's baggage

    systems have not been able to achieve the performance results AoT

    had hoped for in the ongoing trial runs. It still takes some 40

    minutes for baggage to arrive at the carousel in the arrival halls.

    The readiness of the airlines and the baggage system have become the

    most worrisome and crucial factors that will affect passengers,

    rather than just the impressive terminal interior and runways which

    the AoT has been showcasing.

     

    The airport's mandated timing just before the peak season, in the

    last week of Oct when flight volume doubles, will significantly

    multiply the magnitude of problems if the airlines and airport are

    not able to operate effectively. It is a pity the Transport Ministry

    and AoT have chosen to only follow the Sept 28 mandate given by Mr

    Thaksin, come hell or high water, without rational consultations,

    even turning a deaf ear to the aviation industry's warnings. None of

    the authorities seems to have the courage to tell Mr Thaksin the

    truth that the airport will not be ready on Sept 28 knowing that the

    premier is banking on a successful opening to give him a pre-

    election boost.

     

    They seem to forget that the parties they should listen to more and

    work together very closely with are not the politicians but the

    carriers, their long-term business partners whose commitment to

    providing good passenger services is also at stake if an airport

    fouls up. As repeatedly suggested by global aviation experts, Mr

    Thaksin himself should learn from the mistakes at Hong Kong

    International Airport (HKIA) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport

    (KLIA). Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad wanted to

    pip Hong Kong and opened KLIA prematurely _ with the ensuing mess,

    not to mention huge embarrassment. The Hong Kong government ignored

    professional advice and launched HKIA anyway, and the airlines and

    passengers had two weeks of complete chaos. Meanwhile, the South

    Korean authorities patiently waited for the optimum time to open

    their Inchoen International Airport, and there were no glitches. Mr

    Thaksin should be wise enough (as he has always been in his

    political games) not to stubbornly push for Suvarnabhumi's early

    opening. What he should do, as has been asked by the industry, is to

    allow a few more months after Sept 28, for authorities and industry

    to complete all necessary work and testing to ensure the smooth

    launch of what the AoT calls ''the pride of Thailand''.

     

    Boonsong Kositchotethana is Deputy Assignment Editor (Business),

    Bangkok Post.

     

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Jon,

     

    Just to inform you that the afternoon location from the o/bridge is gone forever.... <_<

    I was there last week and counting the bridges from the opp direction in the morning....took forever to reach first one and then I realised that 2 of them are already gone.

     

    Anyway any plans to do a last shootout at Don Muang?

     

     

    Yes, the bridge for afternoon spotting was destroyed, but the bridge for morning spotting is still ok for photography. I think we can take a photos at the bus stop or in the petrol station.

     

    Poowin

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Guys,

     

    Not sure if you guys recall the post about my spotting trip at Changi on 31st July when the PHOTOi Magazine was having an interview with NinerVictor's group. 

     

    Well, the article has been published in their September issue and thanks to Tsen Tsan, who scanned and posted the relevant pages to the link below:

     

    Article Page 1

    Article Page 2

    Article Page 3

     

    btw, images are quite big, sabar...

     

    Enjoy guys...

     

    Ben-G

    7097[/snapback]

     

    Hi Benjamin,

    Could u give me an information of that magazine? Do u know which website I can buy it?

    I'm interested in this article. and It made me recall to KC who was the first foreigner photographer I contacted. sad.gif

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Hi everyone,

     

    Sky Eyes used to operated flight based U-Tapao by Antonov 24, later charter cargo flight by L1011F. I believe that Sky Eyes would use L-1011 from Skygate International for their re-launched service.

     

    Thai Sabai, I have only a bit info about it, just only their announced to employ FA. :blink:

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