Geoff R.

I wonder how many balloons are going to turn up to this "World" event. Anyone know? Geoff

If you go to http://www.bionasairways.com/galeri1.html and look closely at the bottom left image it claims "Bionas Airways Line of Fleets" - whatever that means, comprises: 1 unit Cessna 208B 4 units Bell 206B III 10 units Bo-105 3 units aeropakt (small plane) So they have a fleet 18 aircraft? I for one don't think so. Geoff

It's now all clear. Here is the opening statement on their website: www.bionasairways.com Welcome to Bionas Airways Hajj and Umrah Recreational aviation development for Malaysian objective: To provide aviation activities to all level of society at affordable cost by providing one stop-centre that cover allaspect of general aviation development to youth and aviation enthusiast. The yellow JetRanger used for the launch with Bionas Airways titles is 9M-SHD. Geoff

Weststar have taken delivery of their first AW139 9M-WAA at ceremony held as AgustaWestland Malaysia's Subang facility. Remaining eight to be delivered by end of March 2011. Picture can be found at http://www.agustawestland.com/news/weststar-aviation-services-takes-delivery-its-first-aw139 Geoff Weststar Aviation Services Takes Delivery of Its First AW139 02/12/2010 AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Weststar Aviation Services of Malaysia has taken delivery of its first out of nine AW139 medium twin engine helicopter. The helicopter will be used to perform offshore transport missions supporting oil & gas industry operations in Malaysia. Weststar Aviation Services is currently the largest AW139 operator in Asia Pacific. The handover has been celebrated during an official ceremony in the presence of Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim (Group Managing Director of Weststar, Rashid Yusof (Vice President Corporate Service of Petronas, Mohd Suhaimi Yassin (Senior General Manager Petronas Carigali, and Mr Emilio Dalmasso (Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit of AgustaWestland). The remainder 8 aircrafts will be delivered from December 2010 until March 2011. Dedicated pilot and technician training services and a comprehensive support package are being provided by AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Emilio Dalmasso said “We are pleased to deliver the first of nine AW139s ordered by such a leading Malaysian helicopter operator who will benefit from its unparalleled operational capabilities and cost/effectiveness. This handover marks the entrance of the best selling and most advanced offshore helicopter in its class in the South East Asia offshore helicopter market, and we are sure the AW139 will gain further remarkable success in the entire regional market for this application.” The AW139 has achieved great success in Malaysia in recent years with orders placed by local operators for corporate, fire fighting, EMS/SAR and coast patrol missions. State-of-the-art technology, outstanding performance, low operating costs and the only helicopter in its class to meet the latest safety standards, have made the AW139 the helicopter of choice in the medium twin market. With its power reserve, the AW139 delivers Category A (Class 1) performance from a helipad (elevated or at ground level) at maximum take-off weight with an unmatched one engine inoperative capability. The standard configuration provides seating for twelve or fifteen passengers in a large and bright 8.0 m3 cabin with excellent ease of access and egress via large sliding cabin doors. Excellent payload and performance ensure unmatched productivity for offshore operations. Energy-absorbing landing gear, fuselage and seats as well as high main and tail rotor ground clearance provide added safety for the passengers and maintenance teams whilst on the ground. Almost 140 customers from approximately 50 countries have ordered nearly 490 helicopters to perform a wide range of roles including offshore transport, EMS/SAR, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement, utility and government missions. AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AgustaWestland, continues to play a major role in the Malaysian helicopter market expanding its presence and increasing its capabilities through a continued programme of investment. Located at Kuala Lumpur's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, AgustaWestland Malaysia’s regional maintenance and support centre is a Malaysian DCA approved maintenance and repair organization. AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd is providing local support and training for the growing fleet of AgustaWestland customers in the region. Formed in 2003, Weststar Aviation Services Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Weststar Group, is a leading aviation company providing helicopter and jet charter services as well as offshore helicopter transport services.

Rob Could be Susi Air - check out www.susiair.com Geoff

6 out of 10, for sure more modern looking than the current scheme but mediocre in terms of impact. At least now the rather shabby looking exteriors of some of the fleet will get a fresh coat of paint. Geoff

The Agong and several government ministers have been in town over the last week Geoff

Pieter 9M-MTM? Not seen this reported before. Should it be 9M-STM? Geoff

This is the fifth crash this year involving training school aircraft! 2 x HM Aerospace, 1 x IT&S, 1 x APFTC and now 1 x KLIFA. Not sure what story the statistic would tell but on the face of it it doesn't look a very good record. Geoff

Nine AW139s For Weststar Aviation Services 03/09/2010 AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to confirm a previously unannounced order by Weststar Aviation Services of Malaysia for nine AW139 medium twin engine helicopters. The helicopters will be used to perform offshore transport missions supporting oil & gas industry operations in Malaysia. All nine aircraft will be delivered by March 2011. Dedicated pilot and technician training services and a comprehensive support package will be provided by AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Emilio Dalmasso, Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit, AgustaWestland said “It gives us great pleasure to have signed this contract with Weststar Aviation Services, one of the leading Malaysian helicopter operators, marking the entrance of the AW139 in the South East Asia offshore helicopter market. We are sure the AW139 with its outstanding performance, comfort and safety will prove to be extremely successful in the overall offshore market in the region.” The AW139 has achieved great success in Malaysia in recent years with orders placed by local operators for corporate, fire fighting, EMS/SAR and coast patrol missions. State-of-the-art technology, outstanding performance, low operating costs and the only helicopter in its class to meet the latest safety standards, have made the AW139 the helicopter of choice in the medium twin market. With its power reserve, the AW139 delivers Category A (Class 1) performance from a helipad (elevated or at ground level) at maximum take-off weight with an unmatched one engine inoperative capability. The standard configuration provides seating for twelve or fifteen passengers in a large and bright 8.0 m3 cabin with excellent ease of access and egress via large sliding cabin doors. Excellent payload and performance ensure unmatched productivity for offshore operations. Energy-absorbing landing gear, fuselage and seats as well as high main and tail rotor ground clearance provide added safety for the passengers and maintenance teams whilst on the ground. Over 120 customers from almost 50 countries have ordered more than 480 helicopters to perform a wide range of roles including offshore transport, EMS/SAR, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement, utility and government missions. AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AgustaWestland, continues to play a major role in the Malaysian helicopter market expanding its presence and increasing its capabilities through a continued programme of investment. Located at Kuala Lumpur's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, AgustaWestland Malaysia’s regional maintenance and support centre is a Malaysian DCA approved maintenance and repair organization. AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd is providing local support and training for the growing fleet of AgustaWestland customers in the region. Formed in 2003, Weststar Aviation Services Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Weststar Group, is a leading aviation company providing helicopter and jet charter services as well as offshore helicopter transport services. http://www.agustawestland.com/news/nine-aw139s-weststar-aviation-services

The old saying LCC = Low Cost Carrier not Low Price Carrier. It is my experience it is always worth paying a small premium to fly MH or SQ. Look on it as insurance for when things go wrong. I missed an SQ flight last year with just the cheapest non-rufundable no changes economy ticket. Went up to desk and they just put me on the next flight - no fuss and nothing to pay. Compare this with the response you'd get from an LCC! Geoff

"According to the records, two Malaysian aircraft were reported to have crashed in Aceh, one a Twin Otter in 1989 and the other a Skyvan in 1993." .................... 9M-PID a Skyvan operated by Pan Malaysian Air Services crashed on 31-01-1993 with the loss of all 14 onboard but does anyone have details of which Malaysian Twin Otter crashed in Aceh in 1989? Geoff

MIR Many thanks for posting the museum and UPM photos. When I visited the Army Museum last November the Tebuan was still in the car park and the second Alouette covered in bubble wrap. Geoff

B787 due to arrive at Farnborough on Sunday at 9.00am. Due out on Tuesday afternoon I think so only going to be at the show for the first two days. Geoff

Looks like construction number 5620 on the tail fin in the photos. This would make is 9M-PHG. Geoff

Thanks for the great shots. This one being the first Nuri built certainly qualifies as an old one - delivered in 1967 - 43 years old! Geoff

The fifth light aircraft accident in as many months and four of the five seem to have been due to mechanical problems with the aircraft. Anyway, congratulations to the pilot on making a safe forced landing - as they say any landing you can walk away from is a good one. Geoff

Unless MH economy has miraculously improved in the last few months I'm afraid I have no faith in any of the Skytrax awards. Not sure what they judge on but MH IFE is rubbish, old aircraft with tired interiors and the catering is poor, so I would be surprised for MH to make the top ten! Geoff

“To say we are putting passengers at risk and flying below the radar is completely incorrect. The landing was smooth and we are transparent and that is why we are sharing all the flight data. We will fully cooperate with the ATSB,'' Azran said. The ATSB obviously believes the aircraft did go lower than it should have therefore by definition passengers were being put at risk, however small that risk may have been. "The landing was smooth...." very good but totally irrelevent to the incidents and investigation. It's rather sad that Azran is trying to play down these "serious" incidents before the investigation is completed. I look forward to reading the ATSB report. Geoff

"..... lost visibility while searching for the airport." - What some journalists write Reading the ATSB web page which states a similar incident happened the day before I was wondering if it could have been the same aircraft on both days. Also I wonder just how close to disaster these event were. Awaiting report. Geoff

I think in short the article is saying " if Malaysia runs a fighter competition and if Sukhoi win the competition they might make some parts in Malaysia to meet the offset requirements of the contract" Geoff

I was booked on MH3 today but have rebooked on Saturdays MH1, but even that is looking unlikely to happen. The MH website flight status page was still reporting todays LHR flights as on time this afternoon. 5 star airline? Geoff

I don't think they will be flying much longer and I doubt creditors will ever see much money back if the company is wound up. See topic "How much longer will Transmile be in business" http://www.malaysianwings.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=14107&st=0&p=251378entry251378 Geoff

The PDRM Air Wing have acquired several Cessna 172s including 9M-PSR, 9M-PSS, 9M-PST and 9M-PSU. They have been reported at Sungai Besi and Ipoh. You can see three parked at Ipoh in this picture Anyone know how many they have now? Geoff

Mir I saw this picture on Airliners some time ago and it poses a couple of questions. Firstly the TUDM serial it shows is M43-10 which has always been a single seater. Only two twin seaters were delivered M43-01 and M43-02. Secondly the size and the location of TUDM and M43-10 does not match that of any TUDM Mig-29 picture I have seen, old or new. TUDM and the serial have always been painted slightly smaller and slightly lower down on the tail. The photo has ben deemed a fake by some people but I am not sure. Assuming it is an untouched photo I would be very interested to hear the story behind this aircraft's markings. Geoff PS Great shots of the Mig-29s guys