Nik H.
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Posts posted by Nik H.
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Nik, Tierra del Fuego bila?
That will be for the Hi End " Flight of Dreams ". Ushuaia, Iguazu, Copacabana, Machu Picchu, Grand Canyon, The Pyramids, Xian for the Terra Cotta and two more surprise Destinations.
The B744 wil be limited to just 280 pax to ensure unoccupied seat next to every passenger.
Prices start at USD21,000. Exclusivity and Service unmatched.
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Capt. Nik, the 2 hajj seasons were last year's and this year, isn't it? There will be a new tender by Tabung Haji for hajj season 2011.
Will the cabin reconfiguration be permanent? How will it effects the normal operation when the aircraft has to be used then since it will have no Business Class cabin? Or this aircraft will be solely used for MAS Charter operation? I'd assume the one which will be reconfigured is Johor Bahru, the ghost ship.
The contract is for this and next year's Hajj season. 2012 will be another chapter.
The aircraft will be reconfigured permanently and there are no plans to revert to original config.
The aircraft will be used by MasCharters exclusively, and we will be introducing tactical forays into LCC destinations as the capacity bump allows a lower cost base. Aerobridge, full service, IFE, no hidden costs and at a price 20-25% more than the LCCs. In my opinion, this is a real move towards the "5 Star Value Carrier" dream.
Also watch out for lower cost Umrah packages coming your way soon.
Then there will also be more 'lower cost' charter packages to exotic destinations.
We are also planning for an Aviation Themed Charter to AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 where the aircraft will be parked at Wittman Field for 5 days. Prices start at USD2,350 per pax. Out and In dates will be announced soon.
We expect Japanese, Australians, South Africans, Singaporeans and Malaysians to make up the numbers.
Anyone from MWings for this pilgrimage on this once in a lifetime do.......?
" God Help me from my friends, for I know what to expect from my enemies "
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Ok, if getting rid of the co-pilot is such a big no no now, how about having one less FA and having either the pilot or his side-kick helping out in the cabin during non critical phases of the journey (if ever there is a non critical phase to start with !)
Cost savings probably not as much as desired, but could be an acceptable stop gap measure until such time the technologists and regulators deem pilotless commercial planes a feasible option. By which time, Mr O'Leary's single pilot suggestion of today will seem so much safer by comparison
Good idea BC. But we will need to put looks and physique into the selection criteria when we choose Pilots next time. Of course the Flight Duty Procedures needs to be laid out to ensure that making coffee is just slightly less urgent than monitoring fuel imbalance. Meal service gets priority over engine fire warning. We obviously cannot keep passengers waiting for their dessert because the co-pilot is busy monitoring Alternate weather in anticipation of a Cat 3B Landing.
I once read that flying airliners is long span of boredom suddenly interrupted by moments of sheer terror. Not too bad if the moments of sheer terror comes at anticipated intervals.
On a lighter note, O'Leary would have been more realistic if he retains the Captain but replaces the Co Pilot with a DOG.
The Captain's job is to feed the dog. The dog is there to ensure the Captain does not touch the controls. After all the Pilots' job is so simple as the planes flies itself.......
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Heard that MAS is utilizing 2 B744s and a single B772ER for this year's Haj flight.Perhaps Capt Nik could explain about this news?
The Hajj Contract was awarded to MH after a hard fought series of negotiations with Tabung Haji following a Tender Exercise. While there was a lower offer from an obvious competitor, TH wisely and thankfully chose MasCharter as the Air Transport provider.
I'd like to think that our Track Record and Quality of Service Delivery was one of the main reason why we were chosen.
The award is for two Hajj seasons.
The plan is for two Jumbos and significant capacity blocked on the B777 scheduled flights to carry the Pilgrims, including third country Pilgrims.
What can be of interest here is that one of the B744 will be reconfigured to Twin Class Layout, retaining the 12 First Class seats with the remainder as economy. Total capacity will be 454 seats. The two Jumbos dedicated to the route will be 9M-MPQ and MPK.
This year TGG will get 10 flights, with the rest operated from BKI, KCH, JHB, PEN and KUL.
Schedules are being finalised and awaiting final approval from GACA, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The first flight departs KLIA 9th October 2010 at 1100LT. The Hajj movement ends before XMas 2010.
Cheers.
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For all you know, FAA/Boeing/Airbus are already working on pilotless commercial planes, so O'Leary is not far off.
See; http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-06/faa-launches-exploration-unmanned-commercial-flight
I'd like to see those who approve this plan put their beloved families on board the first commercial pilotless flight. The FAA has a fleet of planes. It should be the first to use such system. After that, install it on Air Force 1.
Planes are definitely easier to fly now compared to the Pilot-Copilot- Flight Engineer - Navigator - Radio Operator 5 man crew teams of days gone by.
BUT, to advocate one pilot operations on large planes would indicate that despite his brilliance in revolutionizing air travel, there is a portion of his brain that is surely less than smart. Incredibly, most assume that the co-pilot is a 'spare' pilot. Not so. He plays a very important role in all phases of flight. To suggest the co-pilot is there just to land the plane if the Captain is incapacitated is beyond stupid.
Maybe he's forgotten that the assigned stewardess will be given Sim and Base checks to keep their license current, and ensure proficiency at a certain cost. Perhaps he can put a spare sidestick and throttle quadrant in Galley 1 as well.
Actually the occurrences of Pilot incapacitation is rare although it has happened. What he could have said was " Planes should be operated by one pilot".
What a brilliantly stupid man.
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Back to FY, i strongly agree if they move their operation to KLIA or LCCT...
Its time to liberalize our domestic market and give more options to consumers
IMHO FY is such a failure in bringing itself as 'community airline'...
When i heard community, i was thought they will serve small city like KUA-PEN, TGG-JHB, MKZ-LGK..
Yes, they did this during initial stage, but axe it even before the inaugural flights.
FY seems to enjoy doing lucrative routes, so give them B737 and start the war!!
FY have option to keep their ATR operation out of SZB by maintaining the current routes, to cater people who hate travel to KLIA..
But i doubt the needs of two airports serving KL which only have 7million people...
FY needs to put its footprint at KLIA if not the LCCT ( Low Cost Carrier Terminal) will turn into LCTT ( Low Cost Tony Terminal ).
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Wannabes judging the real deal.
Sometimes better to keep mouth shut and be thought as ignorant then to open it and confirm the fact.
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I wish this website makes it mandatory for members to post a clear current picture of their face. Would be great to see what sort of mind resides behind what sort of face....
And most won't be so brave with their words....
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Interesting. Its a 12,000 ft runway. If lightning struck in the middle, there's still 6,000ft either side. And the ATR probably needs about 5000ft only.
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The good Dato' had a frightening experience 29 years ago during flight training. His Piper Tomahawk had aileron control failure and the aircraft crashed into a forested area but thankfully he survived without a scratch.
Viva Dean......
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SQ got the F1 Cargo contract.
MH8466 is a B777 Charter flight and is carrying 6 teams in from Mel for the F1. Landed on time........
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do not speculate. it isnt right for someone to say something like that until the findings are out. Professionalism is a must in handling such issues as speculation would only fan unnecessary fire.
Very true Sanjay. Well put.
But; HM Aerospace seems to have more than a few incidents since they were formed. Whatever the reasons, mechanical or otherwise, there will be a certain element of Hufac involved....
I was in a flying school in the Philippines 30 years ago, and we had 15 C152, 15 Tomahawk, 4 Senecas, one Baron and a King Air 90. There were two crashes, one due to an exuberant cadet who went wheelwashing and accidently landed in the water, rescued unhurt by a fisherman. Another was due to wake turbulance from an F14 which caused structural failure, killing the instructor and the cadet.
Airplanes were flying plenty of hours daily.
Statistically speaking, whatever reasons notwithstanding, HM Aerospace safety record seems to be less than desirable.
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The pilot only has three flying hours.
Statement can be understood wrongly. The other probably has at least hundreds. So no issue.
On another note, if its some sort of Prop failure ( incredible as it may seem, given that its a fixed pitch one, ) I cannot imagine the vibration on board when the failure happened.
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Chances 9M MPK will be the rego of the B744 we will use for the MasCharter Charity event on the 1st of May.........
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If i m not mistaken a pilot died at the hotel.Doc said that he died of high blood pressure but some speculated that a ghost slapped him because of the ears,eyes and nose were bleeding and so did a hand print on his right face (ok i was kidding about the hand print).What a crock of crap. The Pilot who passed away in Taipei died of a blood clot in the brain. He was a batchmate of mine during ab initio flying days way back in Manila. Nothing sensational about his death, just plain tragic. The Crew found out during checkout when he did not turn up at the lobby.
His wife works as a part time Haj crew in the Charter Department.
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Years ago, in the early 80s, I had a Stewardess come to me when we were nightstopping at Kuching. That time I was on the F27, and we stayed in Aurora Hotel, which looks more like a hospital. Being an old building, it had a colorful history ( rumours had it that the Japanese used it as an HQ for its Kempitai ).
The Stewardess asked me if I knew about the ghost stories at Aurora and I said yes, but we need not worry as Hantu tak kacau Hantu......
" I takut, bilik I ada hantu...." say Stewardess to Co-Pilot
" Ya la..sini banyak hantu especially on your floor " Co Pilot to Stewardess
" I can teman you.........." Co Pilot added....
" I lagi takut......." say Stewardess.....
Aaaaah yes, the Ghost Stories at Nightstop Hotels...always a line of choice by the underwhelmingly uncharming lower class players....
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I am not so sure about 9M-MPK but there were stories about the Haj charter flights . Mostly around the 1980s .MH charted 3 DC10's from World Airways for the Haj season.One of it was named Blue thunder or somethin. All 3 Dc10's that were charted from World Airways, galley is below main deck (cargo section).Story goes somethin like this. MH crew will not go alone. they will go by 4's caus it is believed that the crew will encounter a friendly ghost(and only 4 people only can go in if not cannot work u know la the space but some were brave bersendirian .k back to the storry). A African American Stewardess (friendly ghost) frm World Airways.What will happen is, she will be holding her head on her left arm and wants to assist the crew while working or when she just wants to talk.She died in a very tragic and painful way though. While sending the food cart up the main deck , it was either she left her keys or went to push in somethin the cart lift started moving. What happens next is the crew on the main deck received her head and her right arm on a silver patter on the cart.According to some crew as i said before she is friendly not so hostile like what we think of but i could be wrong...........hehehehehe. This is one of the stories from MH crews......
This is the story that i got. kalau salah mane mane pls update la
Kind regards,
Haansel
Not so sensational.....but there as an injury to a crew, not quite fatal as many would like to believe, that was caused by inadvertent movement of the food lift.
The WoA Charters were in the early 90s, and the Blue Thunder was actually a DC10 aircraft that was painted MH colors but was such shoddy job that the paint peeled off and revealed the blue base coat by the time the aircraft flew a few sectors. The Haj then was not as well organised as it is now, and eventually caused MH to lose it to Transmile and later AK. Until 2003 when the harter Dept won it back.
Despite the alleged supernatural incidents o the MPK, it remains a very reliable and safe aircraft to fly in.
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9M-MPK is the dedicated Hajj aircraft.
The Charter crew always fly the aircraft empty during the Hajj season on the ferry (fairy
) legs. The stories....he he he.....let's just say its a 'be there' thing...... -
Spoke to a friend who is in the hospitality business. According to him;
LIMA organizer returned about 40% of pre-book rooms to hotels the night before the show start. December is a peak season in Langkawi, these returned room is a lost revenue to hoteliers. Some hoteliers wish LIMA not held in peak season and room rate in LIMA 2011 will be likely higher. Hoteliers also complain that LIMA evening events were not held in various hotels like previously.
If these hoteliers voice is to be heard, guess a change of LIMA organizer is expected.
This LIMA should be the last one. Put the money elsewhere.
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Excellent coverage sofar, guys: a lot better than 2 years ago !!!
Captain Nik,
Never knew a Smart-Brabus could reach up to 170 kph...
Hope to see more shots, guys - please, share (incl. the B52)...
Original speed limited to 160km/h. I got it tweaked and remapped, removed the limiter, and it tops out 182kmh
GPS ( off scale on the speedo ) and reaches 175km/h fairly easily. From a three potter 698cc motor. Not Bad eh.Back to topic; This LIMA should be the last. The only aircraft I really like was the Piaggio Avanti ( I have two of their products in my Garage, a 500cc three wheeled scooter, and another ( world's fastest scooter) 800cc. I was hoping the Firebomber would do a flying display but NO. If I recall, the Flying display program was as follows;
1. Migs 29 - Ok only,lots of noise, plenty of Gs pulled, but nothing great
2. Solo PC9 - Poor guy, no one paid much attention
3. Solo Macchi - Poor guy too, pulled a lot of Gs in vain
4. F111 - Nice, nice, flaming tail, variable sweep wings
5. F16 / Longbow Combo - OK, but I thought the Longbow demo was too tame. Definitely have seen better from the legendary Dollah Nasution on an Alloutte.
6. MIG29 - Never fails to impress , no Cobra though.....so no medal to the pilot
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Capt Nik, nice coverage of the exibition area.
It looks like not many people during trade days.
Yes chaity, the halls were empty, not much crowd. In fact, the money for LIMA can be btter used channeled into other Aviation Events, such as organising an Oshkosh East Flying Festival or the like; grassroots aviation feeds aviation interest bette that the LIMA Flg Waving exercise.
Many booths were empty. In fact the exhibition was diluted by having booths that sells Canon Cameras and even prepaid by Celcom and TM.
I think just RM 6Million for a 4 day Pleasure flying event will be attended by at least 100 light aircraft from Ultralights, Microlights, homebuilts etc etc. Much Much better than LIMA, and will probably translate to a more meriah event. SIGH.......
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My LIMA09 went like this;
Jumped into my little 700cc car this morning and blasted my way to KLIA;
Arrived just 20 minutes before departure and hopped into the jumpseat of the B734
After a short 44 minutes in the air, found myself on finals RWY03 LGK
Had the MH staff car ferry me to the Exhibition site
Inside
Went to MH Booth to say hello to the two lovely ladies manning the Booth.
Then went outside to check out the planes on the apron.
I thought the MH Pax Steps attached to the Sukhoi was hilarious....
With a point and shoot, taking shots of the flying display as best left to members of MWings with DSLRs. Only three displays caught my eye. The Sukhoi of RMAF never fails to impress.
The RSAF F16/Longbow combo had novelty value
The F111 as spectacular.
After that I had to earn my keep and joined dato Nawawi, MH External relations SGM at the booth. The DPM dropped by.
By 5pm I made my way back to the terminal to hop into the A330 cockpit fora ride home.
Not a bad day. Left thehouse at a quarter past 7, home a quarter to 7. Saw an airshow, met a couple of VIPs, including MW Ibrahim and MW Norman ( photos please ).
Not much of an airshow though. Seems like the apron was filled with Malaysian Registered aircraft from the Air Force, Police, Bomba and Navy. Perhaps we should stop spending money on shows that competes with Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. I'd prefer the money be spent on grassroots recreational aviation invitation event. A fraction of what's granted to Lima will finance such shows for many years to come.
For me, I guess the hilite of the day was meeting an old friend and getting him to get into the spirit of ONE MALAYSIA.
See Below.
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Our best wishes to Captain Nik then !
Just read this from Bernama
Thanks BC.
Apart from the first year we took over in 2003, the Team found this year to be the most challenging, with permissions, slots and schedules changing right up to the last minute. We eventually drew up 5 (!) different schedules based on the everchanging numbers as allowed by our esteemed Saudi Authorities.
Eventually, for phase One, we managed to operate with no significant delay, the only snag being a jammed cargo door affecting two flights the delay of which were insignificant, and another delay out of KCH due to late completion of refuelling. I was made to understand that flights operated by SV encountered significant delays due various reasons.
I have to record here that the MH Hajj and Charter personnel did very well and really went beyond expectations.
With regards to the press report, 4 flights a day is the norm, the only issue being the slot times for the MH two flights are not quite what we have applied fo.
We are now bracing ourselves with the start of Phase 2, which will begin 3rd December. Delays are expected due to apron congestion in Jeddah especially in the first week. We have prepared for the worst, but optimistically hoping for the best.
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There must be more to it than just 'forgetting' the lowering of the landing gear. 700 feet is still 90 seconds from touchdown. The pilots would not have to be chastised for this, and the fact that the media got hold of this is indicative of other related issues not immediately apparent.
Light plane crash at Johor
in General Aviation
Posted · Report reply
The aircraft is a Liberty XL2. Apparently the post crash fire caused injuries that killed the female student pilot. The Instructor/Check Pilot suffered significant burns.
AlFatihah to the Lady Pilot.
And let's pray for the recovery of the Instructor.