Naim

"The two nosewheel tyres were not damaged, but one of the 16 main tyres of the Boeing 747 had decapped during take-off ..." What's a decapped tyre? .ny +++ The Times of India Online Emergency landing for AI flight [ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33:05 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ] MUMBAI: An Air India Boeing 747-400, which took off from Delhi airport for Frankfurt early on Monday morning, had to be diverted to Mumbai for an emergency landing after parts of the aircraft's tyre came apart during take-off. The 12-year-old leased aircraft, piloted by Capt D P Bhatt, landed at Mumbai airport-where fire engines and ambulances were lined up to meet the emergency-at 1.30 pm. All 257 passengers on board were said to be safe. It was the second incident of its kind in the last 48 hours-an Air Deccan ATR 72 aircraft had suffered a tyre burst while landing at Bangalore on Saturday. "The two nosewheel tyres were not damaged, but one of the 16 main tyres of the Boeing 747 had decapped during take-off," said a source. The part that flew off from the damaged tyre hit the honey-comb panel on the aircraft's fuselage behind the landing gear, damaging it partially. The tyre was retreaded. "The damage was not of a serious nature. It did not jeopardise the safety of the aircraft," the source said. Sources added the AI aircraft grounded on Monday was involved in a similar tyre-burst incident at Los Angeles airport last December. Following the incident, a substitute aircraft was requisitioned. However, the flight remained stranded at Mumbai for hours due to night curfew at Frankfurt and crew duty time limitations. The flight was rescheduled for a 2 am take-off on Tuesday, an AI spokesperson said.The damaged aircraft should be back in the fleet in two days. Sources said the repairs would take two days due to non-availability of spares. "Before take-off, the aircraft maintenance engineer and the pilot perform a walk-around inspection of the plane, specially inspecting the landing gear. "They missed this tyre," said an aircraft engineer adding that the part of the tyre touching the ground cannot be inspected. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1448427.cms

Thanks, mate. Am off to Pulau Kapas in a couple of hours for 3 days of snorkeling and other fun, returning to same spot lah (there's a Nemo colony just a couple of hundred metres from the chalets, but no underwater cam): http://ny6.blogspot.com/2005_08_27_ny6_archive.html :-) .ny

Yes, I could not agree more. I last used Incheon in May '05. Here's my brief story on it: http://ny6.blogspot.com/2005_06_23_ny6_archive.html .ny +++ Travelers call Incheon best airport By Don Phillips International Herald Tribune TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2006 Incheon International Airport in South Korea was named the best airport in the world in a worldwide passenger survey released Tuesday by the Airports Council International. Asian airports dominated the survey, which is conducted annually by the organization that is composed of almost all the world's airports, although Canada made a strong showing, with Halifax taking one of the top awards. Second place in the world went jointly to Singapore and Hong Kong, while third place went to Kuala Lumpur. The prizes were awarded at the Geneva-based organization's annual meeting, held this year in Abu Dhabi. Incheon dominated the survey, taking two of the three top worldwide categories, "Best Airport 2005 Worldwide" and "Most Improved Airport 2005," with Vancouver and Singapore taking second and third place in the most improved category. Halifax, in Nova Scotia, won the third top category, "Best Domestic Airport 2005." Only one U.S. airport made the lists, with Denver placing third in the Americas section of the "best airport by region" and third among airports with more than 25 million passengers per year. The survey was based on more than 100,000 detailed passenger surveys at the 66 major airports that entered the annual contest this year. Judging was based on 11 categories of service quality, like courtesy, cleanliness, clear signage, parking, ground transportation and service offerings like dining, shopping and computer services. The organization said passengers placed the greatest value on "pleasant ambience and high-quality service." The best airports by region were Halifax, Ottawa and Denver in the Americas; Incheon, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur in Asia and the Pacific; Brussels and Copenhagen, followed by Zurich and Helsinki in Europe; and Dubai, Cape Town and Durban in the Middle East and Africa. The best airports in categories organized by traffic volume were Halifax, Ottawa and Malta for airports with an annual passenger count of up to 5 million; Nagoya, Christchurch and Helsinki for airports handling 5 million to 15 million passengers; Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Brussels and Copenhagen for airports handling 15 to 25 million; and Incheon, Singapore, Hong Kong and Denver for airports handling 25 million or more. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/07/business/incheon.php

Their website today says: Ryanair Fleet Boeing 737-800 Number: 82 Capacity: 189 Boeing 737-200 Number: 9 Capacity: 130 Boeing 737-800 143 firm orders 193 aircraft options .ny

Funny, replying to posting by KK Lee, but above it says 'iceman'. Same person kah? Anyway, yes, plane is to take person from A to B, and frankly meals are bothersome and tedious to me. Would rather take a nap, read, or enjoy the IFE (esp the AirShow channel). I can survive AK flights so far without meals, and I only need water, which I can easily smuggle on-board (I wonder what happens if they catch me gobbling my KFC somewhere above the South China Sea?). But in a medium to long-haul flight I still need something I like eating even in economy. Which brings me to the MH advert on Astro boasting 37 menus for biz class! When are they going to look after the hoi polloi at the back of the plane - ppl like me? .ny

Of course lah, you travel biz class. In the 90s I traveled lotsa biz class (and the occasional 1st) all over the place, and MH was my choice too (at that time I was with a big GLC). But the bulk of travelers use economy. I use economy ever since I started running my own business when I just wanna get from point A to point B at the least cost. So the biz class argument is not relevant to me, and prolly to most travelers. And I found the food on my last MH economy flight (KUL-MAN-KUL, late '05) bland and unappetizing - terpaksa telan sebab lapar! I find SQ economy food more wholesome, which I used for all my trips to the US last year. I hope MH economy feeds me better when I do KUL-DXB-KUL next month. .ny

Is this your personal survey or engaged professionally by another party? Thanks. .ny

I notice when entering a plane, right at the door, if I look up, just above my head I could see a small metalic plate riveted in, containing name of owner. Right? .ny

I tried RyanAir last year. Internet booking was a breeze, prices great, and I flew MAN-DUB-MAN with no problems, except that they used this old crate, B-732, for the sector. Shabby interior, notices in German. Had not been in a 732 for a long time (I vaguely remember traveling in a Braathen Safe 732 way back in mid-90s), so it was good experience. .ny +++ Bernama March 08, 2006 12:16 PM Boeing Delivers 100th Next-generation 737 To Ryanair KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) -- The Boeing Company and Ryanair, yesterday celebrated the delivery of the airline's 100th Boeing Next-Generation 737, nearly seven years after receiving its first 737-800. Ryanair is Europe's largest and most profitable low-cost carrier. "The 737's unparalleled reliability and low operating economics have been instrumental in our ability to get passengers to their destinations on time and at the lowest possible fare," said chief executive officer of Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, in a statement Wednesday. "We couldn't be more pleased with the airplane's performance and its effect on our bottom line," he said. Since taking delivery of its first 737-800 on March 19, 1999, Ryanair has become Boeing's largest European customer for the Next-Generation 737. It has ordered a total of 239 Next-Generation 737-800s, and today has 139 remaining to be delivered. The Dublin-based carrier currently operates its all-Boeing fleet on 301 routes into 22 countries. Ryanair previously operated Classic 737s, taking delivery of its first Classic 737 in January 1994. Ryanair's fleet of 100 737-800s comprises 18,900 seats. Its fleet has carried more than 130 million people. "This delivery milestone underscores the tremendous value customers like Ryanair find in the 737," Marlin Dailey, senior vice president of Sales for Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, meanwhile said. The 737-800 is the most popular member of the Next-Generation 737 family, having sold more than 1,650 airplanes. The newer 737s, which are 10 years younger than the competing A320 series, were designed to provide significantly more range and payload capability and lower operating costs than earlier 737 models and competing models. For more information about the 737, visit http://www.boeing.com/commercial/737family/index.html. -- BERNAMA

Interesting. Under what circumstances would the owner's certificate be inspected? .ny

Two stories in The Star today. MAS keen on sale of aircraft By B.K. SIDHU PETALING JAYA: About 30 aircraft are expected to be put up for sale if Malaysia Airlines (MAS) can persuade its parent Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd (PMB) to dispose of the planes to raise cash that it needs to fund its operations. http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...95&sec=business We want to see both MAS and AirAsia succeed COMMENT BY WONG CHUN WAI DATUK Tony Fernandes and Idris Jala are the two most watched persons in Malaysian aviation. Fernandes is regarded by the public as the one who has made flying affordable to all and is somewhat of a folk hero. http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...4133&sec=nation

Ach so! Danke schön. Btw, do they store fuel inside the stabilisers too? Also thanks for the diagrams - now my window seat above the wings will never be the same. .ny

Gorgeous machine, Denny, but I wonder what's the thing on the horizontal stabiliser? See red arrow below: .ny

After gorging yourself with delicious airline chow, you hit bad turbulence, and what do you do? You reach for your barf-bag! http://www.sicksack.com/ .ny

Surprise surprise ! FRA is not in the list. 3 out of 4 cities are SkyTeam hub. Even more surprising, earlier in the report FCO is listed as being under review. Idris's mistake or misreporting? .ny

Yeah, the 744 upper deck is super! When I was a keparat corporate guy in the 90s, the upper deck was like a second home, but now that I run my own business where I'm very mindful of costs, cattle class is the way to go. I last caught a DC-10 in '04, on NWA for SIN-NRT flight (now they are using A330). Another similar plane I fondly remember of, is the Lockheed Tristar L-1011. Rode it twice - one JED-MED on SV (1988) and another one for KUL-HKG on CX (can't recall which year). DC-10, L-1011, B-767, all classics! .ny

It's a comfy plane to ride in as well. Btw I don't like the A330 - shakes a lot esp when weather is bad. Surprisingly A340 is much smoother - is it because of the 4 engines? But I still think the smoothest plane to ride in is the good old DC-10-30. .ny

They use a lot of 767s for the coast-to-coast flights in the States. One memorable 767 ride I had was TWA from JFK-ARN. .ny

Fly economy domestic India and you will most likely get 2 choices: chicken/lamb briyani or veg. If you are a carnivore, the briyani is heaven! .ny

I'll miss the 767. Been in it many times in the US and trans-Atlantic. .ny +++ Published: Friday, March 3, 2006 End looks near for Boeing 767 The company says hopes for a tanker contract with the Air Force look bleak, and it could decide whether to end the line this year. By Bryan Corliss Herald Writer EVERETT - The Boeing Co. says the odds are getting longer of winning a U.S. Air Force tanker contract before the company runs out of 767s to build. The prospects for the current program have diminished, the company said in an annual report filed with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. In the report, Boeing said it's "reasonably possible" that it will make a decision on ending 767 production this year. Tanker timeline December 2001 - Congress approves a plan to lease 100 KC-767s for the Air Force. November 2003 - Congress amends the deal to lease 20 and buy 80. Nov. 24, 2003 - President Bush signs the deal; Boeing fires chief financial officer Mike Sears and former Pentagon official Darleen Druyun for improprieties during negotiations. Dec. 1, 2003 - Boeing chief executive Phil Condit quits. May 2004 - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld puts the tanker deal on hold. September 2005 - A competing tanker concept is offered by EADS and Northrop Grumman. January 2006 - A study calls for a new contract competition. February 2006 - Boeing warns that time is running out for the 767 line. In the report, Boeing said it's "reasonably possible" that it will make a decision on ending 767 production this year. "It really depends on what it has always depended on," corporate spokesman Todd Blecher said. "As long as customers want them, we'll build them." The warning to investors was prudent, Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia said. "Many companies have taken a hit believing Air Force tanker plans to be firmer than they are." Sales of 767s have dwindled as Boeing works to get its replacement, the 787, off the ground. Executives warned last year that they were near the point of shutting down the Everett assembly line where the planes are built. The key to the future is an order from the U.S. Air Force for military versions of the plane. In 2002, Boeing and the Pentagon negotiated terms on 100 KC-767 aerial refueling tankers, but that deal collapsed amid a procurement scandal that sent two company executives to jail and forced former chief executive Phil Condit to resign. The program seemed ready to fold, but orders from airlines rebounded in 2005. Boeing entered the year with a backlog of 30 767s on the books , enough at recent rates to keep production going until late 2008. On Wednesday, Boeing added to that, announcing that it had taken a firm order for one 767 from an unidentified customer. But Tuesday's SEC filing shows the 767 is still living on borrowed time. "We are continuing to pursue market opportunities for additional 767 sales," Boeing said. Even so, a decision to end production "is still reasonably possible." Aboulafia said there are a couple of factors working against the 767 tanker. As Boeing notes in the regulatory filing, the military has a big shopping list but a limited checkbook. That likely puts the Air Force tankers in competition with C-17 cargo jets - also built by Boeing, in California. The C-17 program also is nearing its end, but it has strong support in Congress, which is likely to provide money for more, Aboulafia said. At the same time, the Air Force is hinting that it would like a bigger jet than the 767, such as Boeing's 777 or Airbus' A330 or A340, for a combined tanker-transport role, Aboulafia said. If that's the case, he said, Boeing's best bet is to lobby the Air Force to order tankers based on the 777 freighter. Finally, Aboulafia said, the 777 tanker is a newer and better plane than the 767. Given all that, "there are many good reasons to give up the ghost, or prepare to give up the ghost" on 767 tankers, he said. Boeing has not set a deadline for making the decision, said Bill Barksdale, a spokesman with the company's military and defense division, in St. Louis. "We're not going to go to them and give them a timeline," he said. "When the Air Force comes down with its requirement, whatever it's for ... we're going to look at the family of platforms we've got ... and we're going to make a business case decision on what we're going to offer." http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/03/03/...a1boeing001.cfm

After the little excitement we had about airline logos, what about the chows they feed us on-board? http://www.airlinemeals.net/ Frankly I'm not too crazy about MH economy cuisine. Prolly they spent everything on the first and biz feasts (see the adverts on Astro, for e.g.). And what about AK's grubs? http://www.airlinemeals.net/meals/AirAsia.html Never tried them. .ny

What a bewdy! Did a quick search and found more recent pics of this Constellation: http://tally.smugmug.com/keyword/vliegende http://tally.smugmug.com/keyword/vooraanzicht .ny

Here we go! .ny +++ March 03, 2006 22:31 PM MAS To Implement First Phase Of Route Rationalisation KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will implement the first phase of its route rationalisation programme from March 26. In a statement Friday, the national carrier said the first phase will involve rationalisation of the following existing frequencies: * Twice weekly London-Langkawi-Kuala Lumpur B747 one way flights; * Twice weekly London-Penang-Kuala Lumpur B747 one way flights; * Twice weekly Sydney-Kuching-Kuala Lumpur B777 one way flights; and * Twice weekly Kuala Lumpur-Kuching-Perth A330 return flights. From March 26, these long haul flights will be realigned to operate direct between the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the cities of London, Sydney and Perth. In addition, the current thrice-weekly Kuching-Kuala Lumpur-Frankfurt B777 return flights will be operated Kuala Lumpur-Frankfurt return from the same date. MAS will use its existing Malaysian domestic services between KLIA and Langkawi, Penang and Kuching to provide immediate connections for the realigned long haul international flights. This rationalisation is part of the national airline's business turnaround plan to refocus from a largely point-to-point carrier to a world-class connecting carrier with a major hub in KLIA. Given the existing market realities, MAS said its flight operations will gradually shift from point-to-point network to a "hub and spoke" network, thus increasing its competitiveness to connect as many core markets as possible in Malaysia and internationally. The airline released its business turnaround plan on Feb 27 this year which is aimed at achieving sustained profitability by going beyond expectations in five thrusts -- flying to win customers, mastering operational excellence, financing and aligning the business on profit and loss, unleashing talents and capabilities, and winning coalitions. MAS currently operates the following weekly international frequencies -- Kuala Lumpur-London with 18 flights; Kuala Lumpur-Perth with 9 flights; Kuala Lumpur-Frankfurt with 7 flights; and Kuala Lumpur-Sydney with 14 flights. -- BERNAMA

Wanna listen to an airman's podcast? Try this site: http://flywithme.podshow.com/ .ny

Yup, a Russian guy who lost his wife and kids in the collision stabbed the hapless ATC chap. He was arrested soon after and last Oct was sentenced to 8 yrs imprisonment. .ny