KK Lee

Curfew and noise abatement at SZB? Tell that to residents live under the flight path of 0400 hour departure from SZB.

Before Sepang was gazetted, a second runway was planned for SZB where Tropicana is today. And plenty of land was available for SZB development.

This parallel runway 02R/20L (previously named 01/19 when opened in 2004) was built 1.8 kilometers (1.1 mi) to the east of 02C/20C, currently used only by Republic of Singapore Air Force aircraft as part of Changi Airbase (East). The new runway is expected to be extended and eventually be turned into a third runway for the airport in future expansion plans.

‘Administration Fees’? For? A gimmick to makes published price look cheap. Believe AK should offer actual price rather than gimmicked price.

After operating from KUL for 9 years, it is about time for the government to admit having KUL 70+ km away from the city is never a wise choice. The MoT should abandon the idea to make KUL a regional hub that never will, and it is about time to reopen SZB for schedule flights. SZB is always the preferred airport for its proximity to the cities even if the flight is turboprop.

What about? TPG/MEP TPG/IPH TPG/PEN TPG/SWY TPG/BWH TPG/SZB TPG/MKZ Good for tourists to visit north Perak.

AK KUL/VTE will save 4 to 5 hours lay over at BKK or PNH. However, as VTE is a small city, not sure the pax load will be sustainable. Tiger TR is serving VTE from Udon Thani (UTH), about 2 hours journey including border crossing. Believe it make more commercial sense for FD to operate BKK/VTE and BKK/LPQ.

To avoid curfew at CMB, MH189 is now operating in a very uncivilized hours. Believe many pax will choose SQ instead. Instead of KUL/MLE/CMB/KUL, MH could have operate KUL/CMB/MLE/KUL while maintaining similar schedule.

From influences demonstrated by AK recently, doubt MH can do anything but to absorb whatever is left cannibalised by FAX.

One can hear the difference between two engines noise but not aircraft type.

Believe for A350 XWB to be more popular, Airbus should offer a shorten version (220 pax in 3 class configuration).

Search and track is basically aircraft’s radar functions. There are many versions and options for the radar software e.g. sensitivity, basic counter-measure, power output, etc. The weapon system is the interface between weapons and aircraft. Data is uploaded for each weapon carried, the weapon system will then draw data from navigation system, radar, etc, compute and give ‘green light’ when the selected weapon is within operation parameters or envelop. Normally, weapon system software update/option comes with the hardware e.g. laser guided bomb, AIM-120, etc so that the aircraft can armed these weapons. Unless RMAF is permitted to purchase new weapons, it is ignorant to expect USAF to give RMAF the latest and full range of weapons data; especially, the current government’s foreign policy is inclining toward Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and Sudan. Malaysian armed forces is modelled after British, uniform don’t have control of finance. Hence, RMAF have to take whatever is given by the MinDef.

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Software source code and arming code is two different things. That’s no doubt RMAF F-18 can fire a variety of live weapons. Otherwise, they are only good for air display. USAF/USN F-18 is nuclear capable and we can’t expect US to permit RMAF F-18 can be nuclear armed. Neither RMAF Su-30 or Mig-29 can carry nuclear armed AoA missile, although Russian version can. Despite what the politician complained about restricted capability. F-18 is still the RMAF preferred fighter. Mig-29 and Su-30 was forced upon RMAF by the minister of defence.

It is common that; when telco purchase a system (eg GSM exchange) from company like Ericsson, Alcatel, Nokia or Siemen, not all the features in the system is available for use by the telco. To use ‘additional’ feature, telco will need to pay extra to turn on the feature. Likewise, don’t think we can blame Lockheed/Boeing but the negotiation team from MinDef and RMAF. Because, MinDef/RMAF agreed to the operation envelope.

Doubt either American or Russian will release their source code to any foreign buyer. What the oldman means is the operating parameter. Believe RMAF F-18 is programmed for anti-ship and air defence mission but ground attack function is limited. RMAF F-18 can carry general purpose bomb (unguided, dumb) but the weapon system software is not loaded for laser guided bomb (smart). As Malaysia is no longer in tier-2 allies of the USA; whether US will upload additional code to RMAF F-18 is depending who is the enemy that RMAF is fighting.

Don’t think ‘Stealth only applies when you go head on into the radar’ is accurate. During Iraq war, F-117 on ground attack sortie never goes straight on to ground or airborne radar, and yet remains undetected. USAF is not that stupid to deploy F-117 and F-22 with limited stealth capability. A radar with fast processor can trace air vortex left by aircraft. Believe this processor has yet to reduce in size and power consumption to fit in AWACS. So for fighter radar to detect air vortex is still some years to go.

No doubt about that, battle field is always unpredictable and unexpected.

During the Vietnam war, all aspect sidewinder and BVR missile was not available, dog fight was inevitable. However, technology has evolved. Older generation of radar ignore return signal that is slower than certain velocity. However, modern radar can be programmed to detect this manoeuvre. Knowing Su-30 is superior in dog fight, enemy fighter will try to launch stand off missiles if possible. If enemy fighter is stealth, by the time Su-30 detect AoA launch, Su-30 may not have enough time to out run the missile.

In this flat world, assets can be moved easily especially private jets. What’s wrong to own or operate foreign registered aircraft?

Agreed with you. In modern air warfare, aircraft is a platform for weapons delivery. With fire and forget, out of sight missiles, dog fight capability is no longer essential like in WW I and WW II.

Su-30 is like a Ferrari; exotic, good for showing off, expensive to maintain, keep in garage most of the time and impractical for every day use. Not sure how well Thales avionics, navigation, identification and optronics systems will integrated with the airframe, engine and weapon system. Normally, these system are developed together, so they can perform seamlessly and takes years to perfect. I bet my 2 cents, it will take years before these Su-30 can operate effectively.

During the Falkland war, the Argentinean AF was good at sinking British ships with their exocet Anti-Ship missiles. However, their air to air sorties performed poorly against RN Sea Harrier/Sidwinder 9L.

Bus service from HKG is the cheapest ground transportation to the city and often the most convenience.

Why do you think TF and gang place long haul service in FAX instead of AK proper? They make more money from IPO than operating the business!