Andrew Ong
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Posts posted by Andrew Ong
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MAS is making good progress right now
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From KCAL 9:
2 Alaska Airlines Jets Bump At LAX On Monday(AP) LOS ANGELES-- An Alaska Airlines jet bumped into another one Monday while pulling away from a gate at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said. No one was injured.
An Alaska Boeing 737 carrying 117 passengers to Washington, D.C., was pushing back from its gate when its left winglet made contact with another Alaska jet, said airline spokeswoman Amanda Tobin Bielawski.
The departing plane "was backing away from the gate at very slow speed," she said.
The winglet, a small vertical fin on the outer tip of a wing, was damaged. The second plane, a parked and empty Boeing 737, had damage to the horizontal stabilizer in its tail.
Passengers were taken off the Washington-bound plane and rebooked on other flights, she said.
Repairs to both planes will take one to two days, she said.
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate, said agency spokesman Mike Fergus.
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3,000 Boeing widebodies in the past forty years!
Boeing Delivers 3,000th Everett-built Widebody AirplaneIn the past 40 years, the fleet of 747, 767 and 777 airplanes has:
* Flown more than 34.5 million flights
* Logged more than 148 million flight hours
* Flown 71 billion nautical miles
Everett, Wash., Aug. 27, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today delivered its 3,000th widebody airplane from its Everett, Wash., site. The airplane was a 777-200ER (Extended Range) model that was delivered to Korean Air.
The 3,000 airplanes built and delivered from the Boeing Everett factory include 747, 767 and 777 models. The site is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
"We are honored to receive the 3,000th airplane assembled at the Everett plant," said J.H. Lee, president and COO, Korean Air. "Boeing Everett employees have made high-quality, reliable airplanes that have played a critical role in the success of our airline."
The 3,000th airplane is joining the Korean Air fleet of 123 airplanes, which includes 13 777-200ERs, four 777-300s, 24 747-400s and 21 747-400 Freighters. Korean Air plans to use the new 777 for long-haul business routes to the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
Korean Air also has 35 additional airplanes on order from the Everett programs including 777-300ERs, 777 Freighters, 747-8 Freighters and 787 Dreamliners. In addition, the airline has four 737s on order from the Boeing factory in Renton, Wash.
"This Korean Air 777 exemplifies the amazing accomplishments that have taken place at this factory over the past 40 years," said Ross R. Bogue, vice president and general manager, 747/767/777 Programs and Everett site. "This milestone is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our Boeing employees, suppliers and the community. Our focus on the customer enables us to produce airplanes that provide the highest levels of safety, quality, reliability and value."
Over the years, the 3,000 widebody airplanes assembled at the Everett site have established a strong track record. Combined, the 747, 767 and 777 have completed more than 34.5 million flights through June 2007. They have logged approximately 148 million flight hours or nearly 17,000 years of flight time. The airplanes have flown approximately 71 billion nautical miles (131 billion kilometers), which is the equivalent of flying around the world 3.3 million times.
"We can all take great pride in the achievements these airplanes have made and continue to make," Bogue said. "The Boeing 747, 767 and 777 are amazing airplanes with an unparalleled record of reliability, which is illustrated by the number of Boeing widebody airplanes in service today."
Currently, more than 80 percent of the airplanes built at the Everett site -- approximately 2,610 airplanes -- are in service around the world.
The 3,000th-delivery milestone comes just nine years after the Everett site celebrated its 2,000th delivery -- a 747-400 taken by British Airways May 15, 1998. The plant's 1,000th widebody delivery was a 767-300ER delivered to Scandinavian Airlines on Aug. 14, 1989.
Boeing added the DC-10 and MD-11 airplanes to its widebody family in the 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas. Deliveries of these widebody commercial airplanes totaled 586 when production ceased in 2000. However, these airplanes are not included in this milestone since none of those airplanes were assembled at the Everett site.
Congrats to Boeing
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Can't wait to see this bird finished
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Excuse my ignorance, but doesn't this 'smell' similar to the UA 737 crash in Colorado and the US 737 crash in Pennsylvania ?
Maybe
,United Airlines Flight 585 and US Air Flight 427 crashed because there is a small mechanism in the rudder that is in the wrong position and distributed the hydraulic fluids to the wrong places, causing the rudder to stop responding. This is based from what I watched the program, History Channel's "Modern Marvels."
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Boeing's statement on the incident:
Boeing's Statement on China Airlines Flt. 120 FireSEATTLE, Aug. 19, 2007 -- Boeing extends its wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured on China Airlines Flt. 120. Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the Japanese Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission, upon that agency's invitation.
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A total loss of that 737NG for CI.
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From BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6939745.stm
Plane crashes off Pacific islandA small passenger plane has crashed into the Pacific Ocean near the French Polynesian island of Tahiti, apparently killing all 20 people on board.
The twin-engine Twin Otter DHC6 turboprop crashed into the sea just after take-off from the island of Moorea, 17km (10 miles) from Tahiti.
The aircraft, which was carrying 19 passengers and one pilot, belonged to Air Moorea, a local Polynesian airline.
An inquiry is under way but the cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
Two Australian tourists, two European Union officials and a group of Polynesian environmental and tourism officials were among those on board, according to the High Commission for the territory.
Rescue workers, helped by French navy ships and local fishing boats, have recovered 17 bodies including that of the pilot, a local official, Jacques Witkowski, told RTL radio.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on holiday in the US, issued a statement expressing his condolences.
"I want to assure the families of the victims, the whole of Polynesia, and the Australian and European authorities, that I share their emotion and hurt," he said.
The secretary of state for France's overseas territories, Christian Estrosi, is being sent to the region to show the government's solidarity.
Whoa, there were two EU officials on board
RIP to all of the 20 people that were killed in the crash
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Cathay Pacific orders five more 777-300(ER)s, bringing the airline's overall order to 23 B773(ER) planes:
Cathay Pacific Airways Orders Five Additional Boeing 777-300ERsSEATTLE, Aug. 07, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Cathay Pacific Airways today announced that the Hong Kong-based carrier has ordered five additional Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners, increasing the airline's commitment to a total of 23 of the advanced twin-engine, twin-aisle airplanes.
Cathay Pacific announced in 2005 that the airline was purchasing 12 777-300ERs from Boeing, with four additional operating leases through International Lease Finance Corp. The first of those airplanes will be delivered in September. Last year the airline exercised additional rights to order two more 777-300ERs.
The five new airplanes have an estimated value of $1.4 billion at Boeing list prices. All of Cathay Pacific's 777-300ERs will be powered by General Electric GE90-115BL engines.
Cathay Pacific's 777-300ER fleet will significantly increase the airline's capacity and will be used primarily on long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes to Europe and North America. The airplanes will enable full payload, nonstop service connecting Hong Kong and New York.
"This fleet expansion is in line with our plan to expand our network and connectivity, in the process further strengthening Cathay Pacific's position as Hong Kong's home carrier and cementing the city's status as a leading international aviation hub," said Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler. "These aircraft represent a very substantial investment and underline our long-term commitment to continued profitable growth of the airline and to providing the best travel experience for our passengers."
With its twin-engine efficiency, the 777-300ER reduces fuel consumption by more than 20 percent per seat compared to its closest competitor, therefore reducing CO2 emissions by more than 20 percent.
"This additional commitment from a world-class operator is a testament to the benefits the 777-300ER brings to the airline and its passengers," said Rob Laird, vice president, Sales - Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Cathay Pacific is a long-time Boeing customer and we are proud that the 777 family plays such an important role in their fleet."
The airline currently operates 777-200s and -300s for regional operations and the airline has selected the 777 family as the standard of its ultra-long-haul luxury service for the future.
Cathay Pacific currently operates 24 Boeing 747-400s and 17 Boeing 777-200/300s in passenger service, as well as six 747-400 Freighters, seven 747-200 Freighters and six 747-400BCFs (Boeing Converted Freighters), with two more 747-400BCFs and six 747-400ER Freighters on order.
Additionally, Dragonair, a Cathay Pacific subsidiary, operates another six 747 Freighters - a 747-200F, three 747-300SFs and two 747-400BCFs, with three 747-400BCFs on order.
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Mr. X-ray.. nice new aircraft.
AK didn't put the "Go Holiday" titles on the engines this time
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Approved by the FAA and EASA:
Airbus A380 approved to operate on 45m runways31 July 2007
Airbus’ A380 has received approval from both the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be operated on runways with a width of 45 metres (150 feet) or more. Most of the world airports have 45m runways as standard width.
"This aircraft has been shown to be safely controllable and to be compliant with applicable airworthiness requirements when operating on runways with a width of 45 meters (150 feet) or more", stated James J. Ballough, FAA Director Flight Standards Service in an official correspondence to Airbus, dated July 19, 2007.
This approval is yet another great achievement for the A380 Programme and the result of a unique operational evaluation including airport compatibility checks, route proving campaigns and dedicated flight-testing together with the Authorities.
“Full Airport compatibility has always been a key design driver for this new flagship of the 21 century”, says Mario Heinen, Airbus Executive Vice President, A380 Programme. “Since the very beginning of the A3XX concept phase in 1996 Airbus has established a sustainable dialogue with regulators, airports, airlines, ground handlers and pilots as well as trade-associations, with the objective to make it fully compliant with the average airport environments. We are pleased to see once more that this approach is bearing fruits.”
The A380 has already visited more than 45 airports. By 2011, more than 70 airports will be ready for A380 operations.
In parallel, Airbus is progressing well with the first customer A380s. The first A380 for Singapore Airlines arrived in Toulouse in mid-July after completion of the cabin installation. It is now submitted to thorough final checks, prior to delivery to the customer in October. The subsequent aircraft, for delivery to Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Qantas, are also well on track.
Being cleaner, greener, quieter and smarter, the A380 is already setting new standards for transport and the environment. Per passenger, the A380 is as fuel efficient as a small economical family car. The combination of extra passenger capacity without increasing the number of flights, excellent environmental performance and lower operating costs is an ideal solution for both increasingly congested airports and the airlines that serve them.
Airbus is an EADS company.
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Canadian LCC, WestJet, buys 20 737NG aircraft:
Boeing Confirms WestJet Order for 20 Next-Generation 737 AirplanesSEATTLE, Aug. 02, 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today confirmed that Canadian low-fare carrier WestJet ordered 20 Next-Generation 737s to add to the airline's all-737 fleet. The order is for 737-700s with conversion rights to 737-800s if desired.
WestJet, based in Calgary, Alberta, was one of the most profitable airlines in North America in 2006. It has consistently recorded over 15 percent annual growth as it expanded its routes across North America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1996, the airline currently operates 67 Next-Generation 737s. With today's order, WestJet's fleet will grow to 108 leased or purchased Next-Generation 737s. Forty-one remain to be delivered.
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From Boeing:
Air New Zealand to Add Boeing 777-300ERs to Long-Range FleetAUCKLAND, New Zealand, Aug. 03, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Air New Zealand today signed a definitive agreement for the purchase of four Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners and options for three additional 777-300ERs, as the carrier continues its push toward operating the most fuel-efficient fleet of airliners.
The signing and announcement event was attended by Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe and Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President - Asia Pacific Sales Stan Deal. The ceremony took place at Air New Zealand's Auckland headquarters.
The four new airplanes have an estimated value of $1.1 billion at Boeing list prices and are powered by General Electric GE90-115BL engines, the world's largest and most powerful commercial jet engine.
"These new -300ERs will help us build on the success we've had with our existing 777s," said Fyfe. "There's no doubting the 777's passenger appeal, and its fuel efficiency is a very good fit with our very strong commitment to the environment.
"Tourists come to New Zealand to enjoy our unspoiled environment, so it's critically important that we bring them here in the most fuel efficient aircraft," he said.
With its twin-engine efficiency, the 777-300ER reduces fuel consumption by more than 20 percent per seat compared to its closest competitor, therefore reducing CO2 emissions by more than 20 percent.
Since entering into service in 2004, the overall fuel efficiency of the 777-300ER has been improved by 3.6 percent through a combination of improved fuel burn in service and enhancements to the airplane. In addition, the range of the 777-300ER has increased by 630 nautical miles (1200 km) since entry into service.
"Air New Zealand is known for its customer focus and provides an outstanding passenger experience, particularly with its 777-200ER fleet," said Deal. "Air New Zealand was one of the first to recognize the economic benefits of 777/787 mixed-fleet operations and we believe that by giving passengers what they want - nonstop flights in modern planes - Air New Zealand is well positioned for continued success."
Air New Zealand will use the new 777s to replace its 747-400s.
Air New Zealand was the first airline in the South Pacific region to become a 777 customer, with a 777-200ER delivery in December 2005. Air New Zealand currently operates an all-Boeing twin-aisle fleet of eight 777-200ERs, eight 747-400s and five 767-300ERs. Air New Zealand has also ordered eight 787-9 Dreamliners with options for a further eight.
The 777 family of airplanes is popular with passengers and airlines alike due to its fuel-efficient twin-engine design, high reliability, low operating costs, and comfortable and spacious interior. The 777-300ER carries up to 365 passengers up to 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 kilometers).
The 777 is the clear leader in the 300- to 400-seat segment with 65 percent of the market, and unfilled orders in excess of 340 airplanes valued at approximately $87 billion at current list prices. Airlines worldwide have ordered more than 990 777s.
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Northwest said that they are going to call back some of the pilot thats they laid off during their Ch11 bankruptcy last year, is this true? (I got this info from the news)
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Boeing helps Emirates in their growing T7 fleet:
Boeing Technology to Help Emirates Manage Rapid Growth of 777 FleetSEATTLE, July 31, 2007 -- Two advanced Boeing [NYSE: BA] technologies will combine to help Emirates drive efficiency and maintain performance in its rapidly growing fleet of Boeing 777s and new 747-8s. By the end of this year, the Dubai-based airline will be operating 51 777s. In 2005, the airline ordered 42 777s, and when all of those are in service, the airline is expected to have a fleet of 93 777s.
Emirates will use an in-flight decision-support system, Airplane Health Management (AHM), as well as a software maintenance-support system, Maintenance Performance Toolbox, to help operate and maintain the airplanes during this period of rapid expansion.
"Emirates is dedicated to providing its passengers a superior flying experience, and the combination of these two Boeing products helps maximize that effort," said Iain Lachlan, Emirates' divisional senior vice president - Aircraft Maintenance. "These cutting-edge tools indicate clearly that we are committed to reviewing the latest technologies, and investing and adopting the best, most up-to-date technology to help ensure a safe, reliable and comfortable flight."
Toolbox and AHM are core elements of Boeing's strategy to provide an integrated suite of products to e-Enable the air transport system. Central to the effort is the idea that data, information and knowledge are collected and shared across an entire enterprise and its supply chain, so that airlines operate at the highest levels of operational and environmental efficiency. Emirates is the latest airline to adopt multiple e-Enabled products, which interact seamlessly and enhance the value that each would provide an airline individually.
"With this decision, Emirates is sending an industrywide message about how to drive efficiency and performance," said Dan da Silva, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "We couldn't ask for a better validation of our products than an endorsement like this from one of the world's premier airlines." Airplane Health Management supports long-term fleet-reliability programs by helping airlines identify and respond to faults proactively. The goal is to help airlines operate at the highest levels of reliability and efficiency.
In addition to monitoring Emirates' expanding 777 fleet, AHM will also monitor the airline's fleet of 747s. Emirates ordered 10 747-8 Freighters last year and is AHM's launch customer for the 747-8. Airplane Health Management now provides real-time monitoring and decision support for 42 percent of the world's 777s and 31 percent of its 747-400s.
Toolbox, which is rapidly becoming a must-have software package for efficiency-conscious carriers, represents the industry's first set of productivity tools designed to unify an airline's maintenance and engineering operations from start to finish. In all, 39 air carriers have signed up for Toolbox since it was introduced 20 months ago. Toolbox today comprises six different tools that can help airlines streamline a wide range of maintenance and repair activities. Airlines can pick only the tools that they want to meet their specific needs.
93 Triple Sevens?!
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RIP to the four people that died in the mid-air collision
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The man died because of lack of oxygen:
Man Found In Wheel Well On Jetliner Died From Lack Of OxygenSAN FRANCISCO -- A man whose body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines jetliner at San Francisco International Airport Thursday died from a lack of oxygen, the San Mateo County coroner's office said Friday.
Images
The man, who appeared to be Asian and in his 50s, died five to ten minutes after take off as the Boeing 747 ascended and the air got thinner, said San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault. Foucrault said the man, who has not been identified, also had a broken right thighbone, which probably occurred as the landing gear retracted.
The body was found in the nose gear wheel of the plane during a routine inspection after a flight from Shanghai. The man wore eight layers of clothing, Foucrault said.
He said authorities are working to identify the man.
Mechanics inspecting a United Airlines jet that had just arrived from China at the San Francisco International Airport found the body in the nose gear.
The man was wearing several layers of clothing and had few obvious injuries.
The man apparently had crawled inside the nose gear's housing intentionally, San Francisco International Airport spokesman Mike McCarron said. It's a desperate and usually fatal method for attempting to immigrate illegally, aviation officials said.
"At altitude, there's no air to breathe and it's maybe minus-40 degrees for 12 hours," McCarron said. "You can't survive."
The plane, United Airlines flight 858, arrived from Shanghai at 7:42 a.m.
Federal aviation officials said people occasionally try to enter the country without authorization by hiding in a plane's underbelly, often with disastrous consequences.
Counting Thursday's victim, the Federal Aviation Administration has tallied 75 similar stowaway attempts on 65 flights worldwide since 1947.
The vast majority -- 59 -- ended in death, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.
"People think they can make it into a country by hiding in a wheel well," Gregor said. "Almost invariably they get crushed to death, freeze to death, or fall to death."
The last time someone was found alive after a stowaway flight to the United States was in 2004, when a survivor made it to Miami on a plane from the Dominican Republic, Gregor said.
Stowaways who survive are usually sent back to their country of origin.
There is little U.S. regulators can do to prevent the practice on international flights, Gregor said.
"The security issue is with the origin airport," he said.
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From NBC:
Airline Virgin America To Offer Flights Starting At $44 One-WayLOS ANGELES -- A new start-up airline that will offer service to LAX for as low as $44 one-way and such amenities as in-flight entertainment systems began selling tickets Thursday.
Virgin America, the latest venture of British entrepreneur Richard Branson, is to begin service Aug. 8 with five daily flights between San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, and two flights between San Francisco and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Fares for flights between LAX and SFO will start at $44 one way for coach and $149 first class for the San Francisco-based airline.
Service between LAX and New York, for $129 coach and $389 first class each way, is to begin Aug. 29.
"As the only California-based airline, our goal is to provide topnotch service at low fares," said CEO Fred Reid. "We can't wait to welcome guests on Aug. 8."
The inaugural flights will include live entertainment celebrities at 35,000 feet. The airline will auction tickets for the event to support KIPP -- the Knowledge Is Power Program, a network of free, open-enrollment, college- preparatory public schools for underserved communities.
Virgin America will provide custom-designed leather seats, mood lighting and an entertainment system that includes on-demand movies and TV, games, music and online chat rooms. Passengers will be able to order food or chat with other passengers from their own video screen.
The airline currently has 400 employees and expects to have 1,000 new jobs in its first year and up to 5,000 employees within five years. It plans to serve about 10 cities within the first year and up to 30 cities within five years.
Link:
http://www.knbc.com/travelgetaways/1371799...l=headlineclick
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A person allegedly attempted to stowaway on a UA 747-400, maybe during the flight from PVG-SFO
:Body Found In Wheel Well On Shanghai-SFO-LAX FlightSAN FRANCISCO -- A body was discovered in a wheel well of a United Boeing 747 flight at the San Francisco International Airport on Thursday, NBC11 in San Francisco reported. A San Mateo coroner was called to the scene.
SFO officials told NBC11 the body was found during the post-flight inspection by a mechanic. A spokesman for the airport said the body appeared to be male, based on clothing, but the gender was not entirely clear. The spokesman said it appears the person had apparently crawled inside the nose gear's housing intentionally, suggesting an attempted stowaway.
The flight was United Flight 858 out of Shanghai. It was scheduled to land at 8:32 a.m. Thursday but got in early at 7:42 a.m., according the United Web site.
The flight was scheduled to continue to Los Angeles with a scheduled departure from SFO at 10:45 a.m. It took off from Shanghai at 12:10 p.m. Thursday. Airport officials said the plane was impounded and the passengers had all deplaned before the discovery.
The plane left San Francisco at 11:13 a.m. and landed in Los Angeles at 12:11 p.m.
Airport officials said the plane flew as high as 40,000 feet, which meant the temperature in the wheel well would be 30 degrees befow zero.
"People think they can make it into a country by hiding in a wheel well," said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor. "Almost invariably they get crushed to death, freeze to death or fall to death."
Link:
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News release from Airbus:
TAM LINHAS AEREAS FLIGHT JJ3054 ACCIDENT IN SAO PAULO, BRAZILAirbus regrets to confirm that an A320 operated by TAM Linhas Aereas was involved in an accident on 17th July, shortly after 6.50 pm local time in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The aircraft was operating a scheduled service, Flight JJ 3054, from Porto Alegre to Sao Paulo, Congonhas airport. Unconfirmed reports indicate that there were 176 passengers and crew on board. At this stage, the number of casualties is not yet known.
The aircraft involved in the accident, registered under the number PR-MBK, was MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 0789, delivered to TACA International from the production line in February 1998. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 20.000 flight hours in some 9.300 flights. It was powered by IAE engines. At this time no further factual information is available.
In line with international convention, Airbus will provide full technical assistance to the BEA (Bureau d’Enquêtes et Analyses) and the Authorities of Brazil, who will be responsible for the investigation into the accident. A team of 5 specialists from Airbus is being dispatched to the site.
The A320 is a twin-engine single-aisle aircraft, seating maximum 180 passengers in a standard one-class configuration. The first A320 entered service in March 1988. By the end of June 2007, over 3000 A320 Family aircraft, of which 1700 A320s, were in service with 197 operators. To date, the entire A320 Family fleet has accumulated some 56 million flight hours in just over 31 million flights.
Airbus will make further factual information available as soon as the details have been confirmed. However, the investigation remains the entire responsibility of the relevant authorities and it would be inappropriate for Airbus to enter into any form of speculation into the cause of the accident.
The concerns and sympathy of the Airbus employees go to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident of Flight JJ3054 of TAM.
Summary:
- The A320-200 destroyed is PR-MBK
- MSN is 0789
- Delivered in February 1998 for TACA International Airlines
- The engine that was powering the aircraft is the IAE v2500 engine
- The aircraft has accumulated 20,000 hours and 9,300 flights
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from Yahoo:
Brazilian plane crashes into gas stationSAO PAULO, Brazil- A plane with as many 170 people aboard crashed and burst into flames in Sao Paulo on Tuesday after skidding off a runway that has been criticized as being too short in a driving rain, the nation's airport authority said.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths by authorities.
The Tam airline's Airbus-320 skidded off the runway at Congonhas airport, then crossed a busy road at the height of rush hour in South America's largest city before slamming into a gas station, said Jose Leonardi Mota, a spokesman with airport authority Infraero.
TV footage showed flames shooting into the sky and clouds of black smoke billowing into the air after the crash, and witnesses reported hearing one loud boom followed by a series of explosions.
Brazilian media said the plane actually crashed into a building or warehouse owned by Tam, and television images showed firefighters spraying water onto a building bearing a Tam sign. Globo TV reported at least eight people who were on the plane or in the building were undergoing treatment.
Tam Linhas Aereas flight 3054 was en route to Sao Paulo from the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre with between 150 and 170 people on board, Mota said.
"At this moment, we cannot determine the extent of possible injuries suffered by the airplanes occupants and crew members," the airline said in a statement.
The accident happened during heavy rains, and critics have warned for years that such an accident was possible at the airport because its runway is too short for large planes landing when the runway is wet.
A federal court in February briefly banned takeoffs and landings of large jets at the airport because of safety concerns at the airport, which handles huge volumes of flights for the massive domestic Brazilian air travel market.
But an appeals court overruled the ban on three types of planes, saying it was too harsh because it would have severe economic ramifications and that there were not enough safety concerns to prevent the planes from landing and taking off the airport.
Tuesday's crash came 10 months after Brazil's deadliest crash, a September collision between a Gol Aerolinhas Inteligentes SA Boeing 737 and an executive jet over the Amazon rainforest.
All 154 people on the Gol jet died. The executive jet landed safely.
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found this article at AK's website:
KUALA LUMPUR - SHENZHENAirAsia's offical Kuala Lumpur - Shenzhen flight recorded 100% load factor
Sepang, 16th July 2007 - An official launch of Kuala Lumpur – Shenzhen was held today at the Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Terminal Airport in honor of the maiden AirAsia flight departing from Kuala Lumpur to the southern part of Guangdong province in China. Present at the momentous ceremony were YB Dato’ Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport Malaysia, YBhg Dato’ Mirza Mohd. Taiyab, Director General of Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board, Counselor Gu Jing Qi, Charge de Affaires, China Embassy, Dato’ Pahamin Ab. Rajab, Chairman of AirAsia Berhad and Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad. AirAsia flight AK88 departed for Shenzhen at 4.25 p.m. with 100 % full load on board of the brand new Airbus A320.
The event also saw YB Dato’ Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport Malaysia officiated and subsequently checked-in using AirAsia’s new self check-in kiosk. The new self check-in kiosk is an innovative service that simplifies travel, enables a hassle free check-in for guests within a touch of the screen.
Shenzhen which is AirAsia’s first foray entry to mainland China is also the gateway to Southern China. With an approximate 15 million population, Shenzhen bears the reputation of being the shopping heaven in Southern China. It is also famous for its coastal views, theme parks, historical attractions and world-class golf courses.
Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad said “We have continued to create history by introducing flights to untapped markets as we have always believe in developing new routes and markets. AirAsia’s move to fly to Shenzhen has indeed facilitated more travelers from the Pearl Delta region to tap into AirAsia’s extensive Southeast Asia network and vice-versa. As the first special economic zone in China, Shenzhen has risen to become one of the economic powerhouses of China as well as one of the largest manufacturing base in the world,”
“When we secured this route, we were confident of the robust demand that our low fare will infuse the demand for travel in Shenzhen, but the high load within a short period of time has indeed exceeded our expectations. There are growing trends among the middle-class Chinese with insoluble desire to travel the world. Our low fare has enabled them not only to travel to Kuala Lumpur but also to other parts of the Southeast Asia region. More than 5,000 seats were snapped-up in first week it opened for sale on June, 14 2007. In July, the route recorded close 90 % load and with such strong testimony, the Kuala Lumpur – Shenzhen sector is most likely to be the highest load for a newly launched route,” he added
“To date, we have sold more than thirty thousand seats for Shenzhen and we are even convinced that our first foray entry to China presents tremendous potential for us to tap into this exciting vast market. With so much growth coming from the Pearl Delta region, plans are underway for us to secure a second frequency to cater for the high demand of this route. The travelers from mainland China love Malaysia’s sandy white beaches, delectable cuisines and our unique cultural heritage. Conversely, there are quite a number of Malaysian tourists who travels to Shenzhen as well. We truly hope that our amazing low fares will persist to grant more freedom and dreams to fly and stimulate the travel for both routes further. This is a clear indication that our low fares have stimulated a strong demand to travel to serve a huge untapped market in the Southern region of China.” concluded Dato’ Tony
Frequency for the new route:
AK 88- Kuala Lumpur to Shenzhen departs daily at 16:25 and arrives at 20:10
AK 89- Shenzhen to Kuala Lumpur departs daily at 20:45 and arrives at 00:30
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What's the source URL of this story?Here it is
:http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/press...t_delivery.html
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A300 production has ended
:Airbus delivers last A300 to Fedex12 July 2007
The last A300 to leave the Airbus Final Assembly Line, an A300 Freighter, was delivered to FedEx on 12th of July 2007. Over the life of the programme a total of 821 A300/A310 have been ordered and to date there are more than 630 A300s and A310s in service with about 80 operators. Airbus’ long-term fleet support programme will continue to enable their operation until the very last aircraft is retired from service, with half of the current fleet expected still to be in service beyond 2025.
With more than 120 A300s and A310s aircraft currently in service, FedEx is a long-standing operator and the largest customer for these aircraft types.
The Airbus A300, launched in May 1969 and entering service with Air France in May 1974, was the very first wide-body, twin-engine aircraft ever brought to the market. It set totally new standards in the industry. The innovative two-man glass cockpit was implemented on the A310, launched in July 1978 and entering service in April 1983 with Lufthansa and Swissair.
"Time has proven to us that the A300s and A310s were excellent choices for our fleet," said Jim Parker, senior vice president of air operations at FedEx Express. "They have given us a great return on investment and proven to be reliable, all of which increases our ability to serve our customers. We look forward to continuing our longstanding and important relationship with Airbus, and will continue to evaluate new developments in the Airbus product range as they become available."
“Delivering the last A300 is an emotional moment and a natural evolution in the Airbus Family,” added Charles Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President Customer Services. “We are proud to be handing over this last A300 to such a long-time customer and partner, as FedEx is a true reference in the air cargo market. The global Airbus team will ensure continued long-term support for this great aircraft, which will see reliable service for many, many years, as we further develop our excellent relations with FedEx.“
Responding to the future cargo market needs for more efficient aircraft with more range, more capacity as well as lower operational costs, Airbus launched the new A330-200F freighter in January this year. Only 6 months after the launch, the A330-200F is already experiencing great demand in the cargo market with a total of 67 orders and commitments from seven customers to date. Airbus anticipates a demand for over 1600 freighters in the mid-sized freighter category during the next 20 years.
KLM DC-6
in Observation Hill
Posted · Edited by Andrew Ong · Report reply
The DC-6 looks very beautiful
Hard to say, KLM's new color looks a bit better
