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Sri Ramani K.

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  4. Posted · Report reply

    JETSTAR pilots forgot to put the wheels down as they came in to land at Singapore, triggering cockpit alarms, after the captain was distracted by his mobile phone.

     

    The Australian Transport Safety Bureau launched an investigation, reconstructing the cockpit chaos from the May 27, 2010 incident on Flight JQ57, from Darwin to Singapore.

     

    The captain, with more than 13,000 hours' flying experience, was distracted by incoming text messages on his phone. The first officer, with more than 4000 hours' experience, was probably fatigued. The pair had lost their ''situational awareness'', leading to poor decision-making and hampered communications, investigators found.

     

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    The problems aboard JQ57 began when the co-pilot of the 220-seat Airbus saw the captain ''preoccupied with his mobile phone'', investigators said.

     

    At 1000 feet, the co-pilot felt ''something was not quite right''. At 720 feet, a cockpit alert flashed and sounded to warn the wheels hadn't been lowered. As the captain moved to lower the undercarriage, a ''too low'' ground-warning alarm sounded as the plane descended through 500 feet, indicating the landing gear was not fully extended and locked. The co-pilot was confused by the captain's action, as he was expecting to abort the landing and reascend to the skies, investigators said.

     

    At 392 feet, the crew aborted the landing and powered up the thrust but had lost track of their altitude, thinking they were much higher, at about 800 feet.

     

    A further piloting error occurred, with the wrong flap setting during the ascent.

     

    Yesterday, Jetstar said it had incorporated the lessons learned from the incident in its pilot training. ''Pilot distraction meant all the landing checklist items weren't completed before the aircraft passed an altitude of 500 feet, at which point a go-around [aborted landing] was required under our operating procedures,'' said Jetstar's chief pilot, Captain Mark Rindfleish.

    ''The combination of factors on JQ57 has provided new learnings and the opportunity to add to these safeguards, which we take very seriously."

     

    These included completing landing checklists before 1000 feet and a reminder to pilots to ensure their mobiles are switched off before take-off, he said.

     

     

  6. Posted · Edited by Sri Ramani K. · Report reply

    Here's the official press release.

     

    SYDNEY, 10 April 2012- Some airlines give away a few free seats, others a voucher here and there. But AirAsia X is boldly going where no airline has gone before and is giving away an entire plane, that’s right - a 230-odd tonne, shiny red and white airbus.

     

    The World’s Best Low Cost carrier is giving one lucky AirAsia Australia’s Facebook fan and 302 of his or her Facebook friends* a free return flight to Kuala Lumpur travelling on board their very own AirAsia X Airbus A330-300 (which they get to experience only temporarily of course).

     

    The winner and their carefully chosen friends will get to experience AirAsia X award winning service on this specially reserved flight to the AirAsia X hub in Kuala Lumpur, its gateway to over 60 destinations in South East Asia including Phuket, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and many more, where they’ll live it up in Kuala Lumpur including three nights’ accommodation, before returning home on their private plane*.

     

    The competition, believed to be the world’s first to be organised in an Airbus A330 aircraft, was launched today to celebrate AirAsia X’s new daily Sydney-Kuala Lumpur service which began on April 2.

     

    Entry is via a specially designed ‘Friendsy’ app on AirAsia Australia’s Facebook page, with the winner drawn on 12th June. The AirAsia Friendsy plane will depart November 2 from Sydney Airport to Kuala Lumpur and return to Sydney on November 5, 2012.

     

    “Why would we give away an Airbus A330? To show it’s possible for everyone to fly and so that everyone can see why we’re the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline,” AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani said.

     

     

    “Our bold move is part of our social media promotion drive, offering our awesome guests a little X-citement, while testing our social media strength and influence. We believe that the idea would also lift our brand further in Australia and surrounding region.”

     

    “Also none of our competitors would ever be this cool. Apart from our sense of fun and adventure, it’s our category leading efficiency and service that makes it possible for us to offer this amazing trip of a lifetime.”

     

     

    The Friendsy app features the Pick A Seat diagram from the AirAsia’s website, which allows entrants to fill the plane’s seats with their Facebook friends either manually or via an auto fill button.

     

    The AirAsia Friendsy app is now available at www.facebook.com/AirAsiaAustralia

     

     

    “Entrants will be faced with a number of thought-provoking decisions,” Mr Osman-Rani said.

     

    “For example, what if you have more than 302 friends? And which 11 friends will you choose to join you in the Premium Flat Beds?

     

    “Our advice, it’s time to think hard about who your real friends are!” concluded Azran.

     

     

    AirAsia X, the long haul, low fare affiliate of AirAsia, operates direct flights to Kuala Lumpur from Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Perth, as well as connecting ‘Fly-Thru’ flights to popular ASEAN countries.

     

    Currently, AirAsia has over 65,000 followers/fans at facebook.com/AirAsiaAustralia. The airline as a group has over 2.3 million facebook fans from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore.

     

     

    AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for three consecutive years in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

     

    * Conditions apply, log on to www.facebook/AirAsiaAustralia . Only open to Aust. residents 18 + who are able to take the prize on 2/11/12. Commences 10/4/12 and closes 11.59pm AEST 5/6/12. 1 entry permitted per entrant. Draw will take place at Ste 3, Erina Plaza, 210 Central Coast Hwy, Erina NSW 2250 at 12pm AEST 12/6/12.

     

    Winner published in The Australian 19/6/12. Prize also includes breakfast daily & is valued at up to AUD$268,615.00. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. The Promoter is AirAsia X Services Pty Ltd (ABN 79 141 326 463), of PO Box 497 Red Hill QLD 4059. Telephone 1300 760 330. NSW Permit No. LTPS/12/2559 VIC Permit No. 12/669 ACT Permit No. TP12/1126 SA Permit No. T12/538”.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/mas-losses-soar-to-rm2.5b/

     

    PETALING JAYA, Feb 29 — Malaysia Airlines recorded a stunning net loss of RM2.52 billion for 2011 due to high expenses, the national flag carrier said today.

    The airline reported a massive net loss of RM1.28 billion in the fourth quarter, which was about as much as the first three quarters combined.

    Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said that there was a 25 per cent increase in fuel expenses and a 50 per cent increase in non-fuel expenses.

    “Obviously, this was a large loss,” said Ahmad.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    For the A320, it takes a little reading of the safety card to understand how to open the emergency exits. These exits are always armed no matter in-flight or on ground. And BC you're right, it takes more than just pressing a button to open these doors.

     

    On the A321, they have 4 full sized doors at the wing exits which act only as an emergency exit. These doors are never used for service at any time and they are also in the armed position all the time. These doors are a little easier to open as they are opened the same way as the other entry doors in the a/c and. And this too, is more than just pressing a button!

     

    Have to salute the student (and the other Vietnamese people who managed to get them opened despite it being their first flight!) for getting the doors opened. He must have been studying the safety card inside out throughout the flight.

     

    And it is true that the repacking of the slides cost the most. :drinks:

  17. Posted · Report reply

    AIRASIA X RE-ALIGNS NETWORK TO FOCUS ON CORE MARKETS

     

    Developments in Global Economy, Soaring Taxes and Higher Jet Fuel Prices leads long haul low-cost carrier to increase focus on core markets

     

     

    KUALA LUMPUR, 12 January 2012- AirAsia X, the long haul, low fare affiliate of AirAsia, today announced a realignment of its network with a focus on its core markets.

     

    The move will see AirAsia X withdrawing services to India (Mumbai and Delhi) and Europe (Paris, London) from its Kuala Lumpur hub as follows:

     

    · Mumbai- Four weekly services will be suspended with the last flight on 31 January, 2012

    · New Delhi- Daily services will be suspended with the last flight on 22 March, 2012. Flights in March will be reduced to four weekly services.

    · London- Six weekly services will be suspended with the last flight on 31 March, 2012

    · Paris- Four weekly services will be suspended with the last flight on 30 March, 2012

     

    AirAsia X will offer guests who hold bookings after these dates an alternative travel option at no additional cost to mitigate the inconvenience caused as a result of these route withdrawals.

     

    All affected guests will receive an e-mail stating options that are available to them, including a full refund, a reroute to another AirAsia X destination (e.g, in Australia and North Asia), or a move to an alternative carrier where available.

     

    These changes will improve operating cost efficiencies and consolidate its network to focus on markets where it can build a leadership position in 2012.

     

    Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said “AirAsia X remains focused on maintaining its global leadership position in the low cost, long-haul segment. We intend to concentrate capacity in our core markets of Australasia, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea where we have built up stable, profitable routes within an infrastructure that supports low cost services. We intend to open up new routes within these markets, as well as add frequencies on existing routes. Announcements of our future expansion plans will be made soon.”

     

    “The continued high jet fuel prices and the weakening demand for air travel from Europe, brought about by the current economic situation together with exorbitant government taxes, have placed cost pressures on operating long-haul low cost flights between Asia and Europe, compromising our ability to offer the low fares AirAsia X is known for.”

     

    He adds, “The implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the escalating Air Passenger Duty taxes in UK, which will rise yet again in April 2012 has forced our decision to withdraw our services to Europe.”

     

    “As for Delhi and Mumbai, the continued visa restrictions for travel between India and Malaysia, and the increase in airport and handling charges have resulted in a structure not conducive to the low cost model.”

     

    Azran concluded that, “The airline is hopeful in reinstating services to India once these structural issues can be resolved.”

     

    Note:

    Further details on AirAsia X’s withdrawal of Europe and India destinations:

     

    Europe (London and Paris)

    AirAsia X started flights to London in March 2009. At that time, oil prices were less than US$40/barrel, and have since tripled. With the Arab Spring unrest of 2011 spilling over to the unrests in Syria and Iranian oil embargo this year, oil prices are expected to remain high and crippling the economics of long-haul flights, where fuel represents over 50% of operating cost.

     

    Moreover, the European situation is also compounded by a very weak economy and depressed consumer demand, which has resulted in a reduction in the number of passengers from Europe on the flights over the past several months. Flights to Europe have also been burdened by exorbitant government taxes such as the UK Air Passenger Duty which will be increased to £92 per departing economy passenger and £184 per departing Premium passenger from 1 April 2012. From 1 January 2012, the European Governments have also imposed an additional carbon tax under their Emissions Trading Scheme, which further adds to an already high cost.

     

    The confluence of macro-factors, including high fuel prices, depressed European economy and exorbitant taxes have made it economically impossible to sustain these flights, despite AirAsia X recording load factors of over 80% for its London and Paris flights in 2011. Attempts to increase fares to reflect the higher operating cost recently have shown the price elasticity of travel, with demand falling down adversely.

     

    India (Mumbai and New Delhi)

     

    AirAsia X launched flights to Mumbai and Delhi in 2010. Structural issues in the Indian aviation market have made it difficult to operate economically viable flights. The airport and handling costs in New Delhi and Mumbai are already more expensive than even airports in Australia, and the authorities have just approved a massive 280% increase in airport fees effective April 2012.

     

    The Indian routes have also been under-pressure when the Malaysian Government removed Visa-on-Arrival facilities in August 2010, soon after the routes were launched. This places Malaysia at a significant disadvantage versus Thailand and Singapore who offer Indian tourists convenient Visa-on-Arrival facilities.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Travelled in this bird recently too. Seat was really hard - maybe will get softer with use. Loved the redesigned seat pocket. Just nice for me to snug in my 7 inch tablet with cover, without it falling off. Thus my own seat back IFE...

     

    However, the control knobs for IFE were placed on seat handle where you would normally put your elbows. The volume /channel control would be changed everytime one tries to place elbow/forearm there. And I wonder why these were present in the first place. In preparation for paid IFE??

     

    This is a leased bird from Air Berlin. Interior and the A320 config is the same as of AB including the cockpit, galley & seats. This bird comes with a drop down LCD screen for every few seats but this option was disabled. :drinks:

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Taken up or given up?

     

    Taken up or given up, I see it as the same since they've classified this whole thing as a "collaboration" where both are projected to help each other grow. Makes sense for D7 to drop the route such not to compete with MH on the LHR/CDG run as suggested by flee. As I said, people in the company have been talking about this for the past few weeks so it is not a final decision yet.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Here's my LIMA '11 log but it's not the complete list. I didn't cover the maritime heli shows at Porto Malai and helis parked at the nearby Pusat Latihan Polis, there are around 5-6 helis parked over there..probably on standby for SAR.

     

    Visitors

    14. Trans Avia Export Ilyushin Il-76TD (EW-7****)

     

    Corrections, additions, etc. are more than welcome :)

     

    Hello MIR, rego is EW-78819. Departed out of KUL today circa 5pm.

     

    Otherwise, great pics as usual from everyone! Thanks for making us feel like as if we were there! :good:

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