Monthly Archives: December 2009

Arun Katiyar’s foggy view of Bangalore airport’s fog operations in DNA newspaper

Arun Katiyar is a media expert with over two decades of professional experience. He has worked as Journalist and editor with the India Today Group, one of the more respected media houses in India. Last Saturday Arun Katiyar penned an opinion article titled A clear view in fog which appeared in the Saturday edition of Daily News and Analysis or …

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The unique tail art of Air India Express – VT-AXC and VT-AXD

Air India Express has one of the most unusual liveries in the airline industry across the world. Each Boeing 737-800 has a different tail art with each side of the tail reflecting an aspect of India. In our on-going series, today we feature the tails of VT-AXC and VT-AXD. VT-AXC features two very popular musical instruments. The tabla and the …

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The unique tail art of Air India Express – VT-AXA and VT-AXB

Air India Express has one of the most unusual liveries in the airline industry across the world. Each Boeing 737-800 has a different tail art with each side of the tail reflecting an aspect of India. We commence the series with two tails — VT-AXA and VT-AXB. VT-AXA features the two largest mammals from India. The camel and the Asian …

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Video: The Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off – almost

The test pilots at Boeing completed high-speed taxi tests on the first 787 Dreamliner ZA001 earlier today. During the testing, the pilots lifted the nose gear from the pavement as the airplane reached a top speed of approximately 130 knots (150 mph, 240 kmph), and could have so easily carried on, off the ground. Thanks to aviation enthusiast Liz Matzelle …

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The unique tail art of Air India Express

Air India Express Boeing 737-800 VT-AXN lands at Mumbai CSI airport.

Air India has always had some of the best looking planes in the world. Its exotic livery was in sync with the airline’s theme “your palace in the skies”. As the national carrier of India, Air India also promoted the rich cultural, national and geographical heritage of the country. From the earliest times, Air India had a practice of naming …

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First official plane spotting group in India formed at Bangalore

About a year ago, Bangalore Aviation spearheaded an effort with the able support of three other aviation enthusiasts and photographers, to form the first officially recognised spotting group in India. Thanks to a very progressive management at the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) company from its CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler on down, the idea was well received, supported and nurtured. The …

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Image: Airbus A400M transport lifts-off on maiden flight

Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15Z). In line with the extreme delays on this program even the first flight was delayed by 15 minutes. At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, …

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Boeing completes 787 Dreamliner static test review and final gauntlet testing

Boeing has completed the review and analysis of the static test that was conducted November 30 to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner. Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program confirmed that the static test review as well as final gauntlet testing has been completed satisfactorily. “I am happy to report that the …

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Emirates opens new lounge at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo airport

Dubai based Emirates airlines has opened a brand new luxury lounge at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport. Located on the Mezzanine level of the airport’s Duty Free Mall, between boarding gates A4 and A7, the lounge is open to Emirates’ First and Business Class passengers, along with Gold Skywards members. The lounge at Johannesburg, with seating for 135 guests, contains …

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Two airlines welcoming the Boeing 787 Dreamliner delay

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker may be driving himself and Boeing executives in to a frenzy about delays on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, but two Indian carriers who ordered the aircraft are crying . . . . . . all the way to the bank. At the start of the week Boeing said that it will compensate Air …

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Air India sends its austerity plans up in the winds

It is well known that the national carrier is systemically fleeced by politicians and bureaucrats. Employees, past and present, who have experienced the monumental levels of waste, have also joined the bandwagon. Stung by record losses Air India has been toying with various measures to cut costs and boost revenues. Most Indians were cynical of true reforms at Air India, …

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Paramount Airways receives favourable verdict against GECAS

The drama involving Chennai based Paramount Airways and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) over a dispute on refunds and payments, began last Friday. Paramount officials explained that the dispute with GECAS was over maintenance reserves and deposit refund. An airline release claimed “Paramount had made a $15 million deposit to GECAS – $5 mn as deposit and $10 mn as …

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Qatar Airways commences Doha Melbourne flights; quickest from London

Qatar Airways launched its first flight to the Australian continent with its non-stop Doha Melbourne service using its latest Boeing 777-200LR delivered just a few days ago. Two flight crews are needed for the long 14 hour flight. Click on image for high res version. The 42 2–2–2 configured Business Class seats convert into 180 degree horizontal flat beds with …

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Emirates expands European services, announces flights to Amsterdam

As Dubai based Emirates continues to get deliveries of new aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing, it is undertaking significant route expansion, especially to Europe. The airline has announced the launch of flights to Amsterdam from May 1, 2010. EK 145 departs Dubai each day at 08:25 arriving Amsterdam at 13:30. EK 146 departs Amsterdam at 15:30 arriving in Dubai …

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Singapore Airlines – First and Business Class meals

Singapore Airlines may be suffering its worst losses since being listed; it may have cut the salary of its CEO by 20%; staff are feeling the heat; pilots are put on long leave; but the pampering of its premium passengers is untouched. After all premium passengers still account for almost $4.65 billion in revenues for the carrier which translates to …

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A string of aviation incidents in India in the last 24 hours — one extremely reckless

Over the 24 hours a string of aviation incidents have come to light across India. One is a minor mistake with major reaction, and one which can be only described as outright reckless. 1. Jet Airways. VT-JGC. On 20th October, a Jet Airways Boeing 737-900 registration VT-JGC performing flight 9W 332 from New Delhi Indira Gandhi International to Mumbai Chhatrapati …

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Boeing completes 787 Dreamliner post modification static test

Boeing has completed the static test needed to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner. During the test, dubbed 2C, on the 787 Dreamliner static test airframe, the wing and trailing edges of the airframe were subjected to its limit load — the highest loads expected to be seen in service. The load is about 2.5 times the …

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