Daily Archives: March 6, 2013

First production Airbus A400M transporter makes its maiden flight

The first production Airbus Military A400M airlifter has made its maiden flight, marking a key milestone towards its delivery to the French Air Force. The aircraft, MSN7, took off from Seville, Spain, at 11:48 local time (10:48Z) and landed back in Seville 5 hours and 42 minutes later. Experimental Test Pilot Hugues Van Der Stichel, captained the flight.

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AirAsia JV approved. Aviation ministry officials seek policy clarification

by Devesh Agarwal India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) today gace an in-principle approval to the Joint Venture (JV) company proposal of AirAsia, the Tatas and the Bhatias. The stated goal of this JV company is to form and operate an airline most likely AirAsia India, based out of Chennai. As per a report, the JV will initially invest about …

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Video: British Airways In-Flight Entertainment for March 2013

I may not give British Airways high marks for its customer service, but hats off to the airline on the information it provides its passengers. As per the infographic we posted yesterday, over 41% of passengers will spend their time watching a movie during their flight. This is the highest percentage of in-flight entertainment (IFE) activity. British Airways has put …

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Air India’s Emperor Class. How the Indian aristocracy abuses its “NetJets”

Air India Boeing 747-400 VT-ESP Ajanta. Image copyright Devesh Agarwal.

Officially India gained independence from monarchy on August 15, 1947. Fast forward these 66 years and the current breed of India’s aristocracy is very much alive and kicking. The British colonists may have left India, but the “Raj” continues, if only by a different name. Welcome to Air India’s Emperor Class. Not the earlier Boeing 747s, the carrier named after …

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