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by Devesh Agarwal Ahead of the first flight of the Airbus A350 XWB a set of videos from Airbus which gives us behind the scenes explanations on some aspects of the aircraft design, development, testing, manufacturing, and hand-over to the flight testing crew who will fly the aircraft today. Like the Boeing 787, the A350 XWB heavily relies on composite …

The old adage is “God willing, weather permitting”…….. If all goes well, we shall see the first flight of a brand new aircraft, the Airbus A350 XWB. Airbus indicates the A350 XWB first flight is planned for today, weather conditions permitting. The A350 will be the first new commercial aircraft model, excluding variants of existing models, from the stables of …

Jet Airways (India) Limited, today announced the appointment of Mr. Gary Kenneth Toomey as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment follows the resignation of Mr. Nikos Kardassis who left the airline after serving two terms as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Toomey, 58, an Australian national, previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Air New Zealand Group …

by Devesh Agarwal India’s first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport airlift aircraft, CB-8001, is en-route to India after completing its almost six month long flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, California, USA, which began following the aircraft’s delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on January 22. Boeing is expected to deliver four more C-17s to …

Finnair will be re-painting its Airbus A330 OH-LTM with the blue-forest livery based on the Marimekko print Metsänväki (“Forest Folk”), unveiled earlier this month. Read the story here. As per the airline We introduced the Marimekko livery with the Metsänväki (Forest folk) print on May 7, as a part of our cooperation with the Finnish design house Marimekko. On May …

Bangalore Aviation congratulates Qatar Airways on its humanitarian act. The airline recently partnered with Cambodia Airports offering 15 youngsters the opportunity to tour one of its Airbus A330 aircraft on International Children’s Day and celebrating the carrier’s 100th flight to the capital Phnom Penh. The smiles on the two ladies embracing says it all Aged between 9 and 12 years, …

Update on June 11th, 08h00 Paris local time Several different unions representing French Air Traffic Control (ATC) under the French Civil Aviation Authority have called for industrial dispute from June 11 up to June 13, 2013. Controllers are striking over a plan to unify European airspace which will ensure greater efficiency and cope with the projected increase in traffic. As …

Lufthansa is set to change its take-off procedure for all departures outside Germany, and implement one standard, worldwide. As of 1 June 2013, the airline will lower the acceleration altitude, for using the climb thrust and for further accelerating by its aircraft that are taking off, from 1,500 feet (approx. 457 metres) to 1,000 feet (approx. 305 metres). What does …

by Devesh Agarwal Last month, I flew more than 50,000 miles across many nations, and airlines, and in the process experienced the carry on hand baggage and check-in baggage rules of different airlines, countries, and airports and to a chance try out new lightweight luggage. [Disclaimer: I have not received any benefit, in any form, from any of the airlines …

Ever since the Jetihad deal was announced in late April, where Jet agreed to sell 24 per cent stake for Rs. 2,042 crore to Etihad Airways, we industry watchers were waiting to see when the casualties of senior management at Jet Airways would commence. Officially Etihad will get three seats on the Jet board, including the CEO, but it is …

Enjoy this video showing off the various uniforms of the cabin crew of Cathay Pacific Airways through the years. From the very militaristic style post world war II, to the mini skirts of the 1960s, the 1970s introduction of designer uniforms from Pierre Balmain, to Hermès, and Nina Ricci.

The A350 XWB program appears to be moving along well towards the first flight of this new aircraft soon. Here is some video of the first taxi tests of MSN1. Below is an official video from the Airbus channel showing the first start of the massive Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines. The white smoke emanates from the engine as the …

Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific Airways has produced an excellent series of videos showing a typical work day of one of their ground staff at Hong Kong International Airport. These staff work ten hours each day, often commencing work at 5am (which many a frequent flier day-tripper will realise, requires them to get up well before 4am). While we can …

The Pratt & Whitney (PW) PurePower PW1100G-JM engine meant for use on the upcoming Airbus A320neo successfully completed its first flight May 15, launching the engine family’s flight test program. Ironically, the engine which is meant for an Airbus aircraft flew on a Boeing aircraft. Pratt & Whitney’s 747SP flying test bed at the company’s Mirabel Aerospace Centre, in Mirabel, …

Airbus S.A.S. has announced the six person crew which will go aboard the first flight of the first A350 XWB to fly, known as MSN1. Two test pilots and the project test flight engineer will be seated in the cockpit: Peter Chandler, an Experimental Flight Test Pilot with Airbus since 2000 and Chief Test Pilot since 2011; Guy Magrin, an …

To boost flagging passenger loads, Dubai based Emirates airline, has announced a sale on its’ Business Class fares worldwide ending on June 6, 2013 for travel between July 12, and August 4, 2013. Ex Bangalore, tickets prices start at Rs. 72,356 for Dubai, Rs. 141,916 for London, and Rs. 206, 871 for New York. Mr. Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Vice President, …

A319-112     3660     OK-NEP     CSA Czech Airlinesseen at FRA 30/05/13 with a special “90 1923-2013” anniversary sticker on the fuselage instead of the standard CSA logohttp://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=1224431 A320-212     187     F-GFKS     Air France (SKYTEAM cs)      last service 21/04/13, ferried 07/05/13 CDG-NWI, seen at NWI 03/06/13 in basic SKYTEAM cs, for part out and scrap A320-214     4699     OK-HCA     Holidays Czech Airlinesferried 29/04/13 JED-PRG after …

Through the month of May, on two separate occasions I had the pleasure to do plane spotting at Houston’s two airports, Hobby and Intercontinental. The Houston airport system authorities support their local spotters well, making both airports amongst the most friendliest to spot at in the United States. A special thanks to the friendly folks at the Houston Spotters who …

Boeing has commenced final assembly of the first 787-9 Dreamliner, the newest variant of the new generation largely composite aircraft. The 787-9 is the longer version of the existing 787-8 with its fuselage stretched by 20 feet increasing the aircraft length to 206 feet. The 787-9 will be able to carry 40 more passengers an additional 300 nautical miles (555 …

As part of the preparations of its first flight, the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines have been run for the first time on the Airbus A350 XWB (MSN1) following the start-up of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). The A350 XWB is the all-new mid-size long range product line comprising three versions and seating between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class …