News that China is looking hard at using aluminium rather than composites for much of its proposed Comac C919 airliner raises the question as to whether ‘plastic fantastics’ like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 are mistakes.
Both high composite projects make ambitious claims for the use of non-metallic materials. And the first, the 787, [...]
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Is tin back in for jets?
October 31, 2009 – 10:42 am
CASA, Qantas and unanswered safety allegations
October 31, 2009 – 10:08 am
In the spirit of brave rather than ‘cowardly’ criticism, when will CASA deal with a series of allegations about unsafe practices by Qantas last year raised by the licensed engineers union?
Not deal with, as in, have a spokesman dismiss them as immaterial or industrially motivated.
But deal with, as in investigate and publish detailed findings, and [...]
Tiger v Cityflyer comes into sharper focus
October 30, 2009 – 5:30 pm
Tiger’s second announcement of new Sydney flights in two days underlines the pressure the Singapore Airlines controlled low fare airline is applying to the high fare Qantas Cityflyer operation.
Yes. Cityflyer. Not low fare Jetstar, nor middle market Virgin Blue, but high fare Qantas, and especially its inter capital Cityflyers.
Today Tiger’s touch up is the [...]
Plain talking about CASA and the media
October 30, 2009 – 10:36 am
The new CEO of CASA, John McCormick, made some comments about its critics at the conclusion of a Senate Estimates Committee hearing on October 20.
The white or final Hansard record is less entertaining than accounts of the pink or first draft Hansard, but let’s look at the former, since it constitutes the public record.
Before [...]
Talking points: Jetstar fire, PC pilots grounded & 787 Dreamliner wing fixture latest
October 28, 2009 – 9:49 am
The Jetstar engine fire at Newcastle Airport last night wasn’t an emergency evacuation using slides. Just a bolt for the front and rear stairs after a ground engineer told the pilots he had seen a three second flash of flame from one of the A320’s engines after it came to a standstill at the terminal [...]
Angry Flyers Lounge: Make Tiger pay now
October 26, 2009 – 5:39 pm
Today’s bad press on Tiger raises the question, why shouldn’t consumer protection laws force all airlines to promptly refund fares and pay compensation when they strand passengers and force them to pick up the tab for hotel rooms, meals and other incidentals?
There is no justification for Tiger taking up to two months to compensate [...]
Boeing forecasts slo-mo boom times for the ‘hood
October 26, 2009 – 4:30 pm
Boeing has seen the future of air travel in Australia, New Zealand and the (other) South Pacific islands and it is big, very big, but will gain pace slowly in the near future.
Its Commercial Airplanes Vice President of Marketing, Randy Tinseth said “data indicates that the economic downturn has reached bottom and recovery has begun.
“Global [...]
Singapore Airlines begins trench warfare in air fares
October 26, 2009 – 5:54 am
Singapore Airlines has decided to give money back to its customers flying on its lowest fares to London and its European destinations next year if it comes out with even cheaper offers before they fly.
This is going to have ‘consequences.’
Airlines hate giving cash back to customers. They prefer to concoct $50-$100 rebooking fees out [...]
AF447: Air France traps itself with leaked memo
October 25, 2009 – 8:13 pm
The latest response by Air France management to the June 1 crash of AF447 is dynamite.
Headed “Enough Scandals and False Debates about Flight Security!” it takes a swipe at the alleged indifference of some of its pilots to safety procedures.
Priceless! Hoisted by its own petard. Air France is responsible for the flight standards of its [...]
Blackberrys in flight: Servitude in motion?
October 24, 2009 – 9:29 am
If the mail from the telecommunications game is correct, only two things are holding up Qantas activation of in-flight connectivity for Blackberrys, iPhones and similar devices.
Hold up 1: Lack of commercial agreement as to who gouges how much from the passenger, and
Hold up 2: Poor uptake rates from similar in-flight communications deals in Europe and [...]
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