Thirty Thousand Feet Blog

What is it like to be a flight attendant?

2012-01-13T06:14:00.004-05:00

This from Baltic Aviation Academy:

Marius Brazys, who has recently joined Baltic Aviation Academy as a sales project manager in the Initial Pilot Training School, has a strong background and extensive experience in working within the aviation industry. Having worked as a senior flight attendant on Boeing 737, Fokker 50, Fokker 100 and Dash 8-Q400 types of aircraft for a total of over 4 years, Marius is just the right guy to explain us what it really means to be a flight attendant.

1. There are many people dreaming to become flight attendants; however, they rarely act on their dreams. As I know, you have a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Transport Engineering which is absolutely unrelated to aviation. How did you get the idea of becoming a flight attendant? What were the reasons for choosing the sky highways?

I have fantasized about flying since I was a little boy. It so turned out though that I went on to study engineering. After my graduation I set off to visit my friends in Japan. I spent my flight back watching flight attendants and enjoying the comfort of B747. The idea that then crossed my mind was ‘Now or never’. As soon as I got back I left my previous job and started to search for Cabin Crew positions in airlines operating in Vilnius.

2. Was it hard to get a job as a flight attendant? Could you tell us more about how one starts seeking a career in this area? What are most airlines looking for?

Airlines are on a constant lookout for new talent. However, the selection is very complex. The main requirements include being at least 18 years old, a good swimmer, knowing several languages and having experience in customer service. Physical state is also very important – each candidate must pass the 2nd class medical commission and receive a required health certificate).

After sending out an application and all required documents you must wait until you are invited to attend either an Open Day or Assessment Day. During the day you are required to perform a number of tasks: sit through a personal interview, participate in a group interview and be involved in a group discussion, pass the English test. After every round candidates who fail to demonstrate adequate skills are automatically sent home, others proceed further. If you are lucky you receive an invitation to attend a final interview in the airline‘s headquarters. After that, a candidate must undergo the aforementioned medical checks and, if everything is alright, he/she is accepted and may place the first steps in aviation as a Cabin Crew trainee. Then, of course, there is an intensive training where one must be able to absorb a lot of information in a very short period of time and pass a large number of exams.

3. From an outsider’s view, the flight attendant job seems adventurous and fun but as we know every profession has its challenges. Please tell us more about the qualities a person willing to become a flight attendant should possess.

He or she must love flying, be a rather easy going person, flexible, excellent team player, honest, responsible and hard working.

4. You have a 5 years’ experience working onboard – what are the most attractive features of being a cabin crew member?

First and foremost – the flight itself! When here on the ground we are sometimes faced with rain or snow, up there the sun is always shining! Even if you tried, you could not spend two days alike. Every day you meet new cabin crew members, pilots and passengers, go to different destinations and see new places. Naturally, there is always a number of frequent fliers when you already know much about – for example, what kind of drinks they prefer onboard.

5. On every flight you have to provide excellent service to at least 90 passengers. Not everybody gets on the plane in their best mood. How do you deal with aggressive or snappish clients? Any memorable situations you could tell us about?

The main rule is to keep yourself in high spirits. Usually all that it takes to solve most of the issues is a sincere conversation, an explanation of why certain behaviour might be inappropriate. In more extreme cases one may apply stricter measures – usually in the form of captain warning. Passengers who understand the gravity of situation tend to be apologetic and cease to behave inappropriately. If no such measures are effective, after landing the plane is greeted by a police car. And that results in a very expensive ‘escort’.

6. What measures can cabin crew take to calm down aggressive/hysteric clients? I’ve heard you are even able to twist an arm and call the police. Did it ever happen to you?

A flight attendant must have nerves of steel. Most importantly he/she must understand that an aggressive passenger is not only a danger to himself but also to other passengers onboard. I can recall a situation when an overly intoxicated passenger went on to harassing other passengers and overly demonstrating his emotions. Having paid no attention to any cabin crew warnings the troubled flier ended up being arrested as soon as he landed and escorted from an aircraft in handcuffs.

7. We also know that cabin crew duties involve helping with the safety operations – we watch them demonstrating the proper use of oxygen masks and safety belts, the whereabouts of lifeboats and emergency exits, etc.. Did you ever face an emergency situation?

This is the first task that a flight attendant must complete after entering an aircraft. We must check whether all the needed equipment is onboard and we can proceed with the flight. I always watch the safety demo as a passenger myself and highly recommend doing that for every air traveler. For those not paying attention I explain that flight attendants are indeed well trained to help passengers in case of emergencies. Needless to say, they would never leave a passenger in a critical situation on his/her own.

Most serious situations onboard are related to passengers feeling unwell or losing consciousness. Then a flight attendant needs to demonstrate sharp reaction and the entire crew is required to coordinate their actions. The crucial thing is to determine the problem as quickly as possible and to provide the first aid accordingly. The captain must be also informed about the seriousness of situation so that if needed, the aircraft can be landed in the nearest available airport and the passenger can be provided all the necessary medical help.

8. Do flight attendants have enough time between flights to visit and actually see their flight destinations? During your career were you ever surprised by cultural differences in other countries?

It really depends on where you are going and how the schedules are arranged. Some flights are turnaround. Then the aircraft is only tidied and takes passengers for a return flight almost immediately after landing. Sometimes there are gaps of 12 to 48 hours or even longer. These are known as ‘city breaks’. Flight attendants often have their favourite cafes and bars they go to in different cities. Moreover, they often share their experience with passengers visiting those cities: places of interest, what-to-do’s, what-to-see’s, nice catering establishments, etc.

9. What type of relationships do crew members usually maintain among themselves: do flight attendants get along with pilots? Are the relationships between flight and the cabin crew – mostly professional or friendly?

Mostly relationships are strictly professional. However, as in any other workplace, people form friendships and find people they feel comfortable spending their free time with, for example, in a disco or a bar after work.

10. What was the most memorable flight you worked on and why?

It must have been the presidential flight to Brussels under the presidency of His Excellency Valdas Adamkus – mostly because of exceptionally high requirements, both regarding food and service. It was also memorable due to the fact that it was the last official visit of His Excellency as the president of Lithuania.

11. Hearing stories about flight attendant’s life makes you think that it is a very romantic profession. Maybe you could share some interesting stories from ‘behind the scenes’?

Customers, seeing smartly dressed and well groomed flight attendants, sometimes leave their contact numbers, invite them on dates, etc.

12. A cabin crew member – is it a feminine or a masculine position?

Historically speaking, it has always been a female flight attendant with a signature hat and a scarf streaming in the wind. Nowadays, however, the job itself has changed and there have been more and more guys wishing to fly for a living (most of them – future pilots). Statistically an average airline employs 80% of female and 20% of male flight attendants.

13. What would be your last word to all of those dreaming to become cabin crew members?

If you are bored from your 9 to 5 job, enjoy flying, working within a team and are a service oriented person – look no further! Just become a flight attendant!

Thank you for an interesting interview.

Baltic Aviation Academy has so far trained more than 10 000 aviation specialists. On the 6^th of February, 2012 it is set to welcome a new group of students wishing to become certified flight attendants.

About Baltic Aviation Academy

Baltic Aviation Academy provides 45 training courses, including type rating training for Boeing 737 CL, Boeing 737 NG, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Saab 340/2000, Airbus A320, Airbus A330/340, ATR 42-72, Embraer 135/145, Embraer 170/190, Bombardier CRJ 100/200, Bombardier CRJ 700/900 types of aircrafts. Baltic Aviation Academy is part of the Lithuanian aviation company group Avia Solutions Group. Since March 2011, Avia Solutions Group has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ASG index).

More about Baltic Aviation Academy: www.balticaa.com

Donate to Cancer Research, Get Delta Skymiles

2011-05-20T21:04:00.002-05:00

Press release:

Delta Skymiles Awarded to National Foundation for Cancer Research Donors

The National Foundation for Cancer Research has launched a program in which donors can choose to receive Delta Skymiles when making donations of $25 or more. Donors receive 10 Skymiles for every dollar donated to cancer research.

“Our donors are very important to us, and we appreciate every dollar they can give to help us get one step closer to finding a cure for cancer,” said Franklin C. Salisbury, Jr., President of NFCR. “By working with Delta Airlines, we are very pleased to award Skymiles to donors to express our gratitude for their generous giving. We are thankful to Delta for joining hands with us and making this program possible.”

Skymiles can be redeemed for Delta flights as well as hotel stays, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, car rentals and more.

To make a donation and receive Delta Skymiles, visit www.nfcr.org/delta. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

About the National Foundation for Cancer Research

The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) is a leading cancer research charity dedicated to funding cancer research and public education relating to cancer prevention, earlier diagnosis, better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for cancer. NFCR promotes and facilitates collaboration among scientists to accelerate the pace of discovery from bench to bedside.

Since 1973, NFCR has provided over $288 million in support of discovery-oriented cancer research focused on understanding how and why cells become cancerous, and on public education relating to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. NFCR’s scientists are discovering cancer’s molecular mysteries and translating these discoveries into therapies that hold the hope for curing cancer. NFCR is about Research for a Cure—cures for all types of cancer. For more information, please visit www.NFCR.org.

Investors Waiting On Cirrus Counter-Offer

2011-04-26T20:27:00.002-05:00

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2011

In March, industry consultant and investment banker Brian Foley published a report exploring the buying up of US general-aviation companies by foreign entities. In doing so, he unwittingly discovered a widespread penchant for getting one particular company, Cirrus Aircraft, back under US control.

Cirrus, based in Duluth, Minnesota, designs and manufactures small, single-engine aircraft that are highly regarded for their modern technology and innovative safety features. Cirrus is viewed by many to be part of America's aviation heritage, but its sale to China is pending in a deal that might be approved as early as May.

Although formed in 1984, Cirrus has been 58% owned by the Bahraini concern Arcapita since 2001. The current Chinese deal, for a reported $210 million, would be for 100% of the company -- leaving no US ownership, which has been a major cause of consternation.

Struck by how passionately the community wanted Cirrus to be back in American hands, Foley saw a window of opportunity to at least to try and assemble a group of investors and organize an eleventh-hour unsolicited bid.

“The initial investor response was swift and encouraging,” Foley said. "We’ve since had time to follow up, and even contact those on our own aerospace investor list. While we continue to identify and vet more prospective investors, the general consensus thus far is to see first whether the Chinese offer currently on the table proceeds to fruition. There is some element of doubt on this, but many believe it probably will. If it doesn't, however, we have investors waiting to reevaluate the situation. We acknowledge our investors’ viewpoint in following this approach.”

Foley believes that other possible investor groups are also working on contingency plans for Cirrus. “Some have been in contact with us, while others are more low-key. What’s important is knowing that the merits of our concept are shared by others, which hopefully boosts the odds of restoring Cirrus as an American-owned fixture.”

About Brian Foley Associates (BRiFO)

Brian Foley Associates are recognized thought leaders and management advisors to the general aviation industry. Primary practice areas include industry analysis and forecasting, market research, strategic planning, new product evaluation and transaction support. The firm was formed in 2006 by industry veteran Brian Foley, a former executive at a major business jet manufacturer for over 20 years. Mr. Foley is also a licensed securities representative of John W. Loofbourrow Associates, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, who helps find buyers and growth capital for general aviation companies. For more information visit www.BRiFO.com, www.LoofInc.com, or follow @BrianFoleyAssoc on Twitter.

Women of Aviation Worldwide Week

2011-04-25T06:29:00.002-05:00

This press release was received by Thirty Thousand Feet:

Calhoun Air Center Soars Above and Beyond

Port Lavaca, Texas - March 8, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, in celebration, the aviation community proclaimed the entire week to be Women of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW). Calhoun Air Center embraced the main goal of the event which was to show females worldwide that they care capable of achieving their dreams; specifically that a career in aviation is an advantageous outlet for them.

This weekend, airport manager, Dianna Stanger offered free helicopter rides to 104 passengers from our community, of those 98 were females! “It was two fantastic days of girls and women in every age group!” commented Stanger. “Mrs. Annette Pfeil, 79 years old, was by far one of the most unique women to take flight. She had this on her bucket list to fly in a helicopter; she loved it so much she flew both days!”

Indeed, Annette returned on Sunday with her great grandson, Mason Taylor and his cousin, Ellea Boyd. Mrs. Pfeil said, “I thought, ‘This is too good to pass up!’ It was a great family experience and they’ll have a lot to say when they go back to school next week. It was a wonderful experience, I really enjoyed the ride, it’s neat to see Port Lavaca from the air, a whole different view. I loved being able to look down and see the buildings, their shapes and in the bay you could see all of the shallow areas.”

The air center emphasized the multiple options available to kids and girls. “The main goal of the event was to give back to those young women who are volunteering their time to better themselves and their communities and to introduce them to a portion of society that is severely under populated by female participants.” said flight school manager, Steve Plunkett. In fact, female aviators only make up six percent of the total pilot demographic which can be vastly improved!

They concentrated on two organizations, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Girls with Wings (GWW). The EAA has a summer camp, an array of awards and scholarships for kids interested in aviation. The girls were given the opportunity to use this flight as their Young Eagles First Flight, which is a part of the EAA, and have their names entered into the world’s largest logbook plus gain access to a wealth of aeronautical knowledge tailored to youth aspiring towards a life involving aviation including scholarship funding that can be applied directly towards flight training costs.

One passenger, 15-year-old Grace Carr said, “I haven’t researched if it was possible to find scholarships, but yesterday I filled out a form for EAA Young Eagles, and the air center sent me home with a packet about learning to fly and Girls With Wings, so it\'s awesome.”

GWW opens the world of aviation up to young women and is a fantastic way for girls to find a mentor pilot in their area, follow the online education process to get active in aviation and has a scholarship program available. Both groups have fantastic websites that are gold mines of information to keep young people interested in aviation.

Dianna proudly stated, “It was an eye opener to many of the girls to ride in a helicopter. They had the opportunity to fall in love with flying; that was heartwarming to share my love of aviation with so many others who could do it too.”

Many of the girls and women had never been on a helicopter, for some their excitement was uncontrollable. Michele Kuester saw the advertisements and decided to treat her daughter to an unforgettable experience.

Michele said, “My daughter, McKinsey was in complete AWE of the whole experience. Dianna was so inspiring, so encouraging and the love she has for flying just radiated from her. When we drove away from the airport McKinsey said ‘Mom, that was soooooooo cool…when I grow up I want to be just like Miss Dianna and fly helicopters too!’ Not only did it open my daughter’s eyes to a whole new career option it was literally a once in a lifetime experience.”

Everyone at Calhoun Air Center is glad that the mission they set out to accomplish was achieved far beyond their expectations. As the girls’ left the airport, their beaming faces were overwhelming.

Calhoun Air Center - PKV

www.CalhounAirCenter.com

4876 FM 3084

Port Lavaca, Texas 77979

Pilot Exposure to Criminal and Civil Liabilities on the Job

2011-03-09T06:07:00.004-05:00

The following guest post was written by Michael W. Johnson, the President and CEO of Paramount Aviation Resources Group. It was motivated when Continental Airlines mechanic John Taylor was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the crash of the Concorde flight AF4590.

The recent ruling by the French Court convicting Continental Airlines mechanic John Taylor for involuntary manslaughter for the crash of the Concorde flight AF 4590 in July, 2000 brings to light the vulnerability airline personnel face as part of their job. One of the interesting aspects of this case was that Taylor, an aircraft mechanic, lives and works in Texas. He was charged and convicted of a crime without ever entering the jurisdiction of the court that ruled on the case.

This is not a standalone case of crewmembers being criminally charged for negligence following an aircraft incident or accident. Other examples of crewmembers being criminally charged following accidents or incidents include:

A Lebanese court convicted the captain of UTA Flight 141 in October 2010 and jailed him for 20 years following a crash in December 2003. The aircraft took off up to 20,000 pounds over the maximum allowable gross takeoff weight and crashed shortly thereafter. Authorities ruled that the cause of the crash was “[uneven] distribution of the load.”

An Italian court convicted the captain and co-pilot for the Tuninter Flight 1153 crash off the coast of Sicily in 2005. Both pilots received jail sentences. The court ruled that the pilots failed to take adequate emergency measures before the crash.

Two U.S. corporate pilots were charged by a Brazilian court following a mid-air collision that resulted in the crash of a B-737 over Brazil in 2006. Prosecutors insist that the corporate jet was flying at the incorrect altitude (even though the evidence supported the pilot’s assertions that the altitude was assigned to them by ATC).

A Japan Airlines (JAL) MD-11 pilot was indicted for professional negligence in the death of a crewmember following a 1997 in-flight turbulence incident. The pilot was later found not-guilty of the charges, but his career and reputation were irreparably damaged.

There are many more examples. These cases all support the notion that crewmembers cannot succumb to complacency and be must remain vigilant at all times while on duty. Even though a pilot may not be directly responsible for the cause of the crash that does not preclude him/her from being charged or even jailed following an accident or incident.

It is also important to remember that countries do not share common laws in regard to the rights and trial procedures of someone charged with criminal liability, especially non-citizen defendants. In general terms negligence is defined as, “The failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in a similar situation.” This legalese translates into, “any conduct that falls below the legal standard established to protect others against unreasonable risk of harm.” [See Black’s Law Dictionary, Garner p. 1061.]

The usual standard by which action or inaction on the part of the crewmember is measured against for a professional pilot would be that of generally accepted procedures in the aviation industry (such as an ICAO standard) or that of the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred. In the latter situation it is difficult to ascertain exactly what the standard of measure will be; however, factors that will be considered include: company operations specifications and policies as well as the rules set forth by the governing authority for the jurisdiction you are operating in. On a long international flight this will encompass several jurisdictions.

Even by following all of the proper procedures there is no guaranty that charges will be not brought against a crewmember in the event of an accident or incident. It is important to always have access to legal counsel. Crewmembers should check with their operator as to what legal support services will be supplied on their behalf or identify their own counsel with knowledge and experience in aviation cases.

Remember too, that all crewmembers may be subject to the same liability for the actions or inactions of fellow crewmember. Whether you are the Pilot in Command (PIC), Second in Command (SIC), Pilot Flying (PF) or Pilot Not Flying (PNF) your actions and inactions will be closely scrutinized.

To mitigate potential exposure to legal liability I suggest crewmembers follow this non-exhaustive list of good operating practices:

Follow your company’s standard operating procedures;
Strictly adhere to all rules and regulations (a common example is eliminating non-essential communications below 10,000 feet);
Use and adhere to all normal, abnormal and emergency checklists;
Adhere to MEL and CDL limitations;
Go around if you are not stabilized as defined in your company’s operational specifications on final approach;
Do not attempt a takeoff or landing into know or suspected conditions that exceed the limitations for the aircraft you are operating;
Use good CRM skills;
Use accepted ICAO phraseology when communicating with ATC;
Put the seat belt sign on before entering areas of known or suspected turbulence;
Expect and demand the same level of professionalism from your colleagues as you do from yourself.

In summary, be conservative, be professional, and be safe. In aviation it is always better to be safe than sorry.

About Michael W. Johnson
Mr. Johnson is the founder, President & CEO and a member of the board of directors for Paramount Aviation Resources Group. Mr. Johnson’s flight experience includes international and domestic operations throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Mr. Johnson served as the Chief Pilot in Honolulu, Hawaii for JALWays (a subsidiary of Japan Airlines). Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University and a Juris Doctorate law degree from Concord University School of Law.

The Joy of Flight

2011-02-05T17:32:00.012-05:00

The following article was submitted by Stan Taylor, Workshop
Presenter, Scientists in School:

The Windsor Airport always held a fascination for me. I used to ride my bike up to the fence where the aircraft used to take off or land, depending upon which way the wind was blowing, in total fascination. “What got them off the ground? What kept them in the air?” are questions I would ask myself with my head cranked skyward. The answers to these questions would come much later during my senior years.

I taught elementary school with the Toronto Catholic District School Board for 23 years. My last four years were spent teaching Grade 6 students at St. Barnabas in Scarborough how to build balsawood gliders to scale. We would start off using a 1:1 scale on 1 cm2 grid paper.

On an overhead projector I would show them how to draw the top view, side view and front view. We would put in all the measurements, and make out a materials list. We made the airplanes and it was such good fun.

When I retired, I joined a group called “Scientists in School” (www.scientistsinschool.ca). This not-for-profit organization began in 1989 in 40 Durham Region classrooms as a pilot project of community scientists. Today about 600 000 children and youth participate in 65 curriculum-aligned workshops across the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Guelph, Waterloo Region and Niagara Region, with outreach into rural and remote communities in other parts of Ontario. We are also doing a pilot project in Lethbridge, Alberta. We have the largest elementary student reach of any science promotion organization or any science centre across Canada. We are, in essence, the field trip that comes to the school.

I teach a workshop with Scientists in School called “Air and Flight.” In this workshop, the students do experiments to demonstrate the four forces that govern flight, namely: Thrust, lift, gravity and drag. I am in my 10th year doing this workshop and it is as much fun for me now as it was when I first started.

Scientists in School has allowed me to go beyond the organization with my flight activities. I have been involved in the “Malls of Science” through “Science Rendezvous” for the past three years teaching children from 8 to 15 how to build balsawood gliders. Three years ago I was privileged to do an all-day workshop on “Things That Fly” for a school of the deaf in Toronto. During the Summer of 2009, I took part in the 100th Anniversary of powered flight in Canada with COPA 70 at the Oshawa Airport. I do my workshops with 10 school boards in and near Toronto. During the second week of November, I gave a workshop to Ontario educators on “Building Balsawood Gliders to Scale” at the Annual Conference of the Science Teachers Association of Ontario.

What was really fascinating about the Conference was the hotel’s close proximity to Pearson International Airport. Whenever I went out to my car or returned to the hotel, I could hear a jet overhead and I looked up.

On December 12, I was at the Canadian Air and Space Museum teaching children how to make hovercrafts and balsawood gliders. Although I now comprehend the physics of flight and comprehend how aircraft get off the ground and stay airborne, I am still in awe of these beautiful flying machines. I daydream and I think back to the days of my youth, well spent at the Windsor Airport.

Stan Taylor,

Workshop Presenter

Scientists in School

New Bush Pilot DVD

2010-12-04T15:29:00.003-05:00

Jim Oltersdorf appeared as our guest in Episode 95 of the Airplane Geeks Podcast. Jim sent along a press release about his newest DVD:

Soldotna, Alaska

Dec. 4, 2010

Aviation Documentary Set For National Release Dec. 15, 2010

Laura Hinz/Dec. 4, 2010

SOLDOTNA, ALASKA, Dec. 4, 2010---Jim Oltersdorf Film Productions based on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska has announced December 15, 2010 as the date for the release of their new DVD, “Alaska’s Bush Pilots…The Real Deal, Commercial Operations”. www.alaskasbushpilots.com

Based upon five months of filming entirely in Alaska, the one-hour long documentary showcases the commercial operations and pilots of this magnificent state. When asked why the production company decided to invest such an enormous amount of time, energy and financial risk, the film’s executive producer, Jim Oltersdorf replied; “There were three very distinct reasons why we made that decision. First, the motivation was quite apparent from the public’s reaction to the first documentary released, “Alaska’s Bush Pilots…The Real Deal”. It sold out worldwide in a very short time so we began to realize there was an incredible interest in not only how these men fly in the extreme and remote wilderness but also the varied kinds of the aircraft used. We carefully read each and every e-mail and letter we received and used that communication as a focus of our direction for this exciting show. Pilots from around the world asked that if we ever produced another documentary, that we incorporate educating the viewers about the latest technologies & equipment so they could gain an understanding of the assets available. Most importantly, it is presented by the pilots who fly these machines that have a complete understanding of it.”

Laura Hinz, says, “The documentary is real and based upon the actual people who live and fly in this region. What you hear and how it is told comes straight from those of whom we interviewed without any prompting. They tell it like it is. I must say, the footage that was shot was extremely interesting, especially when the pilot of the 337 Cessna has to pull out his 12 gauge shotgun in defense of the cameraman's life as well as his own as a giant Alaskan brown bear sow with cubs menaces them as they land on a remote beach! It doesn't get any more exciting than that!

The documentary is scheduled for to premier Dec. 15, 2010.

New Media Marketing for the Aviation Industry

2010-11-03T20:19:00.004-05:00

Flight Plan to Sales Success: New Media Marketing for the Aviation Industry

“New Media” and social media are quite the rage these days. We see Twitter, Face Book, LinkedIn, YouTube, and all the rest mentioned throughout the traditional media. There are examples of companies that have used new media to great effect, building or extending their brand image and generating incremental revenue. There are also examples of companies who have bungled their attempt to enter this different world, and even companies who have lost control of their brand as social media forces have taken control.

As in other industries, many aviation companies struggle when it comes to building a marketing strategy that embraces these new media. Enter Paula Williams, a consultant with ABCI who specializes in helping aviation companies develop B2B marketing strategies. She packs a lot of advice and insight into her recently published book, Flight Plan to Sales Success: New Media Marketing for the Aviation Industry.

Honestly, there are plenty of new media consultants and “experts” who are happy to sell you a path to success in this new world. What’s particularly interesting here is that Paula is focused on the aviation industry specifically.

Before I go too far, I should mention that Paula appeared as a guest in Episode 67 of the Airplane Geeks Podcast I produce. Also, an email interview she conducted with me is included in the book. However, I derive no financial gain from the book or Paula’s consulting services.

With that said, Flight Plan to Sales Success is a valuable resource for those looking for some guidance as they contemplate integrating social media with their marketing strategy. To this point, Paula observes in the book that social media is not really a strategy unto itself. Rather, it can be a component of your overall marketing strategy, but as such it must be integrated.

Besides explaining the value of planning your marketing strategy and tactics, Paula touches on mobile marketing (which I think will continue to grow in importance), how to produce an effective corporate blog, and how to attract and maintain your audience.

Paula notes that one aspect of new media is that the conversation between a company and its customers is a public conversation. Two way, one way, it doesn’t matter – the conversation is out there for all to see. This has important implications for your company. If you ignore the conversation, then it goes on without you among your customers, and maybe even among your competitors! If you participate in the conversation, then you have the opportunity to leave a positive impression in public and manage your brand image.

There are literally thousands of aviation blogs being published, and you may be considering a corporate blog. What content should you provide? Paula has some suggestions for aviation industry companies: examples of customers receiving value from your products or services, tips and tricks for effective use of your product, aviation humor, spotlight on one of your customers, a featured employee, company support for a charitable cause, “green” stories, and new products or services.

Flight Plan to Success also talks about writing content, or having it written by others, reasons why aviation marketing fails, effective search engine optimization, and other topics. At 118 pages, the book is not exhaustive, but it is enough to provide the basics. It also gives you enough so you’ll know what questions to ask as you look to a marketing strategy that includes new media.

Flight Plan to Sales Success: New Media Marketing for the Aviation Industry

By Paula Williams

ISBN 978-0-557-56882-6

To order the book, contact ABCI at: http://www.AviationBusinessConsultants.com/

or email Paula Williams at: paula@AviationBusinessConsultants.com.

See Paula Williams in the video of the NBAA10 Aviation Social Media Panel.

European Private Aviation Conference

2010-09-09T07:10:00.006-05:00

This message is from conference organizer Fleming Gulf:

A conference being organized by Fleming Gulf called the European Private Aviation Conference, which will take place on the 1^st and 2^nd of November, 2010, in Vienna, Austria.

This Conference offers a comprehensive two day program exploring the region’s business aviation industry to seek solutions and address critical challenges such as extending EU competencies in the areas of safety and security, updating the Single European Sky and implementing new Air Traffic Management Systems, to name a few.

Here’s a sneak peak into some of the key topics of discussion driving this conference:

* Future trends into the International Business Jet Market originating from Europe

* Regulatory issues for operating from Europe into the Emerging market regions

* Emissions Trading and Carbon Offset Plans

* Sustainable Aircraft Fuel and its alternatives

Click to Read More

After having participation from over 100 Senior Level delegates from the aviation sector early this year at the Middle East Business Aviation Conference, together with widespread media publicity and sponsorship, EPAC promises to be bigger and better; bringing together the who’s who of the European Aviation Industry together with the biggest players as solution providers.

You may request a brochure or send an email for more information.

There are great discounts for early registration.

Natasha Jiandani
Marketing Executive
Fleming Gulf

DC-7B passenger flights out of Teterboro Airport, NJ

2010-07-09T05:16:00.002-05:00

Three sightseeing flights on board the Historical Flight Foundation's completely restored 1958-era Eastern Air Lines Douglas DC-7B have been scheduled for August 12, 13 and 14, 2010 from Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, NJ. The flights will last for approximately 60 minutes with seats priced at $300 each. Money raised from this event will benefit the Historical Flight Foundation and the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey.

To make reservations to fly aboard this historic symbol of the "Golden Age of Air Travel," visit: http://hffshop.com/thfrorsaa121.html.

"Air Racer: Chasing the Dream" US TV Premiere

2010-06-30T05:34:00.002-05:00

This documentary movie is worth watching. I have my own copy on DVD. There's nothing like air racing!

"Air Racer: Chasing the Dream" premieres on The Documentary Channel on Monday, July 12, 2010.

For a complete of list of showtimes, please visit www.DocumentaryChannel.com.

See the trailer at www.AirRacerTheMovie.com.

Air racing is the world’s fastest and most dangerous motor sport. The new feature documentary "Air Racer: Chasing the Dream" follows inventor and race pilot Jon Sharp and his wife Patricia over a six-year journey to create the world’s most advanced racing airplane, the Nemesis NXT. They put everything on the line, including Jon’s life, to realize a dream that's much larger than just winning a race… they intend to change air racing forever by offering their revolutionary design to other pilots.

With the help of a close-knit team of volunteers, Jon and Patricia design, build, test, and race their cutting-edge aircraft. As they race their creation against some of the best pilots in the world, they almost lose everything during a crash landing in front of fans and competitors. Jon and Patricia are faced with the possibility of failure after years of total commitment to their project. They must find a way to carry on and keep their dream alive if they hope to realize the true potential of what they have created. In the end, the reality of their achievement reaches so far beyond anyone’s expectations that air racing will never be the same again.

What People Are Saying

"'Air Racer' is a documentary about the elite world of air racing. The movie profiles a husband and wife team that try to create the most advanced, purpose-built air racing airplane ever built. The result is an exciting look at the competitive, but rarely seen world of air racing."

-Jason Paur, WIRED.com

"Unbelievable. Breathtaking. And above all… REAL. This is a movie about air racing that looks like it can hit the holy grail of appealing to the general public and also be something we can all get behind."

-AAFO.com, HangarTalk

"'Air Racer' is a skillful blending of the personal and technical aspects of air racing that spectators never get to see. It’s all there... The next best thing to being at the Reno Air Races. Highly recommended."

-Jack Cox, Sportsman Pilot magazine

Solar Impulse

2010-06-30T05:22:00.002-05:00

This press release received...

It all began with a crazy idea: the ambition to fly around the world in a solar airplane without fuel. In a world depending on fossil energies, the Solar Impulse project is a paradox, almost a provocation: it aims to have an airplane take off and fly autonomously, day and night, propelled uniquely by solar energy, right round the world without fuel or pollution. An unachievable goal without pushing back the current technological limits in all fields...

Next step: after around 10 successful test flights, the Solar Impulse Team is about to fly through a whole night this month! The greatest challenge, before the round-the-world trip, will be this first complete night flight.

ALTRAN - Solar Impulse Official Engineering Partner > The ALTRAN group, leading innovation consultant, is placing its multi-disciplinary expertise (project management, risk management, etc.) and its multi-sector (aeronautics, renewable energies, etc.), at the disposal of Solar Impulse. ALTRAN has created a flight simulator to optimize technological choices for the construction of the aircraft, to precise calculations and energy management, so as to develop genuine flight mission strategies in real weather conditions.

From the 1st flight, the simulator showed its efficiency and it is improved at each new flight.

The night flight opens a door for technology that will be essential to future generations.

- Altran dedicated webpage : http://www.altran.com/solarimpulse

- Night Flight Video Teaser : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQqCikS3wqw

- Officiel Event Twitter : http://twitter.com/solarimpulse

Fantasy of Flight's World's Greatest Dad Promotion

2010-05-12T21:39:00.001-05:00

Fantasy of Flight's World's Greatest Dad Promotion and Dads Get in Free Offer

Date June 17-20, 2010

Start Time 10 a.m.

End Time 5 p.m.

Location 1400 Broadway Blvd. S.E., Polk City, FL 33868

Description The "World's Greatest Aircraft Collection" is looking for the "World's Greatest Dad" for a once in a lifetime ride in Fantasy of Flight's Storch plane! Children and adults are invited to explain in 50 words or less why their Dad is the greatest to win this and other great prizes to include annual passes, attraction tickets and more. Entries are due by 5 p.m. on June 8th . Prizes will be awarded on Father's Day, June 20. For more details, visist www.fantasyofflight.com. As a special Father's Day treat, Dads get in free to Fantasy of Flight with one paid guest over the Father's Day weekend, Thursday, June 17 - Sunday, June 20.

Cost Dad is free with one paid Fantasy of Flight General Admission on June 17 - 20, 2010. General admission - Adults $28.95, Seniors $24.95, Children 6-15 $14.95, Toddlers 5 and under free.

Contact Mary Deatrick

Telephone 407-332-5212

Email info@fantasyofflight.com

URL www.fantasyofflight.com

For More Information 863-984-3500

Charity flight around Australia

2010-05-01T05:28:00.003-05:00

Listeners of the Airplane Geeks podcast will recall our mention of Owen Zupp's around Australia charity flight (Episode 94). Owen sent the following message:

Hi All,

I’m not usually a fan of the ‘broadcast email’, but I thought I would break my rule in this instance.

I depart on Wednesday to fly around Australia in an attempt to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The trip is titled, ‘There and Back’. www.thereandback.com.au

With cheques and online donations, we have already raised over $3,000 before the wheels lift-off and to those who’ve already chipped in ‘Thank You’.

If you are able to spare a dollar or two for this great Australian service, the Flying Doctor, please visit http://www.mycause.com.au/mycause/raise_money/fundraise.php?id=4389 and contribute what you can. I am self-funding the flight, so all of these donations go straight to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Many thanks in advance, your help is greatly appreciated.

Owen Zupp
www.thereandback.com.au

Please consider supporting this worthwhile event if you can.

Pappy Boyington Field

2010-04-06T21:56:00.001-05:00

Received this from an Airplane Geeks podcast listener:

Just wanted to inform you about my documentary film "Pappy Boyington Field."

Pappy Boyington was the leader of the famed VMF-214 Black Sheep Squadron in the Pacific during WWII, an ACE Fighter Pilot, POW, and recipient of the Medal of Honor. Many people will remember the popular television series "Baa Baa Black Sheep", which starred Hollywood icon Robert Conrad as Pappy.

You can learn more at the website: www.PappyBoyingtonField.com

The film tells the story of the grass-roots effort to honor this WWII Aviator in the town of his birth, with a commemorative airfield naming, and the campaign was not without controversy.

It has been shown at aviation events like EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow, and the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The documentary has just launched on DVD.

Please consider sharing this news with your fans.

Best regards,

Kevin Gonzalez
Producer/Director
www.PappyBoyingtonField.com

DC-3 75th Anniversary at Oshkosh

2010-03-04T20:19:00.003-05:00

This press release from the EAA:

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (March 4, 2010) - Possibly the largest gathering of DC-3 aircraft since the 1940s is committed to the aircraft's 75th anniversary commemoration during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, coming July 26-August 1 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

That celebration includes what could be a 40-airplane mass arrival at Oshkosh on Monday, July 26 - the opening day of the 58th annual edition of AirVenture. Aircraft and DC-3 enthusiasts from around the world have already committed to participate in the event, including many aircraft that have never before been seen at Oshkosh. In all, as many as 50 or more DC-3s (or its military counterparts, the C-47 and R4D) could be at the event.

"When we first suggested the DC-3 75th anniversary party, we thought as many as 25 aircraft might make for an outstanding program," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. "The response has been far beyond our greatest expectations and now will be one of the greatest aircraft reunions ever seen at Oshkosh, with more surprises to come."

The mass arrival fly-in was capped at 40 aircraft, which will stage at Whiteside County Airport in Sterling/Rock Falls, Ill., beginning on Saturday, July 24, with support provided by M & M Aviation.

Following a media day and dinner on July 25, the formation's pilots will have their full safety briefing on Monday morning, July 26, prior to the public departure for Oshkosh. The full group, with a combined 96,000 horsepower, is scheduled to arrive at AirVenture in time to open that

day's afternoon air show with an unforgettable flyover.

The previous world record for a DC-3 formation is 27 aircraft in 1985. Those aircraft not participating in the mass arrival will arrive at Oshkosh on their own schedule and be part of the many activities surrounding the DC-3 anniversary.

In addition, a special guest "mystery aircraft" - rarely seen in flight - will be part of the mass arrival. That's airplane's identity and pilot will be announced on the www.thelasttime.org website that is the host website for the mass arrival. That website is also posting "Hero FBOs" that are offering fuel and food discounts for DC-3 crews heading to Oshkosh; as well as a diary section that welcomes DC-3 fans to post their own fond remembrances of the iconic airplane.

Other activities honoring the DC-3 and its military cousins include an evening program at EAA's Theater in the Woods; a series of forums and presentations throughout the week at AirVenture; DC-3 aircraft flying skydiving teams during the afternoon air shows; special movie presentations at the Fly-In Theater; and other activities. A number of aviation personalities involved with the development and flight operations of the DC-3 will also be guests at AirVenture.

"We appreciate all the efforts of dedicated volunteers who are helping make this celebration possible," Poberezny said. "There is already an enormous 'buzz' around this once-in-a-lifetime event for the DC-3, and the military C-47 and R4D versions, which also fits very well with this year's 'Salute to Veterans' activities at Oshkosh."

Complete presentation schedules will be posted at www.airventure.org as they are finalized.

EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH is The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration and EAA's yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.airventure.org. EAA members receive lowest

prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN- EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org.

Immediate news is available at http://twitter.com/EAAupdate.

Second Nick Grant adventure published

2010-01-23T11:12:00.004-05:00

Jamie Dodson writes historical fiction novels set in the Pacific in the mid 1930s, and he's got an interesting background. From his website:

He has over 25 years of experience in Counter Intelligence, Special Intelligence, Signals Intelligence and Intelligence Analysis for the US Military. He's served with Special Operations, Army Aviation, Airborne Infantry, and Military Police. He's been involved in operations in Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, Korea, Guam, Samoa, the Hawaiian Islands and the continental United States.

Jamie's first book in the Nick Grant series is Flying Boats and Spies, and now he's got a second novel, China Clipper. You can learn more about these at http://www.nickgrantadventures.com/
but here are some reviewer comments:

Book one, Flying Boats & Spies, A Nick Grant Adventure

"Delightful! Flying Boats & Spies is a welcome return to a glamorous age of high-adventure and heroes--and a tribute to the grand-adventure series of yesteryear. Rollicking and great fun, this well-told tale of international intrigue should appeal to every generation in a family. I look forward to future volumes in this series."

Ralph Peters, author of Wars Of Blood And Faith

“Flying Boats and Spies is a marvelous tale of the men and women who pioneered the sky during an adventurous era. Dodson takes his readers back to those great, old days when aviation was young and nothing seemed impossible. Reading Flying Boats and Spies made me feel like a boy all over again.”

Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys/October Sky and The Ambassador's Son

"In Nick Grant, the reader gets a taste of Mickey Spillane, a young Chuck Yeager, and Charlie Chan, all rolled into one. But a gripping climax reveals the true Nick--a memorable hero in his own right. A fun read for lovers of adventure and international intrigue!"

Susan Rosson Spain, Author of THE DEEP CUT, a 2006 Marshall Cavendish Award Winner, www.susanspain.com.

“Flying Boats and Spies nails it! I have sailed those waters, lived some of Nick Grant’s adventures, and shared the very skies he flew. Jamie Dodson got it all right with a page-turning story that took me back to my youth and Pacific adventures that others only dream about. Grab this book before someone else does. And bring shark repellent… you’ll forget it’s not you in the book.”

Austin Boyd, Navy pilot and submarine hunter, award-winning novelist, and author of the Mars Hill Classified trilogy.

"'Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...' Flying Boats and Spies pays stirring tribute to the classic adventurers of the impossibly romantic pre-World War II period, adding depth, realism, and charm in liberal measure."

Michael Dobson, (no relation) co-author of Fox on the Rhine and MacArthur's War.

Book Two, China Clipper, A Nick Grant Adventure

“China Clipper is a terrific read! It's accurate, fast moving and filled with surprises; perfect for young people interested in history and aviation.”

Walter J. Boyne, Best Selling Author, Former Director, National Air & Space Museum, and enshrined in National Aviation Hall of Fame.

"China Clipper is a thrill ride. The action and perils never stop as young Nick Grant faces attacks on his life and his reputation while he helps Pan Am test its new plane. And his problems continue at school where he deals with anger and prejudice while making new friends. It's an exciting way to learn about a fascinating time in our history!"

Ann Marie Martin, Huntsville Times book columnist and copy editor.

"The popular Nick Grant series continues with China Clipper, a fast-moving, fun tale of adventure, flying boats, spies, and the sea. I love this series!"

Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys/October Sky.

Be sure to visit http://www.nickgrantadventures.com/

New edition of Squawk 7700

2010-01-16T10:36:00.002-05:00

Pilot and author, Pete Buffington, has published a 2nd edition of Squawk 7700. First Officer, Jeff Skiles from US Airways Flight 1549 writes the following:

Squawk 7700 is a timely, eye opening, must read aviation autobiography. The author, Pete Buffington, tells us what it takes to become an airline pilot. Growing up in the Midwest and learning to fly at a countryside Iowa airport, Buffington describes the sacrifices, focus, and emotions of being a young aviator. After several grueling years working as a flying instructor and flying airfreight, Buffington ends up flying for a regional airline after being sent to San Juan, Puerto Rico as a flight crew base. Immediately Buffington discovers the challenges of the regional airline industry and provides a descriptive, harrowing experience from inside the cockpit of an ATR42 as a First Officer.

Buffington returns to the Midwest to rediscover his love of aviation as a pilot. His life story brings him full-circle to discover deeper meaning to life while exposing the aviation industry from the inside. His personal experiences provide insight to a deeper understanding of why recent accidents like Colgan Air Flight 3407 and Comair Flight 5191 can occur.

My personal experiences as an airline pilot and as acting first officer aboard US Airways Flight 1549 that ditched into the Hudson River, I recommend Squawk 7700 for anyone interested in an aviation career, and mandatory reading for those who fly on our national airline system.

- Jeff Skiles, First Officer US Airways Flight 1549

Passenger Bill of Rights, DOT Style

2009-12-24T21:25:00.005-05:00

In response to consumer complaints about being stranded in airplanes for hours, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued new rules to "enhance airline passenger protections" in the following ways:

By requiring air carriers to adopt contingency plans for lengthy tarmac delays and to publish those plans on their websites.

By requiring air carriers to respond to consumer problems.

By deeming continued delays on a flight that is chronically late to be unfair and deceptive in violation of 49 U.S.C. §41712.

By requiring air carriers to publish information on flight delays on their websites.

By requiring air carriers to adopt customer service plans, to publish those plans on their websites, and audit their own compliance with their plans.

This goes back to November 15, 2007 when the Department of Transportation issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that "called for comment on seven tentative proposals intended to ameliorate difficulties that passengers experience without creating undue burdens for the carriers."

[The DOT] received approximately 200 comments in response to the ANPRM. Of these, 13 came from members of the industry-i.e., air carriers, air carrier associations, and other industry trade associations-and the rest came from consumers, consumer associations, and two U.S. Senators. In general, consumers and consumer associations maintained that the Department's proposals did not go far enough, while carriers and carrier associations attributed the current problems mostly to factors beyond their control such as weather and the air traffic control system and tended to characterize the proposals as unnecessary and unduly burdensome. The travel agency associations generally expressed support for consumer protections.

As a result of the input received, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was issued on December 8, 2008, which resulted in just 21 comments:

...10 comments were from members of the industry and the rest came from consumers and consumer associations. On the consumer side, eight individuals filed comments as did three consumer advocacy organizations: Flyersrights.org (formerly the "Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights" or CAPBOR), the Aviation Consumer Action Project (ACAP) and the Federation of State Public Interest Research Groups (U.S. PIRG). Of the industry commenters, two carriers (US Airways and ExpressJet Airways), and two airport authorities (Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and The City of Atlanta Department of Aviation) filed comments. Three industry associations filed comments: the National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), and the Regional Airline Association (RAA). Two travel agency associations, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA), also filed comments, as did the Airports Council International, North America (ACI-NA).

The DOT stirred all this together, and posted the final rule on 21 December 2009. The air carrier contingency plans require "that each plan include, at a minimum, the following:"

(1) an assurance that, for domestic flights, the air carrier will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours unless the pilot-in-command determines there is a safety-related or security-related impediment to deplaning passengers (e.g. weather, air traffic control, a directive from an appropriate government agency, etc.), or Air Traffic Control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to the gate or permitting passengers to disembark elsewhere would significantly disrupt airport operations;

(2) for international flights that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport, an assurance that the air carrier will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than a set number of hours, as determined by the carrier in its plan, before allowing passengers to deplane, unless the pilot-in-command determines there is a safety-related or security-related reason precluding the aircraft from doing so, or Air Traffic Control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to the gate or permitting passengers to disembark elsewhere would significantly disrupt airport operations;

(3) for all flights, an assurance that the air carrier will provide adequate food and potable water no later than two hours after the aircraft leaves the gate (in the case of a departure) or touches down (in the case of an arrival) if the aircraft remains on the tarmac, unless the pilot-in-command determines that safety or security requirements preclude such service;

(4) for all flights, an assurance of operable lavatory facilities, as well as adequate medical attention if needed, while the aircraft remains on the tarmac;

(5) an assurance of sufficient resources to implement the plan; and

(6) an assurance that the plan has been coordinated with airport authorities at all medium and large hub airports that the carrier serves, including medium and large hub diversion airports.

Failure to do any of the above would be considered an unfair and deceptive practice within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. §41712 and subject to enforcement action, which could result in an order to cease and desist as well as the imposition of civil penalties.

This rule is not without problems from the air passenger's point of view (see DOT Mandates Passenger Bill of Rights and I’m Not Happy by Cranky Flyer), but I maintain my previous position: the airlines brought this on themselves. They did so by failing to step up to the core issues being raised by irate passengers. The airlines defended overflowing toilets, bad air, and hungry and thirsty passengers by declaring that it was not their fault: they couldn't control the weather.

Well, of course they could not control the weather. They could, however, actively manage the effects of long, weather-induced flight delays in a way that their customers could understand and relate to. "The airlines" didn't do that quickly in at least some highly publicized cases. I think the result was entirely predictable.

Aviation "television" with ASB.TV

2009-12-18T06:40:00.011-05:00

Every once in a while something new comes along that makes you sit back and say "wow!" This is one of those times. With ASB.TV, you get a wide variety of aviation content in a user interface that is like no other I have seen.

First, the content: ASB.TV has a collection of videos that are stunning. This is not low quality amateur stuff - these videos and animations are professional grade in both production quality and subject matter. You'll find airshow and air racing video, historic movies, animations, and more. Here's an example:

The videos are compelling and by themselves could be reason enough for an entire website. But, as they say, there's more. ASB.TV also has photographs, a forum, and a store where you can purchase merchandise. There's lots to see and do here.

Now for the user experience: This site lives within something they developed called Black Box, which is pretty unique. Think of a box or a cube with six sides. By navigating to the right or left, or up or down, you expose different sides of the box which then become your desktop. Within a side of the box, you can have a number panels that hold the content, be it a video player, the forum, or anything else, and these can be rearranged or resized to suit your need. I think of it as little worlds of content that you customize as you go along.

Black Box runs on top of Adobe Air, the same thing powering TweetDeck and other applications. If you don't have it yet, you will after the installation process. That process also involves installing the ASB application on your computer. Now, I know what you're thinking. I also resist installing "stuff" that just clutters up my PC. Well, this is different. Just do it and you'll see why.

So just who is ASB? Well ASB is Air Show Buzz. They were founded in 2006 to "deliver the exhilarating aviation lifestyle to millions of consumers worldwide by providing top flight content, thrilling live events, consumer products, social networking and a community that connects a worldwide shared passion for flight and a fearless approach towards life." Talk about a high bar! Well, I'd say they're rockin' so far.

ASB's tag line is "Escape Life's Gravity" and they offer a portfolio of branded businesses beyond ASB.TV: animated and live-action film and television entertainment, The Horsemen acrobatic fleet, and lifestyle branded merchandise. ASB also offers innovative branding and marketing for air shows and top-rated performers.

So go get set up with ASB's Black Box application and I guarantee you'll spend some quality aviation time with their content.

Sport Air Racing League

2009-11-14T16:52:00.004-05:00

Received this press release:

The Sport Air Racing League: Final Race in the 2009 National Championship Series

Twenty eight aircraft are scheduled to vie for glory and prize in the Rocket 100 Air Race to be held on November 21, 2009. Aircraft will assemble in Taylor, Texas from Nevada, Utah, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri and Canada for this last race of the 2009 race season.

The 2009 Rocket 100 Air Race will be a six-turn, 130-mile timed event for Production and Experimental aircraft. Competitors will meet to complete their quest for season points and the ultimate Gold award. The year end banquet and awards ceremony will be held directly after the race concludes.

For more information on Sport Air Racing League events contact Mike Thompson or visit www.sportairrace.org.

The Sport Air Racing League (SARL) exists to promote cross-country air racing for production and experimental aircraft.

Aviation Weather Video

2009-11-14T15:46:00.000-05:00

The e-Go LSA

2009-11-14T10:25:00.005-05:00

In 2007, the UK's Civil Airworthiness Authority de-regulated light aircraft. The Light Aircraft Association organised a design competition for aircraft for this new class and Cambridge aeronautical engineers Giotto Castelli and Tony Bishop won the state-of-the-art category with their e-Go design. Since then, the project has been joined by Cambridge University research staff and students, specialists from local aerospace companies, pilots, and light aircraft builders.

Over 100 pilots have expressed an interest in buying the aircraft even though it doesn't go on sale for more than a year.

To achieve high strength and performance with low weight, the e-Go uses carbon fiber, foam, and advanced materials. It will take off from short grass strips, cruise at over 100 knots (115 mph, 185 kph) for 400 miles, and climb at about 1000 feet per minute. And it'll do all this at about 80 mpg!

The design was completed this summer after extensive computer simulations, wind tunnel tests and structural tests. Work is now underway on building the prototype, which should be completed by mid 2010.

For more information, see www.e-Go.me.

Eclipse Aerospace not wasting any time

2009-08-28T21:12:00.003-05:00

Eclipse Aerospace, the new owner of the remaining assets formerly owned by Eclipse Aviation, intends to open the doors September 1, 2009. Eclipse Aerospace, which offered $40 millions for the assets, was the only bidder in the bankruptcy proceedings.

According to New Mexico Business Weekly in Hirings rise as new Eclipse feels wind under its wings, Eclipse has already started hiring. Mike Press, one of the two Eclipse Aerospace investors:

“We have more than 600 resumes from former Eclipse employees [who] want to come back to work,” Press said. “We won’t hire back any of the old executive management, but we will re-hire engineers and the people who actually built the jet. There are a lot of high-quality, highly trained workers ready to come back to work.”

Tough break for the "old executive management," or maybe not!

First order of business is to support the existing fleet of Eclipse jets, but Press isn't content with that. He says, “It will take us at least six months, but a maximum of 18 months, to re-start production.”

Re-start production? As much as I'd like to see that happen my question would be, "what's different, other than the management team?" Mainly, where is the money to fund this going to come from? There must be a plan here, right?

A buyer for Eclipse?

2009-08-11T16:33:00.002-05:00

The bankruptcy court for Eclipse Aviation seems to have but one offer to buy the remaining assets: Eclipse Aerospace. They've put in a $40 million bid and the bankruptcy sale is now scheduled for August 20, 2009.

See: One bid for Eclipse as deadline set.

For detailed analysis, see the Eclipse Aviation Critic NG.

AirTran 100% Internet equipped

2009-07-16T21:02:00.004-05:00

AirTran promised in May that 100% of their fleet would be equipped for inflight Internet, and it seems they have delivered. Gogo Inflight Internet is now on all 136 of AirTran's aircraft.

"Promise made, promise delivered," said Bob Fornaro, chairman, president and CEO of AirTran Airways. "When you get onboard an AirTran Airways jet, you know exactly what you're going to get -- an assigned seat on a full-sized, new Boeing jet with Business Class, a friendly crew, complimentary XM Satellite Radio and now Wi-Fi. It's that consistent, low-cost, high-quality experience that sets us apart from our competitors."

With that accomplished, the airline is rolling out an “Internetiquette” campaign to teach people how to surf the Web in-flight without offending or annoying their neighbors. You can catch some of these tongue-in-cheek Internetiquette tips and videos by logging onto http://www.airtran.com/internetiquette/.

Rise and Fall of Flying Boats

2009-07-14T08:57:00.004-05:00

Author Jamie Dodson, of www.nickgrantadventures.com fame, sent the following:

All Y'all,

Experimental Aircraft Assoc (EAA) confirmed that I'll be presenting the "Rise and Fall of Flying Boats" at Oshkosh, WI, 2:30 - 3:45, July 31 and 11:30 - 12:45, August 2d. I'll also be at the author's corner for a "Flying Boats & Spies", book signing, Saturday August 1st and Sunday the 2d. OnStage publishing will release "China Clipper" in September. As with FB&S, I will donate a portion of my sales to ACS.

http://www.eaaapps.org/presenterinfo.aspx?id=982

I hope to see some friendly faces in the crowd. Please stop by if you can, I'd love to see you there.

An Airbus A380 novel

2009-07-14T07:02:00.003-05:00

This book summary was sent in by the author of a French novel about the Airbus A380:

Koursk, a Russian billionaire, bought a highly sophisticated Airbus A380. His goal? Owning a mobile Radio/TV station, allowing it to consolidate its empire of information being the only one, when an event occurs, to send an on-site production studio. He doesn't know he is in pursuit of a commando of Spanish terrorists, former victims of some of his business and determined to destroy the aircraft and its owner. Can an autonomous commando, equipped, and motivated shoot down a giant aircraft, protected by a group of ex-KGB agents?

The rest of the story based on a police story. The readers will discover the world of modern aviation.

For more see:

http://www.editeurindependant.com/doc/5138

http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2009/04/15/592063-Le-premier-roman-policier-aeronautique.html

Airplane Geeks Come and Airplane Geeks Go

2009-06-25T04:45:00.002-05:00

A recent press release:

Evanston, IL June 22, 2009 - A change has come to the top, the top of aviation geekdom that is. Courtney Miller, one of the daring-duo founders of the Airplane Geeks podcast (www.airplanegeeks.com) one year ago this week has produced his final show for the world famous radio program as he moves on to a new job in Canada. Airplane Geeks is the always relevant - often irreverent - look at the previous week's aviation industry news.

Replacing Courtney Miller are two bloggers and podcasters already well known to Airplane Geeks listeners. One who will valiantly attempt to fill Court's shoes is Rob Mark, CEO of CommAvia, a commercial pilot, writer and editor of the award-winning industry blog Jetwhine.com - (www.jetwhine.com). Rob was also just named an Aerospace Journalist of the Year for 2009 at the Paris Air Show. Dan Webb, a sophomore at Bryant University writes the Things in the Sky Blog at (www.thingsinthesky.com).

While listeners expressed sadness at Miller's decision to leave the podcast, co-host Max Flight said, "Courtney's leaving? Really?" Jetwhine editor Rob Mark said, "Although I learned quite a bit about being an airplane geek long before I met Court and Max, my daughter says I'll still fit right in." Webb added, "My coverage of both the shiny bits and the smudges within the airline industry should provide Rob and Max plenty to keep the discussion going."

Some industry competitors, obviously fearing for their own jobs now that Max, Rob and Dan have teamed up, piped in with their two cents. Flightblogger's Jon Ostrower said, "The world will never be the same," while Aviation Week's high priestess of the aviation world online, Benet' Wilson, said, "I am delighted to hear that my old friend Rob Mark will become the new co-host of the Airplane Geeks podcast. His segments are sure to kill the podcast giving the rest of us a chance to do our own version of the show. Just kidding. Good luck guys."

New episodes of the Airplane Geeks become available online and via RSS and iTunes each Tuesday afternoon. Airplane Geeks has also forged a new program syndication agreement with Flight Line Internet Radio - (www.flightlineinternetradio.com) - to run regular show segments.

Aviation museum articles

2009-06-18T21:47:00.002-05:00

Thirty Thousand Feet has begun publishing a series of sponsored Aviation Museum Articles. Each article provides information about a museum, including the museum’s mission, exhibits, program offerings, location, and admission prices. There is also a link to the museum’s web site.

Three articles kick off the series:

The Frontiers of Flight Museum located in Dallas, Texas. This museum provides a fun, interactive, and thorough walk through aviation history.

The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum at Martin State Airport in Maryland. This museum has a general aviation focus, but is more broadly dedicated to the promotion and preservation of aviation and space exploration in the State of Maryland.

The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington has a vast collection of aircraft, exhibits, interactive displays and workshops.
More articles will be added in the near future.

Visiting and supporting these and other aviation museums helps keep our aviation heritage alive, and its a great way to introduce our youth to the field of aviation. Find a museum near you and go have a great day exploring history!

Paris Air Show 2009 video

2009-06-18T04:52:00.004-05:00

Flightglobal has produced some great video at the 2009 Paris Air Show. The flight display highlights features the Eurofighter Typhoon, Airbus A-380, F-18 Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-130J Hercules, LH-10 Elipse, Bobin R-2160, and a beautiful old Lockheed Constellation.

Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields

2009-06-10T04:43:00.003-05:00

My aviation website pick of the week from Episode 50 of the Airplane Geeks podcast:

My pick is Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields, a website with descriptions and images of 1,428 airfields in all 50 U.S. states.

The author is Paul Freeman, a pilot who says he has always been interested in the abandoned airfields that are all over the country. These airfields can sometimes be critical to a pilot in an emergency, and sometimes they just have a fascinating history.

To explore the site a bit, I pretty much randomly chose Jonnycake Airport in western CT. I found t was built between 1957-60, initially with a 2,400' unpaved runway, but later with a 2,800' paved runway. There are sectional chart images, and recollections from a pilot who trained there in 1960. Other photos show private planes at the airport in the early days and aerial photos of the airport.

The airport closed in 2004 after a dispute between the airport owners and the owner of the property, who no longer wanted an airport on his property. The pilots argued about the economic benefits to the region, and the property owner responded by saying in the past 50 years that only amounted to two nearby restaurants that were popular with visiting pilots.The town made noises about grabbing the land by eminent domain, the FAA made noises about buying the airport, and so it remains. It's fascinating local history (in a lot more detail than I just related), but imagine that repeated for over 1,400 airports and you've got an impressive collection of aviation history here.

So, have a look at this site and you'll almost certainly find at least one abandoned airfield near you. Take the opportunity to learn a little local aviation history!

Five Key Trends Impacting the Aerospace and Defense Industry Amid Challenging Economic Times

2009-06-09T05:18:00.002-05:00

The following opinion article was provided by Accenture. It was written by Damien Lasou and it sets the stage for the upcoming Paris airshow.

As this year’s Paris Air Show comes into view, it’s become clear that fundamental change is in the air in aerospace and defense. The industry is shrinking on many different levels. On the decline industry-wide during the past year are a vast number of metrics including the number of airplanes manufactured, revenues and overall market size. The root cause, of course, is the extraordinarily challenging global economy.

In Paris we will witness a dramatically altered industry with a new set of trends and issues that are rapidly coalescing and will help companies accelerate towards high performance. They include:

Executing a more strategic approach to managing costs: If aerospace and defense companies cut costs broadly and indiscriminately in response to the declining market, they risk a vicious deflationary cycle. Instead, companies should embrace a more strategic approach to managing costs. Rather than solely focusing on lowering costs, companies must cut costs wisely with future plans in mind. The aim should be to free cash and capital for investments that position them to emerge from the downturn in a stronger position.

Embracing a more proactive investment mindset: Aerospace and defense companies should make proactive investments as opposed to postponing investments until the market recovers. Investments in program management, industrialized portfolio management and new innovative platforms are required for companies to have a foot in markets now and in the future. Investments in talent management are also key now because they secure future competency in an era of an aging and rapidly retiring elder workforce. And investments in adaptive supply chains are also crucial as the overall industry shifts more to emerging markets and new entrants. Accenture research has found that long-term “winners” tend to use downturns as opportunities to invest. When the market recovers, these companies pull ahead of their peers in overall performance.

Taking a more strategic approach to systems integration and outsourcing: Large aerospace manufacturers are rapidly transforming themselves into systems integrators that outsource many other aspects of airplane production such as engineering and manufacturing. Such collaborations can allow these companies to tap more industry-specific talent and increase the depth and breadth of their product and business portfolios. This will create successful new business models.

Accelerating the shift to a services business model: Customer service and support are key competitive differentiators as companies seek during the downturn to extend the life of their physical and financial assets. Services are one of the most promising areas of untapped growth, particularly as customers defer or cancel put aside purchases during the recession.

Keeping these points top of mind, I’m looking forward to the Paris Air Show as a springboard for great future opportunities and growth. I’m anxious to see which companies will be the trailblazers in transforming their businesses, the ones that will move ahead of the curve and accelerate towards high performance.

Damien Lasou leads the global Accenture Aerospace and Defense business. He can be reached at Damien.lasou@accenture.com.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company.

Living on an AirTran for a month

2009-06-03T20:52:00.003-05:00

That's right, comedian Mark Malkoff is living on an AirTran Airways plane for the month of June. He'll use AirTran Airways’ new Wi-Fi service to blog about his experience from 35,000 feet.

Malkoff plans to stay on the plane for 30 days straight as he attempts to break a Guinness Book of World Records continuous flight record. He’ll fly to up to 12 cities each day and at night sleep on board the plane at its hub in Atlanta.

Crazy? See for yourself at http://www.markonairtran.com/. You can also follow him on Twitter as @mmalkoff.

Alternative Sources of Energy for Aircraft

2009-06-01T20:08:00.003-05:00

From time to time we publish submissions from websitsite visitors. This one is from Mark Sorne, the Marketing & Business Development Officer at Aerosup Inc.

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY FOR AIRCRAFT

Due to increasing fuel costs, a lot of organizations in the aircraft industry are researching and investigating ways to come up with a solution. There are many major airlines around the world that reportedly incurred net losses already in the first quarter of the year 2008 compared to their previous revenues last year.

The use of alternative sources of energy may be the answer. Different companies are trying to develop alternative fuels to address its rapid rate of increase, which is a major problem globally.

The following might just be the answers:

a.. Hydrogen Fuel
b.. Biofuel
c.. Liquid Fuel Oil (GTL)
d.. Electric Power
e.. Fuel Cell

Hydrogen Fuel

Boeing has announced last April 03, 2008 that it has successfully managed to fly a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

It was the first time in the history of aviation. What was used is a lithium-ion battery pack and PEM hydrogen fuel cell, which was developed by Boeing Research and Technology Europe. Hydrogen is not considered an energy source rather a energy carrier because it takes huge amount of energy to extract it from water.

The plane which flown 3,300 feet for 20 minutes was a two-seat Dimona motor-glider with electric motor and conventional propeller. At one point during the course of the flight, the plane managed to reach a speed of 62 mph.

Boeing is not yet certain If this can be applied to a large passenger airplane but they would continue to research for the probability.

Biofuel

Last February 25, 2008, Virgin Atlantic successfully flown an airplane with biodiesel. This made them the first airline to have a breakthrough on this.

Biofuel can either a solid, liquid, or gas fuel derived from recently dead biological material. The use of it has a big potential to reduce our dependence on petroleum. Different types of biofules re vegetable oil, biodiesel, bioalcohols, biogas, syngas, cellulosic, and algae.

The company’s Boeing 747-400 flew from London to Amsterdam. One of its four fuel tanks has a 20 percent mix of biofuel derived from coconut and babassu oil. These were chosen because they are environmentally and socially sutainable and can be found in usual cosmetic products. No modifications were done to accommodate the biofuel.

Virgin Atlantic said that they are willing to share the results of its analysis to other organization also wanting to cut their carbon emissions.

But there might be a problem for flying planes with biodiesel, the fuel my freeze at high altitudes.

On October 19, 2007, Biodiesel Solutions and Green Flight International successfully completed a test flight in Nevada using a Czechoslovakian-made L-29 aircraft that has reached 17,000 feet during the course of the flight.

Liquid Fuel Oil

February 5, 2008. For the first time, an Airbus A380 aircraft has managed to fly using liquid fuel from gas, also known as GTL (Gas to liquids). It can be defined that GTL is a refinery method that transform natural gas or other gaseous carbons hydrocarbons into longer-chair hydrocarbons or liquid fuels. The resulting fuel then can only be blended with Diesel fuel. Shell International Petroleum provided the jet fuel used. The aircraft has flown from Filton UK to Toulouse France for three hours.

Electric Fuel

July 30, 2007. Sonex and Aeroconversions introduced an electric sports aircraft at the AirVenture OshKosh trade show. The aircraft was runned by electric engines and a high-output battery.

An electric aircraft is one, which runs on electric motors instead of combustion engines. The electricity can either come from fuel cells, solar cells, ultra capacitors, power beaming, or batteries.

Some of the advantages are decreased change of mechanical failure resulting to an increase in safety, lesser noise, greater torque from electric motors, and lesser risk of explosion or fire.

Fuel Cell

May, 2008. With the collaboration of German Aerospace Center and Airbus, the first commercial aircraft using fuel cells was introduced at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2008. The aircraft was an Airbus 320.

In the meantime, Sandia National Laboratories and Boeing are working together on a project for a possibility of using fuel cells to provide power backup for aircraft. The purpose is to provide alternative power for emergency situations when the main power shuts down. Also, Israel Aerospace Industries is currently developing an inter-city aircraft that will use fuel cells.

A fuel cell is electrochemical conversion equipment. It converts fuel and an oxidant to electricity, which reacts with the existence of electrolytes.

Mark Sorne
Marketing & Business Development Officer
Aerosup Inc.
E-mail: marketing@aerosup.com
Website: www.aerosup.com

An American Airlines customer experience

2009-05-30T20:32:00.004-05:00

My aviation website pick of the week from Episode 49 of the Airplane Geeks podcast:

My pick is the blog of Dustin Curtis, a user interface designer. Specifically, Article 8 (Dear American Airlines) and Article 9 (Dear Dustin Curtis), which you can find in his blog index. Dustin Curtis wrote to American Airlines:

"I’m a user interface designer. I travel sometimes. Recently, I had the horrific displeasure of booking a flight on your website, aa.com. The experience was so bad that I vowed never to fly your airline again. But before we part ways, I have a couple questions and three suggestions for you."

His 3 suggestions?

Treat this as a serious emergency across your entire company.
Fire your entire design team, if you have one.
Follow the lead of new, young, and innovative airlines like JetBlue and Virgin America. They know how to harness repeat business through excellent customer experience.

Curtis then went ahead and actually created a proposed redesign of the AA site. But then,

"A user experience architect who works on AA.com sent me a response to my letter. He titled it ' You’re right. You’re so very right. And yet...'”

The response gives some really good insight into the process that large corporations use when creating something so seemingly simple as a web page. It turns out there are some 200 people who together determine just what you see at AA.com!

"The group running AA.com consists of at least 200 people spread out amongst many different groups, including, for example, QA, product planning, business analysis, code development, site operations, project planning, and user experience. We have a lot of people touching the site, and a lot more with their own vested interests in how the site presents its content and functionality. Fortunately, much of the public-facing functionality is funneled through UX, so any new features you see on the site should have been vetted through and designed by us before going public."

It all makes for very interesting reading and provides insights into why it is difficult for some companies to be responsive to customer needs at anything faster than glacial speed.

AirTran Airways to offer Wi-Fi on every flight!

2009-05-12T07:00:00.003-05:00

Well, someone had to do it and it looks like it's going to be AirTran Airways. They announced May 12, 2009 that they will be the first major airline to offer passengers wireless broadband Internet access on every flight.

AirTran Airways is partnering with Aircell, the leader in airborne communications for business and commercial aviation, to offer passengers full inflight Internet service across its entire fleet of Boeing 737 and 717 aircraft. All 136 AirTran Airways jets will be fully outfitted with Gogo® Inflight Internet service by mid-summer.

This is a big deal. In my opinion, the ultimate form of inflight entertainment is where you are in control of the content. What better way to take control of your content than to base it around what you can do with the Internet.

So, what are the boundaries of the AirTran offfering? According to the airline, "passengers will have full Internet access including: Web, e-mail, instant messaging and access to corporate e-mail and network systems (virtual private networks) – through their Wi-Fi enabled laptops, smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs)."

Sounds pretty good, right? There must be a catch? Well, there is a fee but I wouldn't call that a catch. The GoGo service will be available "for a small fee" based on flight length. That seems reasonable as long as the fee is not exorbitant. I guess the market will define what that level is.

GoGo is the Aircell product that turns the aircraft into a Wi-Fi hotspot, just exactly what I want to see to take control of my own inflight entertainment. Oh, and do a bit of business work too.

Nice job AirTran!

Tweepitition launched for aviation geeks

2009-05-03T09:20:00.002-05:00

Airline branding expert, author of the outstanding Simpliflying blog, and previous Airplane Geeks Podcast guest Shashank Nigam has created an interesting little contest. Winners receive autographed copies of the book on Singapore Airlines, “Flying High in a Competitive Industry: Secrets of the World’s Leading Airline” and there is also an a 4GB Apple iPod shuffle to be had.

There are two ways to enter the drawing: You can follow @simpliflying on Twitter and tweet quotes from articles published on SimpliFlying, or you can subscribe to SimpliFlying updates and leave a comment on an article published from now till May 15, 2009.

Shashank produces interesting content, so it's worth following his activities anyway. Find more contest information at Announcing, SimpliFlying’s first Tweepitition!

Air travel and swine flu

2009-05-03T07:46:00.004-05:00

With the threat of Influenza A(H1N1) or "swine flu," many travel regulations are being introduced across the world that air travelers need to be aware of. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides some useful information through their Travel Center web page.

In their Latest Travel Document News, IATA notes:

Travel regulations introduced by Japan, Singapore, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Italy, Japan, Panama, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Armenia, Montenegro & Syria.

They provide links by country for more information, and in addition IATA has made available a Frequently asked questions – Influenza A(H1N1) and Air Travel page that relates World Health Organization guidelines for air travelers.

Tell the airline what you want on every flight

2009-04-25T20:44:00.003-05:00

Well, tell AirTran, anyway.

As part of a new campaign, AirTran wants you to visit www.everyflight.com and tell them what is the one thing you want on every flight. It could be anything, and it doesn't have to make a lot of sense. Submitted suggestions I found include trivia contests, bunny slippers, personal TVs, windmills (?), air fresheners, scuba diving (excuse me?), and lots of others.

What's the point? Well, it's a promotion, but it's kind of clever and more than a little engaging. Not only can you add your own suggestions, but you can vote for your favorites and see the results by U.S. state. New Yorkers seem to want WiFi on every flight but Californians want to see celebrities (go figure). Actually, WiFi seems to show up most often.

According to AirTran:

"We'd like to know what our passengers want; whether it's Jacuzzis, foosball tables or live music, we want to hear from you," said Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales for AirTran Airways. "We encourage all our customers to keep those creative suggestions coming until the big reveal in May."

That reveal comes May 12, 2009 and you may have a chance to win a seat on every flight. There are more aspects to this promotion, but you'd best visit www.everyflight.com and see for yourself.

Have fun.

The FAA wants to limit access to bird strike data

2009-04-08T07:53:00.003-05:00

From the April 4, 2009 posting at the respected AirSafe.com News titled Why the FAA Should Not Block Access to Bird Strike Data:

In March 2009, the FAA quietly made a stunning proposal to make it nearly impossible for the public to access a vital aviation safety resource. Since 1990, the FAA's National Wildlife Strike Database has been one of the most important tools for understanding bird and wildlife strike risks to aircraft. With over 100,0000 records, this database has the potential to benefit everyone who flies by giving the aviation safety community and the general public the opportunity to analyze that data in order to discover ways to reduce the threats to aircraft caused by birds and other wildlife. The FAA states several concerns about the database, but none of their arguments support their proposal to block public access to the data.

That post contains much more detail about the FAA's position and the opposing logic. In the follow-on post of April 6, 2009 titled Send Your Comments to the FAA, AirSafe provides additional information, as well as instructions on how you can contact the FAA and submit your thoughts on this topic.

AirSafe is a great source for airline accident information, and is known to deal with facts, not early speculation.

Airline alliance immunity challenged

2009-03-25T05:21:00.004-05:00

When airline alliances are created, or when new members are added, government anti-trust regulators must first give their approval. In the past, this approval came without an "expiration date," but there are forces circling to change that.

U.S. Representative James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, proposes in H.R. 831 to set a three year limit on immunity, after which the alliance would have to be reviewed. Predictably, the airlines are not thrilled with this idea.

The Air Transport Association of America (the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines) has come out with it's position in a recent press release:

International alliances are a vital element of a global economy and produce enormous benefits for travelers, businesses, shippers and others. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has historically approved international airline alliances because of the substantial benefits that they provide both to passengers, and to European and U.S. airlines. H.R. 831 could destroy important service and public benefits such as competitive fares and new routes by withdrawing previously granted rights for carriers to participate in alliances.

In addition, arbitrarily terminating antitrust immunity will have a harsh impact on airline employees and cause a ripple effect across the travel and tourism industry, at a time when U.S. unemployment is escalating rapidly. Based on data from ATA member airlines, this legislation could cost as many as 15,000 U.S. airline jobs alone, not to mention the indirect effect on employment at other companies both in the United States and abroad. U.S. airlines have already cut 28,000 jobs last year and announced thousands more cuts for 2009. This legislation would unnecessarily add to that total.

According to Finance and Commerce in U.S. airlines ‘whining’ about antitrust immunity, Oberstar is not having any of it:

“I’m not very tolerant of this whining about antitrust immunity,” Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, told an airline-industry group in Washington.

Mayor to President: Stop criticizing corporate aviation

2009-03-12T19:38:00.003-05:00

Carl Brewer, the mayor of Wichita, Kansas, has sent a letter to Barack Obama asking the President to lay off criticism of corporate aviation:

March 3, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Re: President’s comments on corporate jets

Dear Mr. President:

During your Feb. 24 address to Congress, you appropriately criticized corporate CEOs who “disappear on private jets.” I share your concern about the poor public image conveyed by such misuse.

And, while I personally agree that corporate abuse of business jet travel cannot be tolerated in these current economic times, it is important to remember that business jets are still an essential part of a successful national business plan. It is also important to remember that the responsible use of corporate jets will help spur our national economic recovery, maximizing productivity by minimizing travel times for key personnel.

It would be tragic if that essential business fundamental was lost amid the sensational news coverage of ill-advised corporate jet travel by a tiny percentage of corporate America.

As mayor of this great Midwestern city that takes great pride in the title of “Air Capital of the World”, I urge you to consider the big picture when referencing the misuse of corporate jets. Wichita’s long-term relationship with the aircraft manufacturing industry could be severely damaged if the corporate jet market is marginalized in the national debate over our struggling economy. But the loss of jobs locally in Wichita is only a small part of the national loss if corporate jet travel is unfairly disparaged.

Business jet manufacturing is a major part of our local and state economy, but it doesn’t stop there. Maintenance of Air Force One is performed right here in Wichita, Kansas. And every job created in the aircraft industry spins off nearly three other jobs that provide a great quality of life. Those numbers are too important to forget as we work together to fix our ailing economy.

I’d encourage you to take a first-hand look at this economic engine that pays off with high-quality jobs for our community. I would be honored to personally escort you on a tour of our local manufacturers. Most importantly, I stand ready to assist you in meeting the great challenges that lie ahead.

Thank you for your consideration.

Mayor Carl Brewer

I can think of a few other elected officials who need to get the message here.

Economics with Dr. Adam Pilarski

2009-03-09T06:20:00.004-05:00

This week on Episode 38 of the Airplane Geeks podcast, we welcome Dr. Adam M. Pilarski as our guest. Adam is Senior Vice President at the respected aviation consulting firm AVITAS, and he's also the author of the book “Why Can’t We Make Money in Aviation?” published by Ashgate in 2007. When you think of the top echleon of knowledgable people in this industry, Adam certainly makes the list.

We found Adam, like many of his "celebrity" peers, to be quite unassuming and a really funny guy. In our pre-show discussion, Court and I were in stitches. The man is simply a riot to talk to. But that doesn't diminish Adam's credibility and he had some really insightful things to say. Don't miss this great discussion. (And remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Any old computer will do!)

We discovered, by the way, that Adam seems to have a particular fondness for chocolate, a quality I can certainly identify with.

Online aviation communities

2009-02-22T07:38:00.005-05:00

"Social networking" is is all the rage these days, and almost everyone with a computer has heard of MySpace and Facebook, but what about online social communities that focus on aviation? Are there some that might appeal to the aviators, professionals, and enthusiasts among us? It turns out there are more than you might think and I thought I'd highlight a few.

myTransponder is technically still in beta but that shouldn't stop you from having a look, especially if you are a pilot or hard core enthusiast. It centers a bit around general aviation, but don't let that limit you.

Like other social networks, it has a mechanism to establish "friends" and create special interest groups. There are groups devoted to particular airplanes, specific geographic locations, aviation organizations, related products, and aviation events like AirVenture and Sun 'n Fun.

At myTransponder you'll find places to post photos, manage your aviation events, participate in polls, and carry on a number of activities with other members.

Twitter is a free "micro-blogging" service that's not specific to aviation, but it contains some ad-hoc "communities" that are made up of people that share an interest in aviation.

Twitter lets you post your thoughts, 150 characters at a time. People who choose to "follow" you see what you have to say. Similarly, you read the posts of the people you follow. By carefully selecting who you follow, you can create what is essentially a community that you define.

You can find me on Twitter as MaxFlight. If you look at the people I follow, you'll see that almost all have some aviation connection. When I read their messages, the flying theme is pretty strong. Over time you get to know the people you interact with. Besides the entertainment value, I've received and given help, created some great friendships, and found leads for topics and guests on the Airplane Geeks podcast I co-host.

Twitter is not for everyone, but it is somewhat addictive and you can tailor it to your needs if you are careful.

The Aviation Professionals Network is an interesting site that is similar to other social networks in that you sign up, create a profile, and engage in activities with other members.

AvProNet has special interest groups in the areas of maintenance, aircraft sales, helicopters, airlines, education, business aviation, training, search and rescue, avionics, and a lot more. Within each group you can find a comment wall and a discussion forum. Like other online communities, you get out of it what you put into it.

There are many more online aviation communities and social networks, some general in nature and others highly specialized. See the Aviation Forums and Communities page on Thirty Thousand Feet for a rather long list of them. Find one or two that appeal to you and start participating!

Flight 1549 final conversation with ATC

2009-02-05T21:48:00.002-05:00

ABC News reports FAA Releases Transcript From Hudson River Landing and provides links to the written transcript and the audio file of the conversation between Air Traffic Control and Flight 1549, just before it landed in the Hudson River.

Want to write for an aviation blog?

2009-02-05T21:37:00.002-05:00

An up and coming Aviation blog called Airviation is looking for regular contributors/writers. If you are interested contact John at Airviation through the Airviation website or write him at discover10 at gmail dot com along with some sort of aviation related article. No pay is offered, just a contribution and partnership in a great part of the online aviation community.

Go ahead, start you journey to become an Internet star!

Airplane models from 3D printing

2009-01-22T21:33:00.004-05:00

Create your very own model planes using 3D printing (Rapid Manufacturing). Shapeways says they can produce your models in an affordable and inspiring way. The possibilities for making a model airplane are pretty endless, and you can design a great customized airplane model.

How does it work? Simply upload your design and the model will arrive on your doorstep in 10-days or less, globally.

Shapeways helps users import and modify designs made by popular 3D modeling software. Currently accepted formats include STL, Collada, and X3D. With a few clicks, Shapeways checks whether the submitted objects can be produced and provides a real-time cost estimate (average cost is $50-$150). Users can optimize the production cost of their design before they order by selecting the desired material and size.

Initially, the objects can be created in White Strong & Flexible (SLS), Cream Robust (FDM), White Detail, and Transparent detail (both Objet). Color and additional materials are to follow soon.

To see more visit the website or view this fascinating video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQoTro9WfbQ

In fact, watch the video if you just want to learn how 3D printing works.

Can computers replace pilots?

2009-01-20T06:42:00.003-05:00

The pilot (and crew) of the US Airways plane that went down in the Hudson River are being hailed as heros. When the investigation is complete they will no doubt be seen as having had a pivotal role in saving all the souls onboard that aircraft.

I've been seeing comments online by people, many of them flight crew, who are using this incident to make the point that computers can never replace pilots on airplanes. Some of them say the trend toward increasing levels of automation is dangerous - we just cannot take human beings out of the equasion, and we just witnessed an example of why not.

Well, never say never. I'd agree that a completely pilotless airliner at this point is inadvisable, but just a simple extrapolation of unmanned aerial vehicle development suggests to me that they are a future possibility.

Most UAV development has been for military applications, an admittedly different scenario than commercial aviation. But that's changing.

In Global Hawks to fly missions for NASA from The Sun, we see that environmental data will soon be collected by a UAV over the Pacific. Also:

...potential non-military uses for Global Hawks include use as aerial communications relays during natural disasters, wildfire observation, border surveillance and monitoring of illegal fishing and whaling activities on the oceans.

Sure, that's not the same thing as taking your family to Disney, but through continued research and applications, I think we'll see the technology develop significantly. Think about it: computers you have at home today do things that would have been considered "impossible" then the first personal computers came out.

So maybe it's 20 years, or 50 or a hundred years, but it's going to happen eventually. Don't you think?

Airport protesters sentenced

2009-01-08T06:34:00.003-05:00

Back in December 8, 2008, a group of protesters descended on Britian's Stansted Airport and disrupted operations for a time. The event was organized by the Plane Stupid group, which seeks to increase awareness of environmental issues within the aviation industry.

The demonstration caused the cancellation of 57 Ryanair flights which were due to carry nearly 7,000 passengers, the court was told. A further 52,000 passengers also had their travel plans disrupted as further flights were delayed.

Twenty-two of the protesters have been sentenced by the Harlow Magistrates' Court after pleading "guilty to one charge of aggravated trespass."

Eighteen were ordered to complete community service orders of between 90 and 50 hours, two must pay fines of £130 and £160, one was given a referral order and another was handed a conditional discharge.

I see that at this moment, the Plane Stupid website at http://www.planestupid.com/ displays only the message, "The Plane Stupid website is currently down for legal reasons. For press inquiries, please email press@planestupid.com."

Source: Airport protesters sentenced

Airline branding webinar

2009-01-05T22:33:00.003-05:00

If anyone knows about airline branding, it's Shashank Nigam over at the SimpliFlying blog. Shashank's discussions and interviews have depth and include sound commentary that airlines would be good to consider.

Shashank is starting a series of airline branding webinars, starting 8 Jan 2009 with “Airlines 2.0: Using technology for innovative branding through the recession.”

In this webinar, you will learn how you can:
Get closer to the customer, by using technology innovatively
Interact without interrupting the customer, through seamless integration into their lifestyles
Co-create with your customers, by involving them in the product and service design process
Add a personality to the airline brand through blogging
Determine ROI easily from these efforts
The webinar will include eye-opening case studies from leading airlines like JetBlue, Virgin America, Southwest, AirFrance-KLM, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and more.

Registration is free.

Shashank Nigam is a leading airline brand strategist and a well respected speaker and columnist on the topic.

FAR Part 91 tag cloud

2009-01-01T16:50:00.003-05:00

Click to see a larger version of the tag cloud, which visually shows the frequency of tag words in the FAR. Thanks to @jenniferwhitley for this.

Introducing young people to flying

2008-12-29T09:21:00.003-05:00

One way to introduce young people to aviation is through books that inspire them in some meaningful way. I recently ran across a fictional story that parents might want to consider. It's called Dogs Don't Fly and it's written by David Lloyd Wilson, an experienced private pilot. Wilson provided this:

Nevell was not like other dogs. He knew that he was expected to become a farmer like his father. However, the little beagle dreamed of finding his own path to happiness. He longed for adventure. He had often wondered how the cats could fly through the air. They had found their place between heaven and earth. Though society was against him, he made a decision to do what no dog had ever done.

Patch was an old tom cat and lived a solitary life. One day Nevell came into his life. He knew the place that cats and dogs held in society. However with age and wisdom comes a greater understanding of the world. Patch would challenge the belief that “Dogs don’t fly.” This small act would change what the whole world believed to be unchangeable. It would prove that although everybody thought they knew their place, anything was possible.

You can learn more about the book at http://www.dogsdontfly.com/, including how to order it. Also, Thirty Thousand Feet has a Youth in Aviation page that offers resources for aspiring aviators, their parents and teachers.

Food for airplanes and airports

2008-12-24T20:06:00.003-05:00

Here at Thirty Thousand Feet, we previously mentioned the GoPicnic ready-to-eat boxed meals as an option for feeding yourself on flights where the carrier doesn’t really consider food as part of the service. (See my post, Need food on that airline flight?) Well, the good folks at GoPicnic sent us six Go Meals to try out and I thought I’d report on the product.

First, a review of just what these things are. Simply put, they are shelf-stable meals that feature high quality natural and organic foods. These are not meant to compete with the military MRE’s that survivalists have squirreled away in the cellar – they don’t have that kind of shelf life. (And they don’t taste like that stuff either!) Think instead of collections of single-serving, packaged food items conveniently assembled into a handy little box.

GoPicnic offers over 25 different meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Air travelers will appreciate the vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free, and Halal options, as well as the fact that the box size is very handy for slipping into a computer bag or carry-on.

Recently my wife and I returned home late and didn’t want to spend time creating some kind of dinner, so we grabbed the GoPicnic boxes to see what might look good. I selected the GoEnjoy meal (fruit & cheese) and my wife snatched the GoDelight box (sunbutter & jam).

The first thing I noticed was the simple but highly intelligent way the box opens (and re-closes if you don’t eat everything.) I’m sort of a nut when it comes to packaging. So much stuff these days is hard to open and you end up making a mess of it just trying to get to the good things inside. These boxes open easily without glued cardboard shreds everywhere. They also open completely so you can get at everything inside, and they feature a handy tab closure that works.

Anyway, my box contained the following items: Mariani Ultimate Apricots, Geraldine’s Bodacious Cheese Straws, thin Lavish Grain Crackers (Flax & Honey), Copper Cowbell Asiago Gourmet Cheese, Mrs. May’s Cashew Crunch, and, for desert, Swiss Delicato Chocobloc Noir. Total calories: 440 (just 190 from fat) and no trans fats.

So how does this stuff taste? Yummy! It’s not cheap convenience store product. The GoPicnic folks have packaged up collections of quality food items that taste good and complement each other. Well done!

If I’m about to head to the airport for a flight where I’ll get either no food or crappy food, a GoPicnic box is an appealing option. This would also work well for those multi-leg trips where none of the flights seem to coincide with mealtime so you’re left on your own for food. Frequent flyers will know what I mean.

GoPicnic is a woman-owned company. The boxes are made from 100% recycled material, require no refrigeration to store or heating to eat, and the kids meals are 100% peanut free.

I think these are a great idea for air travelers, and they are reasonably priced. If I operated any kind of shop at an airport, I think I could sell a lot of them. Outside of air travel, these meals might appeal to event planners, transportation and tour companies, sporting event organizers, and just about any organization that wants to feed people easily and simply.

Understand that I have no interest (financial or otherwise) in GoPicnic. I just like the concept and I like the quality of the food. They have been so kind as to extended a special discount offer to Thirty Thousand Feet visitors: 25% off on your first order. Just use coupon code GPTHANKS.

www.gopicnic.com

Navy UAV to fly in 2009

2008-12-24T06:53:00.002-05:00

The U.S. Navy took the next step towards operating unmanned aerial vehicles from carrier decks with the unveiling of the X-47B Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS). Built by Northrop Grumman, this aircraft has a 4,500 pound payload and is capable of "high subsonic" flight to 40,000 feet. The Northrop Grumman X-47B UCAS photo gallery shows this to be a "fighter-sized" aircraft.

Composites World states in Northrop Grumman launches U.S. Navy UAV:

The aircraft will now undergo subsystem and structural testing in preparation for first flight in fall 2009. UCAS CV Demonstration sea trials are planned to begin in late 2011.

The second X-47B aircraft is in initial assembly at the Palmdale, Calif., facility and is expected to be completed in 2009. The X-47B UCAS is produced by Northrop Grumman and industry teammates including Dell, Eaton Aerospace, GE Aviation, GKN Aerospace, Goodrich, Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Moog, Parker Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rockwell Collins and Wind River.

Humanitarian food flights

2008-12-21T07:20:00.004-05:00

Dubai based charter operator Eastern SkyJets announced it has been chosen by the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) as its preferred aviation partner for its humanitarian operations in Afghanistan.

ESJ has now positioned its McDonnell Douglas DC9 32 aircraft in Kabul to serve the UNWFP. ESJ has also based its full set up of highly experienced crew and engineers at Kabul to provide all round support to the flights. It conducted the inaugural flight on 20th December amidst loud cheers from all the ESJ staff.

The WFP provides food to about 90 million people per year (more than half of whom are children) helping those who are unable to produce or obtain enough food for themselves and their families.

Eastern SkyJets caters to a wide range of needs including corporate, regional, and international travel services, as well as leisure travel and medical evacuation. They consider themselves to be an industry leader for operations into hostile environments in that region.

Holiday travel tips

2008-12-13T14:05:00.003-05:00

The Air Transport Association says that airline capacity is down 9% and expected traveler volumes is down by the same amount.

The ATA... is forecasting a 9 percent year-over-year decrease in the number of passengers who will travel globally on U.S. airlines during the 21-day winter holiday travel season (spanning Thurs., Dec. 18, 2008, through Wed., Jan. 7, 2009). The number of available seats has declined 9 percent from the same period a year ago, resulting in full or near-full flights throughout the holiday.

The busiest days are expected to be Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 27. As he did last year, President Bush says he'll open up some military restricted airspace that will help ease congestion somewhat.

The ATA offers these travel tips:

· Pack any gifts unwrapped, as they may need to be inspected by security.

· Use automated check-in options, offered via airline Web sites and at airport kiosks, up to 24 hours before departure.

· Sign up with your airline to receive automated travel notifications delivered to your cell phone or wireless device; in the event of system delays, airlines will keep travelers informed of flight and schedule changes. Passengers can also check on the latest airport delays via the FAA Web site.

· Travel with an unexpired government-issued photo identification.

· Allow plenty of time for checking in and for security screening at the airport. If traveling on the busiest days, plan for longer-than-usual security lines. And remember that families and individuals traveling with medically necessary liquids this holiday season can take advantage of specially-designated Transportation Security Administration (TSA) family lanes.

· Familiarize yourself with the latest TSA 3-1-1 security program rules at www.tsa.gov, and with the list of TSA permitted and prohibited items.

· At the security checkpoint, place metallic objects (including keys, coins, pens, cell phone, watch, camera) in carry-on baggage. Plan to carry small electronics and spare batteries with you. Check DOT restrictions against packing batteries in checked luggage before getting to the airport.

· Tag each bag, inside and out, with traveler name and contact information, and remove all destination baggage tags from previous trips.

Kill Vehicle Test

2008-12-10T20:22:00.004-05:00

The Missile Defense Agency conducted a hover test of the Multiple Kill Vehicle-L (MKV-L) on December 2, 2008. The video of this test is rather amazing as this device shoots rocket bursts in all directions in order to hover in the air and point itself at moving targets.

The MKV-L mission is to destroy medium through intercontinental-range ballistic missiles equipped with multiple warheads or countermeasures by using a single interceptor missile. During an actual hostile ballistic missile attack, the carrier vehicle with its cargo of small kill vehicles will maneuver into the path of an enemy missile. Using tracking data from the Ballistic Missile Defense System and its own seeker, the carrier vehicle will dispense and guide the kill vehicles to destroy any warheads or countermeasures.

For more info, see:

Multiple Kill Vehicle Completes Hover Test

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Propulsion System Successfully Hovers Missile Defense Payload

Need food on that airline flight?

2008-12-06T11:07:00.002-05:00

Since many airlines don't do a real good job of feeding you on flights, you often have to fend for yourself. One option is from a company called GoPicnic where you can purchase boxed meals online and take them with you. They offer light Break Meals, snackbox Go Meals, MightyMunch Kids Meals, and substantial Picnic Meals. Here's what they say about themselves:

GoPicnic's founders developed the concept of the shelf-stable picnic meal in 2004 for a major US airline whose existing buy-on-board fresh food service program was costing it millions of dollars annually due to high levels of waste from unused meals as well as incremental personnel expenses stemming from the need for in-flight food preparation. The shelf-stable snackbox solution that the GoPicnic founders created to address these issues generated profit for the airline for the first time in its food service history and provided customers with a reliable quality product at a good value. Recognizing the many benefits such shelf-stable "picnic" meal programs could bring to a wide array of other industries, the GoPicnic founders expanded on the original concept, making nutritious high-quality shelf-stable meal solutions available to new markets and clients.

I think it's a great idea. Check them out and if you buy any of these meals, give us your thoughts by posting a comment.

787 wing break test

2008-11-19T06:21:00.003-05:00

Engineers design new objects through the use of computer models, but in the end they have to verify that all the calculations produced the result they expected. That means testing the product. In the case of, say, a new carbon fiber aircraft wing, you bend it until it breaks and see what happens.

Boeing just did that with a 787 Dreamliner wing and they have a video you can watch at:

http://787milestones.tpninteractive.com/

Thanks to the outstanding c0t0d0s0.org blog for the tipoff via Twitter.

ATC safery concern in the DC area

2008-11-16T07:28:00.005-05:00

The following letter was published in The Potomac Current and Undertow, "a blog from/for/about/to the air traffic controllers at the Potomac TRACON." It describes the safety concerns of an air traffic controller in the Washington, DC area, and is reproduced here for your information. If you have thoughts or additional information on this subject, please feel free to post a comment.

November 13, 2008

If you fly into Washington-National Airport (DCA) then you need to read this letter. I am an air traffic controller at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) in Warrenton, Virginia and I write to you anonymously in fear of retribution from my employer, the Federal Aviation Administration, for disclosing a serious safety issue that FAA management is knowingly turning a blind eye to.

On December 20, 2007, the FAA implemented a new procedure for aircraft approaching Washington-National Airport from the west. This procedure, called the ELDEE Arrival, directs aircraft, by way of their onboard flight computer, to fly a predetermined route and descend at set points from 65 miles west of DCA all the way to the airport, with minimal controller input. Conceivably, the concept of this procedure reduces workload for air traffic controllers and pilots while improving fuel efficiency for the airlines.

However, as soon as the ELDEE Arrival procedure was implemented airline pilots began complaining over the radio to air traffic controllers that they could not maneuver their aircraft to comply with the altitude crossing restrictions dictated by the procedure. On February 26, 2008, the FAA tried to address the problem by publishing a Notice To Airmen[1] (NOTAM) directing pilots to override their onboard flight computer by manually reprogramming several altitude crossing restrictions on the ELDEE Arrival. This “reprogramming” is done a couple hundred times every day by many flight crews trying to navigate by the ELDEE Arrival.

Here is the problem: The increase in flight crew workload created by the NOTAM requirements are causing airplanes to descend lower than the altitudes prescribed in the ELDEE Arrival procedure. And what is lower? Other airplanes! Airplanes that air traffic controllers are supposed to keep separated from one another. The FAA’s answer to this defective procedure—created by the FAA—is to take action against the pilot by filing a ‘pilot deviation report.’

Evidence to substantiate my claim is found in the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System database. This program, called ASRS for short, is used by pilots and air traffic controllers, to report—anonymously—deficiencies and discrepancies in the National Aviation System. The reports are forwarded to the FAA. Between March and June, 2008, there have been 10 ASRS reports from flight crews about being confused by the NOTAM and consequently flying their airplanes lower—hundreds of feet lower—than they are supposed to be on the ELDEE3 Arrival. Read the reports at this website: http://www.scribd.com/doc/7596157/ASRS-ELDEE3

Ten ASRS reports are but a small fraction of how many times EVERY DAY pilots make this mistake. (In other words, the majority of the occurrences are not even reported by pilots or air traffic controllers as required by existing rules.)

FAA management has tried to lay the blame on pilots for this flawed procedure and the NOTAM that has compounded the problem. FAA management can fix what they broke and they can do it TODAY by canceling the NOTAM that modifies the ELDEE Arrival and direct air traffic controllers to stop issuing “descend via” clearances on the ELDEE Arrival.

FAA management does not listen to air traffic controllers who raise safety concerns. FAA management ignores pilots who report safety concerns. Will the FAA listen to the people that fly on the airplanes into DCA? Airplanes, people, pilots, air traffic controllers: All set up for failure by the FAA. Why does the FAA make air traffic control a game of chance? Maybe they’ll answer the question to someone other than pilots or air traffic controllers.

The longer this safety issue is ignored the clearer it is to me that safety is not priority number one with the FAA at Potomac TRACON.

[1] A notice containing information (not known sufficiently in advance to publicize by other means) concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any component (facility, service, or procedure of, or hazard in the National Airspace System) the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

Dark days for Eclipse Aviation

2008-11-13T22:23:00.002-05:00

There are reports that Eclipse has told employees they will not be paid for the last two weeks, leading some to pack up and leave. Without a new infusion of capital, the maker of the Eclipse 500 very light jet may have difficulty continuing.

See AOPA Online, Eclipse reportedly fails to meet payroll.

Of course, it's a joke

2008-11-08T18:05:00.003-05:00

Props to AirPigz for the tipoff via Twitter.

http://tinyurl.com/5offw8

Which is the best airline?

2008-10-28T20:36:00.003-05:00

Some 10,000 travelers say Southwest is the Best Value Domestic [US] Airline. They also think Southwest has the best service and prices, but they vote US Airways for the dubious honor of Dirtiest Airline Cabin.

You can read more about these results and others at the Smarter Travel 2008 Reader’s Choice Awards.

“The awards honor the top American and international airlines for their commitment to providing travelers with quality service, on-time departures and ease of travel. Categories include: Best Overall Value, Best Airfare Prices, Best In-Seat Comfort, Most Reliable On-Time Service, Best Rates & Availability and Best Frequent Flyer Program. The Readers’ Choice Awards also recognize the airlines that leave much to be desired in air travel, awarding the Least Favorite Airline and Dirtiest Airline Cabin, as well as the Least Favorite Airport.”

Smarter Travel readers were given the opportunity to give feedback on their recent air travel experiences. Interestingly enough, many readers commented that they do not use frequent flyer programs anymore because the airlines have made the programs difficult and restrictive.

About Smarter Travel:

“SmarterTravel provides independent advice and analysis that helps travelers find the best deals and get the most value from their trips. SmarterTravel has an unbiased team of travel experts who analyze travel trends and offer money-saving strategies and travel tips. For more information and travel advice, visit http://www.smartertravel.com.”

Smarter Travel Media LLC, the parent of Smarter Travel, operates AirfareWatchdog.com™, BookingBuddy ®, FrequentFlier.com and SmarterTravel, including sites in the U.K. and India.

You can listen to an interesting discussion with George Hobica of AirfareWatchdog in Episode 14 of the Airplane Geeks Podcast, which I co-host with Courtney Miller. George provides some history about the site and some great tips for finding the lowest fare.

Embry-Riddle Launches First Ph.D. in Aviation in the U.S.

2008-10-15T19:47:00.003-05:00

Embry-Riddle passed the following along to Thirty Thousand Feet:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is launching the first Ph.D. aviation program in the U.S. Ranked as the leader in aviation and aerospace education by U.S. News & World Report, the university is offering the doctoral program online with a required six-day residency each year, beginning in May 2009. The program is designed to fill the need for a doctoral degree focused exclusively on aviation and previously not offered through traditional research universities. Embry-Riddle's program is tailored to meet the needs of working professionals in government, industry, or military organizations wishing to pursue research or collegiate faculty positions. Applications for the May 2009 class are due January 15, 2009. For more details, visit http://aviationphd.erau.edu or call 1-800-359-3728 or 386-226-6363.

Embry-Riddle also offers undergraduate and graduate programs at its residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, through the Worldwide Campus at more than 130 campus centers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East, and through online learning. Visit www.embryriddle.edu for more information.

ATA sues FAA

2008-10-14T20:10:00.003-05:00

You could see it coming:

The FAA, citing the New York City airports as a significant cause of airport delays across the U.S., proposed an auction of take off and landing slots to reduce their number.

The Air Transport Association and the airport authority responded with harsh criticism for the idea, and even threatening to refuse landing to any flight on an auctioned slot.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced that the Department of Transportation will not be allowed to auction takeoff and landing slots. (FAA Airport Slot Auctions Illegal. Now What?)

Then the DOT announced the auction will proceed. (US DOT: New York slot auctions to begin in January.)

Now, the ATA announces ATA Sues FAA to Invalidate Slot Auctions Rules:

ATA has sued FAA in federal court to invalidate two slot auction rules, one rule for LGA and another for both JFK and EWR. ATA’s law suit challenges FAA’s claim that slots are agency property that can be leased or otherwise disposed of under FAA’s general property management authority. ATA will seek a stay of the auction planned for early January. (October 14, 2008)

Look for this to play out in the coming months - probably largely in the press.

Want to be on a TV show?

2008-10-01T19:45:00.002-05:00

A Casting Producer for the green, eco-makeover show called Wa$ted wrote to Thirty Thousand Feet saying they are currently casting their 2nd season and looking for men and women, pilots and flight attendants, with crash pads that might be interested in taking part in this show.

The goal of the show is to teach people to be less wasteful and to be more green. The ideal candidates are dynamic and energetic households that maybe want to “go green” but there seems to be some hesitation or they don’t know where to start, or families that have little interest in the environment, and even people who are just looking to save some money.

You must live within 2 hours of New York City and own your home / apartment. The shoot is about 2 days, plus some additional time over the course of a month.

The eco-makeover will involve lifestyle tips, cool gadgets and products, and superficial changes to the home. And the best part – we help you save MONEY! We are looking for people with bizarre, energy-wasting habits that just need a little push in the right direction for an efficient, effective green household.

Interested? Submit photos and a short bio of why you think your family needs an eco-makeover to Joey.Lucas@liontv.us or Sarah.Kanter@liontv.us

Airlines and the price of oil

2008-09-29T20:59:00.003-05:00

The website Stop Oil Speculation Now was created to promote the belief that high oil prices are caused by rampant oil speculation, often by speculators who have no interest in actually buying oil. They just buy and sell and make money on the transactions. In the end, consumers pay for the profits taken by speculators. The airline industry, and others, are behind this site.

Now comes a counterpoint site called The Airline Oil Spin, created to discuss alternative views on oil speculation and the extent of its impact on the current state of the airline industry. A representative from that site writes to Thirty Thousand Feet:

We want to add to the discussion our perspective that not only do [the airline's] efforts distract from their own role in exacerbating their own financial situation, but that these actions are in line with the industry's practices of taking handouts through massive taxpayer subsidies without giving the public a fair return of quality service and jobs for passengers and workers.

The Airline Oil Spin asks visitors of the site to send a message to Congressional leaders, urging them to tie additional support for the airline industry to improved standards for airline passengers and workers.

Have a look and choose your side!

FAA issues AD for 777 ice in the fuel

2008-09-24T21:19:00.002-05:00

The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD 2008-19-04) for Boeing 777-200 and -300 models powered by Rolls Royce RB211 engines. This is a response to the January 17, 2008 crash landing short of the runway at London Heathrow Airport.

The AD mandates Airplane Flight Manual revisions that call for ground and airborne action when fuel temperature goes below 0°C.

The investigation determined that over a long period of low power fuel flows and low fuel temperatures associated with cruise flight, ice can accumulate in the main tank fuel feed system and then release as a result of increased fuel flow when high thrust is commanded. When released, the ice could create a restriction within the engine fuel system. A restriction in the engine fuel system, if not corrected, could result in failure to achieve a commanded thrust, and consequent forced landing of the airplane.

When certain conditions exist, the AD requires that the engines be cycled at maximum climb thrust.

Airworthiness Directive: Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 Series Airplanes Equipped With Rolls-Royce Model RB211-TRENT 800 Series Engines

Aviators who are women

2008-09-23T20:58:00.002-05:00

Aviation may be a male-dominated industry, but the women are making inroads.

In Episode 15 of the Airplane Geeks Podcast, we welcome Lynn Gardner as our guest. Lynn is a life-long aviation buff, a Citation X pilot, and a consultant for corporate and sport aviation. She knows the industry and has a lot to say about it.

Listen in - no iPod necessary!

You can find many sites by and for woman aviators at the Women in Aviation page of ThirtyThousand Feet.

General aviation in China

2008-09-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

This information was recently received at Thirty Thousand Feet:

The mission of Friends of China General Aviation (FCGA) is to foster awareness of general aviation among government officials, businesses, communities and individual citizens, and to encourage the development of general aviation in China.

Our organization was formed in January of 2008 by a small group of business people and professionals interested in the future of the general aviation industry in China . FoCGA is incorporated as a non-profit Mutual Benefit Corporation organized under the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law of the State of California , and is governed by an 10 member Board of Directors. Membership is open to interested individuals and business entities—please see our membership page Join Us for further information.

FCGA seeks to aid in the establishment and development of the GA industry in China through education, advocacy and community outreach within China ; by connecting individuals and organizations to others interested in aviation in China; and providing access to aviation-related resources within and outside of China.

The FCGA website notes there are currently only an estimated 700 GA aircraft in China, most in agricultural or utility work. There are less than 150 civil-use airports, but over 100 more are planned by 2020.

As Western aviation companies look to China as a source of components and as a market for aircraft, and as indigenous design and manufacturing capability increases, perhaps GA growth there will accelerate.

If I was in the GA business, I'd be thinking about this.

Inflight WiFi

2008-09-12T20:10:00.003-05:00

In Blogging at 37,000 feet, cnet blogger David Carnoy describes his success with the Gogo inflight internet system on his recent American Airlines flight.

...the speed is pretty impressive. Speakeasy's speed test clocked in at a 2,592 kpbs download speed and a 279 kbps upload speed. CNET's bandwidth meter pegged me at 1,122 kbps on the download side.

Video was a "little choppy," but overall the experience seemed good.

I think the airlines (at least American) now have an additional revenue stream that fliers will like.

Thanks to techinflight on Twitter for pointing this out. Be sure to follow his TechInFlight blog for the latest in In-Flight Entertainment.

Ice is probable cause for 777 crash

2008-09-07T10:41:00.003-05:00

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) Interim Report on the 17 January 2008 BA 777-200ER crash at London Heathrow Airport is out. You'll recall this is the incident where both aircraft engines failed to deliver commanded thrust.

Probable cause is found by the AAIB to be water ice in the fuel delivery system. Three recommendations are made (paraphrased):

2008-047: The FAA and the EASA, in conjunction with Boeing and Rolls-Royce, should introduce interim measures to reduce the risk of water ice causing a restriction in fuel feed systems.

2008-048: The FAA and EASA should consider the implication of the AAIB findings on other airframe/engine combinations.

2008-049: The FAA and the EASA should review the current certification requirements to ensure tolerance to a buildup and release of ice in the fuel feed system.

The AAIB Interim Report is available for download as a pdf. It makes interesting reading if you want more information about the findings or details about how 777 fuel systems work.

Airline Travel Issues and Hurricanes

2008-08-31T19:57:00.004-05:00

The AirSafe.com News has a new post up, Airline Travel Issues and Hurricanes. Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com reviews some of the steps that air passengers should take if a hurricane or tropical storm approaches. He also provides some useful links, including the FAA Flight Delay Information page where you can easily view delays at a number of U.S. airports.

Here comes hurricane Gustav

2008-08-30T06:45:00.002-05:00

The Air Transport Association issued this statement:

“ATA and its member airlines are closely monitoring Hurricane Gustav as it enters the Gulf of Mexico. ATA member carriers serving airports in the storm’s projected path have begun communicating with passengers on policies regarding easing of travel restrictions as well as how passenger travel plans may be affected. And, as in the past, ATA and its members will remain diligent in monitoring weather developments and adjusting operations as necessary in order to serve customers and coordinate fully with federal, state and local government authorities and airports.”

The ATA has a webpage with travel updates and carrier announcements concerning the hurricane.

Less passengers during U.S. Labor Day

2008-08-19T19:02:00.003-05:00

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) forecasts that passengers levels for global travel on U.S. airlines will decline 5.7% during the 2008 Labor Day holiday period versus the same period last year.

High energy prices across the economy, rising airfares and airline schedule cuts are the primary drivers of the overall reduction in passenger volumes expected for this period. Sustained triple-digit fuel costs not only have forced airlines to cut back service – resulting in fewer seats available for domestic flights – but they also have taken a toll on customers’ spending power.

The ATA recommends these tips:

24 hours or less prior to departure, visit your carrier’s Web site and print out boarding passes (if possible); check flight status and determine what type of meal service will be offered; be aware of carrier carry-on and checked-baggage policies, and plan accordingly

Place amenities in carry-on bag, including prescriptions or other medicines and snacks (and for those traveling with children, baby food/diapers) in case of delay

If carrying liquids or gels in a carry-on bag, pack them in a one-quart zip-top bag and place them in a readily accessible location. Familiarize yourself with the list of TSA permitted and prohibited items

Remove extraneous metal objects (e.g., coins, keys, pens, cell phone, watch, camera) and place them in carry-on baggage and pack simply for security screening

Have your government-issued identification and boarding pass ready at the security-screening checkpoint

Consider purchasing bottled water or other liquids after the security checkpoint

Tag each bag, inside and out, with traveler name and contact information, and remove all destination baggage tags from previous trips

Aviation New Media Meetup

2008-08-11T20:17:00.003-05:00

Courtney Miller and I hosted an online gathering of aviation new media types on Sunday, August 10, 2008. Participating were aviation podcasters, bloggers, and social community people who talked about their current online activities and their plans for the future.

While these communities relate to aviation, they really span a variety of purposes and media types. I don’t think there is a lot of overlap between them in terms of content and style – they’ve all got something different to appeal to aviation professionals and enthusiasts.

One thing the creators of these sites did seem to share was a strong passion for aviation and bringing content to others. It’s all about involvement and community, sharing interests and knowledge, and engaging the audience where possible.

You’ll hear the following on the podcast:

Roger Bishop and Mike Souders from the Indy Transponder blog.

Rod Rakic from the myTransponder.com aviation social community.

Harry Love from the Jetrecord site.

Pilot Will and Daveflys from The Pilots Flight PodLog.

Dan Webb from the Dan Webb blog.

Rob Mark from the Jetwhine blog.

Ted Erickson from the AviationBull blog.

Stephen Force from the Airspeed podcast.

Bill Williams from the Student Pilot Cast podcast.

Dr. Todd Curtis from AirSafe.com and the Conversation at AirSafe.com podcasts.

Court Miller and Max Flight from the Airplane Geeks Podcast.

The session was carried live on the TalkShoe service and is available for download now as Episode 10 of the Airplane Geeks Podcast.

Listen, enjoy, be motivated, and join in.

Max

Pam Ann

2008-08-09T19:39:00.001-05:00

A series of video parodies about flying and flight crews by a UK comedian who has been a Flight Attendant for 40 years. She actually did some TV ads for British Air and says, "I often feel as if I am transporting the entire Jerry Springer audience from A to B."

More at PamAnn.com

Aviation New Media Meetup

2008-08-05T21:30:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, August 10th at 8:00 pm EST, Courtney Miller and I will be hosting a live, interactive episode of the Airplane Geeks Podcast.

This episode will be devoted to a discussion of aviation-related social communities, such as blogs, podcasts, forums, and especially emerging communities like myTransponder.com. We’ll examine the aviation communities available today, where these online communities are headed, and what we’d like to see from them in the future.

This live “meetup” will be of interest to those who operate these aviation communities, as well as to those who participate in them.

We will be using TalkShoe.com for our interactive episode. This requires a free registration if you’d like to participate in the conversation, but anyone can listen live without registration.

Since we’ll have limited time on Sunday, we’re taking “reservations” for those who would like to join us in a speaking role. For the first ten people who email us with their website, blog, or podcast, Court and I guarantee we’ll get you in. The rest will be taken as time allows. Please email us at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com to ensure you get your air time.

Find the Meetup on TalkShoe at: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/23486
The call-in phone number is: (724) 444-7444
The Call ID is: 23486

You can call into the above number with any land line, or with Skype if you have SkypeOut. As an alternative, you can use TalkShoe’s VOIP client which is a free download after registering at TalkShoe.

Between now and Sunday you can find the latest information at http://www.airplanegeeks.com/live/. Please visit this page regularly for updates.

We hope you can join us and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or thoughts:

thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com
voice mail at (812) 757-4252

Max Flight

The ATA stand on slot auctions

2008-08-04T20:23:00.003-05:00

The Air Transport Association continues to speak out against the Department of Transportation proposal to action off landing slots at New York/New Jersey airports. They've found a friend at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey:

“ATA agrees with the Port Authority’s assessment that the DOT’s proposed auction rules are unwise and unlawful. We share the Port Authority’s concerns with the DOT’s slot auction proposal and with its threat to add still more congestion to the region. We are carefully reviewing the Port Authority’s proposed notice,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “Instead of providing the infrastructure that we all need, the DOT is trying to hide its failure behind an economics experiment to ration air service. Sadly, this illegal scheme will do nothing to reduce air traffic congestion or to meet the region’s and the nation’s need for air transportation.”

You always know where the ATA stands on the issues!

Aliens from another planet

2008-07-24T20:24:00.003-05:00

news.com.au reports that 77 year old former Apollo astronaut Dr Edgar Mitchell, speaking on Kerrang! radio, claimed he knows there are aliens. From outer space. And they've visited the earth, more than once.

Despite a 60 year-old government cover-up, there are those who knew the truth was out there, and it's starting to leak out.

"I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we've been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomena is real," Dr Mitchell said.

"I've been in military and intelligence circles, who know that beneath the surface of what has been public knowledge, yes - we have been visited..."

"The Roswell crash was real," says Dr Mitchell, and we've been visited a number of times. Good thing the aliens were not mad at us because the Doctor says their technology is superior to ours.

NASA says, "Dr Mitchell is a great American, but we do not share his opinions on this issue."

Listen to the recording and decide yourself: either the radio station is conducting a hoax, Dr. Mitchell is making it up, his sources misled him, or...

See: Moon-walker claims alien contact cover-up.

Listen to the interview at Kerrang! radio.

New website for airplane information

2008-07-19T09:12:00.002-05:00

How It Flies is a new site that is a sort of Wikipedia for airplanes. The difference is that the information is intended to be more detailed, contain subjective elements, and be oriented to people who fly or have some other need for more information than you would find in an encyclopedia.

At this site, anybody can can add or edit information about any aircraft. That includes specs, opinions, photos, videos, or anything relevant to an airplane. The goal is to give pilots not only the numbers, but information from other pilots on what it's like to actually fly a particular aircraft.

The site is new and still developing, but they'd appreciate any feedback on errors or usability issues.

Fly in a real B-25H Mitchell medium bomber

2008-07-17T21:29:00.004-05:00

An authentic World War II vintage North American B-25H Mitchell, fully-restored to 1943 standards, arrives in Denver, Colorado on Friday, July 18, 2008 for a two-month visit offering local citizens a chance to see living aviation history up-close and personal.

The B-25H named "Barbie III," is operated by the non-profit Warbirds Unlimited Foundation, and will be based at Denver Jet Center at Centennial Airport in Denver. Visitors can view the bomber for free on the ground Saturdays and Sundays through the second week of September.

For a real thrill, you can purchase a 30-minute flight around Denver. That will cost you a $375 donation per person, per flight, with a maximum of six passengers per flight. That's a fair price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but 100% of the donation goes into defraying the expense of operating the B-25 and helps pay for maintenance and upkeep of this rare bomber.

The B-25 Mitchell is best known for its role in the famous Doolittle raid on Japan in 1942. The well-known mission where 16 B-25s flew from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet to make the first attack on Japan following the Pearl Harbor attack has been seen in countless movies, books, and articles and was one of the key events of the early days of the war. Throughout WWII, the B-25 played a major role as a medium bomber and ground attack aircraft in both the Pacific and European Theater of operations.

Of the 9,800 B-25's built, only around 30 remain in flying condition today. The "Barbie III" is the last flying H-model of the B-25.

For B-25 flight reservations and information, please call the local coordinator at 800-357-6561 or visit the Warbirds Unlimited Foundation website.

Local Information

Location: Centennial Airport (KAPA)
Denver Jet Center
7625 S. Peoria St.
Denver, CO 80112

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays from July 19 through September 7.
Information / Reservations: 800-357-6561

All photos in this post are copyright Scott Germain. You can sample more of his amazing work at Images of Light and Lift. Germain offers professional aviation photography services, including air-to-air photography, product and advertising photography, special images for private parties, and event coverage.

Videos from Farnborough Airshow

2008-07-16T20:57:00.002-05:00

Videos of events from the 2008 Farnborough Airshow are becoming available. Here are some you can enjoy:

Aviation Week Video Library - The F-22 Raptor performance is amazing, and this video includes inset narration by a LM test pilot. Click "F-22 Flies." You can watch an interview with P&W President Steve Finger on the PW1000G "Geared Turbofan Engine." Click "GTF Launches." There is also an interview with Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders that answers the question, "What if the tanker goes to Boeing?" Click "Enders on Airbus."

Speaking of the GTF, you can watch Geared Turbofan Engine: First Test Flight Trailer, the Pratt & Whitney promotional video shown at Farnborough.

Farnborough Air Show news

2008-07-15T20:01:00.002-05:00

As this week's Farnborough Air Show rolls along, you'll want to keep up with the daily developments. Here are some resources to help you do that:

Aviation Today has a very good Farnborough Air Show Blog with daily posts and informed commentary. The July 15, 2008 post, Deals That Go “Boing,” addresses the Boeing/Airbus rivalry for commercial and military (i.e. USAF tanker) applications.

At Aviation Week, you'll find show news, photos, blog posts, podcasts, and videos.

Air Transport World's ATWOnline also has daily Farnborough Airshow news.

Then there is always a Google News search that is targeted to Farnborough.

Between these, you'll get a fire hose of show news.

Live streaming aviation talk radio

2008-07-08T21:37:00.003-05:00

Gold Seal Live is a new, live, streaming aviation talk radio show on the Internet. It's different from aviation podcasts in that it is said to be interactive with the audience.

You not only listen to this aviation format show, you see visuals and can ask questions of the guests via a chat window. Two programs are produced: The 25Zulu Show is a 90-minute talk show with live guests that covers a wide range of topics. The Ground School Live show focuses on specific training issues.

If you can't listen in on the live show, you can later download them as conventional podcasts. (Click on "Show Archives.")

Ice on Mars

2008-06-20T20:04:00.003-05:00

Phoenix Lander Confirms Martian Water Ice

There is water ice just under the surface of Mars.

New aviation facility set to open

2008-06-01T07:33:00.003-05:00

On Thursday, June 5, Alpha Flying, Inc. (AFI) and Atlas Aircraft Center, Inc. (AAC) will hold the Grand Opening Celebration for their new state-of-the-art aviation facility at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

AFI is an aircraft management company and Program Manager of PlaneSense®, one of the six largest aircraft fractional ownership programs in North America and the largest regional fractional program in the world. AAC, an affiliated company, is the exclusive factory authorized aircraft maintenance service center for New England, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Michigan for the Pilatus PC-12.

The newly built facility houses offices and maintenance facilities, including a 40,000 square foot hangar, and features new technology such as thermally insulated hangar doors, full under-floor radiant heating, voice-over-internet telephony and wi-fi throughout the building and on the aircraft parking ramp.

PlaneSense says they fly the largest fleet of Pilatus PC-12s in the world, with 34 PC-12s in its fleet and an additional 19 orders through 2010. PlaneSense is also the launch fleet customer for the Grob Spn jet, with 25 orders. Deliveries of this state-of-the-art, 6-passenger jet are expected to start in the second quarter of 2009.

“The participants in the PlaneSense fractional ownership program own shares of aircraft in the PlaneSense fleet. Through an exchange of these shares, each participant in the program is entitled to access the entire fleet. PlaneSense participants thus enjoy the benefits of sole aircraft ownership by purchasing as little or as much of an airplane as they need, at a fraction of the cost of buying an entire plane. Alpha Flying arranges for the scheduling, maintenance, crewing and other administrative services that support the PlaneSense Program.”

Due to the rapid growth of fractional ownership and PlaneSense’s expanding fleet, AFI and AAC decided to move from the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to this larger facility at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

“Governor Lynch is invited to join officials from the City of Portsmouth and the Pease Development Authority, the FAA, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA), and leaders from the business aviation industry and the local community in celebrating this major addition to the airside at Pease Airport.”

For further information, you can contact Pat Reed, Vice President of Sales at 603-501-7750 or preed@alphaflying.com.

Podcasts from the Berlin Air Show

2008-05-28T21:45:00.002-05:00

Aviation Week is generating podcasts from the ILA Berlin Airhow, which runs from May 27 through June 1, 2008.

Stefan Zoller, CEO of EADS Defence & Security (8:56)

BDLI's Dietmar Schrick on ILA 2008 (11:26)

Sikorsky's Bruce McKinney on International Black Hawk (5:12)

There are also some videos:

TAP Air Portugal CEO on consolidation, carbon emission (16:27)

Ed Hazelwood on the A380 (2:46)

The Next-Generation Bomber

2008-05-27T19:45:00.003-05:00

Aviation Week speculates that Northrop Grumman may be building a secret prototype of the Next Generation Bomber (NGB).

It seems Northrop Grumman's first quarter financial results include a $2 billion "restricted programs" contract that would support earlier reports that the company has a sole-source contract to build a prototype.

It is likely that the prototype will build on technology under development for the Navy's X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D), putting within reach USAF's goal of a 2018 initial operational capability date for the bomber. Industry and USAF sources have talked about a competition in 2010, leading to the start of systems development and demonstration in 2011.

Much more at Aviation Week's article, Ultra Stealth.

Inflight Internet

2008-05-23T07:46:00.004-05:00

In-flight Internet access holds a number of huge opportunities for air passengers, as well as for airlines and other operators. The entertainment and business productivity possibilities are obvious, and I suspect competitive pressures on airlines will force them to provide this service. Just look at what happened to the hotel industry - do you stay at hotels with no Internet access? I don't.

I had an opportunity to conduct an interview with Steve Goldberg, CEO of DataRunway, a newly formed company entering this market. Goldberg had some interesting things to say about this emerging business and the technology involved:

Max Flight: What is the central product or service that DataRunway is seeking to provide?

Steve Goldberg: DataRunway will be a service provider of multi-megabit broadband connectivity for aircraft in flight. In other words, a superior broadband user experience. The ground-to-air system leverages free, unlicensed frequency spectrum available in most of the world, and will first rollout in the U.S. and Canada. The 80+MHz of spectrum available will enable a robust, high capacity, high data throughput service accessed through WiFi, or similar broadband connections. In order to enable this differentiated service offering, we are now designing the required aircraft and ground infrastructure. We will work with manufacturing partners to build and certify the equipment.

MF: Who is your target audience?

SG: Given the system’s high capacity, we will support multiple aviation markets including air transport, air taxi, business and general aviation, and defense applications. Applications include Internet surfing, video streaming, security needs, cockpit applications, gaming, email/SMS, weather updates, navigation, among many others. Voice could also be easily added. The availability of our low latency, uplink/downlink symmetry, and high network capacity makes all of this possible. The challenge is not so much any single one of these applications; it’s supporting a number of them simultaneously.

MF: What is your strategy for reaching potential customers?

SG: We will work together with our manufacturing and ground infrastructure partners to directly address the airlines. Business and general aviation equipment sales and installation will be served through channel partners.

MF: What was the genesis of DataRunway? Who is involved and how did you get started?

SG: I’ve been involved in building wireless infrastructure for over 30 years. Our founder and CTO, Michael Leabman, has been designing smart antenna systems for almost 15 years since his days at MIT. The company came together when we connected the well known need for in flight broadband, the need for air-to-ground frequency spectrum to support it, the availability of the 80MHz of unlicensed spectrum at 2.4 GHz, and the availability of technology to leverage its use. During the summer of 2007 we finalized the company vision and assembled a team of hardware, software, and networking engineers to form a very unique, yet traditional, Silicon Valley startup company.

MF: In-flight internet seems to be in the press a lot these days. What do you think is the outlook for this market?

SG: Broadband Internet penetration into U.S. households now exceeds 50% and continues to grow. The average broadband connection in the U.S. is now over 2Mbps and increasing daily. Our premise is that air travelers will come to expect the same type of service in the air as they have on the ground. As we look forward 5-10 years, most cell phones, game consoles, laptops, cameras, and other personal entertainment devices will be WiFi/broadband enabled. The airlines and air travel are here to stay. It’s a reasonable expectation to say that in-flight connectivity will have to keep up with the times.

MF: There are a number of companies in this arena, right?

SG: Yes. There are a number of legacy satellite players and a few new ones. There are also a few other companies working to build ground-to-air networks using auctioned spectrum.

MF: What differentiates your company from the others?

SG: Although satellites have traditionally been used for communication to aircraft, performance and cost have always been problematic. Specifically, shared capacity, high latency, poor uplink performance, and significant antenna drag are big problems. A single satellite transponder might provide 150Mbps of capacity over a very wide area that would be shared by many users. Our network can provide up to 40Gbps over the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., this differentiation comes from our ability to leverage the 80MHz of frequency spectrum over 200 cell sites. Other ground-based systems suffer from limited frequency spectrum and the use of obsolete technology. Our network technology includes the use of smart, electronically-steerable, lightweight antennas, digital signal processing chips, and software that enable 100 mile+ range at up to 240Mbps per cell site. Summarizing, we see DataRunway as delivering DSL/cable-like performance as compared to dial-up.

MF: The Internet is a wonderful thing, but like the rest of life it has it's dark corners. If (or hopefully when) in-flight broadband becomes common, some passengers may be offended if adult content was being viewed by the person in the adjacent seat. Any thoughts on how or if this can be controlled?

SG: The good news is that there are a wide variety of IP (Internet address) and URL (web site) blocking mechanisms already available to Internet service providers. DataRunway will work with our customers during testing and trial periods preceeding new service to 'fine tune' the right balance of controls.

MF: I understand you are looking for investors?

SG: Yes. We’re self funded at the moment and are looking for investors and partners to help us move to the next step to demonstrate the network and the technology.

MF: How should interested parties contact you?

SG: I can be reached by phone at (650 868 9040) or by email, sgoldberg@datarunwayinc.com.

I'm personally looking forward to in-flight Internet on long flights.

What is this wing from?

2008-05-21T22:10:00.004-05:00

A visitor to Thirty Thousand Feet has a wing section and wonders what aircraft it comes from:

Have an idea what the rest of the airplane is? Post a comment or Contact me. Thanks.

ClipWings aviation community

2008-05-17T21:20:00.003-05:00

ClipWings, the new aviation community, contacted Thirty Thousand Feet with more information about their site:

Mainly, ClipWings.com is run by a small team of aviation fans, pilots, and photographers. We share our passion with the community and make use of the same language. We enjoy both flying and [the] unique fellowship within the aviation community.

No matter if you are a professional or a leisure time pilot, a glider, or a balloonist, an air show organizer or a fan of flight simulators, or if you're simply fond of flying - ClipWings.com is meant to be your virtual home. We state expressly that we intend in no way to establish competition to other aviation websites. The opposite is true: We intend to mainly serve as a virtual switchboard for all people involved in aviation of whatever kind. Using ClipWings.com is free of charge.

Set up your individual profile at ClipWings.com and present yourself as well as your aircraft. Use ClipWings.com to present or promote your own air show, or publish your pictures or videos to share them with other users internationally. Get in touch with others, meet old friends, or make new friends, and link up with like-minded people.

They are now in the beta phase so you may see some temporary problems, but they encourage feedback on how to make things better.

Give them a look.

Flying Boats

2008-05-17T21:07:00.002-05:00

The exhibition Flying Boats: Sydney's golden age of aviation is at the Museum of Sydney from 10 May – 14 September 2008.

These aircraft played a vital role in World War II and then opened up the South Pacific. Sydney operated the last major flying boat base in the world until 1974.

The exhibition features:

...photographs, posters, film, models, flight crew uniforms, a recreated cabin, a flying boat engine and the fascinating personal stories of travellers, crew and the workers at the Rose Bay base, Flying boats celebrates the early days of transoceanic air travel and presents a definitive account of this extraordinary chapter in Sydney’s history.

ATA speaks out on New York Auction proposal

2008-05-17T20:50:00.002-05:00

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) issued the following statement concerning the Department of Transportation (DOT) New York Auction proposal:

“Our members and their passengers are frustrated by the DOT’s continued fixation on auctions, despite the overwhelming rejection by passengers, airlines and airports to such an experiment. These ill-conceived and unlawful proposals are driven by ideology and will not reduce congestion or flight delays,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “Instead of focusing on modernizing and expanding the airspace infrastructure as the traveling and shipping public expects, the government seeks to curb that demand by making it more costly to fly. We must work to expand, not limit, capacity. This experiment will penalize the public.”

That position is pretty clear.

The DOT is planning to auction off slots at John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty Airports. Continental Airlines also issued a pointed press release:

The DOT proposal to auction off 10 percent, or approximately 95, of the slots at Newark over the next five years is an unlawful taking of property that Continental will vigorously oppose. Moreover, auctioning slots will do nothing to ease congestion, but will raise the cost of air travel to consumers and act as an effective increase in taxes on an industry already known to bear an unreasonably high tax rate. Additionally, the proposal will result in reduced service to various communities and will create unnecessary market uncertainty at a time when the skyrocketing cost of oil and jet fuel has already created an extremely challenging environment for the industry.

The auction proposal does not address the real need to modernize an outdated and inadequate air traffic control system to increase capacity and meet passenger demand.

I guess the lines are pretty clearly drawn...

Women in aviation

2008-05-09T21:21:00.003-05:00

A representative for the Experimental Aircraft Association contacted Thirty Thousand Feet with information about the EAA-hosted program called Women Soar-You Soar.

This program offers young girls the opportunity to experience truly unique, hands-on aviation and aeronautics education through workshops and mentoring. They hope to strengthen the connections of women within the aviation field, as well as female representation in math and science-oriented fields by encouraging young women to participate in this 2-day conference.

EAA is thrilled to announce it is now accepting applications to its fourth annual Women Soar-You Soar conference. This year, Women Soar-You Soar will introduce 150 girls to a variety of aviation and aeronautical activities, including flight simulation, workshops, wing rib assembly, and mentor sessions.

The event will take place July 28-29, 2008 at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh and is open to girls grades 9 through 12. Applications will be accepted through June 30, 2008, and are available online at www.airventure.org/womensoar/. The conference’s cost is $50, which includes lodging at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, meals and admission to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”

Space is limited so apply today! For more information email: womensoar@eaa.org or call 1-800-236-1025.

Wings and Wheels air show

2008-04-28T21:04:00.002-05:00

Thirty Thousand Feet received some information about the 2008 Wings and Wheels air show:

Located in Dunsfold Aerodrome, Surrey on Sunday August 24th, Wings and Wheels promises to be an exciting day of family entertainment! The Air Show features displays from the Royal Air Force Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. There will be a great mix of civilian and military flying displays throughout the afternoon, performing fantastic aerobatics in the skies over Dunsfold!

The Motoring Displays will include some exciting runway demonstrations of both historic and modern supercars in action! Throughout the day there will be a great display of static supercars, classic cars and military vehicles as well as trade stands & other attractions.

All proceeds of the event are being distributed to charities.

Sounds like a great event. View the 3 minute video of the 2006 show and you'll want to be there.

New emissions calculator reveals true cost of your flight

2008-04-26T21:50:00.002-05:00

See the elliott.org blog for information and a link to a calculator that quantifies the emissions of the airline flight you enter. The comments on this topic are fairly active too.

Prizes for GA pilots

2008-04-25T21:16:00.005-05:00

Into Flight, the new community for general aviation pilots, wanted to commemorate the launch of their website, so they're holding a contest. You can win some great prizes, including an iPod Touch 8GB, and iPod Classic 80GB, as well as a Nano and a Shuffle.

All you have to do is add your review, photo, or video to the site before the contest deadline of May 27th, 2008. They'll select the winners from all contributors during the month, and contact them by email.

There are 3 categories you can enter:

Best Personal Plane Description and Photo - You can add your own plane to Into Flight, including photos, description, videos, etc. When you're looking to upgrade, you can list it for free in the classifieds. For the contest, they're looking for the best composed personal aircraft on the site - beautiful photos, well written description, nicely done.

Most Englightening Review - Write the most interesting, insightful review of an aircraft, including well thought out pros and cons. Want to find a plane to review? Look in the Plane Model database and be inspired. Your review doesn't have to be the only review for a plane - just the best.

Funniest Plane Video - What contest is complete without a comedy prize? Humor can take any form here. Look at their videos section and upload your own.

Take a look at the site, contribute an entry, and maybe win a prize!

How much does an airliner cost?

2008-04-25T20:34:00.002-05:00

Well, the actual cost to the airline is between the airframer and the engine manufacturer, and it's usually at a "discount" from list price. The amount of the discount depends on many factors: size of the order, if it's a launch order, strategic objectives of the seller, and many others. In the end, it's hard for "outsiders" to know just how much the airplane costs.

Generally, however, we do know the "list" price, and it's kind of interesting to look at the numbers. Speednews just published the average 2008 list prices for Airbus aircraft:

A318: US$59.1m
A319: US$70.3m
A320: US$76.9m
A321: US$90.3m
A330-200: US$180.9m
A330-200F: US$184.2m
A330-300: US$200.8m
A340-300: US$215.5m
A340-500: US$237.1m
A340-600: US$249.4m
A350-800: US$208.7m
A350-900: US$240.6m
A350-1000: US$269.6m
A380: US$327.4m

Find the Boeing prices at http://www.boeing.com/commercial/prices/index.html.