Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

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nachiket
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Singha wrote:Are the two levers linked together or the pilots hands are expected to grasp both and push pull them equally?
Other than turning on the ground is there any in flight use of differential engine thrust settings?
No they can be moved individually. Differential engine thrust can be used to bank and turn the aircraft in the air if you lose aileron control for some reason.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Suraj »

Autothrottle is analogous to cruise control in cars - it keeps engine airplane speed fixed.. Auto pilot on the other hand keeps the control surfaces on track against a pre-configured course.
Last edited by Suraj on 12 Jul 2013 05:55, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: corrected
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by neerajb »

Thanks nachiket. I did some anetting too and it seems those two wheels are elevator trim and not stab trim which auto pilot maintains. So essentially those wheels move the elevator trim tabs.

Answering my question myself, but boeing's autothrottle is simpler. A servo moves the thrust levers according to autopilot mode. In Airbus autothrust system, the thrust levers don't move. Once armed, autothurst is activated when the throttles are pushed to TOGA or MCT/flex settings. Autothrust can be deactivated by moving the levers to idle or pushing the deactivate buttons on the thrust levers.

@Suraj

Autothrust/throttle systems try to achieve what has been commanded by the pilot using automation. For example in speed mode (boeing 777) it tries to achieve the speed requested by the pilot. These systems vary the thrust automatically to get there.

Disclaimer : All this gyaan after spending some hours on airliners.net.

Cheers....
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by neerajb »

Final media brief by NTSB.

[youtube]I1GopE_siVY&feature=c4-overview&list=UUe5dWbxxvQqDAHmyMrEF7Kw[/youtube]

Cheers....
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Another Dreamliner has caught fire. Heathrow airport closed. I'm hoping whatever fixes that Boeing decided to make after their investigations weren't yet made on this aircraft. The bad publicity is going to hurt boeing though. Especially once the A350 is ready.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by putnanja »

As per reports, the fire is above the crew rest area, and is not where the APU battery is installed.

All 787s have been updated with the Boeing fix. They couldn't fly without the fix installed(as per FAA directives, which other regulators too enforced).
nachiket
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by nachiket »

putnanja wrote: All 787s have been updated with the Boeing fix. They couldn't fly without the fix installed(as per FAA directives, which other regulators too enforced).
That's not what the ToI report says.
Boeing recently announced that a comprehensive set of improvements that will add several layers of additional safety features to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners are in production and could be ready for initial installation within the next few weeks.

New enclosures for 787 batteries also are being built and will be installed in airplanes in the weeks ahead.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by putnanja »

nachiket wrote:
putnanja wrote: All 787s have been updated with the Boeing fix. They couldn't fly without the fix installed(as per FAA directives, which other regulators too enforced).
That's not what the ToI report says.
Boeing recently announced that a comprehensive set of improvements that will add several layers of additional safety features to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners are in production and could be ready for initial installation within the next few weeks.

New enclosures for 787 batteries also are being built and will be installed in airplanes in the weeks ahead.
Can you post a link to that report? I think the TOI report is an old one which was published when Boeing announced their fix.

No 787 will fly till the Boeing fix has been made. Even AI which had to move their 787 from Delhi to Mumbai when it was grounded had to take DGCA permission to ferry the aircraft, and it was under additional conditions. All 787s flying have had the fix. Almost all regulators followed FAA directives on this issue, so it wouldn't have been possible for the Ethiopian aircraft to fly to UK without the fix being made.

In fact, based on the Airliners.net forum, this particular aircraft was one of the first that had the Boeing fix for battery issue.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by nachiket »

^^Sneaky TOILet has changed their report now with the part I quoted removed. So you are probably right.
Theo_Fidel

Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Theo_Fidel »

Apparently a runaway coffee pot! Aircraft maybe a write off. Extensive internal damage.

Coffee pot $10.
787 $206 Million.

Coffee pot - 1
787 - 0
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Austin »

chetak
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by chetak »

We are forever uncle toms, licking white backsides at the first opportunity.

Transferable AEPs??, meaning that we do not even know which foreign a***hole is entering the operational area!!


Embassies to get airport benefits on reciprocal basis only


After several incidents of denial of protocol to Indian dignitaries at foreign airports, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided that Aerodrome Entry Permits (AEPs) would henceforth be issued to high commissions or embassies of other countries only on a reciprocal basis.

It has also been proposed that access of Indian VIPs to airports be restricted, preferably only up to the terminal building.

The US and European countries do not grant entry permits to Indian embassies, but, on the recommendation of the Ministry of External Affairs, permanent as well as transferrable AEPs are issued to embassies based in India. As per the details of a soon-to-be released AEP policy, details of which were accessed by The Indian Express, that will now be stopped.

A few select embassies enjoy the facility of transferrable AEPs, the details of which are not even forwarded to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

The colour-coded AEP scheme, which offered unhindered access, shall now be discontinued and the airport divided into 11 zones. This would restrict the access of the AEP holder to the area of his/ her work only.

The BCAS has issued around 2,000 permanent AEPs to embassies, judges, former and serving bureaucrats, various ministries, and some top officials for extending protocol. Any permit issued for more than 90 days is deemed "permanent", and could be valid for up to three years. Temporary permits, numbering around 1.5 lakh, are issued for reasons that are operational (to pilots and cabin crew) or commercial (to shops within the airport area).

One of the suggestions in the new policy is that the BCAS be stripped of the power to issue AEPs and that the same be given to the Airports Authority of India.

While an orange colour AEP allowed access to all areas in all airports of the country, purple provided access to all areas of a particular airport, light brown to arrival/ departure areas in international terminals up to the immigration counters, navy blue to all areas except the security hold area, white to apron area only, light green to arrival/ departure excluding Customs.

While light brown AEPs are generally issued to former presidents and vice-presidents of India and former prime ministers for protocol purposes, their access may now be limited to Zone 'C' or terminal building, other than security hold, immigration and Customs areas. Light Brown AEPs are also issued to the staff of union ministers.

All government ministries/ departments which had brown/ purple permits will now be issued AEPs for Zone 'C' only. Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, who were earlier issued two AEPs each (for staff), will now have zonal access AEPs only.

Those who would continue to have all-zone access courtesy orange AEPs, across all airports, would be officials of the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, intelligence agencies, Election Commission, and home, civil aviation and external affairs ministries. Former civil aviation secretaries and former BCAS commissioners also enjoy the privilege of orange AEPs.

Individuals convicted of serious crimes like possession and use of hard and soft drugs, trafficking and possession of illegal weapons, assault, endangering public safety and sex-related crimes will not be issued AEPs. According to the proposed AEP policy, it would be the responsibilty of the sponsoring authority where an AEP holder works to inform in case an individual was found involved in a crime or misuse of permit.

In case of urgent operational requirement (such as grounded aircraft), temporary AEPs shall be issued to foreign nationals for up to six days.

Earlier, the BCAS had recommended that permanent AEPs issued for VIP protocol and transferable passes made available to embassies be scrapped. The regulator proposed that only non-transferrable, one-time permits be issued for receiving VIPs and for diplomatic formalities at airports.

A BCAS official had told The Indian Express that permanent AEPs for protocol were a violation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines, under which the security hold area is sacrosanct, with no provision for "protocol". "It is a security nightmare and officials insist on going right up to the ladder point, and even inside the aircraft, to receive their VIPs. There is additional load on security infrastructure, as normal frisking and procedures get disrupted," the official had stated.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

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neerajb
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

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svinayak
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by svinayak »

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2013/07 ... ash-gaffe/
Update: The National Transportation Safety Board late Friday issued its own apology for “inaccurate and offensive names that were mistakenly confirmed” to KTVU Channel 2 as those of the pilots of Asiana flight 214, which crashed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday.

The statement said an NTSB summer intern, in response to the station’s inquiry, “acted outside the scope of his authority when he erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew on the aircraft.”

However, in a subsequent phone interview with the SFgate.com’s Jeff Elder, NTSB spokeswoman Kelly Nantel made clear that the names “originated at the media outlet” and that the intern — unaware of the offensive names — was “acting in good faith and trying to be helpful” by confirming names he didn’t know.

“The NTSB does not release or confirm the names of crew members or people involved in transportation accidents to the media,” Nantel said.

Previous report:

The Bay Area’s KTVU Channel 2 is apologizing for an on-air gaffe that the station — or viewers – won’t soon forget.

During the noon newscast Friday, co-anchor Tori Campbell, announced that “KTVU has just learned the names of the four pilots who were on board” Asiana flight 214 when it crashed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday.

She then read from a teleprompter while a TV graphic displayed four fake names that clearly were someone’s idea of a joke.

The first name — “Captain Sum Ting Wong” — should have been a give-away that something really was wrong. But Campbell kept reading… “Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk, Bang Ding Ow.”
:lol:

Somehow KTVU Fox 2 in the Bay Area was trolled into reading phony-baloney names of the pilots of the airplane that crashed at the San Francisco airport last Saturday. A short clip of KTVU anchor Tori Campbell reading those names on Friday's "Noon News" became extremely popular instantly.

KNBR 1050 host Damon Bruce puts Campbell and the KTVU editorial staff on blast for lacking the common sense and skepticism to keep this junk off the air and calls for everyone involved in letting this material on-air to be FIRED. Bruce calls Campbell a "mental midget" at 7:15. A caller compares this prank to Bart prank calling Moe's Tavern on "The Simpsons".
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Austin »

Landing Accident Disrupts Superjet Test Flight in Iceland
A Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 made a belly landing in Iceland while performing a test flight on Sunday, officials said.

The plane carrying five people landed with all gear up and slid off the runway at Keflavik Airport on Sunday while testing Russia’s SSJ-100, Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, the civil aviation department of the Sukhoi Design Bureau said in a statement.

No victims were reported, but one man on board got his leg injured during the evacuation from the plane. According to Icelandic media reports, one of the engines was damaged in the incident.

Images


http://www.mbl.is/frimg/6/86/686141.jpg
http://www.mbl.is/tncache/frimg/640x360/6/86/686143.jpg
Austin
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Austin »

Sukhoi Superjet Damaged In Iceland Landing Accident
Sukhoi says a Superjet 100 involved in a wheels-up landing at Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport in Iceland on July 21 will be repaired and returned to the test program.

The Russian manufacturer says the fourth development aircraft, which joined the program in 2010, was in the final phases of autoland certification testing when the accident occurred on the airport’s runway 11. The aircraft, with five onboard, was conducting Cat IIIA autoland tests in crosswinds as well as simulated single-engine approaches.

Testing had been underway for more than 1 hr. 20 min. when the accident took place. After conducting most of the approaches to runway 20, the crew overflew runway 11 and made a wide turn over the sea before returning for a landing. Reports from Iceland indicate the landing gear was not down as it touched down with the aircraft coming to a stop in the grass beyond the end of the runway. Sukhoi reports that one of the two certification officials on board was injured during the subsequent evacuation. It adds that “at the time of the incident all aircraft systems were functioning normally.”
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by SSridhar »

AAI Training Staff on GAGAN - Business Line
Moving a step closer towards implementation of satellite-based navigation system, the Airports Authority of India has started training its staff to familiarise them with GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation system (GAGAN).

One of India’s ambitious projects in the field of air navigation, GAGAN is likely to become fully operational by the first quarter of next year.

AAI had organised a three-day workshop-cum-training session for about 40 senior, instructor level, officials at the Civil Aviation Training College at Allahabad.

The officers, posted at different airports, air navigation centres and operating navigational aids from all over the country, attended the workshop to familiarise themselves with the functioning of GAGAN system, an AAI spokesperson said.

The project, which started in 2004, has completed its technological demonstration, installation and testing phases.

Training is mandatory requirement before the country’s aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, certifies the system, a senior AAI official said.

Once in service, GAGAN would provide the capability for increased accuracy in position reporting, allowing for more uniform and high—quality Air Traffic Management.

“It would be put to use step-wise. By September, we expect that the Required Navigation Performance — a non precision approach service would be available. The second stage — approach with vertical guidance system — that would be helpful in both vertical and approach navigation would be functional by early next year,” the official said.

For an aircraft to operate under GAGAN system, it is required to be fitted with Satellite-based Augmentation Systems (S-BAS) receiver, he said, adding that it is up to airlines how early they get their planes S-BAS compatible.

After training, the next important phase would be certification of the system by the DGCA and procedure development for GAGAN, based on requirements of the airports.

During the workshop, experts from the GAGAN Training Centre from Bangalore and AAI Headquarters in New Delhi imparted training about the use of satellite in air navigation services.

Officers of two branches of CATC at Hyderabad and Gondia also participated in the training, in which the demonstration of the GAGAN receiver and its use were shown.

Putting GAGAN into operation would mark a milestone in air navigation operations, shorten air routes and enhance capacity.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by vera_k »

Found this blog post which has fresh ideas on how to connect the USA and India.

Dedicated USA-India flights may help the ailing airlines
Between the major cities on the east coast like, New York and Boston and the Indian cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi, there are two international airports in close proximity that are almost on the as-the-crow-flies-route and almost midway: Helsinki and St Petersburg. If either of these two airports are used, avoiding London, Paris, Amsterdam and other European airports, major operational efficiencies can be achieved.

Between the cities of the west coast like Seattle and San Francisco and the Indian cities, the international airport that lies on the as-the-crow-flies route is that of Novosibirsk, capital of Siberia.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by manish »

Govt in a rush to privatize six airports by year end
Mumbai: The government is in a hurry to privatize six of India’s airports despite two of them having been extensively modernized recently and the not-so-good experience of handing terminals over to private control.

Labour unions are against the move <<SURPRISE!!>> because of the fear of job losses while airlines are worried that charges will rise, stretching them even further financially.

The civil aviation ministry and other key government bodies want to privatize at least six airports—Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati—by December, according to two government officials.
Ownership structure may follow the DEL/BOM/BLR/HYD structure of 74:26 pvt:govt ratio:
The ministry is in talks with related agencies for finalizing bid ding criteria, documents and consultants to execute a privatization plan that envisages giving 74% equity in the airports to selected private companies while 26% will remain with state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI).
But our unions don't like it because:
AAI employees aren’t too happy about the plan as they fear job losses. Labour union leader S.R. Santhanam said his grouping would oppose the privatization plan. It had been decided in 2007 that the Chennai and Kolkata airports would not be privatized <<The Devil's Due in return for the 4 metro airports that we got>>and would instead be modernized by AAI, he said.
And airlines, themselves shining examples of responsible capitalism with a conscience, point out a startling fact about private investors!
Privatizing the airports will hurt airlines as the developers will try to maximize profit, said a senior airline executive who didn’t want to be named.
A 'consultant' wonders what good are private airport operators and offers a solution to end all our airport-related woes:
With Chennai and Kolkata airports already modernized, what value will a private firm bring <<may be those hassled passengers experiencing stellar AAI operations & maintenance at MAA could educate him?>>, asked a senior airport consultant who didn’t want to be named. Instead, the government should empower AAI <<See, so easy>> , he said.
Actually, I feel it should be good if done even reasonably well, AAI union/airline protests notwithstanding. Have transparent, fair bidding/tendering open to all but make sure you do leave something on the table to make the project worthwhile for pvt players.

Grudging their potential profits and returns on investment is not the way to go about it IMVHO. Also, one thing that most forget is that if the airport operating SPV makes windfall profits, GoI too automatically would get 26% of the pie through AAI ownership - over and above the initial stake sale price and a recurring revenue share that is expected to be fairly sizable going by the current track record in the ports and airports sectors in India.

I know I am asking for too much but a man can dream...
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Supratik »

Thumbs-up to the Govt. if they can do it. Pvtization will lead to further development and expansion including city-side infra.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by manish »

Supratik wrote:Thumbs-up to the Govt. if they can do it. Pvtization will lead to further development and expansion including city-side infra.
Exactly.

There are SOOOO many ways to monetize the tangible and intangible assets that an airport possesses that you can bet your life on a public sector entity not being able to see/exploit even half of them, often due to vested interests of some existing players - Jet and the 5-years-to-fly-overseas rule seems like a good example - we could not make the most of the good times in aviation as we held our own young upstart airlines back to cover Jet's interests.
Theo_Fidel

Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Theo_Fidel »

Mumbai: The government is in a hurry to privatize six of India’s airports despite two of them having been extensively modernized recently and the not-so-good experience of handing terminals over to
The civil aviation ministry and other key government bodies want to privatize at least six airports—Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati—by December, according to two government officials.
Thank god. Chennai airport could do wit a lot more improvements. Just got thru this evening and the darn aero-bridge would not work, so 1 hour later had to get on bus and walk. The signage is terribly confusing. The fastrak counter had only one station! Queue was 200 people long. had to use my best fruity tamil to beat off challengers... Even 2 people from the counter random challengers attack from the sides.....
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by manish »

More steps towards privatisation - this one's for Chennai (Theo saar, someone might have heard your prayers)
Airport privatisation kicks off with search for legal consultant
CHENNAI: The Chennai airport has taken a first step towards privatisation. The Airports Authority of India on Saturday began the process by issuing a notice to select a legal adviser for "development, operation and maintenance". After a legal adviser is appointed, AAI will rope in a financial consultant and then an HR consultant.


"The legal consultant and financial consultant will assist in drawing up the tender document for identifying a company to take over the airport. The legal consultant will whet the bid document for legal loopholes and make it foolproof so that private players may not be able to meddle with the revenue," said a senior AAI official.

The bid document will be based on the papers prepared for Delhi and Mumbai airports and will take into consideration the drawbacks of those projects and the feedback.
A human resources consultant is also expected to be appointed to redeploy employees when the private firm takes over. This move comes because AAI and the GVK were saddled with unwanted employees when Mumbai airport was privatised. Many had to be given voluntary retirement as their expertise could not be tapped.

AAI chairman V P Agrawal had said they were working on a plan to minimise impact on employees.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by chaanakya »

Theo_Fidel wrote:
Mumbai: The government is in a hurry to privatize six of India’s airports despite two of them having been extensively modernized recently and the not-so-good experience of handing terminals over to
The civil aviation ministry and other key government bodies want to privatize at least six airports—Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati—by December, according to two government officials.
Thank god. Chennai airport could do wit a lot more improvements. Just got thru this evening and the darn aero-bridge would not work, so 1 hour later had to get on bus and walk. The signage is terribly confusing. The fastrak counter had only one station! Queue was 200 people long. had to use my best fruity tamil to beat off challengers... Even 2 people from the counter random challengers attack from the sides.....

After improvement and opening of new terminals at Chennai , I am of the firm opinion that Airports need big push for private management. AAI is singularly incapable of doing decent job. Just passed thru' Chennai and directed to Gate 10 from D terminal. Now gate 10 is in the old building connected via long ungainly corridor. Good way to loose weight, if one needs. Building , structures have started looking ill maintained with dust and rust showing at some places. Glass facade looking dirty as it is not cleaned. Kolkata might fare slightly better. Signage and counters, security clearance areas are not adequate for Chennai Airport.

After reaching Gate 10, I got pleasant surprised as I stepped into Dreamliner 787-8. Very smooth takeoff and cruise and landing. Interiors look very nice. Wingspan is huge. I think Indian Airports are barely enough for Dreamliner , even Delhi. Entertainment features are nice. Food was usual fare and its neither good nor bad. One innovative feature was Windows could be darkened with switch of a button. Looks like Polaroid Glasses are used. Seats are nice. But use of plastic in interior , something broke off and it sparked off lively debate between one fellow passenger and Airhostess ( by accent Punjabi and just as pretty as Private Airline Hostess) seating near Emergency exit.

Got few bad mobile photus will post later.

The difference in Chennai and Delhi Airports is insurmountable. They could have made Chennai really nice Hub in South India. Right now it could be nightmarish.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by nachiket »

chaanakya wrote: After reaching Gate 10, I got pleasant surprised as I stepped into Dreamliner 787-8. Very smooth takeoff and cruise and landing. Interiors look very nice. Wingspan is huge. I think Indian Airports are barely enough for Dreamliner , even Delhi. \
The Boeing 747 is much larger with a bigger wingspan. 747's have been flying into Indian airports for decades now. They dock at aerobridges too wherever available. The only aircraft which will have problems is the A380.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by manish »

nachiket wrote:
chaanakya wrote: After reaching Gate 10, I got pleasant surprised as I stepped into Dreamliner 787-8. Very smooth takeoff and cruise and landing. Interiors look very nice. Wingspan is huge. I think Indian Airports are barely enough for Dreamliner , even Delhi. \
The Boeing 747 is much larger with a bigger wingspan. 747's have been flying into Indian airports for decades now. They dock at aerobridges too wherever available. The only aircraft which will have problems is the A380.
That's correct.

The Dreamliner is not much of a behemoth in front of the numerous B747s, B777s and A340-5/600 types flying in and out of Indian airports on a daily basis. The smallest of the B777s (the -200) is both wider and longer than the B787-8 that Air India flies.

OTOH Delhi T3, HYD are both fully certified to handle even A380 directly at the gates - the only two operational airports with that capability as on date. BLR/BOM will soon have that capability as part of the ongoing expansion IIRC. HYD has even handled a few emergency diversions/landings of A380 already without any major hiccups. And Lufthansa flies the B747-8I to DEL and BLR regularly, which is probably the only super large 'Code-F' aircraft in scheduled pax operations in Indian skies today owing to GoI's reluctance to permit A380s to operate in and out of India.

If anything, some of our showpiece airports have been overbuilt for the capacity and capabilities that the airlines demand from them today.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by chaanakya »

Point taken.
Dreamliner does have 9 seats. I dont recall, but may be 747 may have 10 seats with Middle row with 4 seats.

In retrospective , while browsing In flight magazine, this did look smaller on scale which I thought perhaps not properly scaled. But then you both are right.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Bade »

747's used to have 10 seats. 3+4+3. I used to love flying in them from NY/Chicago to Mumbai-COK/CCU on Air India. :( These days I have to do with claustrophobic tubes from the DC airports. Qatar does not fly the big ones, the airline I use the most due to shortest layovers. Only Etihad can compete with Qatar on shortest duration total flight time.
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by manish »

Irrespective of the topic or nature of discussions, our friends from across the Western border always seem to be the ones providing the comic relief. Here's the latest example [Link to Pakistani newspaper]:
Russians Seize Pakistan Airlines Aircraft Demanding Payment of Long Pending Dues
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is facing embarrassment and difficulties in its operations side after authorities at the Moscow airport have refused to release a PIA aircraft that made an emergency landing after developing a technical fault about two weeks back. Much to the surprise of the flight crew and PIA high-ups in Moscow, officials there refused to handover the plane after they found that the national flag carrier had to clear some debt from the past for using the airport services and facilities.

Per details, a London-bound PIA aircraft (PK 785) with at least 128 passengers on board had to make an emergency landing at Moscow airport after one of its engines ceased to function.
Sources in the PIA said another aircraft flying to Manchester with over 200 passengers on board had been diverted to the Russian capital to take the passengers stranded there to Manchester for their further transportation to London.
Wonder who pays the airport charges for this one? Perhaps it would be easier to simply pay off the dues and fly out in the stranded jet?
PIA officials are still engaged with aviation authorities in Moscow to secure the release of the plane, but the Russians want the PIA to clear the outstanding dues that date way back to the times when PIA used to operate its flights to Moscow. These operations were suspended in early 2000 after operational difficulties of the national flag carrier. Sources said that it would take another two to three weeks before a breakthrough was expected, probably after the Russians made the PIA pay the dues. :roll:
nachiket
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Bade wrote:747's used to have 10 seats. 3+4+3. I used to love flying in them from NY/Chicago to Mumbai-COK/CCU on Air India. :( These days I have to do with claustrophobic tubes from the DC airports. Qatar does not fly the big ones, the airline I use the most due to shortest layovers. Only Etihad can compete with Qatar on shortest duration total flight time.
AI has only about five 747's left now and I don't know how many of them are still operational. Lufthansa and British Airways still fly 747's into India. As does Cathay Pacific. Don't know of any other airline.

But I'm curious as to why you don't like the 777's that Etihad, Qatar airlines, etc. use. They are a bit narrower than 747's but are actually more comfortable thanks to better seats. I am talking about my experience on 777s in general of course, not Etihad and Qatar which I've never flown. They aren't claustrophobic by any means. 777s being newer also invariably have personal entertainment systems. Some of the old 747s in Lufthansa and United don't have them and the flight can get pretty boring if you forget to bring a book to read.
Bade
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Bade »

I specifically hate the window seats nowadays, which used to be my favorite. I cannot tell if it has all to do with my djinns, or the seat spacing which feels cramped, even though I am not a TFTA myself. Qatar's seating is not the most pleasant or the most comfortable. Interiors and color choices are bland. Maybe all that matters in making you feel at home. I really miss traveling on Air India flights.
nachiket
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by nachiket »

The middle eastern airlines serve much better food though than the oiropeans from what I've heard. United is probably the worst when it comes to food. Nothing to beat Jet Airways and Air India though.
Austin
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Austin »

Boeing 787 Global Suppliers

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SSridhar
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by SSridhar »

Ceiling Tiles Fall in Chennai's New Domestic Terminal - ToI
Airports Authority of India (AAI) will renovate the false ceilings at its new domestic and international terminals after 23 tiles fell near the check-in counter on the first floor departure hall on Sunday.

Nobody was injured when the accident took place at 12.50am. This is the second time the false ceiling caved in at the new domestic terminal of the airport. The incident highlights the shoddy quality of work on the interiors.
Lats time the AAI said it was due to wind tunnel effect. Now, they say it is due to moisture.
An airline official said the ceiling collapse shows poor quality of work inside the brand new terminal and has raised safety concerns for passengers. "It is sheer luck that the accident happened twice when there were no flights. I am not sure whether we are going to be third time lucky. In several spots, ceilings were repaired after the collapse in May. But, repairs are being done in a shoddy manner," he said.

Another official said there had been no attempt to fix responsibility for the mess. "A contractor is called and patch-up work is done when things go wrong," he said.
krisna
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by krisna »

well again something good about Gujarat- from niticentral-
this time Ahmedabad inetrnational airport ransk first in consumer satisfaction
According to a survey by the Airport Council International, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) has been ranked first in terms of customer satisfaction.

“In a recently conducted survey by the Airport Council International, SVPIA stood first amongst the 11 AAI airports, with a satisfaction index of 4.13 on the scale of 5,” SVPI Airport Director RK Singh said in a statement.
ACI, an international body of confederation of airports, carries out the survey independently and gives indices of satisfaction based on the responses provided by the passengers travelling through the airport, the official statement said.

Recently, new facilities, including a leather goods outlet by Da Milano & Pavers England, and outlets of jewellery, branded clothes, branded watches, bakery and other food products have been opened at the airport.

The newly-introduced `Fly Tagged’ facility provides better medical assistance and care for senior citizens, corporate assistance and other needs, the statement added.
manish
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by manish »

Bombardier rolls out fully painted CSeries CS100 prototype - first flight imminent

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I have been rooting for and looking forward to this one for a very long time. Finally some manufacturer with a reasonable chance of breaking the Airbus/Boeing duopoly built up in commercial aircraft since the death of McDonnel-Douglas!

IMVHO, the CSeries has the best chance among various upstarts in the single-aisle narrow-body commercial airliner market of 110 to 200 seats capacity to take on the big daddies Airbus A320 and the venerable Boeing B737. The Sukhoi Superjet, the MS-21 or the Comac C919 don't really seem to have the technological/commercial/financial/political wherewithal to play with the Big Boys.

To be sure, Bombardier too seems to be playing it carefully, by starting out first with the 110 seat CS100 and the 145-seat (160 in high-density versions) CS300 which just about overlaps with the smaller members of the A320 (A318/9) and B737(-700) families.

Rumour has it that Bombardier has already trademarked the CS500 moniker, raising hopes of a double-stretch of the CS100 with perhaps upto 180 seats or so, taking the fight directly to the big incumbents.

The fact that the CSeries is the only clean sheet, modern, composite-heavy, grounds up narrow-body design with Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines at the moment does seem to give it significant advantages in many areas including range and fuel burn even over the upcoming A320neo and the B737 MAX, at least on paper.

Let's see how this translates into real-life performance in the air, and perhaps more importantly, in the commercial aviation market.
Austin
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by Austin »

Low Speed Taxi Trials of CS100

rahulm
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by rahulm »

AI becomes first carrier to land the Dreamliner in Oz and resumes scheduled ops down under after 16 years

As my weekly QF service taxied out from Mellbourne earlier this evening, I caught myself scanning the tarmac in case the AI aircraft was parked somewhere. I know its a parasite and all that, but it does carry the Indian flag and its a proud moment to see India's flag once again on a scheduled service to Australia.

The link above has a shot of the Maharaja and the Roo together and its a nice sight.

After QANTAS discontinued QF123, it's good to have a non stop service to desh once again.
chaanakya
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Re: Civil Aviation Development & Discussion

Post by chaanakya »

Govt open to offering 100 % stake to private parties at six airports

The Ministry of Civil Aviation will soon float a request for qualification document

The Ministry of Civil Aviation will soon float request for qualification (RFQ) document for six airports, including the recently refurbished Chennai and Kolkata airports, and is open to offering 100 per cent stake to private players.


Highly placed sources in the Aviation Ministry said the RFQ for Kolkata and Chennai airports along with four others — Guwahati, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad and Kolkata — would also be issued in the next few weeks.

“These airports would be given on a concessional basis to private parties for a period of 30 years and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) may not have equity participation as we are open to giving 100 per cent stake to private parties,” sources in the Ministry said.

Sources said the AAI, during the 30-year period, will continue to get revenue share, which will be decided on the basis of discussions held with the prospective bidders. To a question as to why AAI, which had put in thousands of crores to modernise these airports, would not have any stake participation, sources said even in the existing private airports, AAI does not have any say in operation and management therefore it was felt not to go in for equity stake.

AAI has a 26 per cent share in the private airports of Delhi and Mumbai and a 13 per cent share in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Once finalised by the government, RFQ would be issued by the Key Infrastructure Development (KID) Cell of AAI. After RFQ, which is a response-seeking process to help identify the participants for the bidding, request for interest (RFI) would be issued. RFQ would include the broad parameters of the privatisation process. AAI had modernised the Kolkata and Chennai airports at a cost of Rs.2,325 crore and Rs.2,015 crore respectively.
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