Air fares are set to rise after a Dublin woman won a case against Ryanair today which will force airlines to pay out compensation to passengers for costs such hotel rooms if their flights are delayed due to "extraordinary circumstances".
The European Court of Justice ruling has major implications for airlines throughout Europe. The woman sued the carrier in 2010 in Dublin seeking reimbursement of €1,129 in costs she incurred when she was forced to prolong her stay in Faro, Portugal, after the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted.
Airspace across Europe were closed over fears that volcanic ash could pose a threat to air safety.
She claimed Ryanair was in breach of contract for failing to provide assistance to her under EU Regulation 261. The carrier insisted it shouldn’t be made liable for the impact of what it said were more than extraordinary circumstances.
When the aviation authorities closed most of the European airspace, later found to be unnecessarily strict, travel insurance companies (and airlines) has escaped liability by claiming it was an act of God.
“Today's ruling by the European Court now makes the airlines the insurer of last resort even when in the majority of cases (such as ATC delays or national strikes in Europe) these delays are entirely beyond an airline's control, says Ryanair.
"Today's decision will materially increase the cost of flying across Europe and consumer airfares will increase as airlines will be obliged to recover the cost of these claims from their customers, because the defective European regulation does not allow us to recover such costs from the governments or unions who are responsible for over 95pc of flight delays in Europe."
Ryanair already charges a special levy on all flights to cover its obligations under the EU 261 regulation.
Source: Modified / www.independent.ie
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
ILS - Instrument landing system
 |
| ILS - Instrument landing system |
An ILS is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway. The ILS can be used in situations such as in low ceilings or reduced visibility due to fog, rain, or blowing snow.
Instrument approach procedure charts (or approach plates) are published for each ILS approach, providing pilots with the needed information to fly an ILS approach during instrument flight rules (IFR) operations, including the radio frequencies used by the ILS components or navaids and the minimum visibility requirements prescribed for the specific approach.
Radio-navigation aids must keep a certain degree of accuracy set by international standards of ICAO and periodically check critical parameters with properly equipped aircraft to calibrate and certify ILS precision.
ILS categories
There are three categories of ILS which support similarly named categories of operation.
Information below is based on ICAO, FAA and JAA; certain states may have filed differences.
Category I (CAT I)
– A precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height not lower than 200 feet (61 m) above touchdown zone elevation and,
with either a visibility not less than 800 meters or 2400 ft or a runway visual range not less than 550 meters (1,800 ft) on a runway with touchdown zone and runway centerline lighting.
Category II (CAT II)
– A precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height not lower than 100 feet (30 m), and a runway visual range not less than 350 meters (1,150 ft) (ICAO and FAA - USA) or 300 meters (980 ft) (JAA EASA - Europe).
Category III (CAT III) is subdivided into three sections:
Category III A – A precision instrument approach and landing with:
a) a decision height lower than 100 feet (30 m) above touchdown zone elevation, or no decision height (alert height); and
b) a runway visual range not less than 200 meters (660 ft).
Category III B – A precision instrument approach and landing with:
a) a decision height lower than 50 feet (15 m) above touchdown zone elevation, or no decision height (alert height); and
b) a runway visual range not less than 50 meters (160 ft) (ICAO and FAA) or 75 meters (246 ft) (JAA).
ILS History
Tests of the ILS system began in 1929, and the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) authorized installation of the system in 1941 at six locations.
The first landing of a scheduled U.S. passenger airliner using ILS was on January 26, 1938, as a Pennsylvania Central Airlines Boeing 247-D flew from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh and landed in a snowstorm using only the Instrument Landing System.
The first fully automatic landing using ILS occurred at Bedford Airport UK in March 1964.
Source: Modified after Wikipedia
Saturday, January 26, 2013
OH Leuven scores with Air Malta
Following its success with the PSA-Gangnam Style video on YouTube, Air Malta has launched the second in a series of video clips to promote the airline.
This time, the video features players from the Belgian Jupiler League team, OH Leuven, and former Maltese football legend Carmel 'Bużu' Busuttil.
The clip was filmed during a routine Air Malta aircraft check by the aircraft's engineering department.
Source: Times of Malta
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Boeing 787 Dreamliner statement
Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney issued the following statement today (Jan 16) after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive that requires U.S.
787 operators to temporarily cease operations and recommends other regulatory agencies to follow suit:
"The safety of passengers and crew members who fly aboard Boeing airplanes is our highest priority.
"Boeing is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible. The company is working around the clock with its customers and the various regulatory and investigative authorities. We will make available the entire resources of The Boeing Company to assist.
"We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity. We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the traveling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service.
"Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers."
SOURCE Boeing, Jan. 16, 2013
787 operators to temporarily cease operations and recommends other regulatory agencies to follow suit:
"The safety of passengers and crew members who fly aboard Boeing airplanes is our highest priority.
"Boeing is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible. The company is working around the clock with its customers and the various regulatory and investigative authorities. We will make available the entire resources of The Boeing Company to assist.
"We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity. We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the traveling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service.
"Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers."
SOURCE Boeing, Jan. 16, 2013
Snow delays flights in Europe and UK
More than 260 flights cancelled at Heathrow as forecasters warn of just 2cm of snow, Daily Mail reports.
Heathrow Airport became a 'refugee camp' yesterday after hundreds of flights were cancelled leaving passengers stranded. Heathrow, which typically handles 1,300 flights a day, said the cancellations were necessary because there is low visibility thanks to the snow.
Around 260 flights have been cancelled today because of fears over visibility.
Stranded passengers were forced to sleep on terminal floors after severe weather saw hundreds of flights cancelled over the weekend.
Source: Daily Mail
Central Europe has also been affected by the bad winter weather. Paris Orly Airport has also experienced difficulties.
Heathrow Airport became a 'refugee camp' yesterday after hundreds of flights were cancelled leaving passengers stranded. Heathrow, which typically handles 1,300 flights a day, said the cancellations were necessary because there is low visibility thanks to the snow.
Around 260 flights have been cancelled today because of fears over visibility.
Stranded passengers were forced to sleep on terminal floors after severe weather saw hundreds of flights cancelled over the weekend.
Source: Daily Mail
Central Europe has also been affected by the bad winter weather. Paris Orly Airport has also experienced difficulties.
Best and worst US airlines
A new ranking by the Wall Street Journal reveals that overall Delta was the best airline, while United was the worst BBC reports.
The US air travel improved for passengers during 2012 according to a new ranking of US airlines.
The ranking was released last Thursday by the Wall Street Journal, using data from FlightStats.com and the Department of Transportation, which oversees air and other transportation in the US.
The report ranked seven major airlines;
Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, jetBlue, Southwest, United and US Airways according to six criteria:
late flights, cancelled flights, extreme delays, bumped passengers, lost bags and complaints.
Delta was the best airline, while United was the worst.
Almost 80% of domestic flights were on time, or within 15 minutes of scheduled time, in 2012.
In 2011 the same figure was 76%.
Only 1.4% of domestic US flights were cancelled last year, compared with 2.1% in 2011.
Fewer flights had excessive delays (defined as 45 minutes or more), and there were fewer lost bags.
The overall rate of traveller complaints increased.
United Airline’s customer complaints accounted for virtually all the industry-wide increase in complaints in 2012. United received 3,617 complaints in the first 10 months of 2012, compared with 958 during the same period in 2011.
Delta Air Lines had 777 complaints.
Among the reasons for United’s low performance is said to be due to the merger with Continental.
Critical data was lost during electronic transfer of United passenger information to Continental computer systems, leading to lost reservations, long phone wait times, late and cancelled flights and angry customers.
American Airlines came in second-to-last with the highest rates of late and cancelled flights.
Disputes with pilots in autumn likely led to their high rates of late and cancelled flights.
The 2012 Airline ranking results:
Delta
Alaska
US Airways
Southwest
jetBlue
American
United
Source: BBC
The US air travel improved for passengers during 2012 according to a new ranking of US airlines.
The ranking was released last Thursday by the Wall Street Journal, using data from FlightStats.com and the Department of Transportation, which oversees air and other transportation in the US.
The report ranked seven major airlines;
Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, jetBlue, Southwest, United and US Airways according to six criteria:
late flights, cancelled flights, extreme delays, bumped passengers, lost bags and complaints.
Delta was the best airline, while United was the worst.
Almost 80% of domestic flights were on time, or within 15 minutes of scheduled time, in 2012.
In 2011 the same figure was 76%.
Only 1.4% of domestic US flights were cancelled last year, compared with 2.1% in 2011.
Fewer flights had excessive delays (defined as 45 minutes or more), and there were fewer lost bags.
The overall rate of traveller complaints increased.
United Airline’s customer complaints accounted for virtually all the industry-wide increase in complaints in 2012. United received 3,617 complaints in the first 10 months of 2012, compared with 958 during the same period in 2011.
Delta Air Lines had 777 complaints.
Among the reasons for United’s low performance is said to be due to the merger with Continental.
Critical data was lost during electronic transfer of United passenger information to Continental computer systems, leading to lost reservations, long phone wait times, late and cancelled flights and angry customers.
American Airlines came in second-to-last with the highest rates of late and cancelled flights.
Disputes with pilots in autumn likely led to their high rates of late and cancelled flights.
The 2012 Airline ranking results:
Delta
Alaska
US Airways
Southwest
jetBlue
American
United
Source: BBC
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The safest airline in the world
Safety data for more than 800 airlines from 178 contries has been compiled by the German JADEC, Jacdec, Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre.
The Jadec safety report compare the number of accidents to the number of airline passengers.
Finnair's latest air crash was the loss of a DC3 in bad weather on final approach to Mariehamn Airport, Aland Island, Finland in November 1963, 13 years before Jadec begun the statistical analysis.
Top ten safety list - The world's safest airlines
1. Finnair
2. Air New Zealand
3. Cathay Pacific
4. Emirates
5. Etihad
6. Eva Air
7. TAP Air Portugal
8. Hainan Airlines
9. Virgin Australia
10. British Airways
http://www.jacdec.de/
The Jadec safety report compare the number of accidents to the number of airline passengers.
Finnair's latest air crash was the loss of a DC3 in bad weather on final approach to Mariehamn Airport, Aland Island, Finland in November 1963, 13 years before Jadec begun the statistical analysis.
Top ten safety list - The world's safest airlines
1. Finnair
2. Air New Zealand
3. Cathay Pacific
4. Emirates
5. Etihad
6. Eva Air
7. TAP Air Portugal
8. Hainan Airlines
9. Virgin Australia
10. British Airways
http://www.jacdec.de/
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Snake on Qantas Plane
A snake was clinging on to the wing of a Qantas flight between the city of Cairns in north Queensland, Australia, and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Passengers aboard the plane first became aware of the reptile 20 minutes after take-off.
The 10ft long scrub python clung to the aircraft surface for the entire 1hr 50 min flight, but it was found to be dead on arrival.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Lufthansa Aircraft skids off taxiway
One of Lufthansa's aircraft skid off the taxiway at Stockholm Arlanda Airport as it was taxing out to take off.
The flight was about to depart for Munich at about 16 pm local CET.
The plane ended up with one wheel outside the runway and no one was hurt in the incident.
The passengers were transferred to buses and the plane was towed back to the apron.
Source: Swedish Radio
The flight was about to depart for Munich at about 16 pm local CET.
The plane ended up with one wheel outside the runway and no one was hurt in the incident.
The passengers were transferred to buses and the plane was towed back to the apron.
Source: Swedish Radio
Aerosvit declared bankruptcy
The Ukrainian airline Aerosvit has cancelled flights, but according to some sources the company will try to reconstruct.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Virtual Assistant at Newark International Airport
Airport Virtual Assistant Hologram at Newark Liberty International Airport
Iberia’s pilots agree to resume talks
Iberia‘s pilots have agreed to resume talks with the company according to Reuters.
The pilot’s union wants to see a growth plan at the airline rather than farming out service.
Iberia, which plans to cut about 4,500 jobs, has set January 31 as the deadline for the unions to agree to the reorganization plan.
Source: Reuters / Worldairlinenews.com
The pilot’s union wants to see a growth plan at the airline rather than farming out service.
Iberia, which plans to cut about 4,500 jobs, has set January 31 as the deadline for the unions to agree to the reorganization plan.
Source: Reuters / Worldairlinenews.com
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Ryanair pilots: saves money on jet fuel
Ryanair flies into new cost-cutting storm as pilots claim it 'saves money on jet fuel', Daily mail reports. Four Ryanair pilots told a Dutch TV program they are being forced to fly with the minimum amount of fuel allowed by law to keep costs down. They claimed they they are regularly on the brink of making distress calls because their planes are so low on fuel. Ryanair has insisted its pilots are allowed to take as much fuel as they wish to on their flights.
A row has broken out after Ryanair pilots accused the airline of putting cost-cutting ahead of passenger safety by forcing crews to fly with limited fuel in order to save money.
Speaking anonymously on a Dutch TV program, four pilots said they often found themselves on the brink of making distress calls during flights because their planes were so low on fuel.
Ryanair has strenuously denied the pilots' claims that they are under pressure from management to carry as little fuel as is legally allowed to help keep costs down. One pilot was asked if he ever felt pressure to take less fuel on a journey than he would like, the pilot replied: 'You feel it everyday.'
Former Ryanair pilot Ian Somner, who also appeared on the program, described an 'oppressive regime' at the airline where he said staff were 'bullied' by management. The claims emerged after the airline was told to carry out a review of its fuel policy in September when three of its planes were forced to make emergency landings in Spain on one day when they started to run out.
The airline told the Daily mail - MailOnline - that the claims, published in the Sun newspaper, were 'false rubbish'. The spokesman added that Ryanair was issuing defamation proceedings against the Sun in the wake of its article.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk
A row has broken out after Ryanair pilots accused the airline of putting cost-cutting ahead of passenger safety by forcing crews to fly with limited fuel in order to save money.
Speaking anonymously on a Dutch TV program, four pilots said they often found themselves on the brink of making distress calls during flights because their planes were so low on fuel.
Ryanair has strenuously denied the pilots' claims that they are under pressure from management to carry as little fuel as is legally allowed to help keep costs down. One pilot was asked if he ever felt pressure to take less fuel on a journey than he would like, the pilot replied: 'You feel it everyday.'
Former Ryanair pilot Ian Somner, who also appeared on the program, described an 'oppressive regime' at the airline where he said staff were 'bullied' by management. The claims emerged after the airline was told to carry out a review of its fuel policy in September when three of its planes were forced to make emergency landings in Spain on one day when they started to run out.
The airline told the Daily mail - MailOnline - that the claims, published in the Sun newspaper, were 'false rubbish'. The spokesman added that Ryanair was issuing defamation proceedings against the Sun in the wake of its article.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk
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