A Danish Civilian Airliner flown by Cimber Air, flying a Scandinavian Airlines System Flight, was close to disaster. Flight SK 1755 was bound for Poznan in Poland.
The incident happened soon after take off from Copenhagen international Airport, Kastrup in Denmark on Friday 2014.12.11.
The Airliner was climbing out from Copenhagen airport when a Russian military spy plane was flying in the area, circling in and out of the flight path for arriving and departing traffic to Kastrup.
The Russian military plane was flying without an activated Transponder, and it was thus invisible on the Civilian Radar.
Swedish Air Force Primary Radars picked up the plane and notified the Civilian Air Traffic Controllers that instructed the Civilian Airliner to level out to avoid a collision.
The incident took place in International airspace at an altitude of 8000 m, around 50 km South West of Malmoe. The weather conditions were fine.
The Russian News agency Itar Tass, says that the planes were at a distance of 70 km.
The Chief of the Swedish Air Force, Micael Bydén, calls the Russian statement absurd. It is strange, he says, and add that we know how close they were.
He does not want to comment on the exact distance between the two planes, but he says that the planes were much closer than the stipulated 9 km.
We are not talking about hundreds of m, but far from 9 km, he says.
Both Swedish and Danish Fighter planes were following the Russian aircraft, that left the area after a while, but it was soon to to return to the area again, flying without a Transponder.
The Government of Sweden and Denmark have summoned the respective Russian ambassadors to protest against this behavior.
This type of Russian military activity, the old Soviet Style, Cold War display of dominance and aggression that threatens western civilian air traffic has lately become a common practice.
Last week such activity was reported close to Finnish airspace, and Finnish ATC had to take actions to avoid collisions.
The Danish minister of defense, Nicolai Wammen, says that Denmark looks very seriously on the incident. It is very important that all nations, including Russia, takes aviation safety seriously, he says.
This is the second time this year that a Scandinavian Airlines System Civilian Airliner is close to collide with an unmarked Russian military spy plane.
A similar incident took place on March 3, 2014, that too after take off from Copenhagen.
The Swedish Captain of the SAS Civilian Airliner, Johan Wiklund, says that the ATC, Air Traffic Control, had warned another Airliner about the Russian aircraft.
I had just begun the climb, he says, when the ATC called us and instructed us to abort the climb and to level out.
I had just aborted the climb when I looked out and then I saw it on the right side, he says.
I counted to five and then it passed right over our heads, the Captain says.
He and the first officer on the flight estimate that the distance between them and the Russian plane was only around 90 m. The minimal separation is 300 m.
The Chief of the Swedish Air Force says that it is extremely foolish to fly "invisible" without a transponder. The problem is that you put other people at risk, he says.
Source: / Aftonbladet / TT / TV4 / SVT / Dagens Nyheter / Ritzau
Monday, December 15, 2014
All flights Cancelled at BRU
All flights are cancelled today, 2014.12.15, at Brussels International Airport, due to a strike.
(IATA: BRU, ICAO: EBBR) (Brussel Nationaal / Bruxelles-National / Brussel-Zaventem / Brussels National).
More info for BRU
(IATA: BRU, ICAO: EBBR) (Brussel Nationaal / Bruxelles-National / Brussel-Zaventem / Brussels National).
More info for BRU
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
FAA work to restore Chicago air traffic site
FAA wants to restore Chicago air traffic site by mid-October
The Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, said on Sunday that it has set a target of October 13 to restore to service a Chicago-area air traffic control site.
The ATCC was set on fire by a field technician, as delays and cancellations continued at Chicago airports.
Air traffic controllers managed about 60 percent of typical traffic on Sunday at O'Hare International Airport and over 75 percent at Chicago Midway International Airport, the FAA said.
More than 600 flights were canceled at O'Hare and Midway on Sunday, and delays were about 30 minutes, the city's aviation department said.
The fire forced the evacuation of the FAA control center in Aurora, Illinois. It has severely affected the air traffic, with an estimated 2,100 flights canceled at major airports across the country on Friday.
Another 1,100 flights were canceled Saturday.
FAA is on site working 24/7 to install new equipment and restore service to full capacity as quickly as possible.
O'Hare, one of the world's busiest airports, is the largest hub of United Airlines and a major hub for American Airlines. The airport averaged about 2,700 flights a day in August with a daily average of about 220,000 passengers in the month, according to its website.
The FAA said that air traffic controllers who normally work at the Aurora facility are now working at other surrounding FAA facilities to help maximize traffic flow in and out of Chicago-area airports while repairs are being made.
The FAA said on Saturday that it had decided to completely replace the central communications network in a different part of the same building to restore the system as quickly as possible.
The first shipment of replacement equipment is scheduled to arrive late on Sunday night, and teams will be working around the clock to install it, the FAA said.
Source: Reuters
The Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, said on Sunday that it has set a target of October 13 to restore to service a Chicago-area air traffic control site.
The ATCC was set on fire by a field technician, as delays and cancellations continued at Chicago airports.
Air traffic controllers managed about 60 percent of typical traffic on Sunday at O'Hare International Airport and over 75 percent at Chicago Midway International Airport, the FAA said.
More than 600 flights were canceled at O'Hare and Midway on Sunday, and delays were about 30 minutes, the city's aviation department said.
The fire forced the evacuation of the FAA control center in Aurora, Illinois. It has severely affected the air traffic, with an estimated 2,100 flights canceled at major airports across the country on Friday.
Another 1,100 flights were canceled Saturday.
FAA is on site working 24/7 to install new equipment and restore service to full capacity as quickly as possible.
O'Hare, one of the world's busiest airports, is the largest hub of United Airlines and a major hub for American Airlines. The airport averaged about 2,700 flights a day in August with a daily average of about 220,000 passengers in the month, according to its website.
The FAA said that air traffic controllers who normally work at the Aurora facility are now working at other surrounding FAA facilities to help maximize traffic flow in and out of Chicago-area airports while repairs are being made.
The FAA said on Saturday that it had decided to completely replace the central communications network in a different part of the same building to restore the system as quickly as possible.
The first shipment of replacement equipment is scheduled to arrive late on Sunday night, and teams will be working around the clock to install it, the FAA said.
Source: Reuters
Airbus A350 wins European safety approval
Europe's aviation regulator EASA, said on Tuesday it had awarded safety approval for the Airbus A350, said Reuters. This is an important step in completing the regulatory steps needed for the jet to start flying passengers.
The European Aviation Safety Agency said Airbus, had demonstrated the airworthiness of its first light-weight, mainly carbon-fibre jet during over a year of flight trials.
The version off the jet certified by EASA on Tuesday, the A350-900, is designed to seat 314 passengers. It is due to enter service with Qatar Airways before the end of the year in direct competition with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
A larger model, the 350-seat A350-1000, which targets the 'mini-jumbo' market occupied by the Boeing 777, is due to enter service in 2017 after a separate safety certification process.
Source: Reuters
The European Aviation Safety Agency said Airbus, had demonstrated the airworthiness of its first light-weight, mainly carbon-fibre jet during over a year of flight trials.
The version off the jet certified by EASA on Tuesday, the A350-900, is designed to seat 314 passengers. It is due to enter service with Qatar Airways before the end of the year in direct competition with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
A larger model, the 350-seat A350-1000, which targets the 'mini-jumbo' market occupied by the Boeing 777, is due to enter service in 2017 after a separate safety certification process.
Source: Reuters
Sunday, September 28, 2014
First flight of Airbus A320 neo
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| The A320neo is airborn for the first time 2014.09.25. Photo: Airbus. |
Portable Electronic Devices (PED) on board
Portable Electronic Devices (PED) is now allowed on board on European Flights.
Portable Electronic Devices (PED) include any kind of electronic device brought on board the aircraft by a passenger such as a tablet, a laptop, a smartphone, an e-reader or a MP3 player.
From the 26 September 2014 EASA has made it possible for airlines to allow passengers to use their PEDs throughout the flight, regardless of whether the device is transmitting or not, i.e. in ‘aeroplane mode’ or not.
It is now up to each airline to allow the use of PEDs or not.
In order to do this, the airlines will have to go through an assessment process, ensuring that the aircrafts are not affected in any way by the transmission of signals from the PEDs.
For safety reasons, EASA describes certain conditions for using such devices on board aircraft operated by European airlines. Based on these conditions, airlines may describe when PEDs can be used. In other words, airlines may be more restrictive than the EASA provisions are.
Because it is a decision of each airline, you may experience differences among airlines whether and when PEDs can be used. In addition, you may experience differences within one airline depending on the type of aircraft you are flying on.
As a passenger you should be aware of the following:
1. If you are unsure on the use of PEDs, you may check the airline’s website prior to the flight.
2. Please remeber that the safety briefing provided by the airline crew is for your benefit. Please pay attention and listen carefully.
3. Airline crew may request at any time to switch-off all PEDs and to stow them.
4. Passengers must follow the instructions given by the airline crew as safety is the responsibility of everyone on board the aircraft. Safety is everyone’s priority.
Source: EASA
Portable Electronic Devices (PED) include any kind of electronic device brought on board the aircraft by a passenger such as a tablet, a laptop, a smartphone, an e-reader or a MP3 player.
From the 26 September 2014 EASA has made it possible for airlines to allow passengers to use their PEDs throughout the flight, regardless of whether the device is transmitting or not, i.e. in ‘aeroplane mode’ or not.
It is now up to each airline to allow the use of PEDs or not.
In order to do this, the airlines will have to go through an assessment process, ensuring that the aircrafts are not affected in any way by the transmission of signals from the PEDs.
For safety reasons, EASA describes certain conditions for using such devices on board aircraft operated by European airlines. Based on these conditions, airlines may describe when PEDs can be used. In other words, airlines may be more restrictive than the EASA provisions are.
Because it is a decision of each airline, you may experience differences among airlines whether and when PEDs can be used. In addition, you may experience differences within one airline depending on the type of aircraft you are flying on.
As a passenger you should be aware of the following:
1. If you are unsure on the use of PEDs, you may check the airline’s website prior to the flight.
2. Please remeber that the safety briefing provided by the airline crew is for your benefit. Please pay attention and listen carefully.
3. Airline crew may request at any time to switch-off all PEDs and to stow them.
4. Passengers must follow the instructions given by the airline crew as safety is the responsibility of everyone on board the aircraft. Safety is everyone’s priority.
Source: EASA
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Least expensive flights in India
GoEuro (www.goeuro.com), the online platform that compares and combine trips by train, bus and plane throughout Europe, has released its worldwide Transportation Price Index based on the train, bus and flight information for 51 countries across five continents.
The U.S. came in as the 22nd least expensive out of 51 countries ranked in the Global Transportation Price Index.
Taking into account factors including distance, scheduling and taxes, GoEuro compared the cheapest bus, train and flight connections between the two most populous cities in each of the countries, among other routes, and analyzed the data in the price index.
Countries were then rated according to average price per 100km for each type of transportation.
On average, in the U.S., flights costs $ 10.36 / 100km.
The most expensive country for transport overall is Switzerland, where flights cost $125.07/100km.
The cheapest country for transport overall is South Africa, where flights cost just $11.63/100km.
India came in as the 14th least expensive out of 51 countries ranked in the Global Transportation Price Index.
Finland tops the list with the most expensive flights with 107 Euro / 100 km.
India is the least expensive nation to fly in with an average cost of 8 Euro / 100 km.
On average, in India, flights cost $ 10.20 / 100km.
The cheapest country for transport overall is South Africa, where flights cost just $ 11.46 / 100km.
The cheapest countries for air travel are India ($ 10.20 / 10 0km), Malaysia ($ 11.26 / 100 km) and South Africa ($ 11.46 / 100 km), whilst the most expensive are Finland ($ 136.83 / 100 km), Switzerland ($ 123.20 / 100 km) and Lithuania ($ 114.99 / 100 km).
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Air India New Star Alliance Member
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| Photo: Air India |
This makes connecting to, from and across India easier. Anyone who does business in India will appreciate that it is never done in one place.
A morning in Delhi airport illustrates flying is simply part of the daily commute.
With Air India being a member of Star Alliance, you can fly into one of the 12 international airports and connect to over 60 other destinations across India, making it easier for you to reach every business centre.
The biggest airport hub where Star Alliance connects nationally and internationally, is the brand new Terminal 2 in Mumbai.
This state-of-the-art airport with 188 check-in counters enables you to travel into and on from India’s financial and economical capital more comfortably.
All Star Alliance flights to Delhi operate via the same place:
Terminal 3, so you don’t have to change to another terminal between flights, which could cut down your connection times.
Star Alliance Member Airlines 2014
Adria Airways JP
Aegean Airlines A3
Air Canada AC
Air China CA
Air India AI
Air New Zealand NZ
ANA NH
Asiana Airlines OZ
Austrian OS
Avianca AV
Brussels Airlines SN
Copa Airlines CM
Croatia Airlines OU
EGYPTAIR MS
Ethiopian Airlines ET
EVA Air BR
LOT Polish Airlines LO
Lufthansa LH
Scandinavian Airlines SK
Shenzhen Airlines ZH
Singapore Airlines SQ
South African Airways SA
SWISS LX
TAP Portugal TP
THAI TG
Turkish Airlines TK
United UA
Source: Star Alliance
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The top 20 safest Airlines 2014
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| Photo: Air New Zealand |
1. Air New Zealand, index: 0,007
2. Cathay Pacific Airways, 0,008
3. Finnair, 0,010
4. Emirates, 0,010
5. Eva Air, 0,010
6. British Airways, 0,011
7. Tap Portugal, 0,012
8. Etihad Airways, 0,012
9. Air Canada, 0,012
10. Qantas, 0,013
11. Qatar Airways, 0,013
12. All Nippon Airways, 0,015
13. Virgin Atlantic Airways, 0,015
14. Hainan Airlines, 0,015
15. Virgin Australia, 0,015
16. Jetblue Airlines, 0,015
17. KLM, 0,015
18. Lufthansa, 0,016
19. Shenzhen Airlines, 0,018
20. Easyjet, 0,018
Source: JACDEC.
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