Charles Woolley from Australia’s 60 minutes program takes a ride on the last flight of VH-OGG as it is taken to a aircraft graveyard in the Mohave Desrt in California.
VH-OGG at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport – YMML (2014)
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All posts for the day January 8th, 2015
Below is a stunning video showing what is called an RNP (required navigation performance) precision approach into Queenstown New Zealand’s tiny airport nestled between mountains buried in clouds.
You will see a magnificent sunset scene and the aircraft sinks “blind” into cloud and emerges with the runway in sight. But it is far from blind with RNP which is, in fact, a statement of the aircraft’s navigational performance and relates to the aircraft’s ability to use extremely accurate GPS signals. These GPS signals are combined with the aircraft’s own internal navigation systems to create an accurate and stable navigation path.
RNP allows the Queenstown-bound flight to operate free of traditional ground-based aids. Prior to approval for RNP operations the aircraft’s navigation system is examined through its ability to fly the required flight path precisely over a series of proving flights in clear conditions. RNP approaches and departures were pioneered by Alaskan Airlines in 1994 with 737-300s and later with QANTAS with its 737-800s in September 2004 into Queenstown. Queenstown airport is subject to low cloud conditions (cloud base above 400ft, but below 3000 ft.) on an average of 36 days a year which prevent operations and night time operations are prohibited.
This approach has to be right! There are numerous hazards to be managed when landing here: the mountains, the weather (snowy), the 1,000ft deep lake, the clouds and the relatively short runway. RNP ensures that these risks are managed.
With a cost of a single diversion as high as $30,000 the business case is compelling. The RNP approach to Queenstown involves passing through 19 very tight “gates” on descent from 16,000ft. Those “gates” – or waypoints – are shown on the pilot’s primary flight display as limit markers both vertically and horizontally. To perform the RNP approach the aircraft’s 12 key navigation related systems must be working, and with redundancy that amounts to 25 separate independent systems working in perfect harmony. This level of redundancy ensures that once an approach has commenced, single – or even in some cases multiple – failures will enable the crew to either continue with the landing, or climb away from the destination airport without compromising safety.
But it is just not the operational demands of landing in Queenstown that is driving airline’s push into RNP operations. Because of its high precision capability RNP can save airlines millions of dollars in fuel costs by using much shorter – and mostly curved – approaches to airports.
Source: http://www.airlineratings.com
In September and October 2014 the three presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and a crew of 29 people were recording the Top Gear Christmas Special in Argentina featuring three cars—a Porsche 928 GT, a Lotus Esprit and a Ford Mustang Mach I. They had started in Bariloche on September 19 and travelled southward on the trans-Patagonian Route 40, about 1,000 miles (1,600 km). On October 2 they had arrived in Ushuaia, at the southern end of Tierra del Fuego. The plan was to film for three more days, and then to continue in Chile. But then nothing went to plan, did it!
During filming, Twitter comments alleging the number plate “H982FKL” on the Porsche was a reference to the Falklands War began to appear and the number plate “H1VAE” was substituted. Andy Wilman, executive producer for the show, said on October 2: “Top Gear production purchased three cars for a forthcoming programme; to suggest that this car was either chosen for its number plate, or that an alternative number plate was substituted for the original is completely untrue”; Clarkson tweeted: “For once, we did nothing wrong.” The plate in question has been registered to the Porsche since its manufacture in May 1991. DVLA records seem to support this assertion as the following excerpt reveals:
- Vehicle make PORSCHE
- Date of first registration 30 May 1991
- Year of manufacture 1991
- Cylinder capacity (cc) 4957cc
- CO₂Emissions Not available
- Fuel type PETROL
- Export marker No
- Vehicle status Tax not due
- Vehicle colour GREY
However, the Central Police Division in Tolhuin allege that a third set of plates (BE11END) were found in the Porsche after it was left in their compound. One would need to ask (if the use of the original plate was as innocent as the Top Gear production team assert), why was there two other sets of plates in their possession, Surely operating a vehicle on false plates is just as illegal in Argentina as it is in the UK.
In a recent interview with James May, it was suggested that the chance of this number plate being acquired by Top Gear was about 1:13,000,000. May suggested more realistically that as Clarkson wanted a Porsche 938 GT V8 for the special and there were only two available for sale in the UK at the time, the odds were actually 1:2. They bought the Porsche in question as it was the best of the two.
In a poll conducted by www.carscoops.com, 47% of respondents believe the plate was used intentionally.
But Top Gear is known for its “stunts” between presenters and a general attitude that “anything goes” and nothing is beyond ridicule. For example, the trio pass through Bariloche, a town which they note was a “haven for Nazi war criminals” in World War II. Comments such as Clarkson saying “we are here to mend fences, not to destroy them…..and the Falklands are British” and then there is May stating “I claim this land for Norfolk, and I name this Lotus Beach!” These comments seem to be inappropriate, given the anti-British sentiment in Argentina, especially in relation to the Falklands/Isla Malvinas. The Mirror reported that Clarkson had been warned to behave himself while in Argentina – a charge he denied. Is Mr Bombastic going to take any notice anyway…..? The show has a long history of being controversial with many complaints being received by the BBC ranging from the minor to the serious.
In the evening it is alleged that Malvinas veterans and other Argentinians entered the hotel lobby to confront the team. Clarkson later wrote he “had to hide under a bed for a mob howling for his blood“. Really? Given the hostile atmosphere the team decided to leave Argentina. Believing that the presenters were the main targets of the controversy, it was decided to send Clarkson, May, Hammond and the female crew members to Buenos Aires, while the rest would drive the cars and their equipment to the border into Chile. May later stated that, prior to flying back to England, he and the other presenters had assisted in planning possible airlifts if the journey to the border became too dangerous. The main Route 3 by which they had arrived in Rio Grande a day earlier, was closed to them because the ringway was filled with people. They drove to the border at Radman by tertiary roads, about 250 km. In Tolhuin, after 100 km, the caravan was stopped by an intimidating crowd. The team decided to abandon the three show cars with police, and reached the border with Chile later that night. They had to find a tractor to ford the camera cars through the border river. Pictures show that the abandoned cars had been attacked and damaged with stones. However, from photos and vision seen the damage appeared to be minimal, with broken mirrors, windows and the like. The Porsche had the number plate “HIVAE“. It is thought by many commentators that the team were never really at risk. In fact it was reported to Maria Fabiana Rios, the governor of Tierra del Fuego, that the team were protected at all times. Who to believe?
On 31 October 2014, it was announced that the Argentine ambassador Alicia Castro had met BBC Director of Television Danny Cohen to demand a formal apology, but the BBC refused to do so, making it clear that they intended to broadcast the special as a “fair” representation of the events that occurred.
Of course controversy always guarantees ratings, doesn’t it?
Here are the 10 safest airlines for 2015
Top ten safest major airlines
Top of the list again is QANTAS which has a fatality free record in the jet era.
Making up the remainder of the top ten in alphabetical order are:
- Air New Zealand
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- EVA Air
- Finnair
- Lufthansa
- Singapore Airlines.
Readers of these articles will note a clear correlation between these safety awards and the Best Airline awards. This is so because of the clear importance of safety in the aviation industry.
Top ten safest low cost airlines.
These are in alphabetical order:
- Aer Lingus
- Alaska Airlines
- Icelandair
- Jetblue
- Jetstar
- Kulula.com
- Monarch Airlines
- Thomas Cook
- TUI Fly
- Westjet.
Notable omissions are Ryanair, Ezy Jet, Wizzair
AirlineRatings.com has announced along with its Airline Excellence Awards its Top Ten airlines for 2015. Here are the winners:
- Air New Zealand
- Etihad Airways
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- QANTAS
- Emirates
- Singapore Airlines
- EVA Air
- Lufthansa
- All Nippon Airways
- British Airways.
This year British Airways made the top ten for the first time as did Lufthansa and EVA Air. In late 2013, Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific showed market leadership launching and ordering the new Boeing 777X.
The editors of AirlineRatings.com, some of the most experienced and awarded, over a period of four months look for a consistent level of service, innovation and staff engagement from each major contender. “We are looking for leaders in the industry, airlines that go the extra distance to make a real difference to the passenger experience,” said Geoffrey Thomas AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief. “While we do not have a public vote we do consider website feedback from passengers when making our final decisions.” –
See more at: http://www.airlineratings.com/news/402/worlds-top-ten-airlines
QANTAS has again topped a ranking of global air safety, with Jetstar on the list of safest low-cost carriers and Virgin Australia also in the top rung of airlines.
Australian-based website AirlineRatings.com put QANTAS top of the list based on a range of factors, including aviation authority audits and the carriers’ fatality records.
Having had no fatalities during the jet era made QANTAS a standout, said AirlineRatings editor and aviation journalist Geoffrey Thomas.
“QANTAS has been the lead airline in virtually every major advancement in airline safety over the past 60 years,” he noted in the report.
The chairman of Strategic Aviation Solutions, analyst Neil Hansford, told ABC News Online that QANTAS thoroughly deserves its number one ranking.
“It’s very hard for anybody to approach them, they’ve never lost a paying passenger,” he said.
Other carriers in the top ten, in alphabetical order, are: Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific Airways, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.
The top ten low-cost carriers in alphabetical order are: Aer Lingus, Alaska Airlines, Icelandair, Jetstar, Jetblue, Kulula.com, Monarch Airlines, Thomas Cook, TUI Fly and Westjet.
Of the 449 airlines surveyed, 149 received the top seven-star safety rating, including Virgin Australia.
Neil Hansford said both QANTAS and Virgin have always had strong safety cultures.
“The companies have always wanted to meet and exceed whatever CASA required of them, and we’ve always been world’s best practice,” he said.
Mr Hansford also rejected suggestions that cuts in maintenance staff, particularly large job cuts by QANTAS in recent years, may jeopardise safety.
He said less airline staff are needed because modern planes are designed to need less maintenance, and many of their components are designed to be replaced, not repaired.
“In a lot of these components, you take one out and you slide one in, and the replaced part goes back to the manufacturer to be re-lifed,” Mr Hansford added.
‘Safety does cost money’
Mr Hansford said the key to QANTAS’ consistent performance at the top of air safety rankings is its pilots.
“Safety does cost money, and the QANTAS argued.
He cites the case of QF32, involving an Airbus A380 which made an emergency landing in Singapore in 2010 after an engine blew out several minutes after take-off. The airline’s experienced flight crew, headed by the experienced Captain Richard de Crespigny, were credited with landing the plane safely. Mr Hansford said the incident and resultant damage to the plane had been replicated in simulators with fatal results. “In every other simulation done, the aircraft crashes,” he said.
Airlines Australians are likely to fly that do not have seven stars include Garuda Indonesia and Scoot, which are five-star, and Lion Air Indonesia which is only three-star.
“Interestingly, none of the Air Asia companies are rated at all,” observed Mr Hansford. The AirlineRatings website says a rating is “pending”.
Mr Hansford said people should think carefully about whether a cheap plane ticket is worth a riskier flight.
“Australians have to say to themselves, would I rather pay [an extra] $200 and get there, or for $200 am I prepared to accept a compromise that they probably wouldn’t accept in anything else they buy,” he concluded.
Overall, AirlineRatings said that 2014 had an unusually high number of flying-related deaths, with 21 fatal accidents causing the loss of 986 lives, above the 10-year average.
However, the website points out that the two Malaysia Airlines crashes were both of a very unusual nature and accounted for more than half the deaths, while there were also a record number of passengers carried – 3.3 billion on 27 million flights.
Source: http://www.airlineratings.com
Words, By George! 