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Martinair Boeing 767-300ER PH-MCH on climbout from Amsterdam Schiphol AMS/EHAM

Photo: Juergen Lehle / www.albspotter.org / Wikipedia

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Skyteam marks major milestones toward a centralized organization

Moscow – 2009-26-06

Core management team to focus on alliance business, passenger benefits

SkyTeam announced today significant milestones in the creation of a new centralized organization for the alliance. Since naming a managing director in April 2009, SkyTeam has recruited six executives from its partner airlines to serve on the core management team and secured a location in Amsterdam for the company headquarters.  While a key function of the management team is to collaborate on alliance business, the dedicated SkyTeam staff is also responsible for helping to enhance existing benefits as well as develop new benefits for passengers.

“SkyTeam has operated as a virtual entity since its inception,” said Marie-Joseph Malé, managing director, SkyTeam.  “However, as the industry becomes increasingly complex and the alliance continues to pursue global growth, the transition to a central management structure remains a top priority.  We have already made significant progress, and the alliance is working diligently to ensure the office is up and running no later than fourth quarter of 2009.”

SkyTeam’s core management team will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the alliance, including: marketing, sales, airport synergies and transfer product, cargo, advertising and brand, alliance operations, finance, corporate communications and alliance administration.

Introducing SkyTeam Central Management Team
Six executives from partner airlines have been selected to serve on SkyTeam’s management team.  This diverse, international and multi-cultural team will work closely with Malé and will be responsible for key areas of strategic importance to the alliance.

• Mauro Oretti of Alitalia has been named vice president, sales and marketing.  Previously a SkyTeam Manager and vice president of alliances for Alitalia, Oretti is experienced in alliance and partnership management.  In his new role, he will be responsible for the development of SkyTeam products and services that bring added value to alliance passengers.
• Gordon Humpherys of Delta Air Lines has been named vice president, airport services.  As director of North Atlantic operations for Delta’s subsidiary Northwest Airlines, Humpherys was responsible for airport customer service in Europe and India.  He brings strong experience in operations, airline cooperation, cost control and change management, and will be responsible for rolling out collocation programs at airports worldwide.
• Ji-sung Hong of Korean Air has been named vice president, alliance operations. Hong previously served as a SkyTeam Manager, and is experienced in international affairs including bilateral alliances and SkyTeam as well airport customer services and sales and marketing.  He will be responsible for operations between current members as well as coordinating membership requirements for the recruitment process.
• Min Zeng of China Southern has been named deputy managing director, membership development.  Zeng has extensive experience in international affairs, government affairs and alliances and she played a leading role in China Southern’s membership process. She will be responsible for working with the SkyTeam Steering Committee to develop and implement strategic initiatives.
• Jean-Guy Lengline of Air France has been named vice president, support and services. Lengline has extensive knowledge of various sectors of the airline business. In this new position he will be responsible for all staff support activities, such as human resources, finance and IT, as well as developing and providing project management training, expertise and support.
• Fatima da Gloria de Sousa of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has been named director, brand and communications.  Gloria-de Sousa has been an active member of SkyTeam’s advertising and branding team, and in this new role she will be responsible for further developing the SkyTeam brand through marketing and communications. She will also manage internal communications with member airlines.

“We were committed to identifying the right talent for each executive position and are proud to have created a uniquely international and multi-cultural team,” said Malé. “This shows SkyTeam’s commitment to integrating the expertise of its partner airlines in the pursuit of the alliance’s business objectives,” he added.

Recruitment of professionals from within and outside of the SkyTeam alliance will continue as SkyTeam puts in place its team of approximately 20 employees with a broad range of professional experience.

New Alliance Headquarters
SkyTeam selected Amsterdam as the location for its global headquarters with offices at the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport.

Amsterdam offers a sophisticated corporate, legal and regulatory environment with the best competitive advantage for SkyTeam.  Amsterdam is centrally located in a time zone strategic to SkyTeam’s partners across the globe, and with a major SkyTeam hub at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the offices are easily accessible. 

“The transition to a centralized management structure will further support worldwide growth of the alliance today and for the future,” said Malé.  “We are excited to help drive forward SkyTeam’s initiatives and to continue to achieve success through the collaboration of all 10 alliance members.”

About SkyTeam

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering ten members, including Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Continental Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Korean Air, and three Associate Airlines: Air Europa, Copa Airlines (Panama) and Kenya Airways.  SkyTeam offers its 455 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 15,955 daily flights covering 928 destinations in 174 countries.   www.skyteam.com.

KLM and ROSSIYA Sign Code Share Agreement


Amstelveen/St.Petersburg – 2009-23-06

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Russian carrier ROSSIYA signed a code share agreement effective 22 June 2009. This agreement entitles the airlines to market flights between Amsterdam en St. Petersburg under each others flight numbers.

Both airlines already operate flights on this route. From 13 July, ROSSIYA will increase the number of flights from three to four per week. Starting July 17th, KLM will also raise the frequency, from four to five flights per week.

According to KLM’s Executive Vice President Commercial, Erik Varwijk, this cooperation holds advantages for both KLM and ROSSIYA customers. “Because of this new code share agreement and the increased number of flights, our passengers now have more flights to choose from. And the cooperation with KLM will enable ROSSIYA customers to make optimum use of the Amsterdam Hub and KLM’s global network.”

ROSSIYA’s Commercial Director, Igor Morachev, notes that conclusion of the code share agreement appeared as a result of a long-term partnership between the two airlines. “We are sure that this will develop air service between St.Petersburg and Amsterdam and will be useful for the KLM and ROSSIYA passengers. We appreciate the cooperation and trust rendered to us by KLM”.

The finalization of the code share agreement coincides with the festive opening, last week, of the Hermitage Amsterdam, the only dedicated, independently managed venue in the West of St. Petersburg’s famous State Hermitage Museum.

Government to buy 34 million vaccine doses


News item | 18-06-2009

The Government is to buy 34 million doses of vaccine against the new influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as 'swine flu'. Contracts will this week be agreed with vaccine producers.

The Government is to buy 34 million doses of vaccine against the new influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as 'swine flu'. Contracts will this week be agreed with vaccine producers.

The vaccine will have to be as effective as possible and ready for distribution as soon as possible. The producers have agreed to deliver it by the end of 2009.

The Health Council of the Netherlands has recommended buying vaccine for the entire Dutch population, including that of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. It has also recommended giving each person two doses, because a single dose does not offer enough protection.

National Aerospace Laboratory

6/30/2009

Earlier detection of manufacturing errors in aircraft components

The aerospace industry exhaustively tests all aircraft components before allowing them to enter service. Manufacturing errors or damage can be imperceptible to the human eye, however. The National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) has therefore recently started using a medium-sized 3D C-scan robot to detect such damage. The C-scan is capable of testing various materials, including Glare, metals and composites. The aerospace industry’s increasing use of composite materials was a motivating factor for investing in the C-scan.

The C-scan is comparable to the ultrasound machines used during pregnancy. For aircraft components, the ultrasound waves internally examine the materials for any sign of manufacturing errors or damage. The reflected sound waves are displayed in colourful graphics, rendering any weak points immediately visible. When testing components, there are two methods for combining the high frequency sound waves, which are muted when exposed to air. The first method is the immersion technique, whereby components are immersed in large water tanks; the second method is the waterjet technique, whereby sound waves are conveyed via jets of water. A remarkable feature of the NLR C-scan robot is that both of these coupling techniques are combined in this one system, and quick switches can be made between techniques. This renders the C-scan robot suitable for research assignments (immersion), yet also for inspecting medium-sized components for the aviation industry (waterjet technique).

The aerospace sector’s most complex 3D composite products are designed using CAD software. These CAD files help create digital profiles of the various components. Based on these profiles, an ultrasonic probe(s) follows the contours of the component during the measuring process, which is performed in either pulse-echo mode, by means of one ultrasonic probe, or in the through-transmission mode, whereby the sound waves are generated on one side of the component, before being absorbed on the other side of the component. Through-transmission mode requires two ultrasonic probes, which simultaneously receive 11 coordinates.

The NLR’s C-scan research aims to optimise quality levels during the components’ developmental stage, while also ensuring the quality of the manufacturing process. The NLR is actively developing new composite concepts to replace the aerospace sector’s heavier metal components – a process that increases the complexity of the components. All composite components produced by the NLR are designed in accordance with NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) standards. Partly owing to the C-scan robot, new opportunities now exist for developing components and successfully introducing them on the market. Composites are light and strong, possess good mechanical properties and reduce manufacturing costs.

6/30/2009

NLR flies high as ‘eyes in the sky’


The Dutch armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force and Military Police) conducted joint military exercises during Purple Nectar 2009, a Ministry of Defence operation performed under experimental conditions. Test planes, Citation II and Swearingen Metro of the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) participated in this unique military exercise. This exercise differs from other exercises in that the various armed forces’ command and information systems are linked together, and the participants operated under ‘live’ conditions. Purple Nectar’s primary objective is to compose a Joint Common Operational Picture (JCOP). The JCOP is primarily used in a Joint Head Quarters (JHQ) for monitoring a mission on a strategic level. The system supports the commander in analyzing whether the mission is being executed according to the plan.

Multiple scenarios have been enacted in order to determine the extent to which it is technologically possible to link the various systems, as well as to determine what procedural changes are required to improve joint military operations. The Swearingen Metro, which was specially equipped with the TopLite III (an electro-optic infra-red camera system), served as Purple Nectar’s ‘eyes in the sky’. During previously conducted NLR research, called Outcast, a similar camera system was installed in the plane to prevent collisions between unmanned aircraft and other air traffic. The system’s onboard installation is installed in a short period of time during the NLR’s project Deep Impact. The NLR’s Citation II was deployed as a ‘high speed intruder’, which was then intercepted by Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) F-16s. QRA denotes an extremely high state of readiness, in which F-16s can be scrambled within a few minutes. The Metro and Citation II conducted 21 flights in total.

During these joint military exercises, TopLite III collected (video) imagery that was then disseminated to the various field units via ROVER terminals. The field headquarters received (video) imagery via a Tactical Common Data Link and secure landlines. The cameras could be controlled remotely from command headquarters via the NLR ground station. The NLR’s analogue telemetry system was also available as back-up during the operations, in case the digital data link failed.

The Ministry of Defence has since confirmed that the supplied (video) imagery information proved valuable for the operational field units, as was also previously demonstrated through the accelerated deployment of unmanned reconnaissance systems in Afghanistan. By participating in Purple Nectar, the NLR gained additional valuable insights into Airborne Surveillance and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations ranging from hardware requirements (e.g. computer network integration, electronics onboard aircrafts, antennas requirements, data links) to operational procedures. In addition, there emerged a clear operational need for further automation, for improving the camera’s remote-control function and the data compression of the video images.

TopLite III is a highly advanced camera system, for which the NLR also foresees other, non-military applications. The TopLite III can be deployed for civilian safety activities, such as a sensor for gathering geographical information for monitoring dikes or providing emergency assistance during natural disasters. The NLR is currently discussing possible future uses with the Dutch industry. Representatives of partner companies in the Business Park (GBP) in Marknesse and of Vigilance, which has an ‘ISR Academy’ (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) in Eindhoven, have expressed interest in TopLite III. In this way, the NLR fulfils it’s role as an independent research institute for both the Dutch government and the private sector.

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

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Martinair Cargo operates a fleet of converted Boeing 747-400BCF freighters. PH-MPP is seen departing from Sydney Airport in Australia.

Photo: YSSYguy / Wikipedia

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

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Artist Concept of Icelandair's Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Photo: Boeing

06/24/2009

Icelandair ~ Share Increase In Travel Service


Today, an agreement was executed regarding an increase in the share capital of
Travel Service, an Icelandair Group subsidiary in the Czech Republic.
Icelandair Group co-owners, Unimex Group and Roman Vik will register for the
new shares in the company, increasing their share holding from 34% to 49.9%.
Following the share capital increase the shareholding of Icelandair Group in
Travel Service will be 50.1% instead of 66% before. This increase will not
affect the profit and loss statement of Icelandair Group but equity will
decrease by ISK 300 million.

“Travel Service is being strengthened with this increase in share capital. The
company‘s operations have been good this year and better than anticipated.
Many growth opportunities arise in the current situation in the international
airline business which the company is evaluating. With the share capital
increase the company is better equipped to strengthen its position in the near
future. “says Björgólfur Jóhannsson, CEO of Icelandair Group.

06/24/2009

Sundt Atlanta Skybridge


Air Atlanta Icelandic has entered into a joint-venture co-operation with the Norwegian VIP flight provider Sundt Air.

The joint venture has been given the name “Sundt Atlanta Skybridge”, and the main focus of the joint venture is to explore marketing opportunities for long-haul air freight out of the Scandinavian market.

The initial steps of the joint venture will see one Boeing 747-200F from Air Atlanta Icelandic stationed at Oslo Gardemoen Airport as of today, being offered for ad-hoc charter flights out of the Nordic Regions in coming months. The aircraft with the registration mark TF-ARM has been branded with the Sundt Atlanta Skybridge name.

Further steps of this cooperation between Air Atlanta Icelandic and Sundt Air is to evaluate the market opportunities for scheduled Trans-Atlantic services out of Norway, exporting salmon and industrial products to the US market. Other Nordic markets are furthermore being considered.

Despite the challenging business environment, it is our hope that we will be successful picking up ad-hoc business in the Scandinavian market in the coming months while we evaluate the future market potential.

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Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Latest News As Of July 24, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

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Ramp personnel prepare to welcome the passengers of an IndiGo Airlines Airbus A320 to the airline's new destination, Lucknow.

Photo: IndiGo

Boeing Sees Market Recovery in India; Projects Long-Term Growth


Boeing India President says India’s commercial airplane market is viable, resilient and poised to rebound supported by the country’s strong GDP growth

NEW DELHI, July 22, 2009 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] forecasts that over the next 20 years the Indian market will require 1,000 commercial jets valued at approximately $100 billion -- a market that represents over 3 percent of Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ forecasted market worldwide. Boeing India President Dinesh Keskar shared the company’s market data and forecast today at a media conference focused on Boeing’s view of India’s commercial airplane market.

India’s economy has averaged 7 percent annual growth over the past 10 years and the country’s economic growth remains among the strongest in the world. The record growth in air travel, which expanded rapidly the past eight years due to liberalization and favorable economic conditions, is now tracking at 2007 levels.

Keskar said air travel in India, tied closely to the country’s economic growth, will rebound.

“There is strength and resilience in the India commercial aviation sector over the long term,” Keskar said. “The potential for future growth of air travel, both domestically and internationally, is among the greatest in the world and Boeing will continue its efforts to be India’s preferred partner and aerospace provider.”

Recent market forces and recession in many parts of the world have led to a contraction of India’s commercial aviation sector, with consolidation of airlines and an overall reduction of capacity. Nonetheless, Keskar says India’s projected GDP growth over the next 20 years will average six and a half percent annually, driving a resurgence of demand and capacity growth for the country’s airlines.

“If you take a realistic and broad look at the India market, what resonates is that there is more positive than negative and the prospect for continued long-term growth remains high,” Keskar said.

He also outlined Boeing’s commitment to meet the needs of its airline customers in India as they find equilibrium during the current slowdown and readjustment of the market.

“Knowing the viability of this market, Boeing is committed to work in partnership with India while proactively pursuing our business and doing our utmost to play a role in the country’s ongoing prosperity.”

# # #

IndiGo’s First flight from Lucknow & Patna to take off on July 04, 09

Now operating­ 137 daily flights connecting 19 destinations

India July 4 , 2009- IndiGo, the award-winning low-fare domestic airline that is redefining airline quality standards in India , is all set to commence its operation in Lucknow with effect from July 4 , 2009. The first flight 6E 342 Lucknow – Patna will take off on July 04 , 09 at 4:50 pm from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport Amousi , carrying 176 passengers and 6E 342 Patna – Kolkata will take off on July 04 , 09 at 6:20 pm from Patna JPNI Airport carrying 175 passengers respectively. 

Flight schedules for the new flights from Lucknow are:

Speaking on Indigo’s foray into Lucknow and Patna markets , Aditya Ghosh , President , IndiGo said “We are very excited about IndiGo’s entry into Lucknow & Patna . Both are key markets for us and we have been looking at these markets for a while. Our introduction of these new sectors will enable better connectivity for our passengers. Patna & Lucknow hold a lot of promise for us at IndiGo.

Ghosh added “With greater ease and affordability of air travel , all strata of society can now leverage opportunities across the nation , and with this foray of ours it will extend to the markets of  UP and Bihar. IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travelers wherever they demand it.”

Flight schedules for the new flights from Patna  are:

About IndiGo

IndiGo , the largest low fare carrier in India ; has been recognized as the Best Domestic Low-Cost Carrier by Galileo Express TravelWorld 2008. IndiGo has a simple philosophy: offer fares that are always affordable , flights that are on time , and a hassle-free travel experience. With its brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft , the airline offers over 137 daily flights connecting 19 destinations with a fleet of 21 brand new A-320s , including Agartala , Ahmedabad , Bangalore , Bhubaneshwar , Chennai , Delhi , Goa , Guwahati , Hyderabad , Imphal , Jaipur , Kochi , Kolkata , Lucknow , Mumbai , Nagpur , Patna , Pune and Vadodara.

IndiGo is promoted by InterGlobe Enterprises and Mr. Rakesh Gangwal , a globally recognized aviation industry veteran. InterGlobe Enterprises has been a committed player in the travel and aviation industry for the last 17 years.  InterGlobe Enterprises is the foremost travel conglomerate in India and enjoys a significant presence in the fields of airline & aviation management , travel related services , travel technology , travel distribution services and hotel development & management services.  Its aviation management experience includes representation of 13 leading international airlines and offers services ranging from sales and marketing to revenue and route management. It also offers cutting edge distribution , technology and BPO services for the travel and aviation industries.

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Headlines

Passengers board an IndiGo Airlines Airbus A320 at the airline's new destination, Lucknow.

Photo: IndiGo

Patna, June 16, 2009 – IndiGo, the award-winning low-fare domestic airline that is redefining airline quality standards in India, today announced the launch of Patna as new sector, expanding its route network. IndiGo will introduce 02 new flights with round trips from Patna with effect from 4th July 2009. The new daily round trip services will begin between Patna to Bangalore (via Kolkata), Patna to Mumbai (via Lucknow & New Delhi), Patna to Kolkata, Patna to New Delhi (via Lucknow) and Patna to Lucknow.

Speaking on the launch of new sector Aditya Ghosh, President IndiGo said, “Patna holds a lot of promise for us at IndiGo. With our high quality of service at prices that are always affordable, I am sure that we will meet the burgeoning demand for air travel to and from Patna. We are happy to expand our network to the city and immediately connect it to various parts of India. The commencement of IndiGo’s operations in Patna is a symbol of the resurgent and progressive Bihar.”

Ghosh added   “IndiGo brings with it new opportunities of employment and commerce to the people of Patna. With greater ease and affordability of air travel, all strata of society can now cease opportunities across the nation, whether it be to the north, south, east or west of Patna. IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travelers wherever they demand it. It is our constant endeavour to provide more flexibility of choice for our customers as IndiGo continues to offer them on time, hassle free and an always affordable experience.”

Jet Airways, Jet Airways Konnect and JetLite introduce special Monsoon Magic fares on select domestic routes


Date: 05 Jul 2009

Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, Jet Airways Konnect and Jet Airway’s all economy subsidiary JetLite, have introduced special ‘Monsoon Magic’ fares, inclusive of fuel surcharges and congestion fees, on select domestic routes, for sale effective June 26, 2009 to July 2, 2009, and travel effective July 15, 2009 to September 15, 2009.

Jet Airways Konnect introduces new flights with the deployment of two more Boeing 737 aircraft


Date: 30 Jun 2009

Jet Airways Konnect will extend its services on board two additional state-of-the-art, next generation Boeing 737 aircraft, to include sectors connecting Mumbai with Rajkot and Bengaluru with daily flights, commencing July 7th, 2009.

July 04, 2009

Air India launches another multi-user four coupon ticket for economy travel


Air India, as part of its ongoing marketing initiatives targeting the corporate sector, has launched “Quick Returns” - a four-coupon multi-user ticket booklet for economy class travel on the domestic sectors at an attractive price of Rs 22,916, inclusive of all taxes. The tickets are being made available for sale from July 4 till July 11; and the travel is to be completed by September 20, 2009.

“Quick Returns” booklets will be valid for use on both IC and AI coded flights on all domestic sectors barring Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi-Kochi, Delhi-Kozhikode and Delhi-Coimbatore. Members of the Frequent Flyer Programme will earn 100 Mileage points for each sector of travel under the “Quick Returns” scheme. Corporate Houses which have entered into deals with Air India are also eligible to purchase the “Quick Returns” tickets.

To facilitate easier use of four coupon booklets, the “Quick Returns” scheme allows change of name and the sector of travel on payment of Rs 1000 per coupon. The UDF charges, wherever applicable, will have to be paid by the passengers. The tickets are non-refundable.

The Quick Returns scheme comes soon after the closure of Monsoon Special Fares – valid from June 27 till July 3, under which tickets were sold between Rs 1750 and Rs 2500 for travel on 130 domestic routes. In June 2009, the airline had introduced a short term Business Class Super Saver four-coupon scheme priced at Rs 38,000, for boosting travel in the Executive Class.

July 03, 2009

NO IMPACT OF AGITATION ON FLIGHTS : AIR INDIA


The two hour agitation by a section of Air India employees failed to have any impact on flights anywhere on Air India’s country-wide network today. As stated by the Air India Management earlier, requisite steps had been taken to ensure total normalcy in operations so that passengers were not inconvenienced.

Reports reaching Air India Headquarters from all stations on Air India's network indicate that departure and arrival of all flights during the two hour strike period was as per normal schedule. Air India Management had, in a Staff Notice issued yesterday, made it clear to the Unions, who had called for a strike, that participation by employees in the illegal strike on July 3, 2009 would be viewed seriously and appropriate action would be taken, including deduction of wages and withdrawal of Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) payment until further orders.

Meanwhile, Mr Arvind Jadhav, Chairman & MD, has, in another communication to employees, stated that “It appears that the gravity of the financial situation has not seemingly sunk in all of us”. He further added that “there is an urgent need to have a better understanding of the ground realities because unless we know the magnitude of the problem we will not be able to take corresponding action for overcoming it. It is of paramount importance that while we take steps to reduce our operating costs and sacrifice some of the privileges we have enjoyed over a period of time, we also need to exercise a choice between austerity and oblivion”.

Mr Jadhav also said that besides wages and salaries which need to be disbursed every month, fuel costs and bank liabilities, like payment of interest and re-payment of principal amounts, have also to be paid on time failing which our operations could stop. Considering the critical financial state of the airline, we should all be prepared to face the impact of harsh decisions that will be required to be taken in the coming weeks to meet the current difficult financial situation.

Seeking their fullest cooperation and support so that all Air Indians could work towards achieving the common goal of ensuring the survival of the airline, Mr Jadhav said that it was imperative in today’s competitive environment that we leave no room for ensuring that our passengers have no cause for complaint and they enjoy a pleasant and comfortable journey onboard all our flights.

June 29, 2009

Air India Offers Companion Free Scheme For Business Class Passengers


Air India has made its Companion Free Scheme even more attractive by allowing passengers to avail this scheme at a special Business Class return fare of Rs.90,000/- plus taxes (instead of IATA fare) on its flights from India to London, Paris and Frankfurt.

Tickets can be purchased till July 10, 2009 for outbound travel till October 31, 2009. Passengers availing of this scheme are required to travel on their outbound journey together and may undertake their return travel separately.

Kingfisher Airlines Launches Flights From India to UAE


Introduces daily direct flights connecting Bangalore to Dubai

Launches Its 4th International Route


Mumbai, June 25, 2009—Kingfisher Airlines, India's only Five Star airline rated by Skytrax, today launched daily direct flights from Bangalore to Dubai. After London, Colombo and Dhaka, Dubai is the fourth international destination on the international route network of Kingfisher Airlines.

The launch of this new route marks the first time that Kingfisher Airlines is commencing operations from India to the UAE. These flights will be operated using the A320 family of aircraft featuring Kingfisher Class, the premium economy service from Kingfisher Airlines. The award-winning Kingfisher Experience includes onboard comforts so that guests are able to rest in the roomiest seats in the sky with a wide seat pitch and ample room to stretch their legs. Moreover, the dining options ensure that guests have an ample spread with a choice of mouth-watering options and a perfect accompaniment from a selection of wines and spirits on board. The In-Flight Entertainment system will ensure enthralling world-class entertainment with a personal system on every seat featuring the latest blockbuster movies, English and Hindi TV programmes and Kingfisher Radio.

The flights are conveniently timed with the flight from Bangalore leaving at 6:15 pm and reaching Dubai at 8:55 pm, local time. The return flight will take off from Dubai at 10:10 pm and reach Bangalore at 3:45 am, the following day. Kingfisher Airlines flights operate from Terminal 1 of Dubai Airport.

Commenting on the launch of the first new international route connecting Dubai, Mr. Siva Ramachandran, Vice President-Global Sales, Kingfisher Airlines Limited said, “I am delighted to announce the commencement of flights between Bangalore and Dubai. Our newly launched flights offer the best-in-class experience amongst the narrow-body products serving this route and this coupled with ideal and convenient timings, will offer travelers on this route a better option. For guests flying out of Bangalore to Dubai, they get to reach their destination well in time for a good night’s rest. For guests flying into Bangalore from Dubai, they are assured onward connections within two hours of their arrival into India. Thanks to our very competitive fares and Kingfisher Airlines’ vast and unparalleled domestic network in India, the initial response to the launch of these new flights has been extremely encouraging and we look forward to rapidly consolidating our market share on this new international route.”

Bangalore is ideally placed as a transit hub for travelers flying from Belgaum, Chennai, Calicut, Coimbatore, Hubli, Kochi, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijaywada into Dubai as it offers easy connectivity, thanks to the fact that it has a minimum connect time. Outbound travelers connecting with this flight of Kingfisher Airlines will not have to change or transfer from one airport terminal to another as the domestic and international sections are less than 100 meters away from each other.

Guests flying in from Dubai on Kingfisher Airlines will now have the added advantage of having very conveniently timed onward connections to many domestic destinations in India with almost immediate connections from Bangalore to Mangalore, Goa, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Pune, Kolkata, Hubli, Belgaum, Nagpur, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and all major metros in India. In addition, guests will also have the option of conveniently timed onward connections on Kingfisher Airlines flights to international destinations like Colombo and Dhaka.

Kingfisher Airlines caters to all segments of the air travel ranging from low-fare service-Kingfisher Red, to the premium economy service-Kingfisher Class, to the luxurious Kingfisher First. As India’s market leading airline, Kingfisher Airlines offers the maximum number of flights offered by any single airline network in India. Kingfisher Airlines connects 69 cities in India and has over 400 daily departures with a fleet of 74 aircraft.

The introduction of these new flights connecting Bangalore and Dubai marks the fourth phase of the international route expansion plan of Kingfisher Airlines. In the first phase of the roll-out of its international route network, Kingfisher Airlines commenced services from Bangalore to London last year. Earlier this year, Kingfisher Airlines launched daily direct services between Mumbai and London and daily flights connecting Chennai with Colombo, Bangalore with Colombo and Dhaka with Kolkata. Dubai is the third destination to be served by Kingfisher Airlines from Bangalore.

Kingfisher Airlines has blazed a trail of innovations and introduced a range of market-firsts that have completely redefined the whole experience of flying. By elevating its customers to a level of being ‘guests’ and not just passengers, Kingfisher Airlines has endeared itself to consumers.


About Kingfisher Airlines:

Kingfisher Airlines is India's only Five Star airline rated by Skytrax, and the only one to offer premium first class service on domestic routes. Besides being the first and only airline in India to offer in-flight entertainment on every seat, Kingfisher offers LIVE TV on many domestic routes in India with 16 channels of live and exciting content. The airline has received numerous awards for innovation, customer responsiveness and was voted the ‘Best New Airline of the Year’, within months of its launch.

Kingfisher Airlines is a part of the UB Group that is one of India’s largest conglomerates with diverse interests and a global presence. The UB Group is also the largest Indian alcoholic beverages (beer and spirits) company and the third largest drinks group in the world. Kingfisher Airlines covers all segments of air travel from low fares to premium service and offers most flights by any single airline network in India. Kingfisher Airlines now connects 69 cities in India with a fleet of 74 aircraft and operates over 400 flights a day in India.

RELEASE OF COFFEE TABLE BOOK ON UN MISSION BY CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF

New Delhi : 03 Jun 2009


A coffee table book – ‘Indian Aviation Contingent: An indelible odyssey in UN peace keeping’, chronicling the activities of the IAF contingent at Democratic Republic of Congo, was today released by the CAS, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik.

Complimenting the Contingent Commander Gp Capt Pankaj Jaiswal, having just returned from Bukavu, the CAS said that their professional acumen and gentlemanly conduct has earned worldwide admiration.

The Indian Air Force has been operating a contingent of Mi-35s and Mi-17s, at the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC), and they have recently completed four years in the line of fire, carrying out many daring missions and bringing stability to that war torn region The IAF had deployed Canberras to Congo as far back as 1960, and have continued a longstanding tradition of contributing to peace operations in the African continent.

TK Singha/MKR-

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Jet Airways will be among the first operators of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Photo: Boeing

IAF ADVENTURE ACTIVITY TRANSCENDS INTO OPERATIONAL REALM

New Delhi : 29 Jun 09


Adventure activities in the Indian Air Force are both - enduring and challenging. For some accomplished mountaineers in the IAF, it has been mostly a way of life. But when four ace mountaineers from IAF’s adventure cell were summoned for a special mission - to locate and retrieve the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), popularly known as ‘black box’, of the ill-fated AN-32 that crashed on June 9, near Menchuka, in Arunachal Pradesh, the task was truly unheralded.

IAF used the expertise of its adventure-loving air warriors to retrieve the most vital element sought after any air crash - the FDR, to help provide clues to the air crash. Led by Squadron Leader Namit Rawat, a mountaineer for last 12 years, together with other experienced mountaineers Warrant Officer Nizammuddin, Junior Warrant Officers Narendra Kumar and NR Choudhry, also a former Everest conqueror, formed the quartet that successfully accomplished the mission on June 16.

“For the first time, adventure was used in an operational field. It just proves that adventure is not only fun but can also be used in other productive fields, especially when life of IAF personnel and assets are involved that will help find facts to help reduce future accidents”, summed up Squadron Leader Rawat, of their mission.

It may be recalled that the debris of the aircraft was located on June 10, a day after the crash by a team comprising Army, ITBP and Arunachal Pradesh police personnel guided by a local eye-witness in the hilly tracts of Tato, near Menchuka. The team however, lacked knowledge of identifying the FDR/CVR and its retrieval. It was then decided by IAF to send its own mountaineers to accomplish the task.

The team equipped with mountaineering equipment reached Jorhat, the parent base of the ill-fated aircraft, on June 14. After a thorough briefing to help identify the CVR and FDR and a hands-on demonstration on how to extract it from the aircraft body, the team after studying the images of the crash site were flown to Tato, in a Mi-17 helicopter, the following day. The trek to the base camp where the earlier search party was camping began early on the morning of June 16.

“After reaching the end of the road by a vehicle, we trekked down with all our equipment including the special tools given at Jorhat, crossing a river over an existing bridge and climbed up again to reach the campsite by 1330 hrs”, explains Squadron Leader Rawat. The campsite was at a height of 7,900 feet, about 500 feet below the scattered debris site. “After pitching our tents we set course immediately for our search even as the weather remained cloudy”, he added. The team was also joined by four other IAF members - two Technical Officers, a ‘Court of Inquiry’ Pilot member and an Instrument Fitter technician.

The team located the tail section of the aircraft amongst the scattered debris hanging precariously over few trees and inverted in an awkward 75-degree angle that could have easily dropped below to the depths, hundreds of feet below without any likely possibility of recovery later. The CVR and FDR are normally housed in the tail section of the aircraft. The extraction was not an easy task and the courage and spirit of adventure was going to be tested beyond the normal call of duty. For the mountaineer air warriors, who in the past have been at the precipice of life and death in many a mountainous sojourn of adventure, approached the task in the same manner as they would normally do in a life-or-death situation during any expedition.

After securing themselves with mountaineering gadgets and ropes ensuring safety, it was left to Choudhry to unscrew the panels painstakingly. The CVR and FDR were finally retrieved by the team after nearly an hour-and-half operation successfully. The team also looked for more panels that could help the accident investigation team. The recorders have since been sent to Jorhat where investigators are now studying it.

*********

Tarun Kumar Singha/-

GRAND OLD IAF AIR WARRIOR PASSES AWAY AT AGE 93 YEARS


New Delhi: 29 Jun 09

Group Captain Gurdial Singh Paul, a grand old retired Air Warrior who served the Indian Air Force from its formative years, passed away at 2040 hrs, on Saturday, 27 Jun 2009, in New Delhi. He was 93 years old, and was cremated near Brar Square, today. A wreath was placed on behalf of the IAF by Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Race Course, Air Commodore Ajit S Bhonsle.

Born on 3rd November 1916, in Chittavatni in Pakistan, Gurdial Singh studied at Khalsa College, Amritsar studying BA in History.

He joined the RAF and was commissioned to the IAF at AF Station Tambram. In 1943, during the 2nd World War, he visited UK for training, sailing from Mumbai to Durban to Southampton on the Elle de France, encountering German U-boat in the Atlantic. He spent time at various stations of the RAF in London, Cranfield, and Branham etc. He had the privilege to serve in the same Squadron as the actor, Clark Gabel. At times, Gurdial flew over occupied France and Germany on air reconnaissance flights and on more than one occasion, had close encounters with the German Messerschmitt.

In 1946, he married a Post Graduate Psychology student from Government College, Lahore, Jaswant Kaur. The partition of India caused the personal losses of his in-laws, with Gurdial being in Lahore on his way from Peshawar.

He had served in the with officers like Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh, Air Chief Marshal IH Latif, Air Marshal S Mukherjee, Air Marshal Rajaram, AVM Pinto, Air Commodore Mehar Baba, Group Captain Sarkar and Wing Commander Majumdar (an ace pilot during the 40s).

After serving at the AF stations Jalahalli and Secunderabad, Gurdial worked at Air Headquarters, New Delhi for several years in the Adminstration Branch, eventually going to AF Station Avadi as Station Commander in 1967. Before this tenure, it was the Staff College Hyderabad and NDC, New Delhi. Gurdial retired from the Air Force in 1971, as Station Commander Race Course, New Delhi.

In 2003, a Surgeon, Col Rai at the RR Hospital, decided to operate Gurdial for a stent operation of the intestine (that time relatively new in India). The Surgeon was so confident of the health of his patient of 88 years that the 4-hour operation was telecast live in a closed circuit, to 200 doctors and surgeons, who were at a conference in New Delhi.

His wife, Jaswant Paul is over 86 years and finds herself relatively well. Gurdial is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son and three grand children.


TKS/-

SAINIK SCHOOL IMPHAL STUDENTS MEET AIR CHIEF


New Delhi : 26 Jun 2009

Twenty Cadets from Sainik School, Imphal called on the IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik at his office, today. The students were accompanied by the Principal, Group Captain Surinder Singh and two other teachers.

The students are on a brief goodwill visit to the National Capital and will also visit Air Force Base, Ambala as a part of the School’s bid to expose and orient them to mainland, informed Group Captain Surinder during his interaction with the Air Chief. This visit serves as a huge motivational trip for the students, he added.

“This is the most memorable trip in our lives as we got to meet the President of India, the Chief of the Air Staff and so many other senior officers whom we never ever dreamt of being able to meet earlier”, expressed School Captain Makjal Singh, on behalf of his school mates. The students had also visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday to meet the President.

The visiting students are from the north-eastern states of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and included one from Bhutan. Without exception, each one expressed their eagerness to join the Armed Forces. “Seven of our cadets are joining National Defence Academy today, a record in the last 37 years”, informed the Principal to the Air Chief, who is also an alumnus of Sainik School, Satara in Maharashtra.

The students leave for Ambala today and will spend a day at the fighter airbase under Western Air Command. A static display and some microlite flying are being arranged for them at the airbase.


TK Singha/MKR/-

IAF CONTINGENT FOR UN PEACE KEEPING MISSION AT CONGO FLAGGED OFF

New Delhi: 18 Jun 2009


With the national tricolour and India emblazoned on their blue uniforms, 285 IAF air warriors swapped their regular grey ‘side caps’ with the distinct ‘blue beret’ worn by UN peacekeepers worldwide, to form part of the Indian UN Peace Keeping Mission that leaves for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on June 20. The IAF saga of contributing to UN peace-keeping missions began when IAF sent a flight of Canberra bomber aircraft as part of the United Nations Operations in Congo (ONUC), in 1962.

Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM), Air Marshal KM Rama Sundara flagged-off the Indian Aviation Contingent-II, today from Palam. “You are the ambassadors of peace and the Nation has very high expectations from you in terms of discipline, integrity and professional standards”, he said while addressing the contingent, led by Group Captain Manavendra Singh. “Your predecessors have set high standards and you should aim to achieve even higher standards”, AOM told the team members.

The present IAF contingent is effecting a fourth rotation and replaces an earlier team sent a year back. The contingent will operate six Mi-17 utility helicopters and four Mi-35 attack helicopters from Bukavu, in eastern DRC. Currently the IAF operates two aviation contingents from DRC, the other being stationed at Goma. DRC, it may be mentioned has been in a state of turmoil since it attained freedom in 1960. Indian Armed Forces have been contributing to peace missions in the strife-torn state ever since and have proved instrumental in bringing semblance of normalcy to the state.

The twin purpose of the contingent is to provide mobility to the UN staff and forces, while also acting as a deterrent for the belligerent groups trying to destabilize the peace process. Mi-17s would be primarily used for troop insertion and extraction, casualty evacuation, logistic supply, search and rescue, reconnaissance and observation. The primary role for the Mi-35 helicopter, equipped with night targeting system, would be offensive armed support as escort, and independent offensive operations.

Listing out his priorities on reaching Bukavu, Group Captain Manavendra says,” Among the first tasks is the familiarization of the area and taking charge of the area, getting to know the UN people and operational tasks”. The contingent comprises IAF personnel of diverse specializations including helicopter pilots. “All my pilots are categorized and their flying qualifications revalidated”, he added. Other members include those from the logistics, technical, medical services and pay and accounts.

Life at the air base in Sukavu under field conditions is modelled on the lines of regular Air Force bases that exist in India. Apart from a six-bedded hospital, facilities such as a gymnasium, games equipment, internet, ISD, library, movies, music et al – all other IAF activities such as drill, physical training will form part of the daily routine during their stay period, the Contingent Commander said.

Among other senior IAF officials who were present at the flag-off ceremony included Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) Operations (Transport & Helicopter), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) M Bahadur, and Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, New Delhi, Air Commodore Ajit Bhonsle.

TK Singha/-

SU-30 AIRCRAFT INDUCTED AT AIR FORCE STATION TEZPUR


New Delhi : 15 Jun 2009

The Su-30 aircraft was formally inducted at Air Force Station Tezpur today in a symbolic ceremony presided over by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal SK Bhan PVSM AVSM VM. Air Commodore TK Nair, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Tezpur and other senior Air Force officers, Army officers and civil dignitaries were also present on the rain soaked Tezpur airfield on the occasion.

Tezpur airfield was constructed by the British Royal Indian Air Force in 1942, during Second World War. It subsequently developed into a full fledged Air Force base in the year 1959. It lies between Bhutan, Tibet, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Ever since its inception, it has been one of the most active bases in North-East from where a variety of fixed and rotary wing aircraft have been operating.

The first aircraft that flew from this base were Vampires and Toofanis. 101 Reconnaissance Squadron with Vampire aircraft and 4 Squadron with Toofanis were the first Squadrons to be located at this base. Subsequently came 29 Sqn (Toofani), 37 Sqn (Hunter), 4 Sqn (MiG-21), 8 Sqn (MiG-21) 28 Sqn (MiG-21), 24 Sqn (Gnats), 110 HU (Mi-4 helicopters), 30 Sqn (MiG-21), MOFTU (MiG Operational Flying Training Unit) with MiG-21s and 115 HU (Cheetah / Chetak helicopters). For the last 25 years this base had been home to the MiG-21 fleet which was used extensively to train rookie pilots for the Indian Air Force, most of whom fondly remember their days spent in Tezpur. In Sep 2007, fighter operations were discontinued at the base to facilitate extensive runway repairs and extension. The work having been completed, the station has formally inducted its first SU-30 MKI aircraft.

The SU-30 MKI aircraft is a twin cockpit multi- role all-weather, air superiority fighter with air – to – air refueling capability. The aircraft, now being manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (Nasik), was originally designed and developed in Russia. The Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1997 and since then, the aircraft has been upgraded to suit IAF requirements.

The civil air operations that were discontinued in 2007, will resume soon enabling the civil population of this region to travel to other regions of the country by air.


PJ/MKR

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Air India's first Boeing 777-300ER landing at the Farnborough Air Show

Photo: Boeing

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Historical photo featuring an Air India Airbus A310-300

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ISS020-E-005810 (31 May 2009) --- Backdropped by Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, a portion of the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 20 crew member aboard the station.

Photo: NASA

Endeavour, Crew Preparing for July 11 Launch

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:25:36 AM PDT


Launch preparations are under way at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following Wednesday's successful test fueling of space shuttle Endeavour's external tank.

Two previous attempts to launch Endeavour on the STS-127 mission were halted by a leak in the area of the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, which attaches a gaseous hydrogen vent line to the external tank. After several days of investigation and repair work, the massive orange tank was filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as controllers watched for evidence of leaks. The system performed well, verifying the success of the repair.

"There were absolutely no leak indications whatsoever noted on the two leak detectors," said Launch Director Pete Nickolenko. "We'll continue to look at the data, and our next step is to move toward launch."

Endeavour's astronauts are taking the holiday weekend off and will go into quarantine Sunday evening. They are due to arrive at Kennedy on July 7 at 2 p.m. EDT. The countdown will officially begin Wednesday at 10 p.m. when clocks begin ticking backward from T-43 hours. Liftoff is set for July 11 at 7:39 p.m.

STS-127 Mission Overview

The 16-day mission will feature five spacewalks and complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will allow experiments to be exposed to space.

The STS-127 crew members are Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette. Kopra will join the space station crew and replace Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will return to Earth on Endeavour to conclude a three-month stay at the station.

A Countdown of Countdowns: The Space Shuttle’s Finale

06.19.09


For 50 years, NASA’s been famous for counting backward from 10 to zero. But a final countdown is now under way that will stand out among them all.

After 126 space shuttle missions, only eight remain before the fleet is scheduled to retire. That’s eight flights remaining to use the unique capabilities of the shuttle to finish construction on the International Space Station and prepare it for life after shuttle. Each flight is unique and extremely complicated. Attention to detail and planning will be needed to be successful. There are no easy flights remaining and there may be pauses in this countdown that will ensure the highest chance of mission success. The shuttle will fly each flight when it’s ready.

Take the time to look and really study the remaining shuttle flights. Here’s a close up look at the countdown of flights:

8: STS-127—A Mission for all Nations

The International Space Station has been growing steadily over the past few years, but the one thing it still doesn’t have is a porch. STS-127 will take care of that.

Space shuttle Endeavour will deliver the external facility for Japan’s Kibo module during that mission, completing the Japanese complex on the space station and providing a science platform outside the station walls.

And if the international flavor of the cargo isn’t enough, it will be the first shuttle mission to visit the station after its expansion to a six-person crew, when the station will have representatives from all five international partners on board.

“It just brings a lot of different nations together,” STS-127 Commander Mark Polansky said. “I look at space and what we’ve done with the International Space Station as a wonderful example of how we can cooperate. We all have a common goal, and we all work together. We all have cultural differences, and somehow we put all that aside and we get the job done.”

The installation of the new external facility will be the perfect opportunity to demonstrate all that.

“You’ll have this truly integrated operation, where you’ve got the Canadian robotic arm holding the new big piece of Japanese hardware, brought up by a United States vehicle,” said Holly Ridings, the lead space station flight director for the mission. “If you think about the integration of all those parts and pieces, it’s really amazing how far we’ve come.”

7: STS-128—Stepping Up Station Science


Astronauts Nicole Stott and European Space Agency's (ESA) Christer Fuglesang, both STS-128 mission specialists, attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, participate in a fixed-base shuttle mission simulator (SMS) training session in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Image credit: NASA

With the increasing size of the space station crew comes an increasing amount of crew time available to be spent on science. STS-128 will bring up new projects for them to spend that time on.

Tucked inside the multi-purpose logistics module to be carried up inside Discovery’s cargo bay will be two new experiment racks – the materials science research rack-1 and the fluids integrated rack. The materials rack will allow the crews of the space station to conduct experiments on such diverse materials as metals, glasses, crystals and ceramics. They’ll be able to study how materials mix and solidify or how crystals grow, outside the confines of the Earth’s gravity.

If it’s not covered by the materials rack, there’s a fair chance that it will be by the fluids rack. Colloids, gels, bubbles, boiling and cooling are just a few of the long list of areas astronauts will study using the fluids rack.

Of course, with all the additional science being done on the station, the crews will need more room in which to store the fruits of their labor. So Discovery will also bring up a second Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS – or MELFI, as it’s known.

And one other way that the STS-128 (and STS-125 and STS-127) mission will further the cause of science is by taking part in crew seat vibration tests that will help engineers on the ground understand how astronauts experience launch. They’ll then use the information to design the crew seats that will be used in future Constellation launches.

6: STS-129—Spares to Space

There will be lots of reasons to miss the space shuttles when they retire, but one of the most practical ones will be the lack of transportation options for large space station equipment.

In addition to all the modules and truss segments that the shuttle has been hauling into space for the past 10 years, there have been occasional ORUs – or orbital replacement units, a fancy word for spare parts – many of which were big. Too big, in fact, to be brought up on any other vehicle that visits the space station or any that’s being planned.

“What you’ve done,” Kirk Shireman, International Space Station program deputy manager, said, “is take away the 18-wheeler and replace it with a bunch of small pickup trucks.”

For STS-129, the 18-wheeler’s cargo hold will be full of spares to keep the station going after the big wheels have stopped rolling. There will be a spare control moment gyroscope, a spare nitrogen tank assembly and a spare ammonia tank assembly. A spare latching end effector for the station’s robotic arm, and a spare trailing umbilical system for the rail car that the arm travels on. A spare antenna and a spare high pressure gas tank.

There will be plenty more spares to come before the last shuttle flight, but STS-129 is definitely a start.

“This should last us for some time,” Shireman said.

5: STS-130—A Room with a View

STS-130 will represent a major milestone mission, as it will be bringing up the last major United States addition to the space station. And as usual, last doesn’t equal least.

Not only will space shuttle Endeavour be bringing up the final node – this one named Tranquility – and giving the expanded crew plenty of space to spread out in, but as this node will come attached to the six-windowed cupola, it’s likely to become everyone’s favorite room on the station.

“This flight will, I think, grab the public’s attention,” Shireman said. “It’s just going to be a really, really neat module for those on board. The dream of being able to go out and just have an unencumbered view of space – we’ll have it. You can open up all the windows and look around and really feel like you’re out there.”

The windows aren’t just for fun, however – they’ll be working windows. As more cargo vehicles begin frequenting the space station, the station’s robotic arm is going to be called into action to capture some of them as they approach and guide them into their docking port. A good view of that operation will be a welcomed help to those at the controls of the arm.

4: STS-131 — Experiment Experience

Much of the science done on the International Space Station involves difficult-to-understand concepts with long, hard-to-pronounce names. But the STS-131 mission will prove that’s not always the case. The experiment racks space shuttle Atlantis will deliver to the space station inside its multi-purpose logistics module focus on things regular people here on Earth do every day: exercise and look out the window.

The experiment racks that STS-131 will deliver to the station – the window observational research facility and the muscle atrophy research and exercise system rack – are pretty much exactly what they sound like. The window observational research facility is designed to beef up the work that astronauts are able to do looking out the window of the Destiny laboratory by adding cameras, multispectral and hyperspectral scanners, camcorders and sensors. With those instruments, the crew will be able to study global climates, land and sea formations and crop weather damage like never before.

Meanwhile, the muscle atrophy research and exercise system rack – or MARES – will give the crew members a way to assess the strength of their muscles while in space. The deterioration of muscles not used while astronauts are floating in microgravity has long been a concern for space programs. This rack will mean that the crew members don’t have to wait until they’re back on solid ground to find out how their time in space affected their health. Instead, the MARES will help them exercise seven different human joints, gauge the strength of the muscles around those joints and decide how the countermeasures designed to prevent muscle atrophy are working.

3: STS-132—Finishing Touches

The last International Space Station modules to be delivered by a space shuttle will come up on the STS-132 mission.

The last space station module to be delivered by a shuttle also happens to be the first Russian module delivered to the ISS by a shuttle. It will be filled, for the launch, with pressurized U.S. cargo, installed by a Canadian robotic arm and include a European robotic arm – all of which underscores once more the very international nature of the International Space Station.

2: STS-133—Spares in Space

STS-133 was originally scheduled to be the final shuttle flight of the fleet, and as such, it was packed to the brim with one last load of spares.

There are debris shields for the Zvezda service module, and antennas for the S-Band communication system. There’s a spare ammonia tank assembly, a spare flex hose rotary coupler, several remote power control modules and even a spare arm for the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator.

“It isn’t glamorous, but it’s really important for the space station to execute its mission,” Shireman said.

Besides, even though none of the equipment will actually be installed, it will still take at least three spacewalks to get it all in position to be ready when needed. And this flight (along with the next) will also be used to try out a new relative navigation sensor that could be used on Orion, the next U.S. vehicle that will take astronauts to the International Space Station. So there should still be excitement to spare, as well as equipment.

“There are no boring shuttle flights,” John Shannon, Space Shuttle program manager, said.

1: STS-134—Shuttle Says Goodbye

It’s appropriate that the last flight of the Space Shuttle Program is scheduled to bring up the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. Designed to detect cosmic rays, it should continue the tradition of discovery that the space shuttles have fueled for almost three decades. Even so, it’s unlikely that will make it any easier to say goodbye. Shannon said it’s hard to imagine the end of the program at this point, but he expects it to be bittersweet.

“I’m sure it will be emotional,” he said. “But I suspect that it will not be sadness over the passing of that era, but happiness that we were a part of it. The assembly of the space station could not have been done without the space shuttle, and the assembly of the space station is one of the great engineering achievements of mankind.

“So the space shuttle will have done a good job.”

Station Crew Completes Soyuz Move


The Expedition 20 crew members aboard the orbiting International Space Station were busy Thursday making last minute preparations for the relocation of the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft.

Commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineers Mike Barratt and Koichi Wakata undocked the spacecraft from the aft port of the Zvezda service module at 5:29 p.m. EDT and piloted it over to the Pirs docking compartment, redocking the vehicle at 5:55 p.m. The move clears the way for the arrival of the ISS Progress 34 supply ship, which is scheduled to arrive later this month.

Flight engineers Frank De Winne, Bob Thirsk and Roman Romanenko remained inside the station during the move to assist the Soyuz crew during the maneuver and to monitor station systems.

Crew members adjusted their sleep schedule Thursday to accommodate the late start time of the move. A wake up time of 9:30 a.m. set in motion final preparations for Padalka, Barratt and Wakata, including closing the hatches, conducting leak checks and donning their Sokol launch and entry suits.

Throughout the week, crew members set up camera and video equipment to monitor the move and reviewed Soyuz relocation procedures with specialists at the Russian Mission Control Center.

Over the weekend, crew members will make preparations for the upcoming STS-127 mission as well as continue their regular maintenance, housekeeping and exercise activities. They also will enjoy some off-duty time and have an opportunity to speak with family members.

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

JSC2009-E-122084 (27 May 2009) --- The Soyuz TMA-15 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on May 27, 2009.

Photo: ESA/CSA/NASA/Stephane Corvaja

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Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

JSC2009-E-070632 (8 April 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Fincke, Expedition 18 commander, is carried to the medical tent after he, along with cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov, flight engineer and Soyuz commander; and U.S. spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi's safe Soyuz TMA-13 landing on April 8, 2009, near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. Fincke and Lonchakov return to Earth after spending six months on the International Space Station, and Simonyi is returning from his launch with the Expedition 19 crewmembers twelve days earlier.

Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

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Two Iraqi Mil Mi-17-V5 Hip Helicopters stand by Dec. 20 for an aeromedical evacuation mission from the Air Force Theater Hospital at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Three Iraqi patients were transported from Balad to the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. This was the second time the Iraqi air force has conducted an aeromedical evacuation from Balad.

Photo: U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Epley

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An Iraqi airlines 737-200 taxis in front of the control tower at the Baghdad International Airport Jan. 29, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi Airways, also known as Air Iraq, is the national carrier airline of Iraq, based in Baghdad

Photo: US Army

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Aircrews from the Iraqi 2nd Squadron begin their first night-vision goggle certification flight with assistance from 721st Air Expedition Advisory Squadron at Camp Taji, Iraq, 8 February 2009.

Photo: USAF

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

An Iraqi Airways Il-76 Cargo Aircraft, Baghdad International Airport(BIAP). Iraqi Airways, also known as Air Iraq, is the national carrier airline of Iraq, based in Baghdad and it is also the oldest airline of the Middle East. It operates domestic and regional services. Its main base is Baghdad International Airport. Iraqi Airways is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

The Iraqi Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of November 2007): 1 A300B4-2C (operated for Govt.) 2 Boeing 727-200 (operated by Teebah Airlines) 2 Boeing 737-200 (1 operated by Teebah/stored at Amman, 1 operated by Dolphin Air) Iraqi Airways has 5 Boeing 737-400 aircraft on order. The Boeing 737-400s will be acquired on lease.

Former fleet: Iraqi Airways fleet was composed of the following aircraft types from the 1970s until 2003, some of these aircraft were stored in Amman, Beirut and Tehran during the 1990 Gulf war, air worthy ones operated a few Hajj flights during the 1990s: Antonov An-24 Boeing 707-320 Boeing 727-200 Boeing 737-200 Boeing 747-200 Boeing 747 SP (passenger and government) Ilyushin IL-76 cargo freighter Four Airbus A310-300 were also ordered in the late 1980s but war related sanctions prevented Iraq from getting them and they were never built. Post 2003 they also operated a single Boeing 767-200 and a 757-200 for a short while.Baghdad International Airport, formerly Saddam International Airport, is Iraq's largest airport, located in a suburb about 16 km (10 miles) west of downtown Baghdad.

Before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the airport was named Saddam International Airport after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Although the name was changed in the invasion's wake, Baghdad retains its former IATA airport code of SDA (although some airlines use the code BGW). Its ICAO airport code was ORBS, but changed to ORBI in 2003. The airport is referred to as BIAP (buy-ap), while the surrounding military complex is called the Victory Base Complex (VBC) by coalition civil and military authorities.

On April 3, 2003, United States forces led by the 3rd Infantry Division seized Saddam International Airport as part of the invasion of Baghdad, and then immediately changed the name to "Baghdad International Airport" (commonly referred to as BIAP by U.S. forces). Also, the "Saddam" signage was removed from the terminal buildings and replaced with "Baghdad". All paintings depicting the former leader have now been removed. By mid-year, the airport had became a small city of tents and trailers housing 10,000 American servicemen.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided a budget of over $17 million to restore the terminal and airfield to operational status. A make shift Burger King restaurant was established by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) at the U.S. 1st Armored Division headquarters sector of the airport in June 2003. The Royal Australian Air Force provided an air traffic control capability from May 2003 until late 2004.

The airport officially reverted to civilian control on August 25, 2004. Iraqi Airways and Royal Jordanian Airlines currently operate regular flights to Amman, Jordan, and FedEx and DHL operate civilian and military cargo services. However, the airport's perimeter is regularly threatened by Iraqi insurgents; aircraft taking off and landing at the airport use a "corkscrew maneuver," a spiraling pattern of climbing and descending directly over the airport to avoid coming within range of small arms and missiles on the ground.

A DHL Airbus cargo plane was hit by a surface to air missile shortly after takeoff from the airport in 2003, in what was later known as the DHL shootdown incident. The aircraft performed a successful emergency landing but suffered serious damage to its left wing.

Since July 2003, the civilian areas of the airport have been secured by civilian contractors. From July 2003 to June 2004, an American firm, Custer Battles, secured the airport under a contract from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). At the completion of their contract, coinciding with the dissolution of the CPA, the Iraq Ministry of Transportation awarded a contract to the British security firm Global RSL.[2] The terminal area is currently secured by a private force of 500 Iraqi and Gurkha guards.

The main road from the airport to downtown Baghdad, nicknamed "Route Irish," is now infamous as one of the most dangerous routes in the world. On November 8, 2004, as part of a general US and Iraqi assault against Fallujah, Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi closed the airport for 48 hours, with the stated reason of preventing insurgents from leaving the country.

On April 29, 2005, Air Scotland announced its intentions to begin a Glasgow-London Stansted-Irbil-Baghdad service. Although initial intentions were to begin this route in November 2005 with Tristar jetliners, this service never started and Air Scotland is now defunct.

Photo / Info Source: James Dale (jamesdale10) / Wikipedia

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A Cessna 208 Caravan assigned to the Iraqi air force Flying Training Wing flies over Northern Iraq during a recent training mission.

Source: Kirkuk Regional Air Base Public Affaris

Photographer: Lieutenant Colonel Scott Voskovitch / U.S. Air Force

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Starboard side winglet on an Aer Lingus Airbus A330 twin-aisle twinjet.

Photo: Wikipedia

July 3, 2009

Ryanair welcomes OFT announcement on ASA referral


Ryanair welcomes today’s OFT announcement which concluded this referral. We were happy to make the minor adjustments recommended by the OFT to improve our website and advertising. Ryanair is pleased with the OFT’s conclusion of this case which confirms Ryanair’s belief that there was no substance to the ASA’s original referral, and we welcome the fact that the OFT has dismissed the ASA’s request ‘to consider taking action against the budget airline Ryanair.

03.07.09

Ryanair Carries a Record 60 Million Passengers

  13% INCREASE IN JUNE TRAFFIC TO 5.8 MILLION   Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, today (3 July) announced that its June traffic increased by 13% to 5.8 million passengers, a new monthly record, smashing the 5.7 million passenger record set in August 2008. Ryanair also carried over 60 MILLION passengers in the 12 months to the end of June – a new annual traffic record.    The following are Ryanair’s passenger and load factor statistics for June 2009: 

1.      Represents the number of earned seats flown by Ryanair. 2.      Represents the number of passengers as a proportion of the number of seats available for passengers.   Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:   “Ryanair’s growth of 13% to 5.8 million passengers for June and 60 million passengers for the 12 month period, establish new records for Europe’s largest airline. Ryanair is now on course to carry 67 million passengers in our full year”. 

02.07.09

Ryanair asks Irish Government why Irish air traffic is collapsing

(down 15% in May) while Ryanair traffic is booming (up 9% in May)

Scrap this greedy €10 tourist tax now

Ryanair, Ireland’s favourite airline, today (2 July) asked the Irish Government to explain why Irish air traffic in May collapsed by 15% (down 400,000 passengers to 2.3 million) while Ryanair’s traffic grew in the same month by 9% (up 500,000 passengers to 5.5 million).

Traffic May 08 May 09 Change
Ireland 2.7m 2.3m -15%
Ryanair 5.0m 5.5m +9%


Ryanair believes that the Irish Government’s €10 tourist tax has made Ireland a high cost, uncompetitive tourist destination and this is the cause of the steep decline in Irish air traffic and tourism in May.

Ryanair called again on the Irish Government to follow the recent example of the Belgian, Dutch, Greek and Spanish governments all of whom have scrapped similar tourist taxes and/or reduced airport charges to zero in order to stimulate tourism. Ryanair believes that this collapse in Irish traffic and tourism will continue for the remainder of 2009 unless this damaging and revenue negative €10 tourist tax is scrapped.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:

“Ryanair continues to grow rapidly. Our traffic figures for May were up by 500,000 new passengers to 5.5 million while Irish air traffic collapsed by 15% to just 2.3 million due to the Government’s silly and damaging €10 tourist tax.

“Ryanair will continue to grow outside of Ireland in countries which welcome tourists rather than taxing them. The Irish Government cannot grow tourism by taxing it. This didn’t work in the 1970’s and 1980’s and it won’t work in 2009 either. It is time to scrap this €10 tourist tax now before even further damage is inflicted upon Irish tourism and our struggling economy”.

02.07.09

33rd Base Announced at Porto (Northern Portugal)

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (30^th June) announced it would open its 33^rd base at Porto (Northern Portugal) with two based aircraft and four new routes (16 in total). Ryanair will offer 50 weekly return flights to/from Porto in an investment worth over $140 million.

Ryanair’s four new routes from Porto to Basel, Eindhoven, St Etienne and Tours from September and a doubling of flights to Paris Beauvais (to twice daily) will increase Ryanair’s traffic at Porto to 1.5 million passengers p.a. which will sustain 1,500 well paid local jobs.   Ryanair celebrated its new Porto base, two new aircraft, 16 routes and 1.5 million passengers by releasing 1 million €9 seats for travel across its European network for travel in late August, September and October which are available for booking on www.ryanair.com until midnight Sunday (5^th July).  

In Porto, Ryanair’s Michael Cawley said:   “Ryanair is delighted to announce Porto as our 33^rd base and our first base in Portugal. Our four new routes from Porto go on sale today. With a total of 16 low fare routes from Porto, passengers can beat the recession by choosing Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and no fuel surcharges to exciting destinations all over Europe. Ryanair’s 1.5 million passengers will sustain 1,500 jobs locally in Porto.”

Four New Routes:

Existing Routes:

30.06.09

Fáilte Ireland May Statistics Confirm that Ireland’s Traffic Decline is Accelerating as the €10 Passenger Tax Devastates Tourism

Scrap the €10 Tourist Tax Now


Ryanair, Ireland’s largest airline, today (30 June) welcomed the May traffic figures published by Fáilte Ireland which confirmed that the collapse in air passenger traffic is accelerating as May traffic fell by 15%, much greater than the 10% decline of the first four months to April. Since the Government’s €10 tax was introduced on April Fools’ Day the rate of traffic decline and tourism collapse has accelerated.

Ryanair warned that unless the €10 tourist tax is scrapped, this tourism collapse will worsen next winter, as more flights and services are cut from Dublin Airport, in response to the Government’s €10 tourist tax and the DAA Monopoly’s high and increasing airport charges.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:

“Fáilte Ireland’s May traffic figures confirm that the collapse in passenger traffic to/from Ireland is accelerating as the Irish Government’s €10 visitor tax makes Ireland an uncompetitive tourist market. After a decline of 10% in the first four months of 2009, May saw air traffic collapse by an astonishing 15%. The most significant fall was experienced in arrivals to Ireland (down 19%), proving that the Government’s €10 visitor tax is now driving tourism away.

“Passenger traffic will collapse even further this winter as both Aer Lingus and Ryanair have announced further cuts in flights and traffic at Dublin. The only way to reverse this tourism collapse is to lower airport costs and scrap this €10 tourist tax.

“In recent months the Belgian, Dutch, Greek and Spanish governments have all scrapped tourist taxes and/or reduced airport charges to zero in order to stimulate tourism. The Irish Government cannot grow tourism by taxing it. This didn’t work in the 1970’s and 1980’s and it won’t work in 2009 either. It is time to scrap this €10 tourist tax now before even further damage is inflicted upon Irish tourism”.

Keith Barry and Aer Arann Help Dublin's 98 Listeners Fly Without Fear!


25th June 2009 - Top celebrity magician Keith Barry is going to drastically change the lives of ten lucky Dublin's 98 listeners who are terrified of flying.

Keith will help the aerophobia sufferers overcome their fears during a two day workshop where he guarantee's they will all defeat their in-flight terror!

Keith Barry, the ten listeners and Dublin's 98 Siobhan O' Connor will then embark on a flight from Dublin to Cardiff courtesy of Aer Arann on the 10th of July to put his promise to the test!

Andrew Kelly, Corporate Affairs Director at Aer Arann said “Our philosophy at all times is to make each flight an enjoyable experience for our passengers, so we’re delighted to welcome Keith’s group on board and help prove to them that flying is convenient, comfortable and fun”.

Speaking about Keith's call to action this morning, Dublin's 98 Morning Crew Presenter Siobhan O' Connor said "This is a great opportunity for our listeners to overcome their fears that rule their lives, after watching Keith in action before when he predicted the results of the Leinster match on our show - I have no doubt he will help cure the 10 of their fear!

Aer Arann Connects Cork with Donegal, Derry, Galway and Knock


24th June 2009 - Aer Arann has introduced connecting flights to Cork from Donegal, Derry, Galway and Knock Ireland West via Dublin. From as little as €45 one way including taxes, business and leisure passengers can now travel conveniently throughout Ireland, saving hours of additional driving time in the process.

All connecting flight options and further details can be found at www.AerArann.com Customers travelling to Cork from Donegal, Galway and Knock Ireland West can simply proceed directly to their onward departure gate. Derry passengers will need to follow the airport’s straightforward international transfer policy for travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

“These new flight services open up the possibility for short but important business and leisure trips that would otherwise involve lengthy and often frustrating car journeys” comments Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs. “By opting for a connecting flight rather than driving, customers can save significant travel time, as well as enjoying the added comfort of travelling with Aer Arann” he adds.

Air travel passengers receive more when choosing to fly with Aer Arann, including shorter check in times, free airport check in, free baggage allowance up to 15kg for checked luggage and up to 7kg for carry on luggage.

Flight times, booking details and further information on all of Aer Arann’s great value fares and travel benefits can be found at www.AerArann.com

Action by electricians' union indefensible

Friday, 3 July 2009


IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, today said that the decision by the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union to strike next Monday over an 11% pay claim is indefensible in the current economic environment.

IBEC Director Brendan McGinty said: "This dispute is a throw back to old style industrial relations of the 1970’s and is pointless and unnecessary. It is extraordinary that electricians would pursue this action given that the construction industry is likely to lose another 100,000 jobs in the next year.

"The plan to disrupt major infrastructure projects, such as the new Lansdowne Road stadium, Terminal Two at Dublin Airport and other manufacturing sites, could result in other jobs being put at risk. This is unacceptable at a time when Government, IBEC and ICTU are agreed that a national priority must be to keep the maximum number of people in work. This type of action also undermines our reputation as a location for investment.

"Many employers and their staff have concluded sensible arrangements to protect jobs during the downturn. Many in the private sector have had to accept pay reductions, and economy-wide wages will fall by about 3% this year. Two-thirds of all employers have pay freezes in place. The effects of these measures have been cushioned by the fact that average prices will fall by about 5% this year.”

“Despite the breakdown of discussions yesterday at the Labour Relations Commission, strike action should be deferred and the parties should re-engage with the dispute resolution machinery of the state to explore an acceptable outcome.”

IBEC calls for publication of “An Bord Snip Nua” findings


Friday, 3 July 2009

IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, today said it is keen that the Government make findings of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes public as early as possible.

IBEC director general Danny McCoy said: “We must reduce public sector expenditure in order to bring balance to public finances. Effective implementation of the Group’s recommendations is therefore essential.

“An implementation plan should be set up without delay. Scrutiny and oversight are vital for successful execution of the proposals, and an implementation group including private sector representation should be established,” Mr McCoy concluded.

G8 Summit: Increased Security at Italian Airports (7-11 July)


Ryanair have been advised by the Italian Government that there will be increased security at all Italian Airports between 7th - 11th July, due to the arrival of World Political Leaders for the G8 Summit in (L'Aquila) Italy

All Ryanair flights scheduled to depart from Italian Airports between the 7th -11th July inclusive will operate as normal, however, passengers intending to travel from an Italian Airport between 7th-11th July are advised to ensure that they allow sufficient time to clear airport security in order to be at the boarding gate at our recommended 30 minutes prior to scheduled fight departure time.

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

P

Photo:

Latest News As Of July 24, 2009

Boeing KC-767 Tankers for Italy Complete Military Utility Observation


EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., July 21, 2009 -- Two of the KC-767 aerial refueling tankers that Boeing [NYSE: BA] is building for the Italian Air Force recently performed a series of airborne boom contacts and fuel offloads in observation test flights with the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base. The flights included KC-767 fuel transfers with a U.S. Air Force F-16 aircraft as well as from one KC-767 to the other.

The KC-767 tankers achieved the milestone contacts in late June during a successful Military Utility Observation (MUO) that demonstrated the tankers' operational capabilities to refuel both a large receiver aircraft and a fighter aircraft using the KC-767 advanced aerial refueling boom and Remote Aerial Refueling Operator (RARO) station.

The MUO is contractually obligated by the Italian Air Force as part of the process required for delivery of the KC-767 tanker to Italy.

During the MUO, the two tankers performed familiarization flights for military personnel, including integrated U.S. and Italian Air Force pilots and boom operators, and also offloaded more than 100,000 pounds of fuel during 65 tanker-to-tanker contacts. Additionally, the tankers performed more than 100 day and night airborne boom contacts with the F-16 aircraft and transferred about 5,000 pounds of fuel.

"This is a key milestone for our International Tanker Program and our Italian customer as we near the end of development of the KC-767 tanker for the Italian Air Force," said Dave Bowman, vice president and general manager of Boeing Tanker Programs. "The successful boom contacts and fuel offloads by both U.S. Air Force and Italian Air Force crews are additional examples of the outstanding capabilities of Boeing tankers."

Boeing has three KC-767s in flight test for the Italian Air Force while building one additional tanker for this customer. In addition to the advanced aerial refueling boom and RARO station, the tankers feature wing pod and centerline hose-and-drogue systems. They are wide-body airlifters in a "combi" configuration, meaning the aircraft can be configured to carry all passengers, all cargo or a combination of both.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

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Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Prototype M-346 above the clouds

Photo: Alenia Aeronautica

G8 Summit: Increased Security at Italian Airports (7-11 July)


Ryanair have been advised by the Italian Government that there will be increased security at all Italian Airports between 7th - 11th July, due to the arrival of World Political Leaders for the G8 Summit in (L'Aquila) Italy

All Ryanair flights scheduled to depart from Italian Airports between the 7th -11th July inclusive will operate as normal, however, passengers intending to travel from an Italian Airport between 7th-11th July are advised to ensure that they allow sufficient time to clear airport security in order to be at the boarding gate at our recommended 30 minutes prior to scheduled fight departure time.

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Aermacchi M-346 over Italy

Photo: Alenia Aeronautica

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Aermacchi MB-399s of the Frecce Tricolori in formation

Photo: Alenia Aeronautica

Schengen Treaty temporary suspension.

Alitalia increases its passenger assistance services in all Italian airports.


Rome, 27 June 2009 – Alitalia wishes to inform its passengers that, due to the G8 summit taking place in L’Aquila – Italy – between 8 and 10 July 2009, the Italian Home Office has enforced a temporary suspension of the Schengen Treaty until Wednesday 15 July 2009.
All passengers arriving or departing from Schengen destinations will have to clear Italian customs; therefore Alitalia invites you to ensure that your travel documents are valid for travel to/from and within Italy.
Throughout the suspension period, in order to facilitate procedures, Alitalia will maximize assistance to all its passengers in all Italian airports, especially to those in transit.

Rome, 4 July 2009

Clarification from Finmeccanica


Finmeccanica flatly denies any rumors regarding alleged negotiations with a Libyan sovereign fund for
a presumed share transfer.

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Bell Augusta Aerospace BA609 Tilt-rotor

Photo: Bell Augusta Aerospace

Rome, 2 July 2009

DRS Technologies receives USD 49 million order for infrared sighting systems for US Army


DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica (FNC IM) company, has received a USD 49 million
order from Raytheon to produce and supply advanced Second Generation Forward Looking
Infrared (SGF) sighting systems and components for the US Army. Deliveries will run through
January 2011.

The systems will be used to provide critical technology to soldiers on US Army combat and
tactical wheeled vehicles, including Abrams, Bradley and Humvee.

DRS’ high-resolution Second Generation Forward Looking Infrared sighting systems enable
soldiers to detect, identify and engage tactical enemy targets at any time during day or night,
even in zero visibility conditions.

Roll-out of the first G.222 aircraft for Afghanistan

7/6/2009

Alenia Aeronautica held a ceremony at its Capodichino (Naples) location for the roll-out of the first G.222 aircraft, ordered by the United States Air Force (USAF), to be restored to airworthiness, and modernized with new systems and avionics.

In September 2008, Alenia North America (a company wholly owned by Alenia Aeronautica) was awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force, valued at $287 million, to provide 18 refurbished G.222 tactical transport aircraft that will be transferred by the Combined Security Transition Command in Kabul to the reconstructed Afghan Air Force, the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC).

The first flight of the upgraded G.222 aircraft is anticipated for the end of next month and delivery of the aircraft will begin in September 2009.

The 18 G.222, which include two versions configured for VIP transport, belong to different production groups that range from 1977 to 1985 and meet different production standards. All of the aircraft will be modernized with the configuration of systems and avionics, new autopilot systems and ballistic protection, in addition to necessary maintenance, modifications and modernization.

Giovanni Bertolone, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica, commented, “This day represents a significant stage in the sphere of a very important contract signed by Alenia North America, as prime contractor, with the American Government in September 2008; confirming the continued vitality of the program, after years of operating service with the Italian Air Force (AMI). The capacity of tactical transport, the operational validity and the superior qualification of the aircraft to complete complex missions, for which it was designed, have been further exalted by the C-27J program, the actual leader in the market segment. The Afghan G.222 will be required to operate in difficult scenarios, in conditions of extreme altitude and temperature”.

Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia North America said, “Alenia Aeronautica, with Alenia North America and Finmeccanica, has demonstrated again that it can offer products to the United States that meet the rigid and specific requirements outlined by the American Government, always on time and on budget in accordance with the requirements of the client. These 18 G.222 aircraft will give the reconstructed Afghan Air Force a great advantage in terms of the security and the stability of the region.”

The G.222, in service until 2005 with the Italian Air Force (AMI) and used also by the United States Air Force in the 1990s under the name C-27A, is a twin-engine, tactical transport, turboprop aircraft. Developed as a true military airlifter, the G.222 is dependable, robust, and capable of taking off in almost any operating condition, even from short and unprepared airstrips.

The G.222 is still in operation with a large number of air forces around the world, including: the Nigerian Air Force, the Royal Thai Air Force, the Ejercito Argentino, the U.S. State Department, and the Italian Air Force (version VS, electronic warfare); thanks also to the efficiency of the logistical support provided by Alenia Aeronautica.

7/2/2009

The Italian Eurofighters are the first to successfully accomplish NATO’s operations assessment Grosseto Air Base Eurofighters pass the test of the Atlantic Alliance

The Italian Eurofighters are the first to successfully pass NATO’s operational assessment and they are now ready to be deployed abroad for peace-keeping and peace-making operations.

This is an excellent result for the Eurofighter Typhoon, the aircraft designed, developed and produced by a four-nation consortium whose members are UK, Germany, Spain and Italy with Alenia Aeronautica’s
participation with a 21% industrial share.

An Atlantic Alliance’s evaluation team – within the “Operation Discrete Jury” exercise - has fully certified the Italian Air Force’s 4th Fighter Wing at the Grosseto Base as NATO Quick Response Force. This way the 4th Air Wing becomes the first flight unit with Eurofighter aircraft in service to obtain this important NATO certification.

The exercise has involved many activities carried out at Grosseto Base: rescue and telecommunication
services, self-defence and survival capabilities, but above all logistic support, maintenance and flight
operations. In this very field the operations of the Grosseto Base’s Typhoons have been positively
evaluated, having demonstrated excellent operational availability and full compliance with Italian Air Force
and NATO’s operational requirements.

The 4th Air Wing, together with the 5th Wing of Cervia, the 36th of Gioia del Colle and the 37th of Trapani, is one of the units assigned to the surveillance of the Italian air space, thus assuring aerial defence all year round, 24 hours-a-day.

Giovanni Bertolone, Alenia Aeronautica’s CEO, has commented: “We are very much satisfied for this
important acknowledgement - to both the Italian Air Force and in particular to all the staff of the Grosseto
Base - and to the Eurofighter Typhoon’s operational capabilities – which confirms it as the most advanced
new-generation air defence aircraft and perfectly complying with NATO’s strict requirements”.

Alenia Aeronautica is national leader in the airplane’s development and production programme, with a 21%
industrial share. The company is responsible for the left wing manufacturing, the design and building of the
rear fuselage together with BAE Systems, the design and integration of some onboard systems, such as
armament and navigation, as well as the integration of the whole propelling system. The Italian company is
also responsible for the final assembly of all Italian Air Force airplanes.

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Augusta Westland NH-90 on the Flight Deck of the Naval Replenishment and Logistic Support Vessel (LSV) Etna, A5326, of Italy.

Photo: Augusta Westland

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Finmeccanica is a partner in the Sukhoi Superjet 100 program out of Russia

Photo: Finmeccanica

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

C-27J Spartan

Photo: K. Tokunaga / Alenia Aeronautica

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Two C-27J Spartans in formation with two Eurofighter Typhoons.

Photo: K. Tokunaga / Alenia Aeronautica

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Aeronautica Militare Italiana C-27J Spartan

Photo: K. Tokunaga / Alenia Aeronautica

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

C-27J Spartan - JCA First Flight

Photo: Alenia Aeronautica

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Bell Augusta Aerospace BA609 Tilt-rotor in Civil Markings

Photo: Bell Augusta Aerospace

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Aermacchi MB-339s of the Frecce Tricolori in Formation over Italy

Photo: Aermacchi

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

An Air Jamaica Airbus A320 family twinjet under taxi.

Photo: Airbus SAS

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

An Air Jamaica Airbus A340 on final approach to London's Heathrow International Airport.

Photo: Adrian Pinstone (Arpingstone) / Wikipedia

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

The ShinMaywa US-2 is a large STOL amphibious aircraft designed for air-sea rescue (SAR) work. The aircraft is currently operated by the 31st Fleet Air Wing (71st Air Force, 71st Flight Squadron) at Iwakuni air base. The aircraft is developed from the ShinMaywa US-1A and has been in service since 2003. The US-2 is one of the few, large flying boats and amphibians operating in the World, however it's not the largest. That title goes to the Martin Mars, which still operates in Canada as an Aerial Tanker for fighting fires.

General characteristics

Crew: 11
Length: 33.25 m (109 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 33.15 m (108 ft 9 in)
Height: 10.06 m ()
Loaded weight: 47,700 kg (105,160 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 43,000 kg (94,800 lb)
Powerplant: 4× Rolls-Royce AE 2100J[1] turboprop, 4,591 shp () each
Propellers: Dowty R414[2] 6 bladed propeller, 1 per engine
Boundary layer enhancement provided by LHTEC T800
Performance

Maximum speed: 315 kt (580 km/h)
Cruise speed: 260 kt (470 km/h)
Range: 2,500 nm (4,600 km)
Takeoff run on water at max weight - 280 m (925 ft)
Landing run on water at max weight - 310 m (1025 ft)

Photo: Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF)

Infosource: Wikipedia

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

The ShinMaywa US-1A amphibous seaplane. The aircraft is based on the PS-1, a true seaplane that carried its beaching gear onboard. The prototype USFX was first demonstrated in 1960 and proved the aircraft's STOL capabilities. The PS-X was developed and first flew in 1967, with the first production PS-1 flying in 1969.

The military equipment was removed to develop an Air Search and Rescue version known as the US-1A. That aircraft first flew in 1974.

General characteristics

Crew: nine (pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, navigator, radio operator, radar operator, two observers)
Capacity: 20 survivors or 12 stretchers
Length: 33.46 m (109 ft 9¼ in)
Wingspan: 33.15 m (108 ft 9 in)
Height: 9.95 m (32 ft 7¾ in)
Wing area: 135.8 m² (1,462 ft²)
Empty weight: 23,300 kg (51,367 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 45,000 kg[2] (99,200 lb)
Powerplant: 4× Ishikawajima-Harima/General Electric T64-IHI-10J turboprops, 2,605 kW (3,493 ehp) each
plus 1× General Electric T58 gas tubine, 1,104 kW (1,360 shp) driving boundary layer contol system
Performance

Maximum speed: 511 km/h (276 knots, 318 mph)
Cruise speed: 426 km/hr (230 knots, 265 mph)
Range: 3,817 km (2,060 nmi, 2,372 mi)
Service ceiling: 7,195 m (23,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 8.1 m/s (1,600 ft/min)

Photo: JASDF

Infosource: Janes All the World Aircraft 1988-89 via Wikipedia

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Two-man cockpit on a Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) Boeing 747-400 All Freighter.

Photo: NCA

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A trio of Nihon YS-11 transports off the coast of Japan

Photo: JASDF

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A Mitsubishi UH-60J of the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). The helicopter is based on the Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk and is produced under license by Mitsubishi.

Photo: JASDF

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A CH-47J Chinook helicopter during winter operations over Japan. Boeing and Kawasaki Heavy Industries produce this Philadelphia native in the city of Gifu, Japan. The aircraft is a dirivative of the CH-47D "Delta" Chinook utilized by the United States Army. 50 units are being produced for the Air and Ground Defense Forces of Japan.

Photo: JASDF

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A pair of Mitsubishi F-2 fighters break over a cloud-covered Japan. The F-2 is derived from the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon. The aircraft was designed to replace aging F-1 and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom fighters of the Vietnam era.

Photo: JASDF

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A Mitsubishi MU-2 S Search and Rescue aircraft of the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). The aircraft is to be replaced by the U-125, which is based on the British Aerospace BAe 125 800 Corporate jet.

Photo: JASDF

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A flight of four Korean Aerospace Industries T-50 Golden Eagle trainers

Photo: KAI

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Korean Aerospace Industries TA-50 Golden Eagles breaking formation.

Photo: KAI

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

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Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait Airways Boeing 777-200ER (9K-AOB) landing at London Heathrow Airport, England.

Photo: Adrian Pingstone / Wikipedia

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait Airways Boeing 747-400M (9K-ADE) taxis to the take off point at
London Heathrow Airport, England.

Photo: Adrian Pingstone / Wikipedia

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

"God is great...
Please God release our prisoners of war"

By Ali Ja'efer Dashti Age: 11

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Kuwaitis Still Missing Since the 1992 Invasion by Saddam Hussein

605 Missing or Prisoners in Iraqi Prisons Since The Invasion of Kuwait in 1992...

With the support of a nearly - unanimous United Nations coalition, Kuwait was liberated from brutal invasion and occupation by Iraqi armed forces on February 26, 1991. On March 2, the United Nations passed resolution 686 and 687 as part of a broad cease-fire agreement which was accepted by Iraq. These two resolutions called upon Iraq immediately to release all Kuwaiti and third country nationals held prisoner, and to facilitate their repatriation by extending all co-operation to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

During the uprising in Iraq, several thousands of POW's from among other prisoners managed to get released by the rebels. The Iraqis then claimed that no others existed afterwards. However, the government and people of Kuwait and the liberating forces knew differently. In fact, there were and still are up to 605 prisoners in Iraqi prisons. Most of the prisoners are Kuwaitis, but they also include citizens of nine other nations. They are not just young men, but also women, mothers of young children, young people and very old people. There whereabouts or condition is unknown. As a number of Kuwaiti prisoners represent about .1% of the small population of Kuwait, there is hardly a citizen of Kuwait who has not had a family member or friend disappear into the Iraqi prison system.


The impact of this is even more overwhelming in Kuwait society, where the family and extended family units are of paramount importance.

Psychologists and sociologists have conducted studies which show that the psychic fabric of the whole nation has broken down. Mothers have lost sons, children have lost parents, students have lost years of education and lifetime ambitions and goals have been shattered for thousands. In every sense, the gulf war is not yet over for these people. How can it be over for families who can not even be sure if their loved ones are dead or alive and in captivity.

This clear cut violation of human rights has continued to this day, nearly four and a half years later. The state of Kuwait, particularly under the aegis of the national committee for the Missing & the POW Affairs (NCMPA), has constantly kept every conceivable channel of communication open, and used every means at it's disposal to bring the issue to a resolution. Iraq has responded in turn with prevarication, equivocation self contradictory statements, and shameless stonewalling. Never has an adequate accounting been given.

SOURCE: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

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Mission Statement

The National Committee for M. & POWs Affairs (NCMPA) was established on August 15, 1992 and is headed by Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah and consists of fifteen other members.

The main objectives of this committee are to achieve the following:

~ Follow up in release of all Kuwaiti POWs being held in Iraq against their will

~ Take necessary actions to ensure the safety & human rights of all the POWs based on International laws in accordance with the Ministry of foreign affairs and other International organizations

~ Provide support and aid to the families of the POWs by fulfilling most of their needs and requirements

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Who exactly are the Missing and POWs?

During the brutal Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Iraqi soldiers captured and abducted a random selection of residents in Kuwait . These residents consist of Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti citizens. Some managed to escape during the uprise of the Iraqi rebels right after Kuwait’s liberation. Unfortunately there remains some that didn’t manage to escape and are still under Iraqi captivity. These Missing and POWs consist of both sexes, some employed and others not old enough to have graduated.

How many Missing and POWs are under Iraqi captivity?

The National Committee of Missing and POWs Affairs (NCMPA) reports the total number to be at 605.

How does the committee (NCMPA) know the exact number of Missing and POWs reported by them?

The committee (NCMPA) has an updated database of all reported Missing and POWs. Every name recorded must be verified by members of the family of that Missing person or POW. A full profile of each Missing person and POW is kept in file along with detailed information on when and where the captivity took place.

What are the reactions of the average Kuwaiti towards the POW issue?

Almost every Kuwaiti has a close relative or friend that happens to be from among the reported Missing and POWs. Although the number of captivated seem rather small, they actually amount to nearly 0.1 % of the total Kuwaiti population which means for every one thousand Kuwaiti, one is being held as a POW.

When was NCMPA-Kuwait established?

The National Committee of Missing and POWs Affair was officially established by the Kuwaiti Government on May 5, 1991.

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait's Missing & Prisoners of War

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

"With one united voice we plead with God to release our prisoners of war"

By Ali Ja'efer Dashti Age: 11

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait's Missing and Prisoners of War

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

"National Patriotism. Kuwait will remain free
and we will never forget you"

By Dana Khalifa Ali Al-Saqobi Age: 12

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait's Missing and Prisoners of War

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

K"People of the world, help us liberate our POWs as Kuwait was liberated"

By Eman Hassan Nassir Al-Sayegh Age: 10

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait's Missing & Prisoners of War

Photo:

National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait's Missing & Prisoners of War

Photo:

National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait's Missing & Prisoners of War

Photo:

National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Letters for the Missing

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Letters for the Missing

Photo: National Committee for Missing & Prisoners of War ~ Kuwait

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Kuwait Airways Airbus A340-300 (9K-ANC) takes off from London Heathrow Airport.

The nosewheel is beginning to retract.

Photo: Adrian Pingstone / Wikipedia

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

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(See Also Antigua)

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

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(See Also Antigua)

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

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Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A Libyan Airlines A320-200 leased from Nouvelair. The aircraft is painted in Libyan Airlines' new livery and titles.

Photo: Allan Huse

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Libya-based Afriqiyah Airways signed a firm contract to purchase six A350-800s as part of its long-term expansion plan

Photo: Airbus SAS

(Exploration ~ The Moon)

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

To The Moon!

Image above: Technicians completed connections between the LRO and LCROSS spacecraft and the Atlas V rocket at Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Photo: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

(Exploration ~ The Moon)

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

To The Moon!

LRO

Photo: NASA's Conceptual Image Lab

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Nose-loading a Chevy 4x4 truck onboard a Cargolux Boeing 747-400F All Freighter.

Photo: Cargolux

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Delivery Flight involving a Cargolux Boeing 747-400F

Photo: Boeing

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Air Caraïbes Airbus A330-200 F-OFDF

Photo: Juergen Lehle /AlbSpotter.Org / Wikipedia

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Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A Volaris Airbus A319 twinjet

Photo: Airbus SAS

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

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Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Artist's concept of the Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787 Dreamliner destined for service in Morocco.

Photo: Boeing

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737 on short final to London's Heathrow Airport.

Photo: Adrian Pingstone (Arpinstone) / Wikipedia

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Artist's concept of an Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Dreamliner over the South Pacific.

Photo: Boeing

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Britten Norman BN-2A Mark III Trislander

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 17 passengers
Length: 49 ft 3 in (15.01 m)
Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m)
Height: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Wing area: 337 ft² (31.31 m²)
Empty weight: 5,843 lb (2,650 kg)
Gross weight: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
Powerplant: 3 × Avco Lycoming O-540-E4C5 horizontally-opposed piston engine, 260 hp (194 kW) each
Performance

Maximum speed: 167 mph (267 km/h)
Range: 1,000 miles (1,609 km)
Service ceiling: 13,150 ft (4,010 m)

Photo: Magnus Manske (Shorty 092) / Wikipedia

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

ZK-MCY, a Mount Cook Airlines ATR72-212A parked at gate 48, Auckland International Airport Regional Terminal

Photo: Yonny 19 / Wikipedia

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

A Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand.

Photo: D. O'Neil.

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

Aviation & Marine U.S.A.

Britten Norman BN-2A Mark III Trislander (left) and BN-2 Islander (right) aircraft at the Great Barrier Aerodrome, on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. Taken looking roughly east.

Photo: Ingolfson / Wikipedia

Latest News As Of July 6, 2009

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Aviation & Marine USA

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