General Aviation Thread

[ngatimozart]

A more nuanced appreciation of the Robbo is needed.
I’m a fan and anyone who has seen these used in cattle mustering, buffalo hunting or croc catching would appreciate the incredibly dangerous operations they undertake.
As the linked article suggests, most of the problems lie with the pilots and this unfairly tarnished the aircraft.

What's wrong with Robinson R44 pilots? : Air Facts Journal

Robinson R44 helicopters are death traps, right up there with Mitsubishi MU-2s and Cirrus SR22s - at least that’s according to a lot of articles you read online. But does it tell the whole story? In the spirit of Richard Collins’s very popular “What’s wrong with Cirrus/Mooney/Bonanza pilots”...

airfactsjournal.com

That argument was presented here but didn't wash. Many of the pilots were long term experienced Robinson pilots.

 

[Ananda]

KLM Scales Up Operations In Asia And The Middle East

simpleflying.com

That's quite optimist move by KLM to reopen most of its long haul flights to ME and AsPac. I know some talk to open Europe travels for those who have full vaccine shots. Still by this Summer ?

 

[cdxbow]

A more nuanced appreciation of the Robbo is needed.
I’m a fan and anyone who has seen these used in cattle mustering, buffalo hunting or croc catching would appreciate the incredibly dangerous operations they undertake.
As the linked article suggests, most of the problems lie with the pilots and this unfairly tarnished the aircraft.

What's wrong with Robinson R44 pilots? : Air Facts Journal

Robinson R44 helicopters are death traps, right up there with Mitsubishi MU-2s and Cirrus SR22s - at least that’s according to a lot of articles you read online. But does it tell the whole story? In the spirit of Richard Collins’s very popular “What’s wrong with Cirrus/Mooney/Bonanza pilots”...

airfactsjournal.com

I don't think any article which limits itself to fatalities and a short 5 year period can be regarded as definitive in terms of identifying how bigger risk these craft are. . From the LA times:

"Robinson R44s were involved in 42 fatal crashes in the U.S. from 2006 to 2016, more than any other civilian helicopter, according to a Times analysis of National Transportation Safety Board accident reports. That translates to 1.6 deadly accidents per 100,000 hours flown — a rate nearly 50% higher than any other of the dozen most common civilian models whose flight hours are tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration."

Danger spins from the sky: The Robinson R44, the world’s best-selling civilian helicopter, has a long history of deadly crashes - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

The author of airfacts journal concedes they have a propensity for bursting into flames but my impression is he diminishes the risk and effects of mast bumping. The company seems to have had to pay out frequently to victims and their families.

 

[Ananda]

Video on Boeing CEO that shown his optimism that current MAX portfolio will still be sufficient against the whole range of A320/321 family. This including the LR/XLR version which many market analyst say Boeing does not have sufficient portfolio on facing them.

At the same interview, he also shown his confidence on MAX, but also shown that at least 3 to 4 years need to return the Industry toward pre COVID level.

From the tone that make on this interview, I don't he's in hurry to create new Airliner as many analyst think Boeing should do.

As in this section, he simply says that his engineering people must come out with something that fundamentally make difference, before he commit Boeing on new Airframe.

 

[2007yellow430]

Video on Boeing CEO that shown his optimism that current MAX portfolio will still be sufficient against the whole range of A320/321 family. This including the LR/XLR version which many market analyst say Boeing does not have sufficient portfolio on facing them.

At the same interview, he also shown his confidence on MAX, but also shown that at least 3 to 4 years need to return the Industry toward pre COVID level.

From the tone that make on this interview, I don't he's in hurry to create new Airliner as many analyst think Boeing should do.

As in this section, he simply says that his engineering people must come out with something that fundamentally make difference, before he commit Boeing on new Airframe.

I had lunch with a friend, Mike Madden. He flys for Alaska. They are replacing all the airbus planes with Boeing. I think that Boeing has the better line of equipment.

Art

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

It seems that a Transair 737-200 cargo aircraft made an emergency landing in the waters of Hawaii around 3,5 hours ago.
Thanks God both crewmembers are rescued.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1410965691931496453

Boeing 737 cargo jet ditches into sea off Honolulu, Hawaii

The US Coast Guard rescues the two pilots of the plane, which went into the water near Honolulu.

www.bbc.com

 

[FormerDirtDart]

It seems that a Transair 737-200 cargo aircraft made an emergency landing in the waters of Hawaii around 3,5 hours ago.
Thanks God both crewmembers are rescued.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1410965691931496453

Boeing 737 cargo jet ditches into sea off Honolulu, Hawaii

The US Coast Guard rescues the two pilots of the plane, which went into the water near Honolulu.

www.bbc.com

Short video clip of the crew rescue

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1411027936824553472

 

[Ananda]

Amazon and cargo airlines are scouring the Arizona desert for old and cheap passenger jets to fly packages

Cargo airlines are scooping up the litany of aging aircraft now available since passenger airlines like Delta and American no longer want them.

www.businessinsider.com

Freighter business model on using used/second hand Airliners is what make the business model can work out even during crisis like current COVID time.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Amazon and cargo airlines are scouring the Arizona desert for old and cheap passenger jets to fly packages

Cargo airlines are scooping up the litany of aging aircraft now available since passenger airlines like Delta and American no longer want them.

www.businessinsider.com

Freighter business model on using used/second hand Airliners is what make the business model can work out even during crisis like current COVID time.

Agree. Cardig Air, Deraya, Rimbun Air and Tri MG are now absolutely the most active airlines at CGK. They have all a small fleet, but they are almost continuously (un)loading and flying.

 

[Ananda]

They have all a small fleet, but they are almost continuously (un)loading and flying.

There's talk by Garuda during Investors meeting session on creating dedicated freighthers fleet for Garuda Cargo. However looking at their financial conditions, I think it's bit late.

Cathay Cargo also the one that supporting Cathay group during present conditions. Some Airlines also have preparing to convert some of the passanger Airliners to become Freighthers. However changing business model for Airlines from mostly passangers toward more heavy in Cargo is not an easy one also. I don't know how many Airlines that can switch to more heavy in Cargo business sucessfully.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

There's talk by Garuda during Investors meeting session on creating dedicated freighthers fleet for Garuda Cargo. However looking at their financial conditions, I think it's bit late.

Cathay Cargo also the one that supporting Cathay group during present conditions. Some Airlines also have preparing to convert some of the passanger Airliners to become Freighthers. However changing business model for Airlines from mostly passangers toward more heavy in Cargo is not an easy one also. I don't know how many Airlines that can switch to more heavy in Cargo business sucessfully.

Long before this whole Covid-madness, Garuda Indonesia had already plans to convert some 737 classics into freighters, but that never happen.

Later they came again with that idea in 2019. Garuda Indonesia Akan Operasikan 4 Pesawat Khusus Cargo - Bisnis.com

I do not really follow Garuda's fleet developments, but i saw some A330-300s with "Cargo" painted on it (PK-GPA and PK-GPD), i do not know if these A330s are full/real cargo aircrafts, but i think they are like PK-GGC.

Citilink's PK-GGC (a 737-5U3) has been converted into a freighter, if im not wrong it is converted in 2019 in cargo-configuration, but without a large cargodoor.

Some sources claim that Garuda has ordered a single A330-200F, but i can not find that in reliable sources. Even about the ordered A330Neo's the sources give contradictive claims: some sources say Garuda ordered 12 A330-900 + 4 A330-800 others 14 A339s + A338s.

Garuda Indonesia Orders the Airbus A330-800

MIAMI - Garuda Indonesia (GA) has quietly placed an order for the Airbus A330-800 - the less popular A330neo variant - according to Airbus' latest order backlog

airwaysmag.com

Garuda Indonesia formaliseert order A330-800neo • Piloot & Vliegtuig

Garuda Indonesia heeft bij Airbus een in augustus 2019 getekende intentie-overeenkomst omgezet in een order voor vier A330-800neo vliegtuigen.

www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl

 

[swerve]

IIRC more cargo was going in the holds of passenger planes than in freighters pre-Covid, but that's not profitable without passengers. Unless there's a fast recovery in passenger numbers I foresee a lot of freighter conversions & scrappings of old aircraft.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

I expected the airline groundstaff and airport security guards had to check all passengers, inculding the religious extremists. This case shows one of the biggest negative points of allowing people niqabs/burkas at airports.

Indonesia: Covid-positive man boards flight disguised as wife

He may never have been caught if he had not changed into his regular clothes midway through the flight.

www.bbc.com

 

[ngatimozart]

I expected the airline groundstaff and airport security guards had to check all passengers, inculding the religious extremists. This case shows one of the biggest negative points of allowing people niqabs/burkas at airports.

Indonesia: Covid-positive man boards flight disguised as wife

He may never have been caught if he had not changed into his regular clothes midway through the flight.

www.bbc.com

Yes I read that earlier today. Hopefully he will have an appointment with the rattan. Say 36 strokes would teach him the error of his ways. After that he certainly wouldn't do it again in a hurry. Isn't there something in Sharia law about cross dress as a female? If there is maybe they should look at which penalty is the harshest and prosecute him under the appropriate legal code. Make an example and send a message at the same time.

 

[Ananda]

Airbus Takes On Boeing With The A350 Freighter

simpleflying.com

Airbus finally decided to face 777Freighter with A350F. This to give challenge to Boeing, that still maintain considerable leads on Freighter business over Airbus (unlike in passenger market).

The Freighter market is booming during this Pandemic, and will predicted remain strong in future (riding on e-commerce boom). Despite strong influx of ex passenger Airliners converted to Freighters, however the newly build Freighter will also predicted has good demand. Shown how the cargo business potential increase years ahead.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Yes I read that earlier today. Hopefully he will have an appointment with the rattan. Say 36 strokes would teach him the error of his ways. After that he certainly wouldn't do it again in a hurry. Isn't there something in Sharia law about cross dress as a female? If there is maybe they should look at which penalty is the harshest and prosecute him under the appropriate legal code. Make an example and send a message at the same time.

From which i understand, those suppresive Sharia laws are only used in such a strict way in the province of Aceh.

But reading other articles about this incident, it looks that the police doesn't really see this case as something severe.

The man was detained after the plane landed and was tested immediately, local media reported. He was ordered to self-isolate at home after the test turned out positive. Police say they will move to prosecute him as soon as his quarantine ends. So probably he will only get a fine.

Its was just a dumb mistake of him to change clothes during flight, he was never caught if he keep dressed in the niqab. Probably using such a long totally covering dress is very hot and uncomfortable.

 

[John Fedup]

Airbus Takes On Boeing With The A350 Freighter

simpleflying.com

Airbus finally decided to face 777Freighter with A350F. This to give challenge to Boeing, that still maintain considerable leads on Freighter business over Airbus (unlike in passenger market).

The Freighter market is booming during this Pandemic, and will predicted remain strong in future (riding on e-commerce boom). Despite strong influx of ex passenger Airliners converted to Freighters, however the newly build Freighter will also predicted has good demand. Shown how the cargo business potential increase years ahead.

The freighter versions of the 777 and A350 might be the only viable future for the big wide bodies.

 

[swerve]

Airbus Takes On Boeing With The A350 Freighter

simpleflying.com

Airbus finally decided to face 777Freighter with A350F. This to give challenge to Boeing, that still maintain considerable leads on Freighter business over Airbus (unlike in passenger market).

The Freighter market is booming during this Pandemic, and will predicted remain strong in future (riding on e-commerce boom). Despite strong influx of ex passenger Airliners converted to Freighters, however the newly build Freighter will also predicted has good demand. Shown how the cargo business potential increase years ahead.

A slightly misleading statement in that report: "Airbus . . . hasn’t sold a freighter since 2015". While Airbus hasn't delivered any new A330-200Fs since 2017 AFAIK, EFW (45% owned by Airbus) has been delivering A330-300 & -200 P2F conversions since 2017. You can order an A330 freighter from Airbus & EFW will convert one.

Airbus has never dropped out of the freighter market, & it's obviously putting more emphasis on it now.

 

[Ananda]

slightly misleading statement in that report: "Airbus . . . hasn’t sold a freighter since 2015". While Airbus hasn't delivered any new A330-200Fs since 2017 AFAIK, EFW (45% owned by Airbus) has been delivering A330-300 & -200 P2F conversions since 2017.

I believe the article means on Specialised Freighter and not just conversion. Conversion seems taking momentum because it's provide less capital cost and faster delivery. However for long range freighter business, dedicated freighter Airliners still provide better margin.

in this section, he simply says that his engineering people must come out with something that fundamentally make difference, before he commit Boeing on new Airframe.

Reflecting to Boeing CEO interview in June that I've posted before. Seems Boeing really doing work on this new Airliner (call it neo NMA) concept.

Simple Flying - Aviation News & Insight

The leading independent voice for aviation news and insight.

simpleflying.com

The article talk and asses some signs that Boeing do taking more steps on getting new Airliner.

 

[Redlands18]

https://australianaviation.com.au/2021/08/breaking-avalon-2021-officially-cancelled-until-2023/

Unfortunately another victim of COVID-19, Avalon 2021 which had already been postponed until November has now been cancelled outright, the next one will be held in Feb-Mar 2023