Emirates Airline has signed a letter of intent for 30 Airbus A350 and for 30 Airbus A330-300s. Emirates already had signed a firm order for 70 A350, making a total of 100 probable orders to date.
Sheikh Ahmed, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline, stated, “Dubai’s aims to attract 15 million visitors a year by 2012 and Emirates is forging ahead with expansion plans. The A 350 and A330 will enable Emirates to expand using modern fuel efficient aircraft and alongside the A380 will be key tools in achieving our goals.”
Source: Al Bawaba Image: fly_unibe
Fragments, found on the Qantas 747 that had an emergency landing on Friday, are believed to be from an exploded oxygen tank. The combination of finding the fragments and the fact that some of the passenger’s oxygen masks did not work, the FAA is quite certain an oxygen tank is to blame for the explosion.
A few months ago the U.S. FAA prompted airlines to inspect their oxygen cylinders. They warned that cylinders on 747-400’s may not have been properly heat treated which could cause them to fail.
Qantas states that all their aircraft were inspected and passed. However, they have been ordered to inspect every oxygen bottle aboard all their 30 747’s.
All things considered, this incident could have been much worse.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald Image: MSNBC.com
When reading the story about the 747-400 Qantas having to make an emergency landing, I couldn’t help but think about the 1988 Best Movie Rain Man.
Chalie: Ray, all airlines have crashed at one time or another, that doesn’t mean that they are not safe.
Raymond: QANTAS. QANTAS never crashed.
Charlie: QANTAS?
Raymond: Never crashed.
Charlie: Oh that’s gonna do me a lot of good because QANTAS doesn’t fly to Los Angeles out of Cincinnati, you have to get to Melbourne! Melbourne, Australia in order to get the plane that flies to Los Angeles!
Well, upon more research I found this is not quite true. Between 1927 and 1951 Qantas had eight planes crash, with 62 deaths. However, Qantas has never lost a jet plane and has not had a fatal crash since 1951, which seems to be a pretty good record.
They did repair a 747 for over $100 million so they could keep the “never lost a jet” status and in February a Quantaslink 717 made an emergency landing causing great damage and may not be repairable.
All things being said, even if they “lose” this 717, not having any deaths since 1951 is nothing to be ashamed of.
THANKS BEN FOR THE TIP!
Source: The Guardian Image: planegeezer
For the 69th straight quarter, Southwest Airlines is once again making a profit. With all the airlines charging more and adding on fees, Southwest Airlines sticks to its guns and continues to give the same great level of service with out tacking on fees.
Long ago Southwest Airlines was known to be a “no-frills” airline. Now with not charging for baggage or drinks, they are becoming “the frills airline”.
Personally, I hope they can keep it up!
Source: NYTimes Image: Ken’s Aviation
A Qantas 747-400 made an emergency landing in Manila, Philippines today after a large bang was heard in the cabin and it decompressed. The plane made a rapid decent from 29,000 feet to 10,000 feet.
Upon landing, it became clear that there was a hole in the side of the plane about 7.5′ by 9′.
One thing that many passengers commented on was how calm and professional the flight crew remained after the incident occurred.
MSNBC.com also has an amateur video of inside the cabin at the time of the incident. It amazing watching it and seeing how calm everyone is, not only after having to use the oxygen masks, but also after rapidly descending 19,000 feet.
Cheers to the pilot and co-pilot for being able to land this plane safely where so far there have not even been any injuries reported.
Source: NYTimes.com Image: MSNBC.com Video: MSNBC.com