Every aircraft is washed regularly. This process involves cleaning the engines as well as the aircraft shell. Not only does a wash make an aircraft sparkle, but it also restores it outstanding aerodynamic properties. Less aerodynamic drag means lower fuel consumption - and this keeps the carbon dioxide emissons down in turn. An aircraft´s engines may have to be cleaned following a bird strike. But deposits and particles of dirt are also removed efficiently with the help of water and detergents. Greater engine power and lower fuel consumption are achieved.
Sometimes it only takes one single passenger to cause panic onboard, and make 24 fellow passengers to leave an aircraft.
This happened this week, on a Transaero flight from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk. Everyone was onboard when, as the aircraft began taxiing towards the runway, a passenger spotted a "hole" in the wing. He immediately informed the crew, who thanked him for his vigilance but after inspecting it, the pilots decided the aircraft was safe to fly - the problem was that a panel was missing from the wing. Nevertheless, the situation made some passengers nervous and they demanded they be let off the airplane. After two hours of arguing, they were finally given permission to disembark the Boeing 737 and although they received a refund for the tickets, they ended up being fined by the airline, as the situation was not deemed an emergency. The plane took later on off without those 24 passengers and landed safely with the brave other 43 passengers in Krasnoyarsk, but now with a 3-hour delay.
This incident sounds like a bad joke, except the consequences were not very funny. On March 23, 1994, the Captain of an Aeroflot Airbus A310-300 decided to allow his two children - eleven and sixteen years of age - to take turns "flying" the airplane. When his son accidently, disengaged the "autopilot", the massive airliner banked steeply and fell out of control. The copilot took over and almost saved the day. While he desesperately executed a 4.8-G pull-up, the aircraft impacted the earth, killing all 75 souls aboard.
1. Flight benefits - you can party in Ibiza, lunch in Paris, go shopping in Milano, go clubbing in Amsterdam and recover from your hangover in St. Tropez;
2. They are great problem solvers, and generally great diplomats as well;
3. They are always styled up - with a nice uniform, hairdo and decent make-up;
4. They are an "All-in-1" kinda deal: the best waitresses, chefs, bartenders, firefighters, babysitters, baggage handlers, nurses, cleaners, engineers and psychologists;
5. They know how to say "you´re an IDIOT!" with a smile in their faces and not get in trouble;
6. They can travel light - and most importantly, it only takes them less than half an hour to pack for an entire holiday;
7. They know where the cheapest restaurant in every town is, and are the best sightseeing tour guides too;
8. They can look like a million bucks from a dead sleep to the wheel of a car in 17 minutes;
9. They can set up for a party in a half an hour, cater an affair for 30 out of a closet and talk to a total stranger giving him the feeling that they´ve known each other for ages;
10. No matter what, you´ll always see them smiling and in a jovial mood!
This happened this week, on a Convair CV-340 cargo flight from San Juan (Puerto Rico) to Saint Maarten (Dutch Antilles) operated by Jet One Express. The vintage cargo plane (manufactured in 1953) was loaded with 5.5 tons (12,000 lbs) of bread and only one passenger was traveling with both pilots. This was a usual trip for that crew, the plane would make about 15 trips a week to deliver bread and similar goods to several Caribbean islands. Shortly after take-off, the crew declared emergency and reported engines trouble. They requested an immediate return because smoke was coming from one of the engines. Although Air Traffic Control immediately cleared the aircraft to land, they didn´t manage to reach the runway anymore, and impacted lagoon La Torrecilla just east of the airport, killing all three on board. The aircraft wreckage with all three occupants, the captain being the owner of the airline, was located at the bottom of the lake, sank in about 10-15 meters (30-50 feet). Divers are still working to free the bodies from the wreckage.
Sometimes you´ll find cows where they´re not suppose to be..
This happened this week on an Aserca Airlines MD-80 flight from Caracas to Santo Domingo (Venezuela). Immediately after touching down in Santo Domingo´s airport, two cows decided to cross the runway and where immediately hit by the McDonnell Douglas. None of the 125 passengers nor 6 crew suffered injuries - only both cows where killed and the jet suffered huge damage on the left main gear and left hand flaps.
Now, an investigation has been started since the cows weren´t cleared past the hold short line :)
Eva Air has three new Hello Kitty theme inspired A330-300, the "Magic Jet", the "Apple Jet" and the "Global Jet", registration B-16331, B-16332 and B-16333.
They are scheduled to fly the Eva Air routes from Taipei to Guam and Hong Kong (China), Tokyo, Osaka and Chitose (Japan) and Seoul (South Korea).
And if you thought this colorful cat thingy thing would be present only outside the airplane, well, then think again - passengers flying with this Hello Kitty jets are already during the check-in process given pink Hello Kitty boarding passes and luggage tags. And the adventure goes on on board the Airbus: not only with Hello Kitty seats and cushions but also with proper designed crockery, bottles & co.
Not even the Business class is spared from the cat..
Even the catering is very Kitty-like and it´s served by the flight crew who are styled up with a Hello Kitty apron.
Sometimes everything is going well, you took off from your destination, flew the whole time without any indication of some sort of a problem just until you´re on your final approach. You want to land, but there´s something very, very important missing.
This happened this week on a Shuttle America Embraer E170 on behalf of United Express, flying from Atlanta to Newark (USA). The flight went smooth for all 69 passengers and 4 Crew when, on final approach to Newark, the flight deck decided to abort landing reporting a gear disagree message - the "unsafe gear indicator" light had come on.
After the pilot informed the authorities, the airport was immediately temporarily closed down and the runway was coated with flame-retardant foam for prevention. As the flight crew was unable to confirm if the nose gear had deployed correctly, they were set on hold at 5000 feet and with only 50 minutes of fuel left, the flight crew started to work on checklists and performed a low approach 35 minutes after aborting the first approach. That gave the tower the opportunity to visualise the aircraft and confirm that the nose gear was not down, although the gear doors appeared a bit open, about a bump visible.
The crew then declared emergency and prepared the cabin for landing. One passenger, Kija B., 25, told the "New York Times" that she was woken up from a nap by flight attendants warning her to get into a crash position (what a nice situation to wake up to!). About 45 minutes after aborting the first approach, the aircraft was finally able to land and after coming to a stop, evacuation immediately took place. All slides were deployed, no injuries occurred and all passengers were bussed to the terminal. For them, it was, well, let´s say, a different kind of landing and deboarding!
Later on that day, the FAA reported the nose gear collapsed on landing and that the aircraft landed nose gear up and received substantial damage. During recovery of the aircraft, the nose was lifted but the nose gear still did not extend. The nose wheels were found turned sideways in the wheel preventing extension.
I guess, if you´re missing one of the three gears, it´s always best to be the nose, since you can hold it up as long as possible and still be able to slow the jet down better than if it was the right or left rear gear. Nevertheless, kudos to the flight crew for the great landing and of course also to the cabin crew, for successfully preparing and evacuating the cabin.
- "One day, when I´m a Senior Flight Attendant, I hope I can do the announcements at least, as half good as you do yours, there´s so much passion and everyone actually listens to you. I love it!"
