The Week That Was ! ( 13 JULY 2013 ) ISSUE - V

….A Horrific Cataclysm…….Averted !!!!

HATS-OFF TO THE BOEING AIRPLANE COMPANY !!!

WITH YEARS OF METICULOUS PLANNING, R & D AND USAGE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY, AIR ACCIDENTS TODAY ARE MORE SURVIVABLE….THIS  AVERTED A HORRIFIC CATACLYSM OF DEATH & DESTRUCTION…...

1.       Reasons Why So Many Survived the Asiana Accident……High Technology…..

·         Seats of B-777 designed to withstand extreme force up to 16 times the pull of gravity,…..

·         Connections between the floor and seats have been strengthened so that seats do not come loose in a crash….

·         Use of fire retardant plastics, fabrics and internal material to retard flames….

·         Use of materials that do not produce toxic fumes, high heat  release, and low density of smoke etc…. ‘.smoke is more deadly than flames….’

·         Quick evacuation of the plane…..within 90 seconds ideally…..

·         The normal and emergency exit doors… made to operate more easily so that they …. spring out of the way to allow a faster escape / exit….

2.       ….& Oops !! There is a ‘ Contrarian ‘ view  too…

Was High Technology responsible for the accident  ????

The accident has renewed debate among experts about the complexity of modern aircraft and whether it is outpacing the ability of pilots to know what is going on at all times….The  NTSB , based on the statement of Asiana captain believed a system that would control the aircraft's power and speed as it descended was on and realized too late that the system -- called an’ auto-throttle’ -- was not maintaining speed…..

3.       Automation Complacency ……………..

…modern aircrafts like the 777 are so capable of flying themselves that pilots come to over-rely on their automated systems.You trust it. Experts call this "automation complacency…”

4.       Is B-787….Boeing’s Achilles heel….????

Again two incidents of B-787 on Friday, raise concerns on the aircrafts safety. Another fire incident in Ethiopians B-787 at Heathrow, London…..! Thomson Airways flight returns back to Manchester due to technical reasons…!.United has been bedeviled by "several" flight cancellations due to a variety of issues involving the aircraft…..

5.       Mr Harro Ranter, President, A.S.N., ( Air Safety Network )……..

…“The safety record for 2013 is extremely good,” …With only six months to go, 2013 is shaping up to be one of the safest years in aviation…YTD aircraft fatalities stand at 62, down 85 per cent from the 10-year average of 357……( Very Promising…..).

…so, what all happened in the Indian Skies……

6.       The Mother-of-all-News…. Naresh Goyal part of panel formed to boost ties with UAE….

..Naresh Goyal, surprisingly,(is) in a new committee formed by the MoCA to boost ties with the UAE…Other members of the Committee are K.N.Srivastava; Prabhat Kumar & Rohit Nandan…

7.       DGCA to be replaced by CAA……

The GoI has given in principle approval to replace DGCA with an autonomous, financially independent regulator, the CAA, outside the purview of the Civil Aviation Ministry. It will meet  standards set by the UN's ICAO and is in line with the FAA of the US & the CAA of UK.

8.       Shri Ajit Singh- Hon Minister of Civil Aviation….

…Air India has to consider setting up a hub in Chennai or Bangalore. It can have its main hub in Delhi…. According to ministry’s concept paper… only 10-12 % of traffic at Mumbai and Delhi is transit..compared to Dubai and Doha, where it is 44 per cent and 61 per cent.. (Excellent decision, but revive & develop Mumbai also as a hub. On the home turf AI must  strengthen its hold, and increase catchment areas. It needs minimum 3 hubs in India…..)

9.       Shri Rohit Nandan, CMD, Air India……

…. “Some are just empty shells standing,” ..scavenged for spare parts, said the CMD about the parked aircraft. Amongst the 16 grounded planes some are leased which AI hasn’t returned to their owners, because it can’t afford to refurbish them….

10.   Ms Amisha Sethi – Appointed New CCO of Air Asia India….

A veteran marketing professional, … an executive scholar in marketing and sales management from Kellogg School of Management of the Northwestern University, US and an MBA in marketing from Amity Business School. Ms Sethi has been featured as the top 50 most talented brand builders. She spearheaded brand marketing for Asia Pacific region at BlackBerry.. and worked for India's biggest telecom operator; Airtel  ( Congratulations Ms Sethi and Wishing you all the best….)

11.   Mr Mittu Chandilya, CEO, Air Asia India….on appointment of Ms Amisha….

….I am thrilled to have someone of her experience and energy to join us and realise our vision to revolutionise the aviation industry in the country…..

12.   Shri Tony Fernandes, CEO, Air Asia…flies back home after a 5 day whirlwind tour of India…

..Yes..He came, He saw, He conquered!!! That is how his recent visit was. Tied up all the loose ends here…and left many guessing. The most startling revelation was.. that AirAsia would be able to make money even at mere 57-58 % occupancy, compared to 80% of Indian LCC’s..! But all are not convinced…particularly Indigo….

13.   Will Air Asia be the nemesis of Air India’s Australia operations……..

..Maybe..! Come Nov24 Air Asia X, plans to increase its schedule to a daily flight to Queensland from Kuala Lumpur,i.e.,an addition of 60,000 seats annually. Air Asia already has online operations into S.I.points from Kuala Lumpur……Interesting days ahead see…..

14.   …& now it is Hyderabad International Airport (RGIA) proposing 100% hike in Landing fees..

…High Costs at Indian airports dogs airlines..!! After  Mumbai & Delhi,now it is Hyderabad.. Mr Malvyn Tan, IATA said that as margin for all airlines is under pressure, 100 per cent increase in international landing fee will have impact on operations….

15.    Why matters in Air India come unstuck…..?????   the bridge loan……

Air India on June 26 had invited bids for a bridge loan of USD 500 million, with July5 as the deadline  to pay for five Boeing 787s….but with lenders not showing much interest the date was extended to July12…!! According to the grapevine… This bridge loan…is not being covered by a government guarantee……..

16.   ..& another one..No takers for rental of AI building at Nariman Point……

…apparently the area on offer was too large….and the prospective clients have found  better options available in the suburbs. The airline is intending to lease out 15 floors of approx.10,000 sq. ft. each since the last one year. Now smaller areas will be offered…..

…& what all happened Overseas……

17.   A US$ 165 million revamp of Singapore Airlines Cabin Products…….

Famous for its world class service, Singapore Airlines revamps its cabin with a US$ 165 million next generation makeover, particularly in its First & Business Class. This is part of more than 2 year working with world class designers. Mr MS Wah, Executive VP said …” it demonstrates our confidence in the future for premium full-service air travel,"

18.   Now an ULTRA Low Cost Airline……

…& now it is none other but Thai Airways that plans to launch an ULTRA low cost airline sometime next year….(LCC’s watch out….)

19.   Etihad Airways, record revenue performance in H1 & H2-2013…….

the national airline of the UAE, reported an eight per cent year-on-year increase in passenger revenues to $921 million in the second quarter ending June 30, 2013. The airline termed it as the “strongest second quarter and half-year financial performances on record”, reflecting  “solid growth in its airline alliance strategy..20% of revenue came from partnerships….

Vow !! Do you know that………

20.   Every day, approx. 20,000 commercial flights are operated all over the world…!

21.   World’s  Top 10- most On-Time Airlines -  South African - 92.26%; Gulf Air-92.1%; Singapore Airlines-89.9%; KLM-88.9%; Finnair-88.6%; JAL-88.5% ;Air New Zealand-87.9%; EasyJet-87.6%; ANA-87.2%; Korean Air Lines- 86.3%. ( No Emirates or Etihad or Qatar ???? )

..& a slice of Wisdom…….  ERNEST HEMINGWAY

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man,

True nobility is being superior to your former self…..!!!

 

Here is Wishing you a Wonderful Weekend !!!