Brian's Blog - Or Carlsbad's Missing Villager

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

JetBlue plans to revamp planes with new entertainment screens, but less legroom

There is good news and bad news in JetBlue Airways' plan to launch the first major cabin remodel since the airline flew its first planes 16 years ago.

As part of the cabin overhaul, the New York-based carrier is replacing its old seat-back entertainment with 10-inch, high-definition touch screens that are nearly double the size of the existing screens. The entertainment systems will have access to more than 100 DirectTV channels and a library of more than 300 on-demand movies, most of which will be free.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-jetblue-overhaul-20160129-story.html

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Second London's Air Ambulance helicopter now operational

London's Air Ambulance's second helicopter is now operational in London, thanks to generous contributions to the charity from the people and organisations of the capital. The G-LNDN registered MD Helicopters MD902 Explorer is available to deliver the advanced trauma team to critically injured patients, and has arrived in time to cover the current G-EHMS helicopter, which has now gone offline for its annual maintenance this week.

http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/Second-Londons-Air-Ambulance-helicopter-now-operational

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

NYC City announces deal to cut helicopter traffic in half

Tourist-driven helicopter traffic over the Big Apple will be cut in half, under a new deal city officials announced Sunday.

The agreement by the Economic Development Corp.– first reported Thursday in The Post — will reduce the number of flights leaving from the downtown Pier 6 heliport to 28,000 a year starting Jan. 2017 and will end all Sunday flights.

"The non-stop din of helicopters has been a major quality of life issue for New Yorkers living near heavily trafficked routes," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Today we're addressing it."

Last year, choppers made about 58,000 flights from the city's only commercial helipad.

http://nypost.com/2016/01/31/city-announces-deal-to-cut-helicopter-traffic-in-half/
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/01/stop_the_chop_deal_aims_to_halve_tourism_helicopte.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/nyc-helicopter-tourism-cut-number-flights-article-1.2515497
http://host.madison.com/news/nyc-deal-reduces-tourism-helicopter-traffic-by-percent/article_2ef44e54-f24b-5a00-912c-4b7081565f13.html

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Boeing Wins Contract For New Air Force One
January 31, 2016
Boeing has won a contract to start preliminary work on two new Air Force One presidential aircraft based on the 747-8.

The US Air Force awarded Boeing an initial contract worth USD$25.8 million to reduce risk and lower the cost of the programme by looking at the tradeoffs between the requirements and design of the new plane, according to the Pentagon's daily digest of arms deals.

Details about the total value of the new contract have not been released, but the Air Force has previously said that it had earmarked USD$1.65 billion for two replacement aircraft.

The Air Force first announced in January 2015 that Boeing's 747-8 would be used to replace the two current Air Force planes used to transport the US president. Air Force One is one of the most visible symbols of the United States.

http://news.airwise.com/story/boeing-wins-contract-for-new-air-force-one
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-receives-first-contract-of-air-force-one-reca-421423/

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

PlanePlotter NETWORK Sharers STATISTICS UPDATE:  January 31, 2016
PlanePlotter Sharers Database & Network Coverage

Total Users: 2,421
New Users: 0   
Inactive Users: 1,121
Total Ground Stations: 783
Number Upgraded: 0
Number Downgraded: 0
Number Moved: 0

http://pp-sharers.co.uk

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Mode-S/ADS-B Activity Stats Report for January 31, 2016

FlightAware ADS-B Statistics

Position Volume: 19,489,039/hour
# of Sites Added Last 7 Days: 161
# of Participants: 4,180
# of Sites: 5,088

See if you can improve/increase your ADS-B feeding stats in February.
https://flightaware.com/adsb/stats/

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Plane Finder Aircraft ADS-B statistics Report for January 31, 2016

Over the last 30 days tracked:
73,669,671 - Flights
474,375 - Aircraft
5,585 - Sharers

See if you can improve/increase your ADS-B feeding stats for February.
https://planefinder.net/sharing/receiver_list

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Best new blog we have seen in a while. Sit back and enjoy!

http://airlinemaps.tumblr.com

https://twitter.com/airlinemaps

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Dubai International holds international airport top spot

Dubai International retained its position as the world's number one hub for international passengers by registering annual traffic of just over 78 million in 2015, according to a traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports.

Boosted by the growth of some 100 airlines that connect Dubai International to more than 240 destinations around the world, most notably Emirates and flydubai, annual passenger traffic at DXB surged 10.7 per cent to reach a record 78,014,838 passengers in 2015 compared to 70,473,893 recorded during 2014.

Passenger numbers in December 2015 totalled 7,053,243, an increase of 8.5 per cent compared to 6,498,573 recorded during the same month in 2014, taking the average monthly traffic for the year to a record high of 6.5 million.

It was the second time in the year after August when monthly traffic exceeded the seven million mark.

Aircraft movements in 2015 reached 403,517, up 14.1 per cent compared to 353,507 movements recorded during 2014.

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/dubai-international-hold-international-airport-top-spot

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Qatar Airways announces plans for world's longest flight

Qatar Airways has announced plans to launch the world's longest direct flight: a 9,034-mile schlep from Doha to Auckland.
Should the route get the green light, it would beat the current record holder – Qantas's Dallas-Sydney service – by almost 500 miles.
The journey time would be an estimated 18 hours and 34 minutes, according to the journey planning website travelmath.com.

Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways CEO, told Bloomberg Business that it was also hoping to fly from Doha to Santiago in Chile: a 8,956-mile journey, as well as launch new routes to Marrakech, Lisbon and Phuket, but no start dates have yet been announced.

http://www.ondair.net/qatar-airways-announces-plans-for-worlds-longest-flight/

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

European Bizav Operators Unprepared for EASA Part-NCC

February 1, 2016

Non-commercial operators of more than 6,000 business jets and turboprop twins based in Europe are largely unprepared for EASA's new Part-NCC (non-commercial complex) rules that will set higher safety standards this summer, attendees were told at a conference run by Aeropodium late last week at London Heathrow Airport. Beginning August 25, these operators will have to comply with a similar safety framework to that for commercial air operating certificate holders, but on the basis of a "declaration" by an "accountable manager" that they are compliant. The move will affect business aircraft registered in an EASA state or those registered in a non-EASA state by an operator that is established or resides in an EASA state.

Preparation for Part-NCC will include having a safety management system (SMS) in place, as well as compliance monitoring, an operations manual, minimum equipment list, record-keeping and various training requirements. Performance and operating limitations and equipment all have to be covered in detail for all aircraft. It all comes under the provisions of EU Regulation 965/2012, but although it concerns EASA, it is the national authorities that will administer Part-NCC.

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-02-01/european-bizav-operators-unprepared-easa-part-ncc

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Virtual Radar Server

An update to the language pack has been released - it updates the Portuguese (Brazilian) translations for the server and web site

http://virtualradarserver.co.uk/Download.aspx

http://forum.virtualradarserver.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=974

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

Qatar Airways 787 crosswind landing during storm gertrude at Manchester airport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXhJXVc38b4

A380 Super jumbo british airways take off london heathrow airport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BhncoaTtnU

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

You saw it here first - 10 hours ago!

A rocket-shaped object the size of two "two litre fizzy drink bottles" passed "very close" to a passenger aircraft at about 1,500ft (457m), a report has found.

The A321 Airbus pilot estimated the object passed 100ft (30m) from his jet, the UK Airprox Board report said.

The pilot saw the object pass the jet's starboard side after departing from Birmingham Airport last August said the Birmingham Mail. The air safety body put the risk of collision as "medium".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-35462823

[Anmer]

Another constructive post by Brian, Carlsbad's missing villager and pseudo blogger.

How does he find the time to do all this research?

BA Threatens To Leave London City Airport - Report

February 2, 2016

British Airways has considered pulling most of its aircraft out of London City airport if a new owner raised charges to cover the GBP£2 billion price tag on the airport, according to a media report.

This move could prove to be a hurdle for the airport's sale, which already attracted three groups including Cheung Kong Infrastructure, Atlantia Spa and another three consortia, one of which is led by Macquarie Infrastructure.

"If the owners succeed in selling this for GBP£2 billion, we cannot see how a buyer will be able to recover or make any return on that investment unless they make a significant increase in airport charges," Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, British Airways' parent, the Financial Times reported.

Walsh told the newspaper that he had serious concerns about the owners' valuation, which would represent a multiple of 44 times the airport's EBITDA earnings.

"We will not stay in London City at the levels we are today if these charges increase. Quite honestly the margins we make at London City would not support any increase in charges." Walsh added.

http://news.airwise.com/story/ba-threatens-to-pull-out-of-london-city-airport