Weather

konnichiwa!

Singapore has bad weather for flying this few days. The visibility is quite bad because of the fog and haze, and there is this constant cloud layer. Thus, flying under visual rules is difficult.

From above, you could see the clouds covering most parts of Singapore. Landing marks used to mark out the different training areas in singapore, mainly area Alpha, Bravo and Charlie.

Seletar airport is under IMC most of the time while Changi airport is under VMC. 

Some of our DA40s

Just yesterday, a huge thunderstorm suddenly appeared on our radar, requiring paya lebar approach to issue a warning to the DA40s up there to land.

Airbus' recent deals

 China signed a US$3.5 billion deal to buy 50 Airbus A320 jets on Thursday during a visit by German leader Angela Merkel, who sought to reassure Beijing that Europe is committed to overcoming the eurozone crisis.

The deal is significant as it has much political significance and may help spur the growth of the aviation industry in Europe.

Airbus won a $7 billion order on Tuesday from Philippine Airlines, beating Boeing to a deal marked by diplomatic lobbying as the European planemaker appeared close to another major Asian deal in China.

The flag carrier plans to buy up to 100 new jets in total within the next five to seven years as it restructures operations to become a low-cost carrier and regain dominance of the local market from arch-rival Cebu Air Inc.

Those purchases would take its fleet to around 140 planes, far ahead of Cebu's 38-strong fleet, which it plans to double. Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it was still in talks with both Airbus and Boeing for its next tranche of planes.

For this stage of its fleet expansion, the airline has ordered 10 long-haul A330-300s and 44 jets from the A321 family, with delivery starting in 2013, Asia's oldest airline said in a statement. The A321s include 10 existing models and 34 of a fuel-saving version available from mid-decade, the A321neo.

Industry sources said they expected some of these aircraft to replace older, less-efficient models, but most of the newly ordered aircraft would fuel expansion to counter Cebu Air, the country's largest budget carrier.

In Paris, shares in Airbus parent EADS bucked a weaker market to rise 0.5 percent to just under 30 euros.

Philippine Airlines will pay Airbus in cash, with part of the money to come from bank loans, said President Ramon Ang, who also heads Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corp 

The carrier is also ready to issue more shares to fund its jet purchases, it said in a statement.

"The good Boeing planes we are looking at are the 777-300ER and the upcoming 777-X. We're also interested in the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner," Ang told reporters on the sidelines of the deal-signing event in Manila on Tuesday.

"We have the option on whichever type of aircraft to go," he said.

Boeing and Airbus are locked in a global contest for market share, in some cases more than halving prices to bolster orders of the newly revamped models of best-selling narrowbody jets, industry sources and analysts say.

On Monday, industry sources said Airbus hoped to sell up to 100 A320-family planes to China during the trip.

Such short-range aircraft, some of which are assembled on Chinese soil, have been spared any fallout from the row between China and European Union as domestic travel expands.

China continues however to block the purchase of some 35 larger Airbus aircraft to protest against EU plans to enforce a carbon reduction scheme that opposing nations deem unfair.

China regularly orders aircraft in large batches timed to coincide with high-level contacts with U.S. or European leaders.

Despite the new deals, Airbus is widely expected to lose its position as top-selling plane manufacturer this year to Chicago-based Boeing, which is enjoying a resurgence after falling behind its European rival for five straight years.

Singapore to Shanghai on SIA

The Singapore Girls at the entrance smiled and greeted me as i entered the plane. The smell of the plane put me at ease. Finally i felt like i am at home:) Another flight stewardess directed me to my seat and gave me a hot towel shortly afterwards with a smile as always:) I barely listened to the safety brief after push-back.(It was always the same). Finally, the plane began to taxi to the runway.

Ok. So, recently i flew to Shanghai on the Singapore Airlines Boeing777. It was a red-eye flight.

Well, the flight was the same more or less. Maybe, because i took the route too many times already.

Well, anyways, the flight was delayed as usual at Changi airport for around 10 minutes until we can take-off.

The takeoff roll was exhilarating as always, especially when the N1 increases from around 50% to Take off power. After takeoff, at around FL390, the plane levelled off. The inflight entertainment began and the  seatbelt sign was turned off.

So here was what i did. Feeling thirsty, i went to the galley to get a drink. So, the pretty stewardess who greeted me just now was there. I asked her for a cup of coffee and she smiled and proceeded to pour me a cup of coffee. Holding the cup of coffee, I walked back to my seat. Well, looks like i did not need the coffee to brighten my mood:)

i changed the channel to M! Countdown. To my delight, BoA was performing Only one:) After it ended, i changed to channel 9 to hear more kpop and channel 12 to hear some chinese songs. After some searching, i found that there was SNSD-TTS twinkle and tuned to it. After that i took out my flying checklist and began revising.

I shall not talk much about the food as it is nothing fantastic, but come to think of it, my favourite food is airplane food!

I got board about 3.5 hours into the flight. So bored such that i was sorely tempted to go and flirt with that air stewardess. Her name is Sharon by the way. Since there were few people on the flight, i decided to go and have a chat with her. So, she was 20 and that was her 15th flight as a Singapore Girl. She graduated from Ngee Ann polytechnic and decided to be an air stewardess to see the world. Well, we had some idle chat about kpop and talked about our travels for about an hour.(She also likes SNSD!! :)) Well some of you may be wondering if it is allowed. It is not. But since it was a red-eye flight and she was the only one t the galley area, she stayed up and we talked.

I was sad when the plane began to descend. But at least i got her number and some more coffee and snacks before heading to my seat. We promised to keep in touch.

So the plane descended for the runway. and the plane landed quite gently. The vertical speed was maybe -50 feet/min? After the plane parked at the gate, i was the last passenger to leave. The captain was out there and I thanked him. I think he probably knew that i was a pilot. As i walked out of the plane, pulling my  luggage, i caught Sharon's eye and winked. Hopefully, i will get to see her again:)

Recent United Airlines Incidents

A United Boeing 757-200, registration N17126 performing flight UA-96 from Newark,NJ (USA) to Berlin Tegel (Germany) with 173 people on board, was departing Newark's runway 11 when just before being handed off to departure the crew reported they blew a tyre and declared emergency. After contacting departure the crew reported they lost their engines (plural, RB211) and declared emergency. Departure reported streaks of flames were seen from the left hand engine, crew queried intensively left engine and then reported they had two "red engines". The aircraft climbed to 3000 feet, the next departure off Newark reported the United had blown a tyre on the left hand side on runway 04L. The crew reported the left hand engine was showing overtemperature with a chunking banging and vibration on the left side while the right hand engine had cleared in the meantime. The aircraft climbed to 4000 feet to burn off fuel and returned to Newark for a safe landing on runway 04R about 100 minutes after departure. The crew reported "ops normal" after landing and taxied their aircraft to the gate.

A replacement Boeing 757-200 registration N18112 departed Newark with a delay of 5 hours.

The FBI said the crew reported a burst tyre on takeoff resulting in flames seen from the left hand engine.

The FAA said the crew reported a problem after departure, however, the engines were operating normally at landing.

Observers on the ground reported repeated banging sounds from the aircraft, no smoke was seen however streaks of flames from the left hand engine (suggesting the engine suffered compressor stalls or surges).

United Airlines B752

A United Boeing 757-200, flight UA-409 from Newark,NJ to Seattle,WA (USA), was climbing through 14,000 feet out of Newark when the crew decided to return to Newark reporting smoke in the cockpit. During descent back to Newark the crew reported the smoke appeared to be going down and indicated they would be able to vacate the runway. The aircraft landed safely on Newark's runway 04L about 20 minutes after departure and vacated the runway.

The airline said the aircraft returned to Newark due to an unusual odour aboard which was later linked to the air conditioning system. 

A replacement Boeing 757-200 registration N553UA reached Seattle with a delay of 4:15 hours.

United B738

A United Boeing 737-800, registration N17244 performing flight UA-1124 from Houston,TX to Boston,MA (USA) with 146 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out of Houston when the crew reported problems with an engine (CFM56), levelled off at 4000 feet, burned off fuel and returned to Houston for a safe landing about 2 hours after departure.

A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N36272 reached Boston with a delay of 5:15 hours.

I am concerned with the recent incidents.

In the commercial aviation industry, Mistakes cannot happen as passenger lives are at stake here.

I hope that the FAA gets to the bottom of this matter.

Boeing 787

The New Boeing 787 is a mid-long range widebody jet airliner developed by Boeing.
It can set 210 to 280 passengers per plane.

It set a new record for percentage composite used and is very fuel efficient. It is about 20 percent more fuel efficient than the B767!

It shares a common type rating with the B777. Thus pilots with a B777 rating can fly a B787. Also, It has a HUD (Heads-Up-Display)

The engine is either the Trent 1000 or the GEnx engines. It is much quieter thanks to the noise reduction technology.

Key Facts:
       1. 234 passengers in 3 class setup.
       2. 3Variants. 787-3,787-8,787-9
       3. Cruising speed: 0.85M
       4. Service ceiling: FL430
       5. Range: ~800NM

Singapore Airlines A340-500

The SIA A345 is fitted with 100 New award winning Business class seats!!
Singapore Airlines uses this plane on ultra-long haul routes such as from Singapore to Newark Liberty International Airport 
The flight, SQ-21 is the longest in the world! 
It covers 15,343 km and the duration of the flight is about 18.5 hours

The A345 cockpit!!

Silkair purchase of 54 B737s

Recently, on the 3rd of August, Silkair, the regional wing of Singapore airlines has announced the purchase of 23 B738s and 31 B737 MAX.
I was excited to hear this piece of news.
For those who don't know much about Silkair, It operates mainly A320s on Singapore to China, India, SE Asia routes. It is a full-service airline, and currently flies to 41 destinations across 12 countries

                                          A Silkair A320

Why was i excited?
When i flew Silkair, I couldn't help but feel that it is actually sort of a Junkyard for the non-profitable Singapore airline routes. Well. It has much more potential than that!!! The cabin environment and the service is unique. Also it serves destinations that have a lot of history and has a rich culture such as Yunnan, China for example.

Lijiang- Yunnan, China

With the addition of B737s to its fleet, There will be an increase in not only route frequency, But also The number of destinations. For example, I frequently complain about the lack of service to the 2nd and 3rd tier China cities. Most often, I find myself taking a SIA plane to Guangzhou, Shanghai or Hong Kong and transfer to one of the many China airlines around to get to my final destination.
Therefore, i hope to see more destinations being added into the network
:)

안녕하세요-Annyeonghaseyo

Congratulations!! You have learnt how to say Hello in Korean!! :)

Hey! I am a pilot trainee in Singapore studying Aerospace Electronics at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Just a quick self introduction. 

I am a Aviation Enthusiast(as you would already have deduced by now),

a pilot,

a Microsoft FSX flight simmer

a Singapore Airlines lover!

So yeah. I will be posting and discussing the current issues in the aviation industry as well as posting about the history of flight here. I may also post some tips on flying so please follow my blog:)