February 2008 Archives

As my colleagues at Airline Business have reported, Singapore Airlines are getting ‘touchy feely’ to create some excitement for its first A380 flight from London.

First of all, they have offered the personal touch by creating an area dedicated to personal memories of the A380; an area where people can share photos and thoughts of the A380. This may seem to some aloof organisations as too much work, but in this era of endlessly competing airlines, it seems good business sense to use a more personalised approach to marketing.

The second element of SIA’s marketing strategy comes in competition form and this is where it’s time to get creative. Singapore Airlines are looking for pictures that show a “creative expression” of the airline and London. I’m no Picasso but what do you think?

Somehow I don’t think I’m in for much of a shout!

Traditional khanjar curved daggers are a frequent sight in Oman where they are carried in public as part of the national dress. But while the khanjar has featured on Oman Air's livery since the airline started operations, it's shortly to disappear in favour of a gold-and-silver swirl representing the smoke of burning Omani frankincense.

It's all part of a change of image newly unveiled in Muscat, timed to coincide with Oman Air's expansion into long-haul operations and the introduction of a fleet which will include Airbus A330s and, eventually, Boeing 787s.

You wouldn't think IATA designators could be worthy of much mystique but the code for British Airways' new carrier OpenSkies was one secret it chose not to spill during January's unveiling.

And now we know why: because OpenSkies has been hoping to land a code which is just as recognisable as the familiar 'BA' identifier of its parent company.

If you're planning to fly the 'open skies' flag for the European Community, then you could do worse than operate under an 'EC' code - the designator for which OpenSkies is cheekily seeking approval.

The evidence is buried in a stack of legal paperwork outlining OpenSkies' proposed first service, which will operate from Paris to New York JFK. British Airways will be codesharing with OpenSkies on the route.

Given that the 'EC' designator was last seen attached to a small Antonov freighter operator in Uzbekistan, OpenSkies shouldn't have much trouble picking it up. Which is fortunate, because 'EU' and 'OS' are already taken...

The AAIB have today released another report on the Heathrow BA Boeing crash.

Here is some analysis from Unusual Attitude and a review of the report by David Learmount.

Some points from the report:

• No indications of any pre-existing problems with any of the aircraft systems.
• Examination of the engines indicated no evidence of a mechanical defect or ingestion of birds or ice.
• Data, downloaded from the Electronic Engine Controllers (EECs) and the QAR, revealed no anomalies with the control system operation.
• fuel conforms to Jet A-1 specifications and that there were no signs of contamination or unusual levels of water content.

The investigations will continue to attempt to replicate the damage to the engine fuel pumps to try and match it to the data recorded in the accident.

Never a company that shies away from publicity, Ryanair attempted to capitalise on the loving feeling of Valentine’s Day with a “snogathon” at Leicester Square in Central London.

I was lucky enough to take a flight in Douglas DC-3 Dakota on Wednesday over the skies of Coventry.

Just to prove it’s not conspiring to conceal an extraterrestrial plot by minds immeasurably superior to ours, the British Government has just released the latest batch of unidentified flying object sightings reported to the Ministry of Defence.

It comprises about 130 statements, most of which – to the chagrin of those who thought this stuff would prove they weren’t paranoid – are overwhelmingly dull recollections of winking, blinking multi-coloured lights, interspersed with the occasional gem which reveals that, as far as intelligent life goes, there’d better be some up there because there’s precious little of it down here.

If you can't bear to leave the moggy at home, take him with you when you fly and get him to give you some unique feedback to you landing prowess.

Flightglobal.com has heard that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is looking for airline cabin crew who need some help in the kitchen and are eager to learn a few skills during his new series of the F Word.

There's no pleasing some people. Buried among the general gloom of SAS Group's full-year results today is the contrasting record performance of Norwegian regional carrier Wideroe, achieved in spite of its Q400s being grounded.

"Wideroe recorded the best full-year result in the company's history," acknowledges SAS, before putting the boot in. "It is not far off achieving the group's earnings requirement."

Tough crowd.

As Flightblogger has today reported, rumours and intrigue continue unabated regarding the recent Boeing 777 Heathrow accident.

Of course only detailed forensic invesigations will determine the cause, but that hasn't stopped a whole raft of reasons being put forward, some that seem quite plausible, and others that make fairy-tales seem far-fetched.