Airport

Visual delights take flight…

October 23, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The latest installations in the arrival and departure halls add to the ever-growing list of artwork in Chennai’s international and domestic terminals

Flight delayed by a few hours? It won’t be as much a waste of time, if you considered taking a mini art tour across Chennai Airport. Over the course of the last couple of years, ever since the new airport was opened in 2013, 37 murals and four sculptures have been installed in both the domestic and international terminals — the most recent ones being those of a Nataraja in Thandavam pose and Yudhisthira’s ratha.

“We were asked to make two sculptures that are reminiscent of Tamil Nadu culture, by the Airport Chairman (R. K. Srivastava), for the Global Investors Meet, which took place in September. So, after a lot of brainstorming, we thought, why not bring out Nataraja and Yudhisthira’s ratha, which people can immediately associate with the heritage here,” says Neelam Dhanda, co-owner of the 12-year-old Sunny Sistems — The Art Gallery, which has executed all the installations at the airport.

The two installations were set up just a few days ahead of the investors meet, on August 30. “The 12-and-a-half-foot-high Nataraja is visible from everywhere in the arrival hall. It’s made of fibre, and has been made to look as if it has been made out of wood, and coloured in the way wooden sculptures are coloured traditionally,” says Uday Dhanda, son of Neelam, who coordinated with 18 artisans to create the works in 55 days.

Yudhisthira’s ratha, one of the five rathas which can be seen in Mahabalipuram, has Arjuna’s Penance (a stone carving at Mahabalipuram) etched on three sides, and the guardians of heaven, or dwarpals, on the back. Placed at the departure section, the 16-foot-high installation, which looks like a slice out of the Shore Temple, is also lit up with 102 lights. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a few people took snaps in front of it and told their friends that they actually visited the site at Mahabalipuram. It is that real,” Uday says with a laugh.

The challenge for the team was to bring out an imposing installation that stands out in the busy venue, but at the same time doesn’t eat into the space that sees thousands of people per day. “So, we had to take care that we consumed only a limited footprint. At first glance, people should be able to connect with it; that was our intention,” says Neelam. “Not everyone is going to take the effort or have the time to visit a gallery or tourist spots here, so the installations are a reflection of what the city has in store for them,” she adds.

The previous installations done by the team include those that depict Tamil festivals, dances and processions, besides those of a horse that’s been hand-made with brass and copper sheets and of a boat that depicts the city’s dependence on the ocean. As far as the International Terminal is concerned, there are swans, peacocks, horses and a separate series on the Indian dance forms.

Keywords: Chennai airport, art installations, Chennai art

Source….

NAVEENA VIJAYAN ….www.thehindu.com

Natarajan

This Flight Costs Just Rs. 60 and Goes Nowhere….!!!

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Never been on an airplane? Here’s your chance to board one for as little as Rs 60, or even for nothing if you don’t have the money. Retired aircraft engineer Bahadur Chand Gupta will be happy to show you around.

“I am in an aeroplane for the first time. I saw many things inside,” exclaimed an excited Jatin when he boarded the flight to nowhere.

He is one of many underprivileged kids who may never get a chance to fly on an actual plane. But he climbed the long stairway that took him to an orange and white aircraft set up on a patch of land on the outskirts of Delhi.

The plane, of course, is going nowhere. But it is giving an opportunity to people from some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city to experience what it is like to sit on the jets they see fly above them in the sky.

When a retired aircraft engineer Bahadur Chand Gupta, who comes from the small village of Kasana in Haryana, started his career many years ago, the villagers curiously asked him what it was like to be in an aircraft. None of them had ever seen a real airplane and they wanted to get a glimpse of life in the aviation industry through Gupta’s eyes. –

For security reasons, Gupta was never able to take his fellow villagers inside an actual aircraft. But he always wanted to do something that would give them a taste of flying.

Finally, in 2003, Gupta sold some land and bought an old Airbus A300. He parked it on a vacant lot close the city’s domestic airport and started offering virtual ‘flights’ to the general public.

To make the experience close to real, the ‘passengers’ in his ‘flight’ are given boarding passes, shown safety instructions, and even offered in-flight snacks. Some even get to see the cockpit.

The passengers pay as little as Rs. 60 to board this flight and some can even get to be part of it for free (depending upon their financial condition). What adds to the amazing in-flight experience is the unique evacuation practice where the kids slide out of the the aircraft instead of taking the regular stairs.

Source….Shreya Pareek….www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Singapore Airlines joins Qantas with launch of a 19-hour flight: Non-stop route to New York set to open in 2018 ….

October 15, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

In-flight entertainment systems will need to be top quality in the future as ultra-long non-stop routes are becoming all the rage.

Qantas announced a non-stop 19-hour flight between Australia and the UK within two years – and now Singapore Airlines is set to launch a non-stop journey that’s the same, gruelling length.

In a statement this week Singapore Airlines announced that it would resume offering 19-hour flights from Singapore to New York in 2018.

The carrier previously operated the long haul route until 2013.

Singapore Airlines says that due to demand the service will resume with the help of a brand new aircraft.

The plane in question will be Airbus’ new ‘ultra-long range’ version of its A350-900, of which Singapore Airlines will be the launch customer.

The high-tech newly converted planes will have the capability of flying up to 19 hours using the increased fuel capacity of its system from 141,000 litres to 165,000 litres.

Our customers have been asking us to re-start non-stop Singapore-US flights and we are pleased that Airbus was able to offer the right aircraft to do so in a commercially viable manner,’ said Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong.

The airline has placed an order for 67 of the Airbus A350s, and as more of the efficient planes are added to the fleet, the plan is to resume the 19-hour Singapore-LA route in the near future as well.

At the moment, fliers wishing to make the 8,700-nautical-mile journey to the Big Apple from Singapore have to face the delights of a 22-hour journey, with at least one connection.

LA-bound passengers have a slightly shorter ordeal, with the trip currently taking around 17 hours or more, also with a stop.

Battle is on: Qantas also plans to offer 19-hour flights – from Perth to London

The news comes after Qantas revealed plans to offer a non-stop 19-hour flight between Australia and the UK within two years.

If it does launch before Singapore Airlines’ 19-hour route it will briefly give Qantas the crown of operating the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight.

The airline’s chief executive Alan Joyce said they aim to fly between Perth and London using its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner by 2017.

‘This opens up direct service from Australia to Europe for the first time,’ he said.

The potential flight path would need two pairs of pilots, extra cabin crew and a proper rest area for airline staff.

Term of the Day….” Escrow”…….

October 14, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

” ESCROW”

Arrangement under which a deed, money, security, or other property or document is held by a neutral third-party (called an escrow agent) in trust for a first-party (called grantor, obligor, or promisor) for a specified period or until the occurrence of a condition or event. The escrow agent is duty bound to deliver the asset or document in his or her possession to a named second-party (called grantee, obligee, or promisee) upon the fulfillment of the condition(s) or the happening of a stated event, as established in the escrow agreement.

Use escrow in a sentence

The couple had to place a few thousand dollars in escrow while they waited on the purchase of their house to finalize and close.

Eleanor McBride wanted to find her own place as soon as possible since she’d discovered that her soon-to-be ex-husband was cheating on her, but the money they had jointly deposited on the new house was in escrow so she didn’t have enough for another down-payment.

Source…..www.businessdictionary.com

Natarajan

Top Ten First Class Aeroplane Cabins in the World…

October 14, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

For those lucky enough to ride in a first class cabin, a 20-hour flight is actually something to look forward to.

AirlineRatings.com, which rates airlines on the level of comfort and safety they provide to passengers, recently ranked the top 10 airlines with the best first class cabins.

From multi-room suites to double beds covered in plush linens, here’s a look inside the cushiest first class cabins in the world.

Emirates

Emirates

Business class cabins on Emirates have privacy doors, personal mini bars, and ambient lighting for maximum relaxation. Each seat converts to a fully flat mattress.

On longer flights, take advantage of the onboard shower spa stocked with Bvlgari toiletries, or stretch your legs and grab a drink in the first and business class lounge.

Etihad Airways

Etihad

On Etihad Airways, cabins feature Poltrona Frau leather seats, ambient lighting, personal wardrobes, and a chilled drinks cabinet. Guests looking for the ultimate experience in luxury can stay in The Residence — an upper deck cabin on the A380 airbus that has a living room, separate double bedroom, ensuite shower room, personal butler, and chef.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines (JAL)

Each wood grain and leather cabin on Japan Airlines‘ 777 is designed with custom airweave bedding, a retractable privacy partition, and a 23-inch personal TV screen. Meals are prepared by chefs like Seiji Yamamoto, known for his three-Michelin star restaurant, Ryugin, in Tokyo.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa

Lufthansa’s first class suites include ergonomically shaped seats, lie-flat beds with a mattress topper, pillow, and duvet, and in-flight entertainment in up to eight languages. The wine list is curated by sommelier Markus Del Monego and caviar is served.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines

The seats on Singapore Airlines are 35 inches wide, with a bed length of 82 inches and curved side panels for privacy. Passengers are treated to pajamas and bedroom slippers as they relax in the ambient mood lighting. Each seat has a vanity corner with a mirror so you can freshen up before you disembark.

Qantas

International first class suites on Australia’s
Qantas airline are designed with lie-flat beds measuring 6.5 feet long. The mattress is made of plush sheepskin and the seat and leg rest are adjustable. There’s even an ottoman so you can have a guest in your cabin.

Dining options include an eight-course tasting menu or an à la carte menu designed by Chef Neil Perry, with selections from Quantas’ award-winning wine list.

SWISS

SWISS

Swiss International Air Lines’ first class armchairs are available on long-haul flights and can be turned into a lounge armchair, a table for two, or a 6.5 foot bed with a mattress and privacy walls.

Passengers are given pajamas by Zimmerli of Switzerland and toiletry bags that contain socks, eye masks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, earplugs, and skincare products by La Prairie.

Korean Air

Korean Air

Korean Air’s first class cabins offer a variety of seating options. The Kosmo Suite 2.0 includes a sliding door that’s see-through on the inside, a 9.4-inch partition, and a 79-inch seat. Kosmo Suite seats are 26.5 inches wide and have adjustable back support, a footrest, and one-touch controls to change positions.

There’s also a Kosmo Sleeper with a 78-inch lie-flat bed and a Sleeper Ottoman with a
180-degree lie-flat bed on B777-300, A330-300, and A330-200 aircrafts.

Seats come with personal LCD screens, individual reading lamps, and free noise-cancelling headphones.

All Nippon Airways

All Nippon Airways

ANA (All Nippon Airways) offers first class passengers a cabin with comfortable seating, a large adjustable dining table, and an adjustable cocktail table. What sets this cabin apart is its storage. There’s a mini closet for your jacket and shoes, a space underneath the ottoman for baggage, and multiple compartments for smaller items.

Seats have two LED personal lights, international telephones with personal satellites to make calls in privacy, a ‘do not disturb’ light, USB port, and 23-inch LCD wide-screen monitor.

Thai Airways

Guests flying Royal First Class on Thai Airways are greeted with chilled Champagne and caviar. The Airbus A380s and newly remodeled Boeing 747s feature semi-private suites that are almost eight feet long. Seats are either 23 or 27 inches wide on the 747 and Airbus A380, respectively.

Chairs convert to 180-degree lie-flat beds, in-flight entertainment systems boast 23-inch flat screes with over 300 programs, and passengers can relax with a full-body massage at the Royal First Lounge of Bankgkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport before their flight.

Source….www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

Boeing’s new overhead bin will increase carry-on bag capacity by 50 percent….

October 14, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Alaska Airlines Space Bins will give passengers almost 50 percent more space overhead for carry-on bags. Within two years, nearly half of Alaska Airlines’ fleet will be fitted with the larger bins, the airline said. (Boeing)

Is the end of scrambling for overhead bin space near?

Boeing revealed new overhead bins on its Boeing 737s that will give passengers almost 50 percent more space for carry-on luggage.

Alaska Airlines is one of the first major airlines outfitted with Boeing’s bigger and wider bins, it dubbed Space Bins, which will fit six bags instead of four.

In order to do that, it’s sacrificing about 2 inches of head space, says Boeing.

But the move could mean savings for passengers who spent $3.5 billion last year on fees to check their bags–and are trying to find ways around check bag fees, which average around $25 per bag.

On Alaska’s 737-800, the expanded bin space will increase the number of bags that can fit overhead from 118 to 178 — a difference of 60 more standard sized bags.

“Alaska is relentlessly focused on making the travel experience better,” Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines vice president of marketing said in a release. “We’ve been on a mission to improve our cabin experience for several years and Space Bins are part of a $150 million investment we’ve made to make flying more comfortable and enjoyable.”

Within two years, nearly half of Alaska Airlines’ fleet will be fitted with the larger bins, the airline said. Delta will also have Space Bin 737s in early 2016 and United has also committed to the bins.

But that doesn’t mean you can bring on a bigger bag— the size limitations for carry-ons on Alaska will stay in place.

Source….www.foxnews.com

natarajan

This is the change London Heathrow Airport has been waiting for…

October 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

London’s Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest hubs in the world and serves as a major connecting point for traffic between Asia and Africa with North America.

As Britain’s main international airport, Heathrow has been working hard to upgrade its facilities. In recent years, the airport has opened two brand new terminal buildings and have conducted significant renovations to others.

However, the greatest constraint on the airport has been it’s lack of runways. Although more than 72 million passengers pass through Heathrow every year, the facility still operates using just two runways.

However, if Heathrow’s latest expansion plans are approved, things are about to change for airport.

At first, the airport wasn’t much to look at. Its passenger terminals were just tents.

Heathrow Airport

By the 1960s, the airport’s permanent terminal buildings entered service. Heathrow also abandoned its ‘Star of David’ layout, keeping only the northern and southern runways.

Heathrow development came just in time for the arrival of the jet set! Along with celebrities such as The Beatles and …

Today, the airport is the primary international hub serving London and much of England.

Flickr/Tony Hisgett

The airport is home to Virgin Atlantic Airways and …

Heathrow Airport

… British Airways.

… Terminal 5 facilities

But what hasn’t changed in the last half century are its two runways.

But that may be ready for an update if the Airport’s new expansion proposal is approved this December.

The expansion would include a third runway built at the north of the airport; it would increase Heathrow’s capacity from 470,000 flights a year to 740,000.

The airport also wants to build a new terminal to the west of Terminal 5.

The expansion would also dramatically alter Heathrow’s central terminal area.

The transformed central terminal area will feature new hotels, office buildings and …

… green space for passengers.

The new hotel facilities will be located just a few minutes away from the terminals.

The proposed development plan also calls for improvements to road and rail access to the airport.

The expansion of London Heathrow has been a contentious topic. Although there have been discussions about building a completely new airport for decades, the British government recommended improvements to Heathrow as the preferred way to increase airport capacity.

source….BENJAMIN ZHANG in http://www.businessinsider .com.au

Natarajan

Mumbai Airport Recruits Trained Therapy Dogs To Bring A Smile On Passenger’s Face…

October 7, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Airports are exciting places of activity, but at times they also can be overwhelming for some fliers.

Recently, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport brought in two legitimate, trained therapy dogs to help ease the stress of travelling.

Mumbai airport is possibly the first in the country to employ animals that would help ease travellers’ anxieties about returning to the skies. Earlier, therapy dogs were used to comfort special children and traumatised adults at US airports after the 9/11 attacks.

Goldie and Pepe, trained by the Animal Angels Therapy Centre in Pune, can sense a person’s mood by sniffing them.

Their mission is to put a smile on every passenger’s face they interact with.

This is what a Chicago-bound flier who came to bury his dead mother wrote in the feedback form:

“What an amazing and needed facet of airports. After a long painful day at the Mumbai airport, Goldie and Pepe brought ‘humanity’ into an otherwise dehumanising experience.”

Of course, not everyone is a dog lover. Some people would feel less stressed at an airport if they could cuddle with a cat.

But, let’s admit it, passengers will now have a PAWSitive experience at the Mumbai airport! 🐾

News Source: Hindustan Times

Source….Shuvro Ghoshal …www.storypick.com

natarajan

Icon A-5: The Folding Airplane….

October 7, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The Icon A-5 is a whole new aviation concept. It is designed to be a personal airplane aimed at the domestic leisure market – and people don’t need to be experienced pilots to fly it. The A-5 intends to simplify the flying process so much that anyone can pick up the skills necessary to fly the plane quickly and easily, and it has a whole stack of sophisticated safety features to help it achieve this goal. The aircraft has been in development since 2008 and is moving towards general release, having passed through the first of the necessary regulatory checks. Let’s have a look at this incredible concept and see a video of the A-5 in action.

Icon A-5

Image: iconaircraft.com

If you have ever dreamed of owning your own plane, but don’t want the added hassle of huge storage costs, long periods of training and complicated dashboards full of buttons, then the Icon A-5 is designed with you in mind. The dashboard of the plane looks more like something that you would find in the modern sports car, than an airplane, and aims to keep things as simple as possible. The A-5 has been described as the aviation industry’s answer to the Tesla.

Icon A-5 dashboard

Image: Andrew Moseman, popularmechanics.com

The aircraft can take off and land on either water or gravel, and is genuinely amphibious. It features a carbon-fiber airframe, retractable undercarriage, and is powered by a three-bladed pusher propeller. The plane is meant to appeal to ‘weekend warriors’ who would savor the thrill of flying, and use the plane to reach remote lakes and rivers. The company’s head of sales, Craig Bowers believes the plane will be at the forefront of the ‘next powersport’. It can be viewed as the latest expensive toy in a list that historically includes sports cars, supercars, jet skis and private yachts.

Icon A-5

Image: iconaircraft.com

Of course, flying is inherently dangerous and if people don’t know what they are doing then it could turn out very badly indeed. For that reason, the designers have attempted to ‘fool-proof’ the plane to prevent accidents. Among the many safety features are a unique ‘angle of attack’ gauge that lets the pilot know if they are flying safely relative to the conditions. Engineers have also designed the plane to be resistant to spins and stalls. If the pilot makes a mistake and stalls the engine, the plane will continue to glide rather than nosedive, due to its specially designed wings.

Icon A-5

Image: iconaircraft.com

Of course, it wouldn’t be suitable for the general adventure sport market if it wasn’t easy to store and transport. Engineers have tried to satisfy this need – and they have been innovative in doing so. The wings of the A-5 fold inwards to make the machine much more compact so it can be carried on a trailer. By the same logic, the plane could also be feasibly stored in a garage – although with a length of 23 feet (7 meters), you would need a fairly large garage.

Icon A-5

Image: iconaircraft.com

The Icon A-5 is officially classed as a light-sport aircraft and features some impressive specifications. It has room for one passenger in addition to the pilot, a range of around 345 miles (556km) per journey and a maximum speed of 211mph (194km/h). The maximum take-off weight is 1,510lbs (685kg), meaning there is room for 550lbs (249kg) of ‘useful load’ (passenger weight, baggage etc.).

Icon A-5

Image: flickr user H. Michael Miley

Before you get too excited, the Icon A-5 does of course come at a high price. The first batch of models are being sold for $250,000, although the company intends to sell later batches at the lower (but still significant) price of $197,000. That said, the plane is the first of its type and it remains to be seen whether the concept will catch on, leading to more affordable but similar offerings in years to come. The company behind the design is currently busy earning all the necessary Federal Aviation Association approvals ahead of the plane’s release, and have already received orders for 1,500 planes, which they hope to deliver by 2019.

Here is a video of the Icon A-5 in action:

H/T www.popularmechanics.com

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Airbus has come up with a crazy way of fitting more people into planes…

October 7, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The aviation industry is always looking for new ways to get more people into their planes and judging by a new patent filing, Airbus is proposing a pretty radical idea.

The manufacturer of the world’s largest commercial jet, the A380, just filed a patent in Europe for a number of wacky looking seating configurations on its aircraft, creating the potential to jam even more people into planes.

In the patent filing, the company says “in modern means of transport, in particular in aircraft, it is very important from an economic point of view to make optimum use of the available space. Passenger cabins are therefore fitted with as many rows of passenger seats as possible, which are positioned with as little space between them as possible.”

Amongst the range of new configurations is a business class cabin with a mezzanine level.

Passengers on the upper level would have to climb steps to reach their seats. Seats in this configuration would recline flat, allowing passengers to enjoy an airborne version of being in a bunkbed.

Airbus

Another design shows two passengers seated on a mezzanine, face to face, something which business travellers looking to get work done might find particularly helpful!

The patents may be designed to save space but Airbus was also keen to stress that the new seats will provide a “high level of comfort for the passengers using the seat arrangement.”

It also said that the seat configurations could be used on trains and buses. One bonus that might come from such cramped conditions is that air fares could get cheaper.

But no matter how unpleasant these planes might look, it seems unlikely that the designs will ever come into use.

Airbus is well known for filing hundreds of patents per year in order to protect its intellectual property and ensure that competitors like Boeing cannot get the upper hand.

Recent patents filed by the company include a jet that could travel across the Atlantic in only one hour.

Source….Will Martin….www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

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