Air New Zealand test-runs on vegetable oil

Air New Zealand operated a 2-hr. 747-400 biofuel test flight from Auckland on Dec. 29 using a 50/50 blend of jatropha-based fuel and standard jet fuel to power one of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce RB211s.

Chief Pilot David Morgan, who was onboard the aircraft, said the flight crew conducted "a wide variety of tests under normal and nonnormal operating conditions, designed to test the biofuel to the fullest extent." For example, when the aircraft reached an altitude of 20,000-25,000 ft., the main fuel pump for the engine partially powered by the biofuel was switched off to test the lubricity of the fuel, ensuring its friction did not slow down flow. The jatropha-derived fuel was supplied by Terasol Energy.

Continental Airlines also plans to operate a 737-800 test flight using a fuel blend including components derived from algae and jatropha. International Air Transport Association (IATA) plans jet-fuel to contain 10% of bio-fuel by 2017.

More details HERE

LOT flies on the world's most expensive fuel

Recent reductions of oil are not benefiting the Polish national carrier, because in July the management signed a long-term fuel delivery contract at over $140 per barrel.

Considering low fuel prices, in December LOT admitted to being left with overpayment of $92.4 million. Position of finance director, who was responsible for signing the deal, is threatened.

Most of airlines couldn't predict the plunging oil price and posted losses due to fuel hedging contracts, but LOT miss has beat them all. Members of workers union at LOT (employees own almost 7% of LOT shares) already announced notifying a prosecutor about deliberate actions of harming the company by the management. NIK (Supreme Chamber of Control) already initiated an inspection in LOT.

According to "Dziennik" and "Wall Street Journal Polska" McKinsey was one of the companies advising LOT on the contracts, predicting the oil price can reach over $200 per barrel on the turn of the year. It was around $40 per barrel in December.

Urodzona kilka kilometrów nad ziemią

Sacha, córka Ugandyjki lecącej z Amsterdamu do Bostonu samolotem linii Northwest Airlines, urodziła się w Nowy Rok po południu, gdy samolot krążył nad kanadyjskim miastem Halifax.

Współpasażerów zaniepokoił apel załogi samolotu, szukającej lekarza na pokładzie. Okazało się szczęśliwie dla matki i dziecka, że tym samym lotem wracało z urlopów dwóch lekarzy, którzy zajęli się młodą Ugandyjką, przedwcześnie odczuwającą bóle porodowe. Sacha - powitana głośnym aplauzem pasażerów - przyszła na świat po pięciu minutach, na 90 minut przed lądowaniem w Bostonie.

Niemowlę teoretycznie będzie mogło mieć obywatelstwo kanadyjskie. Dziecko i matka czują się dobrze.

AirTran apologizes for removing Muslim passengers

Air marshals asked Muslim passengers off board after their remarks about safety on the plane

AirTran Airways apologized Friday to nine Muslims kicked off a New Year's Day flight to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security. One of the passengers said the confusion started at Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, D.C., when he talked about the safest place to sit on an airplane.

Nine passengeres removed from the board underwent extensive interviews from the authorities. Other passengers had to deal with the flight being delayed. AirTran said the incident was a misunderstanding, but the steps taken were necessary. Two Muslim organizations filed a protest and called for investigation.

One of the removed and questioned passengers told AP he appreciated the apology from the airline. Atif Irfan recalled the conversation he had onboard with his wife. When they boarded the flight Thursday, he mentioned something to his wife and sister-in-law about having to sit in the back. His sister-in-law replied that she believed the back of the airplane was the safest, but Irfan believed it was better to be by the wings.

"She said, 'Yes, I guess it makes sense not to be close to the engine in case something happens,'" Irfan recalled Friday. "It was a very benign conversation". Shortly afterwards they were approached by air marshalls and asked off the plane.

Source: AP

Wizz Air wants to save Etiuda

After authorities of Warsaw's airport announced they will close and demolish Etiuda ramshackle terminal early next spring, suddenly a low-cost carrier appeared as the one intending to save it.

At a conference few months ago, CEO of Wizz Air Jozsef Varadi, complained about the poor passengers service conditions at the Etiuda terminal. However, the decision about closing of low-cost Etiuda, means all low-cost carriers will be moved to Warsaw airport's terminal 1 & 2, meaning that the service fee will rise from 30 to 60 zl. But the arrivals of low-cost carriers were operated also in the regular terminals.

Anyway, the fees will have to affect the ticket prices. And Wizz Air CEO, even proclaims an end to the era of low-cost flying from Warsaw. The final line is to withdraw the operations from Warsaw. Wizz Air underscores that no alternative was given to the LCCs, when announcing Etiuda's closing. For five years nothing has been done to construct an airport in Modlin, which could serve as Warsaw's secondary airport and could prove perfect for LCCs.

On its website Wizz Air even posted a petition for the passengers, who can sign a letter to the Minister of Infrastructure.

In Mr. Varadi's opinion, by closing Etiuda Polish Airports State Enterprise (which owns Warsaw's airport) is trying to support financially troubled Polish Airlines LOT, which lost several million in its low-cost subsidiary Centralwings, which finally moved to charter flights.

Wizz Air switches airports in Barcelona

Starting from January 14, 2009 low-cost carrier Wizz Air planes flying from Katowice to Barcelona will arrive at El Prat airport, which is the city's main airport. So far Wizz Air planes have landed at Girona-Costa Brava (Gerona), which served as Barcelona's LCC airport, and is 94 km away from the city.

Wizz Air's schedule includes KTW-BCN (KTW-GRO) and BCN-KTW (GRO-KTW) flights twice a week - Wednesdays and Sundays.
Photo courtesy of Wizz Air

President's plane froze

Lech Kaczyński, the president of Poland, was not able to continue its official trip through Asia, when its plane refused to ignite in Mongolia. Apparently, the temperature dropped at night to well below -10 degrees C, and it had a significant affect on the plane's ability to operate.
Several attempts to start engines proved unsuccessful, so did defrosting procedures. The TU-154M, which was made in the Soviet Union, had to go back to hangar. While the president's aides borrowed a plane from Mongolian hosts, to carry on with the trip to Japan.