International Commerce

Dirigibles May Prove Durable in Siberia

News Analysis: Dirigibles May Prove Durable In Siberia, especially for Mining. The heavy capacity Lift Capability of Dirigibles along with their Three-Dimensional Flight Characteristics make them ideal for Siberia. Since Road Infrastructure is presently missing, a “Highway-In-The-Sky” is probable using these craft. Airports, presently being designed, will not be operational for a while. Their use is not essential for a Dirigible, fortunately. When airport constructions commence, in Siberia, Dirigibles may bring in the machinery for their creation.

Buoyancy with Non-Flammable Helium Gas usage is very safe. As such, Lightning Storms are not an unusual concern. Furthermore, the Dirigibles slower speed is advantageous and can be possibly viewed as safer for this rugged terrain. Some “Heavy Lift” Applications such as Mining Truck Migrations particularly benefit by the Dirigibles’ Capacities.

Dirigibles are Historical Aircraft with Modern Futures.

Reference: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-27/zeppelins-seen-hauling-caterpillars-to-mine-siberia-commodities.html

Are Airlines Being Penny-Wise, but ‘Pounds’ Foolish?

News Analysis:  “Are Airlines Being Penny-Wise, But ‘Pounds’ Foolish by flying aircraft with only Two Engines” ask some Experienced Airframe Personnel? Ice Build-up leading to Engine ‘Flame-Out’ is a reality Airlines are Loathe to discuss. “Extended Range Twin Operations” ‘ETOPS’  has been the Current Rage in the Aircraft Business. Aircraft featuring Four Independent Engines, were reduced to Three Engines, then down to Two Engines. As that was occurring, Aviation Authorities allowed aircraft to fly Longer Periods Removed from Airports. Justification for both: “Advances in Aviation” being  due to Increased Engine Reliability and Power Output; Mean-Times-Between-Failures were Elongated Statistically. Additionally, Two Engines may be lighter than Three or Four; “Fuel savings would occur” was the argument.

Today, Icing Buildups causing Engine Flame-Outs, although resolvable over time, are a cause for Concern.  When flying over oceans, would not Four or even Three Independent Engines have less chance to result in Flame-Outs than only Two, Numerically Speaking? Common-Sense would certainly dictate a firm “Yes”. Would Airline Passengers spend a few more Dollars or Euros for Tickets if they wanted the Greatest Possible Flight Safety in Inclement Weather in particular. If one was flying over Northern Europe in the Winter, would not the odds favor the Four Engine Aircraft rather than its “Castrated” Sibling; if Icing Conditions were present?

Two Engine Aircraft Power, to match or exceed that of Three or Four Engine Aircraft, while being notable, CANNOT Physically Reproduce the Worthiness of an additional independent engine[s]; Those being placed in different locations on the aircraft. This is certainly true if flying during Icing Conditions at high altitude. This is a Engineering and Mathematics Axiom some would say.

Some of the Composite Airliners use computers to try and Prevent or Dampen ” Flutter” in the lightweight wings. Hopefully, the Handling Characteristics of the Aircraft are not too jeopardized if electrical failure to those Wing Computer Systems were to result.

The airlines have saved fuel by purchasing lighter Composite Aircraft with Twin Engines; but what additional odds have they given to effectively enhance the ‘Card Hands’ of “The Keres”? Time will tell.

Reference: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/breaking-news/transport/boeing-icing-problems-could-lead-forced-landings-us-faa-20131127

 

Russia’s Arctic Experiences Assists International Maritime Organization (IMO) Proposed Polar Code

News Analysis: Russia’s Arctic Experiences Assists International Maritime Organization (IMO) Proposed Polar Code since the IMO can benefit from the Country’s expansive knowledge. In terms of Arctic Territory as well as experience in Polar Shipping, Russia is without peers. The  extensive knowledge it has of the Arctic makes Russia particularly caring about its Environment. Its suggestions regarding the future ‘Polar Code’ should be duly evaluated with the utmost care; Russia has the Polar Experience unique in the world.

While others outside of Russia think they are “Naturalists of a ‘Higher Calling'”; Russian Citizens Live and Breathe the Environment.

Reference: http://en.portnews.ru/news/171405/

Finland Building at Eight Billion+ Euros?

News Analysis:  Finland Building at Eight Billion+ Euros is currently being forecast by some people in Helsinki. Their contention is that a more-than-doubling of Estimated Construction Costs is primarily a result of delays in building. The date of Contract signing was  in 2002.  A purported Cost Estimate for Construction was initially 3.2 Billion Euros.

One might consider that since 2008 Global Financial Debacle, there has been a World-Wide Reduction in Nuclear Power Plant Construction ‘NPCC’. Additionally, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster in Japan on 11 March, 2011 further impeded ‘NPCC’.  As such,  allocating an additional Five Billion Euros, as an Estimated Increase in Construction Costs predominately due to a time delay, some would suggest is quite Problematic. 

One can assume the current Dearth of ‘NPCC’ makes such an Estimated Cost-To-Complete Increase, in this matter, Suspect for some Citizens of Finland. If the Eight Billion+ Euro Costs is correct it will be the World’s Most Expensive Building.

Trust, But Verify.

Reference: http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/business/8486-daily-olkiluoto-3-may-cost-over-8bn.html

China Estimated with 36.8 Trillion Cubic Meters of Shale Gas

News Analysis: China Estimated With 36.8 Trillion Cubic Meters Of Shale Gas will help defuse soaring Gas Energy Costs, due to Demand, by Increasing Supply. It is estimated by some, to have the World’s Largest Deposits of Shale Gas. As China increases its  Prowess in ‘Fracking” Technology, more gas will be produced through this means.

Some people say: As more Energy Resources are discovered Everywhere in the World, perhaps its Citizens will realize that Petrochemical Formation is a “Natural Earth Process Occurring Over the Millennia”.

Often opined is: The “Scarcity of Supply” Mantra ‘Only benefits those who sell Petrochemical Products to Anxious Customers who believe such Drivel’. Commodity Traders sometimes make more money per barrel than those who actually produced the oil by drilling. Fantasies like ‘$200.00 a barrel” for oil are told to airlines, to sell more “lightweight” aircraft. A future with “$15.00 a Gallon ‘US’ gasoline” which was touted to the public to help sell  smaller cars with four and six cylinder engines, never materialized.

The Morality of the Marketing to the Masses is not very high. Reality.

Reference: http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1364705/spt-turns-bullish-shale-gas-outlook

Russian Aircraft are to be Russian Sourced

News Analysis: Russian Aircraft Are To Be Russian Sourced per President Vladimir Putin. His Appropriate Decision will mean Long-Term Benefit to the Russian Aircraft Industry. In Russia: Aircraft Design and Engineering Capabilities are present; Fabrication Equipment exists; Metal Resources are prodigious;  Personnel are available. Now, an important element of the ‘Aircraft Fabrication Industry’ has been provided: Presidential Direction.

The Purchasing of Aircraft Componentry made by others is a ‘Short-Term Solution’ which does NOT provide a Nation with ‘Long-Term Benefits’. By manufacturing most Componentry in Russia, employees of this industry gain necessary experience. Better quality aircraft can be manufactured at Lesser Costs in a Russia than that of Out-Sourced Supplied Aircraft. Non-Duplicatable Systems should be Out-Sourced, as, once in a while, might also be Aerospace Consultancy, if appropriate.

Antonov, Beriev, Ilyushin, Mikoyan, Sukhoi, Tupolev, Yakovlev, and other Russians have preceded Today’s Russians. The Men and Women of present Russia have the excellent histories of these Aircraft Predecessors to emulate.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/n2enqo4

Netherlands is a Tomato Producing Giant

News Analysis: Netherlands is a Tomato Producing Giant based on its Global Sales. It leads other major world Tomato Producers: Mexico, Spain, Turkey, and France. Its $1.8 Billion in World-Wide Sales is outstanding for this physically small country of 33,893 km2 ‘13,086 mi2‘  in land area.

The historically “Low Profile” Dutch have the Financial Acumen, Intellect, and Tenacity to Continue Excelling in the Tomato Industry; or any other Industry of which they are interested. Reality.

Reference: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/11/dutch_tomato_growers_lead_glob.php

Falkland Islands Fish Farming Facility Flourishes

News Analysis: Falklands Islands Fish Farming ‘FIFF’ Flourishes For Entrepreneur. Subsequent to years of experience, this Gentleman assumed the Investment Risk of establishing a Fish Farming Facility and will soon prosper.

‘FIFF’  should be an inspiration to others to examine Aquaculture as an Investment Medium. There is no reason Nations with Oceans, Seas, or Lakes cannot replicate such an Industry. Investors merely have to look at a Globe and identify locations which might meet their criteria geographically. Once Due Diligence is performed, as to Marine Elements ‘Piscatology’ of this Industry, they may make an Intelligent Decision to invest in Aquaculture. It will provide the world’s population with the Nutrition. Aquaculture can only Prosper a Businessman or Businesswoman since World Demand is much greater than Supply of its Products. Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/m8glfke

★ Too Much Aerospace Technology May Create Aircraft Scatology

Premium News Analysis:  Too Much Aerospace Technology May Create Aircraft Scatology more people are thinking. Soon Airline Boards will have to admit that their Engineering Departments did not properly advise their Managements as to foreseeable flaws in New Airframe Design and Manufacture. The Boards themselves used very poor judgement in leaping on the Airframes’ ‘New Sell”: “Lighter Weight Cannot Wait” ‘LWCW’. Thus, ‘LWCW’ became the ‘Holy Grail’ in Aircraft Design.

Some Airframes took a ‘Greater Plunge” into ‘LWCW’ than others. Those who went “All In” are now suffering Aircraft Event by Aircraft Event. How did they go “All In” regarding Aircraft Weight ? Electronic Systems  replaced Hydraulic and/or Pneumatic Technologies in order to save weight; Carbon/Carbon Composites replaced Metals in Structure and Fuselage Exteriors; Four Engines were replaced by Two; Engines Components were designed to be lighter ‘not necessarily stronger’; Passenger seats were made Narrower and Thinner; Even, Blankets given out to Cold Passengers are not readily available; and so it goes. Does the Technology aforementioned make an aircraft better or does it make it more  ‘Scatologic’? Only time will tell.

Aircraft Fuel Consumption became the Cause Celebre of the Airline Boards. Airlines were told “Oil is going to $200.00 a Barrel”; it did not. The Changes made helped produce the present Conundrum of the Airframes: Aircraft Reliability is now being questioned; Justly so. Recurring Down-times support the Public’s Growing Concern.

The ‘LWCW’ had the intended effect desire by Retiring Airframe Executives: It elevated the prices of their Companies’ Stocks; the ‘LWCW’ was marketed to airlines. When the airlines ‘Took The Bait”, Airframe Executives  Self-Concern was Financially Rewarded. Some people say, this ideology moved the Aircraft world into its present condition. While others support the ‘LWCW’ principle by arguing that Military Aircraft have had similar technologies, they forget something important in Engineering. To wit, “Increases of Unit Scale May Bring Decreases in Unit Efficiency”. That which works for a physical smaller Fighter Plane exhibits different: Acceptable Research, Development, and  Production Costs, Expend-ability, Operational Parameters, Longevity, and other norms from large Commercial Aircraft. Governments pay for Military Aircraft while ‘Individuals’ pay for Commercial Air Planes.

An Apple is not an Orange; But Both are Fruit.

Reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25068222

Saudi Arabia Oil Market is Better Stable than Erratic

News Analysis:  Saudi Oil Market Is Better Stable Than Erratic for Oil Producers as well as Customers. Saudi Arabian Oil Executives know that other Petroleum Sources are coming ‘on-line’, To their credit, they have the foresight to see this as a ‘Positive’ rather than a ‘Negative’ for the World Petroleum Industry.

Erratic Markets lead to possible Increased Inefficient Expenditures for Exploration, Production, and Processing ‘EPP’ when Oil Buyer Demands increase quickly. If the Demands thereafter wane, the ‘EPP’ Monies spent deplete Earnings Percentages; Overcapacity results. An anticipated ‘Feast” becomes a ‘Famine’ in terms of Net Revenue for the Oil Entity. Since ‘EPP’ of the Oil Industry is so substantial, in part due to its Technical Complexity, it may take years to recover past expenditures.

Stable Markets become more predictable over time for Buyers as well as Sellers. Efficient allocation of funds for ‘EPP” occurs. Equilibrium of Supply and Demand is Essential.

Efficiency is in the Saudi Arabians’ Interest since they are “Giants” in this Industry. As such, their Expenditures are ‘Upped’ by the ‘Great Scale’ of their Oil Operations.

Saudi Arabian Oil Executives thoroughly understand not only the Present regarding Other Petroleum Sources in the World,  but they also Properly Envision the Future of them.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/mu9gmyw