Aircraft

☆ When Temperatures Dropped To -52C (-61.6F) Practical Siberians Used Their Personal Strengths To Free Their Frozen Aircraft

News Analysis:  Intrepid Russians, historically noted for their superior perseverance when “things get rough” engaged in immediately solving a thermal problem: Aircraft Tires Frozen To The Ground. When temperatures dropped to -52C (-61.6F) practical Siberians used their personal strengths to free their frozen aircraft!

The simple solution of pushing the aircraft fuselage is very unique in that few other passengers of other countries would even think of ‘dirtying their hands” by engaging in ‘manual labor’ (which was required). Instead, they would probably demand a ‘Tow Motor” be obtained immediately so they could depart. If one was not available, they would probably disembark the aircraft and “retire to the airport for some fresh hot coffee”? The more pretentious of the lot would demand an immediate aircraft replacement to fly them out of the area.

One cannot properly know what conditions or events he or she might face in ‘International Business’ or the  “Trials and Tribulations of Life”. One can remember, however, the aforementioned behavior of these formidable Siberians and remember the adage: “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going!” 

Reality.

Reference: http://rt.com/news/208967-russia-frozen-plane-passengers/

☆ Solar Powered Aircraft Is Designed To Circumnavigate The Globe

News Analysis: The just revealed Solar Powered Aircraft Is Designed To Circumnavigate The Globe with its crew of two. Subsequent to an earlier version of a smaller aircraft, which transited the United States, this version has been designed for Intercontinental travel.

The Entrepreneurs who consummated this Project are to be commended for their

Assumption of Risk (Financial and future Physical), Manufacturing Prowess, Vision, and Tenacity.

In their own manner, they are like a “Felix Baumgartner” of the World,; a MAN to which we hold in Great Esteem for his “Increasing Man’s Scientific Knowledge (At Possible Inordinate Physical Risk to Himself)”.

Some Men Are “Men”; Many Others Are Mere Apparitions of Such.

Reality.

Reference: http://rt.com/news/solar-airplane-global-flight-488/

☆ Aircraft: Locating And Controlling Is A Reality

News Analysis: Russian Avionics Engineers have created a System for Locating and (shortly) Controlling Commercial or Military Aircraft in flight. The System works even if those persons flying in an aircraft disable the Transponder and other Avionics Equipment. Shortly, pilots may have flight control taken from them and the ‘questionable aircraft’ will be operated by proper parties from the ground.

The current Search for the Malaysian Airlines Aircraft follows an Obvious Extraordinary Job of Conception, Collusion, Reconnaissance, Dissimulation, Execution, and Obfuscation, many people think. If one adds into the equation the alleged unique talents of some of its passengers, along with the very muted behavior of one of the World Super-Powers, parties are dealing with a mere Hologram; its Actual Three-Dimensional Reality is only known to a few (by Initial Design of the Perpetrators) one may assume.

“Coincidences” (as described publicly by some parties regarding the various elements of the  Malaysian Airlines Craft Mystery) are as valuable as the first four letters of that word.

Reality.

Reference: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_05/New-Russian-tracking-system-not-to-miss-a-single-aircraft-3936/

☆ Chilean Civilians Enjoy The Many Uses Of Chinese Drones

News Analysis: Chilean Civilians Enjoy The Many Uses Of Chinese Drones for Commercial Purposes as well as for Personal Pleasure. These $4,500.00 Drones are sent to Chile and undergo final assembly and inspection before being released to customers. Each customer may undergo instruction in proper fly procedures as well as understand Chilean Legalities of use in the airspace; THESE “EVO” DRONES ARE NOT TOYS. 

Typical Chilean uses for such small aircraft may be: Bridge Inspections; Concert Viewing; Crop Analysis; Forest Fire Detection; Mineral Locating; News Events; Traffic Congestion Monitoring; Trespasser Identification; and, Vehicle Locating; to name a few.

Presently, in the World, Chile is Number 5, for Internet Contact with the Manufacturer, in the use of this particular aircraft.

Various cameras and optional equipment can give the Operator the information flow he or she needs when flying the craft. The aircraft weighs less than 4.5Kg. (10 Lbs.) without the cameras of various capabilities being offered. 

Due to the very Low Price and the Capabilities of the small Aircraft, we can see: Australians checking their Sheep Herds; Canadian Gold Mining Operators looking for ‘Sight-Seers’;

Growers in Kalamata, Greece inspecting their Olive Trees; Ranchers throughout the American West or Argentina or Brazil watching their Cattle Herds; Vintners in the Napa-Sonoma-Mendocino area of California using this equipment to inspect their Grape Crops.

Almost anywhere Security must be “Tight” such as the aforementioned Gold Operations, this Aircraft is essential. In large “New Construction” Projects, both trespassers can be thwarted and equipment and/or materials readily located.

The possibilities of assistance by using this Aircraft are only limited by one’s imagination.

Reality.

Reference: http://santiagotimes.cl/drones-descend-santiago/

☆ Anticipated World Oil Glut Is Bad News For Large Commercial Aircraft Builders

News Analysis: Some Aircraft Brokers and Economists think the Anticipated World Oil Glut Is Bad News For Large Commercial Aircraft Builders; for EVERYTHING IS IN SOME WAY RELATED.  For many years the Airframes have been extolling the virtues of lighter Carbon Composite Aircraft because “Oil will soon cost $180 to $200 Dollars per Barrel” many of their Executives declared; very unrealistic at a minimum.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) consist of the following twelve Members: Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela; Internationally, a Highly Esteemed Group.

Imminently, Iran, Iraq, and Libya will have their oil flowing globally, as the other OPEC members  hypothetically attempt to reduce Oil Production to keep the price elevated. Perhaps, conflicting with OPEC’s possible strategy is Non-OPEC Oil Produced in America, Brazil, Canada, Norway, and Russia (the world’s largest Oil Producer). As more oil is discovered in the various Oceans and Seas, even more oil will be produced; it is a Natural Process which occurs throughout the Planet, nothing more (many Geologists now think).

Quantitative increases in Oil Production can bring decreases in Unit Cost of Production (so it benefits ALL Producers to Produce and sell more Oil). Greater Petroleum produced and sold, even at a slightly lesser price, can produce more total dollars sold in a year.

Diminution is Crude Oil Prices can translate to Aviation Fuel Savings for Airlines; as aforementioned: Anticipated World Oil Glut Is Bad News For Large Commercial Aircraft Builders.

If Aviation Fuel Prices drop, Airlines may decide to keep their existing planes rather than spending Hundreds of Millions of Dollars PER PLANE to save some fuel.

Additionally, Aviation Gas prices may become impacted by Bio-Fuels in the future. As Engine Builders and Civil Aviation Authorities approve such fuels, they will impact supply levels upward. 

Some Governments are presently thinking of increasing their Revenues by Eliminating Aircraft Depreciation Methodologies en toto. If this occurs, the taxpayers of a Country would no longer being the subsidizers of Aircraft Purchases; a HUGE BLOW to Commercial Airframes. The existing long-term pathetic World Economies are making the Public much less receptive to being  “Sugar Daddies” for Airlines and Commercial Aircraft Builders (in Taxpayers paying for that portion of the Aircraft that has been ‘Depreciated’). If the purchases of Aircraft cannot be depreciated many airlines will not buy as they do now “To Be Fashionable with The Latest Aircraft Iteration”.

As for present Airframe Stock Prices: “Like the Aircraft they fabricate, those which soar upwards can rapidly descend”.

Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/qa5tc64

☆ Increases In World Oil Supplies Is Potential Bad News For Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers’ Business Models

News Analysis: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Want Airlines to Think the Price of Aviation Fuel can only go UP. By touting the Alleged Weight Savings in their new Composite Carbon/Carbon Construction, they seek Customers. Often, Incorrect Empty Weight Estimates being given Airlines, make  Fuel Saving Percentages look robust. If the Airlines believe the Aviation Fuel Price Increase Rhetoric, widely dispensed by Air Frame Marketing Departments, then Aircraft Purchases are assured (they think). Looming against this Price Increase Allusion is the Oil Supply Increase Reality happening World-Wide.

The Oil Industry has a “Newer Process” of Shale Oil Retrieval that has been largely developed to its most efficient level in America.  The abundant American resources of Shale Oil In North Dakota, Texas, and elsewhere bode well for large increases in supplies. If one considers the enormous Orinoco Sands Deposit in Venezuela (Estimated: 500 Billion to One Trillion Barrels of Oil), anticipated oil prices would surely plummet steeply.

With increases in Supply come Decreases in Prices (all else being equal). The Arab Gulf States need a $90.00 a Barrel of Oil Price to maintain their economies. It is expected that they will decrease their production to offset their Shale Oil ‘Competitor’. Unfortunately, additional Oil Supplies are being produced in newer Off-Shore Fields such as in Brazilian Waters and will be produced in the future in the Arctic Ocean and perhaps Eastern Mediterranean Sea, et al. This additional production should have the $90.00 a Barrel reduced to perhaps $70.00 to $75.00 a Barrel pricing. Even at this level, Oil is making drilling profitable for many Off-Shore Operations and even more so for Oil Activities on land.

Aviation Fuel Pricing would plummet (many Petroleum Engineers think $1.00 to $1.70 per gallon) as a result of the probable World-Wide Oil Supply Increases. Additionally, Aviation Bio-Fuels will help contribute to price reductions for the Airlines. The Conundrum faced by Air Frames, is: “What Concerns can they Create to make Airlines think they ‘Have To Have’ new Aircraft?”

Airlines will find a diminution in Aviation Fuel prices (due to the aforementioned Oil Supply Increases coming On-Line) which will make a Mockery of the Hundred + Millions of Dollars now charged per Plane by the Air Frames; this  so the Airlines can “Save Pennies Per Gallon of Fuel” with their Composite Aircraft?

Reality.

Reference: http://gulfnews.com/business/oil-gas/us-oil-exports-likely-to-drag-down-prices-1.1286567

Qatar Airlines: Pleased With Airbus, Far Less So With Another

News Analysis: Airlines need their New Aircraft on or before their Contracted Delivery Dates (as it appears Qatar will be joyously receiving with its Airbus A350’s). They are tiring of hearing about Aircraft Delays from other Air Frames. It seems that some Air Frames “Promise the Moon” (especially in terms of estimated low fuel burn and projected on-time reliability).

The Benefits of the Technologies the Air Frames now promote, such as All Composite Construction, say next to NOTHING about Structural De-lamination due to Stress (or Cosmic and Solar Radiation at Cruise Elevations), Detonation like a ‘Shattered Egg’ (when the fuselage hits the airport runway as when landing-gear failure arises), nor Flammability of the Carbon/Carbon Composite Construction (from even little Lithium-Ion Batteries).

As the Administrations of Airlines commence to “Wise-Up” to the Games played by SOME Airframes, they will cease being “Freiers” who are easily influenced by the Chicanery offered by Air Frame Marketeers.

Any time a new Aircraft is YEARS LATE in its Delivery to Customers means that the Scope of Work Was Not Properly Estimated and Assets (Human and Financial) were not properly allocated (as also might be not properly estimated is the Aircraft’s Performance, Fuel Burn, and Dispatch Reliability)

Reality.

Reference: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/2014/02/12/Qatar-Airways-expects-to-receive-first-A350s-early.html

Air India Disenchanted With Told ‘Tales’ Of New Aircraft Fuel Burn Efficiencies, Etc.

News Analysis: When A Commercial Aircraft Manufacturer “Talks The Talk, It Must Walk The Walk”;  especially with alleged Misrepresentations regarding Estimated Fuel Burn Efficiencies and projected Dispatch Reliability.

Air India had apparently succumbed to the “Lighter Is Better” (LIB) (without defining ‘Lighter’) ‘Marketing Hype’ some say, then purchased significant numbers of the Composite Aircraft; presently, to its Chagrin, many people suggest.

‘LIB’ did have an immediate positive impact on the price of the Aircraft Manufacturer’s Stock (to the delight of some of the Top Retiring Managers who helped think up the ‘scheme’). The Mass Media ravished praise (on that which they new little about) further raising the price of the Stock.

The Engineering Model for this Aircraft apparently made both “Drastic” Engineering Assumptions regarding its “Complete” Composite Construction (from different vendors), Disregard of Flammability Potential, Its Heavy Reliance on Electrical Power (forgoing Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems), and its Projected Weight vs. its Actual Empty Weight. As an amalgam of all these changes in Aircraft Construction, Logarithmic rather than Arithmetic Changes ensued. This reality to the cost of Billions of Dollars for the Air Frame, Years Late Deliveries, Poor Line Quality in Assembly, and poorer Fuel Efficiency than Advertised many people maintain.

Some Aircraft Engineers suggest that the Shorter Life Span built into the design of this Aircraft (by virtue of its Composite rather than Metal Construction) will further tarnish Air India’s View of its purchases.

People suggest that perhaps a Meditating Shiva can provide some direction in this Continuing Conundrum which Air India, acting honorably, did not bargain for.

Reference: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-11/boeing-says-air-india-unhappy-with-787-dreamliner-s-reliability.html

They Tell Them What They Want Them To Hear (Not What They Need To Know)

News Analysis: The Myopic Marketing Machinations regarding the use of Composite Materials for Aircraft Construction as touted by Airframes and their Mass Media Minions discuss weight reduction compared to Metal Aircraft. While there will be some weight savings between the materials, as well as some design allowances which are more difficult to achieve with Metals, there are some Key Drawbacks which are typically not discussed.

There are Three Main Problems with Composite Civil or Commercial Aircraft: De-lamination, Detonation, and Flammability.

De-lamination: Stress applied to Composite materials can, over time, make the Carbon/Carbon Textile Fabric  de-laminate from other conjoining Fabric. De-lamination makes the sturdiness of the Composites ‘disappear’ to the point of being as strong as a piece of soft fabric. As used in the structure of a fuselage or Wing Box, this could be Catastrophic in flight. It no longer has the strength of the fabricated “Vacuum Bagged and Autoclaved ” original structure.

Secondly, Long Term Exposure to Cosmic and Solar Radiation of a Composite Aircraft in High Altitude Flight will eventually weaken the adhesive thereby allowing Fabric De-lamination to occur.

Thirdly, allegedly, the U.S. B-2 Stealth Composite Bomber has had issues over its ‘brief’ life. The U.S. Air Force is presently seeking funding for a replacement of this Vaunted Aircraft. It is too expensive to maintain and has a shorter life expectancy than Metal Aircraft (is what has been reported in the media). The Leading Edges of the Wings need to be constantly examined for Surface Deterioration from  flying in the skies with particulates in the air.

The American led  Gulf War with Silica Sand particles in the air damaged the B-2’s in their flights from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, U.S.A., to Iraq and back. U.S. Air Force Line Maintenance Personnel were quite chagrined by this reality it has been widely reported. What can Airlines expect of this Composite Behavior in flight  that would be different from the U.S. Air Force experiences? The Commercial Airlines will not fly in the Middle East? Hardly.

Detonation: Composite Aircraft cannot land on Airport Runways if they have Landing Gear Failure for example, without detonating the Composites into many Shards (as in an Explosion). Like an Egg Shell that destructs when smashed against something, so too will the underside of a Composite Aircraft have those portions of itself thrown all over a runway. A Metal Aircraft “dents”; a Composite Aircraft “explodes”, in effect.

Flammability: Carbon/Carbon Fabric and Petrochemical Adhesives used to ‘Glue an aircraft together’ are Flammable. The recent Small Battery Episodes causing fire to the Composite Airliners, for which they were grounded for months is a good example of this FACTUAL INHERENT MATERIALS’ LIABILITY. A Small Battery caused extensive aft fuselage damage to an Ethiopian Airlines Aircraft at Heathrow Airport in England. It reportedly took TWO MONTHS for the Airframe to ‘Secretly Repair” the damage. In fact, allegedly NO data as to the Repair Process has been disseminated to the Public nor to other Airlines. Why is that? What does the Airframe NOT WANT potential Customers to know? people ask.

If an Engine Detonation were to occur in flight and hot pieces of the engine (much hotter than a little battery) were to strike the Wing or Fuselage, a fire would be possible. A defective Microwave Oven used in the Galley could overheat, creating a possible fire in the fuselage.

What if the Auxiliary Power Unit were to catch fire and one was flying in such a Composite Aircraft over the Pacific Ocean, far from any airport, at night with a storm occurring below?

Flying into a storm may be hazardous in such a scenario and the greater atmospheric pressure of lower altitude might expand the fire due to more oxygen being present; a possible scenario

METALS IN AIRCRAFT ARE NOT FUEL SOURCES FOR FIRE, Carbon/Carbon Fabrics and the Petrochemical Adhesives ARE; This is not Clever Marketing But Real-World Science.

The Specious Argument of “Weight Savings for Fuel Savings” has a nice sound to it, but ignores the Composite Aircraft Realities of De-lamination, Detonation, And Flammability.

One must ask: “Is Aircraft Safety More Important to Society than Some Fuel Savings to An Airline?”  The answer from Men of Good Conscience is “Safety Wins”; For those who choose Fuel Savings, let them enjoy their potential “Fires in the Sky”.

To those who only write about Composite Aircraft Weight Savings, one must ask: “What about Composites’ Liabilities?”

We tell it as We see it; We are beholden to No One.

Reality is the truth.

Reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25833264

☆ 787 Aircraft Lithium Ion Battery Problems Continue

News Analysis:  Some people think the continued Lithium Ion Battery problems of the Boeing 787 Aircraft susbstantiate the need for a re-examination by Aviation Authorities; This of the probability of fire commencing in such batteries on aircraft. This Carbon/Carbon Composite Aircraft CANNOT tolerate a fire incident without possible serious results. If such an event were to occur it would become a “Nightmare Liner” to its Manufacturer.

Various Aircraft Engineers think the Airframe grossly mis-judged both the Electrical Demands and the Electrical Supplies necessary for this Aircraft when it was designed. Now, existing customers and potential customers might consider how such negative events created by questionable design assumptions might impact their own Airline Flight Operations.  

The inherent frailties of Carbon/Carbon Composite Fuselages for Commercial Aircraft: Delamination, Detonation, and Flammability, which was already known for years by Aircraft Structural Engineers,  must also be reckoned with by Operators.

Reference: http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/breaking-news/boeing-confirms-new-787-battery-incident/story-fnjbnvta-1226802191933