What Can I Bring On An Airplane?

With security being tightened at the world’s airports due to increased terror threats worldwide, you have probably heard about all of the things that you can’t take on an airplane right now. That may leave you wondering, “What can I bring on an airplane?” Here are a few of the basics:

• All prescription medications. Of course, you will need to store them in a clear plastic bag (along with the original packaging), and check them in at airport security upon arrival at the airport.
• Over-the-counter medications: while you can bring non-prescription drugs on board most planes, they must be carried in clear containers and weight less than three ounces.
• Any liquid or gel item that is purchased at the airport after passing security. While you may not carry and liquid or gel item onto a plane from home, you may purchase it in the airport since it has already been screened by security
• Baby formula and breast milk: it does, however, need to in containers less than three ounces and must be checked at the security checkpoint prior to boarding.
• Solid cosmetics and personal care items such as deodorant, Chap Stick and lipstick. No gels or aerosols though
• Batteries: most batteries are allowed as long as they are already installed in some sort of electronic device. No spares allowed.

Of course the best way to answer the question, “what can I bring on an airplane” is to contact the airline the day you plan to fly to see if there have been any policy changes since you booked your flight.

Largest Airplane Ever

Can you believe that the largest airplane ever measured was more than 275 feet long and featured a wing span of 290 feet? Well, it did! The Russian An-225 Cossnak may be considered the largest airplane ever built, but there are other largest airplane ever facts out there to consider when learning about super-large-scale aircraft. Here are just a few:

• the An-225 Cossnack had a miximum takeoff weight of 1,322,770 pounds!
• The An-124 Condor is the second largest plane to be produced in the world (it too is Russian). It measures 226 feet 8.5 inches, and has a wingspan of 240 feet 5.75 inches.
• The C-5 Galaxy (an American-made plane) ranks third with a length of only 247 feet 10 inches, a wingspan of 222 feet 8.5 inches. It carries a mere 837,000 pounds compared to its Russian counterparts.
• The largest pusher plane in the world is the B-36 Peacemaker, made by Convair - USA. It is 162 feet 1 inch long and features a 230 foot wingspan
• The HK-1 Spruce Goose (more commonly known as the H-4) I featured the largest wingspan in aviation history — 320 feet long, with a height of 80 feet, a length of 218 feet, 6 inches.

For aviation specialists, it can be difficult to choose the largest airplane ever built since so many things can be considered in the calculation: the body length; wingspan and of course lift-off capacity.

When Is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Europe?

Everyone dreams of taking a European vacation at least once in their lifetime. But, few people have the money available to make that dream a reality. If, however, you have managed to save a bit to plan that dream trip, you will want to save all you can on airfare to ensure that you can see all the sights Europe has to offer. That may leave you wondering when is the cheapest time to fly to Europe?

Travel experts know that certain times of day and certain seasons of the year can both offer deep discounts on airfare, if you are willing to be flexible with your travel plans. Let us take a look at when is the cheapest time to fly to Europe to help you get the best deal:

• Off Season: the absolute cheapest time to fly to Europe is during the off-season. That is usually after Christmas, but before Easter (mid January to mid April). While the weather may be a lot colder in Europe then, there are great deals to be had on both airfare and lodging.
• Mid-Week: The absolute cheapest time to fly is on a Wednesday when many airlines run specials to help fill plane seats. If you can not fly on a Wednesday, try booking your flight on Tuesday or Saturday instead.
• Inconvenient times of the day: the cheap flights usually take off right away in the morning (between 4-6 am); at lunchtime; or during the dinner hour. Few people want the hassle of getting through airport security and boarding during these hours, which makes flight seats cheaper.

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to lesson the financial burden of a European vacation, but unless you are extremely flexible and can leave at a moment’s notice to fill an empty airline seat or are willing to plane hop throughout the trip, the three tips above are the best way to discover when is the cheapest time to fly to Europe. Happy Travels!

China Facing The Skies With Many Hurdles

As it has tried to do with almost everything, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) wants to put its finger print in the buoying field of wide-body aircraft development. During the summer of 2006, Chinese aerospace officials expressed their intentions of producing a big body, commercial airplane within a fifteen year range. The project, which is interimly known as Program ‘Jumbo’, is an integral part of China’s Five Year Economic Developing Plan.

Jumbo’s profile calls for an air platform with 150 passenger seats and a weight of more than 220,000 pounds at time of takeoff, which will make it bigger then Boeing’s 757 and in the same class of the Seattle-based companys highly successful 767 type. Plans are in the works to complete the first model and have it flying by the end of the decade.

At the same time, a parallel program designed to deliver the Jumbo’s massive engines is well underway. With full backing of the PRC, a domestic aerospace group named Avic I is developing a revolutionary turbofan engine with greater thrust than the best know western one, the CFM-56 and V-2500. But despite full monetary and an all out technical support from the government, Avic I is still a few years away from completing its first testing model. Thus, the possibility that Jumbo will be initially fitted with western-provided engines is all but assured.

China is also working on a cargo version of the Jumbo, which, according to government insiders, will come out first. The new plane will have roughly the same dimensions as Boeing’s 787.

While both programs are showing signs of promise, there are still problems associated with both projects. Although China’s two main aerospace bureaus, Avic I and II, already have long lasting experiences building parts for western planes, both companies failed to put together a commercially-successful domestic assembly line for their western-demanded products. Their main attempt, the MD-90, in which most of the newly produced ARJ-21 regional jet’s technology has derived, can be considered a monumental failure.

The only source of encouragement is China’s ability to reproduce 787 parts, which had allowed the firms currently doing the work to gain valuable experience in the handling of carbon-fiber products. Still, as good as the Chinese have become at duplicating western technologies, they, are far from the development of a reliable and efficient wide-body aircraft that can attract international interest.

Time has shown that without massive government subsidies, the nascent Chinese aerospace industry simply can not produce the much advertised Jumbo. Unfortunately for the industry, no huge government investment is on the horizon as China needs to keep up with the World Trade Organization’s strict free trade rules. There’s also another factor to consider. One that could jeopardize the entire project: technology.

For years, aluminum airframes offered a slow-moving target for aircraft development startups, which knew that even if the design was conservative, the key to their efficiency laid on their ability to buy off the shelf engines. But dramatic advances in structural design and systems done for the 787 and Airbus A350, means that no conservative design will be profitable, no matter how efficient it turns out to be.

To add more, current state-assured funding will run out before the second stage of the Jumbo program is completed. In 2009, the PRC began slashing the budgets of several, non essential projects and although no Jumbo money was touched, chances are history will not repeat itself come next July. Industry experts believe that budgetary availability for the entire cycle needs to be maintained until the production line for the Jumbo, now a few years away, is up, running and profitable. Yet another challenge for the entire enterprise is to earn a reputation as a reliable supplier.

An article by Raul Colon: rcolonfrias@yahoo.com

Long Flights Tips

Long airline flights can test just about anyone’s nerves; even a seasoned traveler. That is why it is so important to be prepared for those long-haul trips. Here are a few long flights tips to consider when planning any trip that will keep you in the air longer than 3-4 hours:

• Wear layers. Temperatures can fluctuate throughout a plane ride, so be sure to avoid discomfort by wearing several layers of clothing to accommodate any temperature.
• Book a good seat. Pick an aisle or emergency exit seat if you want more legroom and a window seat if you want to sleep during your trip.
• Bring along plenty of things to keep you occupied including a good book; plenty of magazines; your own iPod or even a portable DVD player.
• Bring your own earphones. The ones supplied by the airlines usually offer poor sound quality. Besides, if you bring your own you can use ones that buffer outside cabin noises as well.
• Bring along your own travel pillow.
• Do not wear a watch. Nothing makes a long flight seem longer than watching a clock.
• Protect yourself against dry cabin air. Drink plenty of water throughout the flight and while you’re at it, use chap stick, eye drops and nose sprays to keep your entire body hydrated properly.
• If you are of a shorter stature, be sure to bring some sort of foot elevator to keep your back and shoulders from getting stiff or sore during the flight.
• Pack a bag of lollipops in your carry on to give to cranky children on the plane. It is a simple fix for an otherwise annoying problem. Just be sure to check with their parents first.

Travelling for hours and hours in a cramped stuffy plane can be a real hassle, but it doesn’t have to be if you follow these simple long flights tips.

Cheaper Days to Fly

Before you plan your next trip, you may want to consider what day of the week you fly. Believe it or not, there are actually cheaper days to fly. There are three things that drive airline pricing: competition, demand and inventory. When it comes to finding cheaper days to fly, you will want to concentrate on demand. The less demand there is for airline seats, the less expensive they will be. Here are some tips to consider when looking for cheap flight seats:

• Book flights on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Saturdays for the best deals. Be sure to book a Saturday night stay-over for the absolute cheapest tickets.
• Always fly in the early morning.
• Look to see which days are the least travelled days in and out of specific areas. Stay away from busy days when everyone else wants to book their flight.
• The cheapest airfares are found in the spring and summer months when business travel is down and more seats are available.

Finding the absolute best deals on airfare requires doing a little research to determine cheaper days to fly which means figuring out when everyone else wants to get out of town, and book your flight on another day.

Air Asia Flight Booking

Air Asia flight booking is now easier than ever. There is no need to call a travel agent every time you want to travel within Air Asia’s long haul destination routes. Use AirAsia X to get the best deal on longer flights, plus, by using their new AirAsia X online service you can time when booking your next flight. This innovative online service allows those travelling longer journeys to:

• Keep up with all of the airline’s newest destination offerings
• Take advantage of all of Air Asia’s promotions (even those that are generally left unadvertised)
• Book your next flight online without the hassle of using an agent
• Book your next flight without re-entering your details every time you want to purchase online tickets
• Book flights longer than four hours at the least expense using Air Asia’s newest cost-cutting service, AirAsiaX

Traveling within the Asian corridor doesn’t have to be a hassle any longer. Air Asia flight booking just got a whole lot easier, thanks to this new online service that offers fast and easy access to all of your booking needs. For more information about Air Asia flight booking options click onto www.airasia.com.

Where Can I Watch a Flight Online

Whether you love watching planes coming in for a landing or taking off for unknown destinations; or you are just curious to learn more about how planes fly, you maybe wondering: where can I watch a flight online? Luckily, you do not have to live near an airport to enjoy the wonders of plane travel. You can watch planes taking off and landing all over the world at these interesting websites:

• www.dsc.discovery.com. A website offering a complete listing of videos shot and aired on the discovery channel in recent years, this is a great place to watch all kinds of aviation videos including takeoffs, landings and such.
• www.nasa.gov. If you are interested in seeing the space shuttle take off and land, be sure to check out what the NASA website has to offer.
• www.faa.gov. The Federal Aviation Administration website offers all kinds of great information and videos for those interested in aviation. Be sure to check out the student and news sections to watch online flights of all types.
• www.flightlevel350.com. A great website geared toward the aviation enthusiasts. It showcases all kinds of online flights to watch.
• Your local airport. Some larger airports offer their own flight videos on their websites so be sure to check some of the busiest airport websites in the nation to see both real-time and taped landings and takeoffs.

The next time you ask yourself “where can I watch a flight online” be sure to check out the websites listed above to satisfy your curiosity.

NW Flight 188

There are a lot of things that can cause airline passengers to worry these days: delays; terror attacks; even drunken pilots, but who would have thought missing the airport would be added to the list? Overshooting the airport by hundreds of miles never seemed to be a problem until October, 2009 when NW flight 188 missed Minneapolis altogether, seemingly getting lost in the air for about 80 minutes. It seems that the pilots of NW flight 188 were so engaged in an argument amongst themselves that they did not take notice that the airport was in view. They travelled an additional 150 miles until they realized that they had missed their landing.

Want to know more about this fateful flight? Here are a few facts:

• The Captain of NW flight 188 had more than 20,000 hours of flight time recorded at the time of the incident.
• The flight’s 1st Officer was a retired Sir Force Pilot
• There were 144 passengers and five crew members aboard NW flight 188 on that fateful trip
• Originating in San Diego, the plane was scheduled to land in Minneapolis

With no technical, mechanical or weather issues to deal with, one can only wonder why these two seemingly experienced pilots lost track of their location for so long with no radio communication for almost an hour and a half.

Puerto Rico Aviation

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return”-Leonardo Da Vinci.

Man’s fascination with flying is one of the common bonds universally shared. Men and women all around the globe take to the skies on a daily bases to commute, work or simply to enjoy what Da Vinci once called “the magnificent view from atop”. This powerful ‘addiction’ to such incredible adventure is the driving force behind the booming recreational flying industry, one of the few platforms not deeply affected by the world-wide economic depression.

As in many places, recreational flying spearheads a great deal of interest in the small Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. Located just a few hundred miles out of Miami. Puerto Rico, a United States territory since 1898, is a hot bed for aviation enthusiast trying to build their own enterprises.

One such man is Greg Bettis, a Texas-born pilot who has made this tropical island his home. “I was flying out of Texas and Massachusets before moving to the Caribbean. It’s has been an incredible experience working here as flying is becoming an important aspect of the Puerto Rican life style”, said the young entrepreneur. The sector Bettis talks about is panoramic flying, a source of recreational flight that takes the passengers along sightseeing trips.

Bettis, who took of the art of flying in 1999, began his career as a panoramic pilot in 2004 running charters for one of the biggest recreational outfits on the island. Two years later he founded Vertical Solutions, a small, two man operation which is primed for bigger things as the 2010 Centro American and Caribbean Games will be held on Puerto Rico’s western coast. “The Games will be a very significant opportunity for us. We are coordinating to shuttle VIPs as well as regular personnel and even cargo, if the need arises, to and from Mayaguez (the city where the majority of the events will be celebrated)”, added the thirty-something cowboy turned beach tourist.

There’s nothing like seeing a city from 4,000 feet above, especially if it’s at night! Or watching the venerable El Morro Fort, one of the oldest edifications in the New World, and imagining the history surrounding its massive walls. For the nature lover there’s a trip to El Yunque, the US only tropical rain forest, and the Central Mountains, a curvedly looking region situated in the middle of the island. If you are a beach lover, then luck is in your side. Puerto Rico’s beaches are usually ranked near the top as their beauty is unparallel in the region. Whatever is your craving, Bettis and his staff will be more than willing to satisfy it.

“We slowly are changing the thinking. If you want to make it quick to a point, fly an airplane. But if your goal is sightseeing, a helicopter is your ticket”. Solutions had on its inventory three helicopters, one Robinson R-22 and two R-44s. The R-22, designed in the early 1970s, is only used for training as it only sits two people. The bigger one, it accommodates four people comfortably, and the more complex R-44 is used to transport personnel and cargo across the small country.

Right across Solutions lays another small transportation company. Founded ten years ago. Flight Training, Inc. is more than a sightseeing venture. With three fixed wing aircraft at its disposal, Training looks more the part of a small airline than a panoramic outfit. With two Cessna 172SP and one Cessna 150, the company is ready to make its mark in an ever competitive market. Still, this is a panoramic industry and Training is seen its piece of the pie get bigger and bigger by the month.

Accordingly to local Ports Authority officials, every month more than 100 panoramic flight plans are filed. That’s an increase of 25 percent compared to last year’s (2008) totals. It also marks the third time in the last five years the figure has increased in double digits, a clear sign that this industry is booming in the island. “The industry does not feel, up to date, the effects of this dire recession”, said Robert Gonzalez, aviation liaison for the Puerto Rican Tourism Company.

“We haven’t experienced a sharp drop on our panoramic trips, yet”, stated Dynah Negron, Training’s executive secretary. But even if they encounter one, Training, as well as Solution and all the rest of the units operating out of the Isla Grande Regional Airport in San Juan are well situated to expand to another, largely untapped sector: flight training. Official Ports Authority numbers for Puerto Rico shows that almost 15 new flying aficionados applied for flight training every month, an increase of just 5 percent, but one that has maintained a steady pace since 2002.

Both companies are gearing up to training would-be pilots with aggressive campaigns. Even if they succeed in enticing more enthusiasts to their pilot training courses, panoramic flying still will be the bulk of their business for the foreseeable future. And why not? Where else would they live Da Vinci’s dream if not in the air?

An article by Raul Colon: rcolonfrias@yahoo.com

Next Page »