Two close-ups of Airbus A320-232 nose gear assemblies of VT-INS and VT-IND. Click on the image for a high resolution view. Thanks to IndiGo airlines.
The images are my copyright.
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The images are my copyright.
7 hours ago
Blackberry Desktop for Mac v 1.0.0
RIM appears to have released v 1.0.0 (Build 75) of the Blackberry Desktop for Mac.
Before downloading I suggest you read this article at the San Francisco Chronicle.
For more detail on RIM's new BlackBerry software for Mac, including differences between the Mac and PC version, read "Four Things You Didn't Know About BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac".
Grab your copy of BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac v 1.0.0 here or here before RIM locates it and starts removing it from the web.
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Before downloading I suggest you read this article at the San Francisco Chronicle.
For more detail on RIM's new BlackBerry software for Mac, including differences between the Mac and PC version, read "Four Things You Didn't Know About BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac".
Grab your copy of BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac v 1.0.0 here or here before RIM locates it and starts removing it from the web.
Plane spotting images: Return trip from Guwahati via Kolkata on IndiGo airlines
Events of the week have over-taken me and left me with no time to post the return leg story of my Guwahati and Kolkata trip. My apologies.
The return flights were smooth but reasonably eventful in other ways.
Despite leaving well ahead of time, I got stuck in a traffic jam and barely made it to the airport, thanks to my Bihari driver who kept his foot jammed on the accelerator and hand jammed on the horn.
Meanwhile, a young husband and wife had a tiff and she walked off from the airport leaving the airline scrambling to remove bags. More drama on board by the husband which was finally shut up by a lady manager of IndiGo, who very politely but with a backbone of steel, told the husband that IndiGo prides it's on time departure performance and he had two choices -- shut up, sit down, and let the flight go, or get off, let the flight go, and he can talk to the Guwahati police. Wisely the young man chose the former and we were away.
The landing at Bangalore was another concerning time. Some moron decided to switch on his cell phone right on finals. The first officer had to make three announcements from the flight decks requesting the phone to be switched off. I felt like getting up, locating the idiot, and slapping him or her silly for endangering all of us.
The sun was shining all the way through and thanks to some friends at IndiGo, I managed to catch up on my airplane spotting.
The usual clean cabin on our Guwahati Kolkata flight on board VT-IND. This aircraft is almost three years old. I wish Air India learns housekeeping from IndiGo.
This is Air India's latest Airbus A319-112 VT-SCR inducted just a month earlier, getting ready to depart from Kolkata.
An usual wide angle view of IndiGo Airbus A320-232 VT-IND as we stepped off the aircraft. VT-SCR is in the background. Just love the monsoon clouds building up in the background.
Have a great weekend, and stay tuned. Two ultra close-up pictures of A320 nose gears coming up on Monday.
Read more »
The return flights were smooth but reasonably eventful in other ways.
Despite leaving well ahead of time, I got stuck in a traffic jam and barely made it to the airport, thanks to my Bihari driver who kept his foot jammed on the accelerator and hand jammed on the horn.
Meanwhile, a young husband and wife had a tiff and she walked off from the airport leaving the airline scrambling to remove bags. More drama on board by the husband which was finally shut up by a lady manager of IndiGo, who very politely but with a backbone of steel, told the husband that IndiGo prides it's on time departure performance and he had two choices -- shut up, sit down, and let the flight go, or get off, let the flight go, and he can talk to the Guwahati police. Wisely the young man chose the former and we were away.
The landing at Bangalore was another concerning time. Some moron decided to switch on his cell phone right on finals. The first officer had to make three announcements from the flight decks requesting the phone to be switched off. I felt like getting up, locating the idiot, and slapping him or her silly for endangering all of us.
The sun was shining all the way through and thanks to some friends at IndiGo, I managed to catch up on my airplane spotting.
The usual clean cabin on our Guwahati Kolkata flight on board VT-IND. This aircraft is almost three years old. I wish Air India learns housekeeping from IndiGo.
This is Air India's latest Airbus A319-112 VT-SCR inducted just a month earlier, getting ready to depart from Kolkata.
An usual wide angle view of IndiGo Airbus A320-232 VT-IND as we stepped off the aircraft. VT-SCR is in the background. Just love the monsoon clouds building up in the background.
Have a great weekend, and stay tuned. Two ultra close-up pictures of A320 nose gears coming up on Monday.
Video: Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Bell 430 helicopter crash site
One of the most intense searches in Indian aviation history came to a sad end this morning.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, his special secretary P Subramaniam, chief security officer A S C Wesley, pilots Group Capt S K Bhatia and Capt M S Reddy were found dead in the mangled and charred remains of his Bell 430 helicopter which crashed on top of the Rudrakonda hill in the Nallamalla forest range near Atmakur, about 40 nm (70 km) east of the town of Kurnool.
View Larger Map
Since 09:30 yesterday morning when contact with the chopper was lost, a massive search and rescue operation was implemented.
The search involved two Chetak helicopters from Air Force Station Hakimpet near Hyderabad, an Mi-8 and three Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) of the Sarang team from Air Force Station Yelahanka which is adjacent to the Bengaluru International Airport.
The Indian Space Research Organisation was roped in for real time satellite imagery along with aircraft with special sensors, and three Sukhoi SU-30MKI's from Air Force Station Bareily in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh were deployed for searches using their synthetic aperture radars. Airborne refuelling was provided by the IL-76 tankers.
All this high technology could not locate the helicopter.
The search was narrowed down from hundreds of square kilometres to just four square kilometres by using cellular tower triangulation which was triggered by the receipt of a text SMS sent to one of the cell phones on the helicopter.
The Chief Minister was much loved figure and there is sorrow across the nation. A parliamentary probe has already been announced. Questions are bound to be raised as to why the pilot deviated away from the flight plan and flew east instead of south.
There was bad weather between Kurnool and Chitoor yesterday. Atmakaru is a hilly area couple this with poor visibility and the low altitude of the chopper, may have been the fatal mistake. Questions are being raised on whether the flight should have been allowed given the bad weather.
We should wait for the official DGCA report.
The chopper was found completely mangled. A video of the crash site is here.
Read more »
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, his special secretary P Subramaniam, chief security officer A S C Wesley, pilots Group Capt S K Bhatia and Capt M S Reddy were found dead in the mangled and charred remains of his Bell 430 helicopter which crashed on top of the Rudrakonda hill in the Nallamalla forest range near Atmakur, about 40 nm (70 km) east of the town of Kurnool.
View Larger Map
Since 09:30 yesterday morning when contact with the chopper was lost, a massive search and rescue operation was implemented.
The search involved two Chetak helicopters from Air Force Station Hakimpet near Hyderabad, an Mi-8 and three Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) of the Sarang team from Air Force Station Yelahanka which is adjacent to the Bengaluru International Airport.
The Indian Space Research Organisation was roped in for real time satellite imagery along with aircraft with special sensors, and three Sukhoi SU-30MKI's from Air Force Station Bareily in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh were deployed for searches using their synthetic aperture radars. Airborne refuelling was provided by the IL-76 tankers.
All this high technology could not locate the helicopter.
The search was narrowed down from hundreds of square kilometres to just four square kilometres by using cellular tower triangulation which was triggered by the receipt of a text SMS sent to one of the cell phones on the helicopter.
The Chief Minister was much loved figure and there is sorrow across the nation. A parliamentary probe has already been announced. Questions are bound to be raised as to why the pilot deviated away from the flight plan and flew east instead of south.
There was bad weather between Kurnool and Chitoor yesterday. Atmakaru is a hilly area couple this with poor visibility and the low altitude of the chopper, may have been the fatal mistake. Questions are being raised on whether the flight should have been allowed given the bad weather.
We should wait for the official DGCA report.
The chopper was found completely mangled. A video of the crash site is here.
SpiceJet introduces more flights into Goa
By improving its operational efficiencies, New Delhi based value carrier SpiceJet has introduced four new flights from Mumbai and Bangalore into Dabolim airport serving the state of Goa, one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.
SpiceJet has taken its daily departures up from 125 to 129 to capitalise on the upcoming festival and new year season when tourist traffic is highest to the beach resorts of Goa.
The new Mumbai Goa flight, the second between the two airports will commence from September 11, while the new Bangalore Goa flights will start from October 25.
The Mumbai Goa flight will depart at 16:25 arriving Goa at 17:30, returning 18:00 to arrive Mumbai at 19:10.
The Goa Bangalore flight will depart at 13:35 arriving Bangalore at 14:45 returning at 15:15 to arrive Goa at 16:25.
All the flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 all economy class aircraft.
For more details visit the SpiceJet website.
Read more »
SpiceJet has taken its daily departures up from 125 to 129 to capitalise on the upcoming festival and new year season when tourist traffic is highest to the beach resorts of Goa.
The new Mumbai Goa flight, the second between the two airports will commence from September 11, while the new Bangalore Goa flights will start from October 25.
The Mumbai Goa flight will depart at 16:25 arriving Goa at 17:30, returning 18:00 to arrive Mumbai at 19:10.
The Goa Bangalore flight will depart at 13:35 arriving Bangalore at 14:45 returning at 15:15 to arrive Goa at 16:25.
All the flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 all economy class aircraft.
For more details visit the SpiceJet website.
Image: Air India's latest Boeing 777-300ER VT-ALQ "Manipur" delivery flight
Air India's latest Boeing 777-300ER VT-ALQ named after the North Eastern state of Manipur was captured by Rick Schlamp as it took off from Boeing Paine field to New Delhi on its delivery flight yesterday.
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IndiGo Airbus A320-232 diverts to Hyderabad on fire alert
An Indigo Airbus A320-232, VT-INX performing flight 6E-122 from Bangalore to New Delhi with 99 passengers and 6 crew on board, was en-route near Hyderabad, when an engine fire alert activated. The crew decided to divert to Hyderabad, where the airplane landed safely at 18:20.
The flight and technical crew inspected the aircraft and determined the alert to be false. The aircraft resumed its journey to New Delhi after a delay of 2 hours.
IndiGo is the launch customer for the V2500 SelectOne program of engine manufacturer IAE.
Hat tip to Simon Hradecky at AVHerald for the heads up.
Read more »
My file photo of VT-INX. Click on image for a larger view.
The flight and technical crew inspected the aircraft and determined the alert to be false. The aircraft resumed its journey to New Delhi after a delay of 2 hours.
IndiGo is the launch customer for the V2500 SelectOne program of engine manufacturer IAE.
Hat tip to Simon Hradecky at AVHerald for the heads up.
