Archive for the ‘air travel’ Category
Posted by feww on June 14, 2011
Ash clouds from Puyehue Cordón Caulle continue to disrupt Australia, NZ flights
The ash plume from Puyehue Cordón Caulle covers southern Australia and the Tasman sea (above), as well as New Zealand and the South Pacific Ocean (below).
Both images were captured by MODIS on the Aqua satellite on June 13, 2011. Source: NASA-EO. Click images to enlarge.
Credit: NOAA and EUMETSAT
Puyehue-Cordón Caulle in Chile exploded on June 4, 2011 sending an ash plume to a height of about 16km, towering above the local clouds. The top image is a false-color image captured by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite. The image is rotated clockwise by 90 degrees. The vertical profile of the atmosphere, captured by CALIPSO, is shown in the colored graph below the MODIS image. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.
Airline Flights
Australian airline Qantas said it was too dangerous to fly through the thick clouds of ash drifting over the Pacific Ocean from continuous eruption at CORDON CAULLE volcano in the Puyehue Volcano Complex, Chile. Accordingly, it has cancelled all its flights to and from Melbourne. The decision follows earlier flight cancellations in and out of Tasmania and most of of New Zealand.
All other airlines, with the exception of Air New Zealand, have also grounded flights in the region.
The logic-defying Air New Zealand is risking the lives of its passengers by worming in out of the ash clouds, trying to dodge the worst of the plumes. The airline said it was adjusting flight paths to steer aircraft below the ash!!
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand said they felt comfortable with Air New Zealand flight continuing below 20,000feet (6 km) because most of the ash appeared to be above that altitude.
“[Air New Zealand general manager airline operations and safety Captain] Capt Morgan said the MetService had advised that the ash cloud was now much higher and the Civil Aviation Authority was comfortable for domestic and trans-Tasman services to continue to operate.” a report said.
Air Travelers Don’t Seem to Get the Message!
Watch out for multiple planes falling out of the sky in the coming months due to “unknown” or “mysterious” causes.
One of the planes grounded in an Argentine airport after volcanic ash from the Puyehue Volcano eruption in early June 2011 disrupted air travel throughout the region. Credit: Reuters.
Related Links
FIRE-EARTH Volcano Watch
Posted in air safety, air travel | Tagged: airlines, australia flights, NZ flights, Puyehue Ash clouds, Puyehue Cordón Caulle satellite images, Puyehue eruption, Puyehue Volcano Satellite Images, Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on May 22, 2010
Air India Express Crashes, Killing 158 People, 8 survive
The Boeing 737-800 plane, flight IX-812 from Dubai to Mangalore, apparently skidded off the runway in rain at Mangalore airport in India’s Karnataka state at about 05:30UTC, killing 158 of 166 people aboard, the Airline said, adding that all the passengers were Indian nationals.
Villagers and rescue workers rush to the scene of the Air India plane crash at Mangalore Airport. Image: AP. Image may be subject to copyright. See Fair Use Notice.
“The accident occurred after the aircraft landed at Mangalore airport and overshot the runway,” Air India said.
According to another report the plane was carrying 163 passengers and 9 crew, and only six people survived the crash.
“The plane had broken into two. I jumped out of the plane after it crashed. I saw two other people also come out,” a crash survivor told a local TV channel.
“There was a tire-burst kind of noise. I tried to get out of the front but saw that there was a big fire. So I went back again and jumped out from there.”
The flight had already landed. There was slight rain. The flight skidded off,” according to an eye witness, “After that it caught fire. Villagers, everyone there, came to rescue.”
A local TV channel showed charred bodies strewn in the forested terrain, according to a report.
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Serial No 1,752. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).
Posted in air travel, airline disasters, airline safety, airliner crash, environment, Mangalore airport crash | Tagged: Air India Express Crash, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-800 crash, Indian Airliner Crash, Mangalore airport | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on January 25, 2010
Ethiopian jet crashed into the Mediterranean
Informed sources advise the blog that the plane may have been shot down by an Israeli missile.
An Ethiopian Airlines jet with 90 people on board crashed into the Mediterranean sea earlier today.
An Ethiopian Airlines 737-800. Photo released by Boeing. Image may be subject to copyright.
The plane crashed shortly after take-off from Beirut international airport at about 2:00am local time on Monday, airport sources said, Reuters reported.
“The Boeing 737-800 disappeared off the radar some five minutes after taking off, shortly after its scheduled departure time of 2:10 a.m. (7:10 p.m. EST), during a thunderstorm and heavy rain, the sources said. It was heading for Addis Ababa.”
Eyewitnesses say the plane exploded midair and they saw a “ball of fire” in the air before the plane crashed off Na’ameh village, a few kilometers south of Beirut, according to various sources.
“(The crash) site has been identified three-and-a-half km (two miles) west of the (coastal) village of Na’ameh,” officials said, Reuters reported.
There were Eighty-three passengers and seven crew onboard the airliner, according to the plane’s manifest, Reuters reported sources as saying.
“About 50 passengers were Lebanese nationals, three with dual nationalities: British, Canadian and Russian. Most of the others were Ethiopians. Hundreds of Ethiopians work as domestic helpers in Lebanon.”
The plane had flown to Beirut from Addis Ababa earlier in the night and was returning to Ethiopia.
Marla Pietton, wife of the French ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton, was on the downed plane, according to the French embassy.
“We saw a flash in the sky… We saw a flash over the sea and it was the plane falling.” Another eyewitness told reporters.
Previous incidents of passenger jets destroyed by military shoot-down include:
- Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was shot down by Soviet air force jet on September 1, 1983, over the Sea of Japan, west of Sakhalin island, after it entered prohibited Soviet airspace.
- Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down over the Strait of Hormuz by missiles fired from the U.S. Navy’s guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes, killing all 290 passengers and crew onboard, including 66 children, on Sunday 3 July 1988.
- On July 17th, 1996, TWA flight 800, a Boeing 747-131, which had just taken off from JFK airport heading to Paris, France, was struck by an “external object” believed to be a military test missile, exploded and fell into the Atlantic ocean, killing all 230 people onboard.
State-owned carrier, Ethiopian airline flies to about 60 destinations, and is said to have a “good” safety record. In 1996 one of the airlines’ planes was hijacked and later ditched into sea off Comoros killing 123 people. Another 52 people survived the incident.
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Posted in Addis Ababa, air travel, airline safety, ball of fire, Beirut Airport | Tagged: air incidents, air passenger, Ethiopian Airliner, Ethiopian jet crashed, Israeli missile, Mediterranean Sea | 41 Comments »
Posted by feww on December 17, 2009
Every time you fly a passenger plane …
You risk about 100 times as much exposure to deadly viruses than a non-flier
All else being equal, airline passengers on average risk about 100 times more exposure to a number of potentially deadly viruses than non-flyers.
An airline passenger also produces about 1.36 lbs (~ 0.62 kg) of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (CO2 Equivalents or CO2e) for every air mile she flies. [Source]
On average, passengers on international flights are exposed to a somewhat higher risk of contracting deadly or potentially deadly viruses than those on domestic flights. However, as highlighted by the following Air New Zealand case, a passenger on domestic flight Air NZ flight 509 was nearly as much at risk as one on the international flight NZ1 from London, UK, to Auckland, NZ.
The following is reproduced courtesy of TEAA at New Zeelend Blog:
Posted by te2ataria on December 17, 2009
sent by a reader
Urgent Health Warning!
At least 84 passengers may have been exposed to measles virus on 2 Air New Zealand flights
At least 84 passengers may have been exposed to measles virus on two Air New Zealand flights: Flight NZ1 from London to Auckland on Monday, December 7, and the connecting domestic flight NZ509 from Auckland to Christchurch.
Original photo is by Gail Selkirk and may be subject to copyright.
“Auckland and Canterbury health authorities are trying to contact people sitting near the [infected] baby on both flights; for the international leg, 56 people sitting in rows 56-60 were at risk while 28 people sitting in rows 13-17 were exposed on the domestic flight.” A report said.
It is important that passengers sitting in those rows contact the health authorities to help prevent the spread of the highly infectious and potentially deadly virus that could spread rapidly among unimmunized groups.
“These passengers, or their family members, who have symptoms suggestive of measles are advised to immediately seek advice from a doctor,” Auckland Regional Public Health Service medical officer Dr Brad Novak said.
“Call ahead to alert your doctor or practice nurse about the possibility of measles as this will allow them to arrange to assess you safely without infecting others. People who suspect they may have measles should avoid contact with young children and pregnant women.”
People most at risk of contracting the disease are those who had not had the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine or who had just had one dose of it, the report said.
Some facts about measles:
- Measles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus.
- The classical symptoms of measles include 4-day fevers, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (sore, watery, red eyes).
- Measles is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable childhood mortality, World Health Org says.
- The measles incubation period is up to 21 days.
- Measles killed 345,000 in 2005.
- Measles virus is spread by
- breathing
- coughing
- sneezing
- The measles incubation period is about 21 days.
Measles can be fatal.
Notes:
1.Complications with measles virus are quite common, ranging from less serious symptoms like diarrhea, to pneumonia and death.
2. Complications are often much more severe among adults who contract the virus.
3. The fatality rate among immunocompromised people (e.g., patients with AIDS) is about 30 percent. That rate is about 100 times higher than in people without similar medical preconditions.
Above Left: Measles virus. This thin-section transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealed the ultrastructural appearance of a single virus particle, or “virion”, of measles virus. CDC/ Cynthia S. Goldsmith; William Bellini. More…
Right: Child infected with measles. This child shows a classic day-4 rash with measles. Credit: CDC/NIP/ Barbara Rice
For more information on measles see:
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Posted in air travel, Airline industry, airline safety, airlines, deadly viruses | Tagged: air new zealand, measles risk, measles virus, NZ509, passenger flight, pneumonia from measles, Rubeola | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 1, 2009
Six passengers faint on board British Airways flight
London Ambulance service were called to treat at least six passengers at UK’s Heathrow airport after they fainted while on a British Airways flight.
None of the passengers needed hospitalization and were told they could continue their journeys, according to the airline.
London Ambulance Service was asked to meet the flight from Newark at Terminal Five at 0650 GMT on Saturday.
Emergency services teams initially wore protective suits as it was unclear what had caused the passengers to faint.
“A handful of passengers on the aircraft fainted during the flight. As a precaution, medical services met the aircraft.” A British Airways representative said.
It’s not yet known what caused the British Airways passengers to faint.
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Posted in & Aviation Industry, air travel, airline food, airline safety, airlines, cabin air quality | Tagged: air new zealand, airline passengers faint, airline passengers sickened, British Airways, London Ambulance, Virgin Blue airline food | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on September 7, 2009
FEWW Moderators had never heard of the “Con the Nasty Traveler”
That’s until the “ghost readers” of Condé Nast Traveler allegedly voted Italy and New Zealand as the top 2 tourist destinations in the world [sic.]
Moderators believe tourism [euphemistically, eco-tourism] is an intentional [informed and willing] act of eco-terrorism. How would YOU define tourism and air travel?
Every time you fly someone will die!
MSRB has estimated the carbon pollution (CO2e) associated with air travel:
Each air passenger produces about 1.36 lbs. [0.62 kg] of CO2 and other Greenhouse Gases (called CO2 Equivalents or CO2e) for every air mile flown.
Italy is in Europe, but New Zealand is “downunder.” So what sort of damage do you inflict on the environment when you fly all the way to New Zealand?
NewZeelend, a New Zealand news blog says:
On a return flight from the United States to New Zealand, each visitor produces about 7.4 metric tons of CO2 pollution. [Note: Driving an average passenger car in the US over a year, traveling 12,500 miles (20,112 km), which burns about 581 gallons (2,200 liters) of gasoline, produces about 11,450 pounds (5.2 metric tons) of carbon dioxide.] A couple on a return flight from the US to NZ produce as much CO2 as driving their car for about THREE years! A UK visitor produces about 17.64 metric tons of CO2. A European/UK couple on a return flight to NZ produce more CO2 than in EIGHT years of driving.]
Was tourist safety a factor before Nast[y] Traveler dished out its readers’ award [sic] to New Zealand?
If it did, it would be a massive irony, not to mention downright fraudulent claims.
NewZeelend wrote:
Did you know that between January 1, 2000 and August 9, 2009 at least 1,585 foreigners were killed in New Zealand? [The 450 permanently missing American, Chinese, Japanese, Korean … nationals are not included] That is as many as 36 percent of all US troops killed in Iraq during a comparable period. [Between March 2003 and August 9, 2009, some 4,330 US military personnel were killed in Iraq—officially acknowledged.]
Who’s Masashi Hayama?
Masashi Hayama, 22, a Japanese male, was the 1,603rd foreigner to be killed/murdered in New Zealand [the latest known victim who was found dead just yesterday] since January 1, 2000. If Condé Nast Traveler could interview him now, he would probably have a few words to say about the award.
What about Food Safety in New Zealand?
Ask the 63 percent of all British households who abstained from eating New Zealand lamb throughout 2008 !
Much of New Zealand food is “contaminated with disease-causing bacteria and viruses as a result of over-crowded factory farming conditions and unhygienic processing plants.” NZ Green Party said.
“New Zealand has the highest rates of Campylobacter food poisoning in the developed world, nearly 3 times higher than the next highest countries, England and Wales, and 10 times higher than America and Canada.”
“An extraordinary 75,000 New Zealanders [nearly 2 percent of their population] are affected by Campylobacter food poisoning every year.” [See report highlights.]
And New Zealand Beaches?
Steer clear of deadly fish on New Zealand beaches. Poison from dead fish piling up on New Zealand beaches can kill you in 60 minutes. Deadly fish washed up on New Zealand beaches have prompted health authorities to warning the public to stay away.
The warning signs will not be removed until investigating agencies believe Auckland’s beaches are safe. Photo: PHIL REID/The Dominion Post
Image may be subject to copyright. (Source: Lethal Coastal Waters Kill Deadly Fish!)
Any Other Health Concerns in New Zealand?
See: New Zealand Visitor Health Warnings
You can express your opinion about air travel, tourism award, or eco-terrorism by emailing the Editor, [discredited] CNTraveller.com at emma.lundin@condenast.co.uk
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Posted in air travel, CO2e emissions, Condé Nast Traveler, eco tourism, eco-terrorism, Every time you fly someone will die | Tagged: "top 2 tourist destinations", 10 worst places, ghost readers, Masashi Hayama, Nasty Traveler, Tourism, Travel, travel award | 4 Comments »
Posted by feww on August 6, 2009
Airbus Engine Catches Fire in Orly, Paris
Eight people were injured when 165 passengers on an Airbus 310 stampeded toward the emergency exists after an engine suddenly caught fire as the plane prepared for takeoff.
Vueling Flight 9127, was preparing to take off from Orly Airport in Paris, France, heading toward Alicante in southeastern Spain when the engine caught fire at 10:36 am, on Wednesday.
“Before getting out, everybody was panicking inside the plane. When people heard about the incident, everybody was pushing each other to get out and eventually everybody went down the emergency slides,” a passenger told Associated Press.
“Jose Luis Casado, a representative of the Spanish carrier Iberia, which owns nearly half of Vueling, said that a ground employee spotted liquid leaking from one of the engines as it was starting. The employee sounded an alert, but the fire broke out soon after.”
The management decided to use the emergency slides to evacuate the passengers, Casado said.
“Of course, it is a very spectacular procedure because we use the emergency slides, we make the usual announcements, asking people to take off their shoes and leave their luggage on board the plane. It’s quite a traumatic experience for the passengers.”
For a list of most recent air crashes and Airbus near misses click on the link below.
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Posted in air disaster, air new zealand, air travel, airbus safety record, airline safety | Tagged: af 447, air france airbus, Airbus near misses, Alicante flight, Iberia, Vueling Flight 9127, Yemenia Airbus | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 3, 2009
Severe turbulence shakes Continental airliner near Dominican Republic
A Continental airliner flying from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas, Monday experienced severe turbulence at 36,000 feet, injuring more than 30 passengers—at least 4 of them seriously—and forcing the plane to divert to Miami International Airport.
“There were 168 passengers on Flight 128, which was originally headed from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas, according to Lt. Elkin Sierra of the Miami-Dade Fire Department.” CNN reported.
Some of the injured were taken to hospitals in Miami, while others with less serious injuries were treated on the spot after the plane landed at Miami International Airport at about 6 am ET.
“The Boeing 767 hit turbulence about 50 miles north of the Dominican Republic at about 38,000 feet, according to an official with the Federal Aviation Administration.”
“The airline will decide whether or not to leave the uninjured passengers on the aircraft and continue the flight or disembark the entire aircraft,” Sierra said.
A Report Video
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Posted in air travel, airline safety, Boeing 767, Dominican Republic, Miami International Airport | Tagged: Continental airlines, emergency landing, Flight 128, Houston, Rio de Janeiro, severe turbulence | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on January 14, 2009
Greenpeace Land Purchase: Campaign ruse or environmental activism?
Anti-expansion protesters bought land earmarked for London Heathrow’s third runway
A coalition of environmentalists have bought land [about 5,000 square meters] in Sipson village, said to be right in the middle of the proposed new terminal for London Heathrow’s 3rd runway. The proposed runway and terminal area would force the demolition of hundreds of homes in the area, reports said.
Words “our climate – our land” are written on the plot. Source: Greenpeace. Image may be subject to copyright.
The new owners, a Greenpeace coalition have pledged not to sell the land to the government or the BAA, should the airport expansion be approved by the planning
Source the BBC/BAA.
Greenpeace said: “Heathrow expansion isn’t only an issue for those of us unfortunate enough to live on the flight path. If expansion goes ahead Heathrow will become the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the whole country. And the government’s plans to expand airports across the UK will make it impossible for us to meet our commitment to reduce emissions and stop runaway climate change.”
FEWW Comments: We hope this is a genuine move by Greenpeace, and not a political stunt [meant to buy them ‘street cred’ and endear them in the hearts and minds of the new generation of environmental activists,] which was pulled off after BAA and others had already scuppered plans for the third runway because of worsening global economy and a sizable contraction in tourism and air travel.
More on this story:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/join-plot-stop-airport-expansion-20090112
Posted in air travel, airport expansion, BAA, contraction in tourism, global economy | Tagged: Climate Change, environmental issues, Greenpeace, Heathrow, London | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on July 31, 2008
California state Attorney General Jerry Brown is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for “wantonly” ignoring its duty to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
See Main Entry:
Posted in air travel, Climate Change, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, shipping, Tourism, transport, Travel | Tagged: california, EPA, fossil fuels, George W. Bush, greenhouse gas emissions, Jerry Brown, state Attorney General | 5 Comments »
Posted by feww on April 22, 2008
Make sure you sample the barreled water
In China’s southwestern province of Guizhou, polluted barreled water has made more than 200 ill. The victims feel ill with hepatitis A.
“The source of the water was heavily polluted and its production lacked strict sterilization,” according to Beijing News. News Report
According to a report, about half the water used in coolers in the Olympics host city could be tainted.
Hep A: An acute infectious disease of the liver
Hepatitis A, (formerly known as infectious hepatitis), is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by Hepatitis A virus, which is most commonly transmitted by the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or drinking water. Every year, approximately 10 million people worldwide are infected with the virus. The time between infection and the appearance of the symptoms, (the incubation period), is between two and six weeks and the average incubation period is 28 days.
Electron micrograph of hepatitis A virions. Source: CDC
In developing countries, and in regions with poor hygiene standards, the incidence of infection with this virus approaches 100% and the illness is usually contracted in early childhood. Hepatitis A infection causes no clinical signs and symptoms in over 90% of these children and since the infection confers lifelong immunity, the disease is of no special significance to the indigenous population. In Europe, the United States and other industrialised countries, on the other hand, the infection is contracted primarily by susceptible young adults, most of whom are infected with the virus during trips to countries with a high incidence of the disease. (Source: Wikipedia)
Posted in air travel, China, clean water, environment, food, health, politics, Tourism, Travel | Tagged: barreled water, Beijing, developing countries, Guizhou, hepatitis A, infectious, liver, Olympics, water coolers | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on April 3, 2008
The states of Massachusetts, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday for failing to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and trucks. The lawsuit came one year after the Supreme Court ruled that the agency had the power to do so.
Main Entry: 18 States Sue EPA Over GHG Pollution
Original Report: 18 states sue EPA over greenhouse gas pollution
Posted in air pollution, air travel, Al Gore, cars, EPA, GHG, government, health, lawsuit, pollution, trucks | Tagged: Arizona, california, Connecticut, Delaware, EPA, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on April 1, 2008
A blatant act of criminal negligence by the malevolent New Zealand Government
In yet another blatant act of criminal negligence by the malevolent New Zealand Government and its corporate sector, the passengers arriving aboard Air NZ flight were fumigated in Auckland.
The spraying left passengers with sore throats and caused at least one baby to gag and vomit. “Even now I have a real raspy throat so you could imagine what the effect would be on an infant.”
Main Entry:
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Posted in air travel, new zealand, spraying, Tourism, toxic exposure | Tagged: air travel, fumigate, passenger, Tourists, Travel | Leave a Comment »
Posted by msrb on March 22, 2008
There’s a fundamental systemic problem. It’s called exponential growth economy and it’s degrading, polluting, tearing apart, destroying and otherwise killing off everything in its domain. In the absence of a ‘radical’ change to the economic system our world is rapidly falling apart.
Related Link: World Problems: The Root Cause Matrix
Worldwide Airport Traffic Summary [YE December 2007]
Passengers : 4,479,822,865 (Up 6.4% YoY)
Air Freight (Mt) : 80,342,643 (Up 2.5% YoY)
Aircraft Movements : 68,636,424 (Up 2.4% YoY)
Copyright Airports Councils International. See Fair Use Notice
Note: Total passengers are rounded off to the nearest 10,000
Source: Airports Councils International
“Thank God men cannot as yet fly and lay waste the sky as well as the earth!” ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Posted in Air Freight, air travel, Aircraft movements, airport, flight, holiday | Tagged: Earth, fly, Henry David Thoreau, sky, waste | 12 Comments »
Fire Earth 