Video: Iranian Pilot Saves 113 Lives, Then Receives Suspension

In what is being hailed as a "miraculous" landing, an experienced pilot successfully landed a Boeing 727 aircraft with 113 people on board after the landing gear in the nose jammed on approach. The crew did not receive a down and locked indication for the nose gear and aborted the approach. Following unsuccessful troubleshooting the crew decided to divert to Tehran's Mehrabad Airport where a low approach confirmed the nose gear was not extended.

Pilot Hooshang Shahbazi managed to keep the nose of the plane tilted upwards as it cruised down the runway before gently setting it down once the plane had lost enough speed, ultimately saving the 94 passengers and 19 crew members on board the flight that originated from Moscow. However, instead of accolades from his superiors, Tehranian officials grounded him for two months pending an investigation.

Authorities, wary of drawing attention to the condition of their aging fleet, have allegedly tried to keep the incident under the radar to avoid international scrutiny despite the heroic outcome. The decision to ground the pilot is clearly not properly justified.

Source: Sympatico News


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Battlefield 3: How to Fly Jets (Tips and Tricks)

Tips and Tricks from a real life pilot for flying jets in the well anticipated video game Battlefield 3.

Part 1



Part 2



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Air France A340 Sunset Departure from Boston Logan

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Small Camera Strapped To A 747-200 For A Flight Around The World

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Boeing 777.. The Sexiest Plane Ever Built In Aviation History: Put Together Quickly

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The New Boeing 737 MAX

Boeing has unveiled the new 737 MAX, a new engine variant of the market-leading 737. Powered by CFM-International LEAP 1-B engines . The 737 MAX will offer max efficiency, max reliability, max passenger appeal, strengthening its position as world's most popular single aisle airplane.





Video: Boeing

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Pan Am The TV Series Now On ABC

Pan Am Flight Crew-TV Series ABC

ABC’s high-flying period piece debuted early September 2011. Lots of mixed reviews so far, overall it’s a show that many will enjoy. But does Pan Am capture the glamor and romance of jet age travel, or simply imitate the success of a certain other 60′s shows?

Pan Am follows the lives of four stewardesses (not flight attendants) and one pilot, all crewing a brand new jetliner in 1963. Pan American is the biggest airline in the United States, the pilots are gods among men and the stewardesses are icons of freedom and grace. Behind the veil of marketing, the women are subjected to supermodel standards of beauty, which combine with a difficult and nerve-wracking career to set them all on edge. In reality, the pilots… are basically extremely well-trained playboys.

Image: Pan Am TV Series ABC

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Americas "NexGen" Air traffic System Has Yet to Take Off

The government is trying to modernize the nation's air traffic control system, but cost overruns, software problems and management concerns are making some wonder whether the so-called "Next Generation" system may take another generation to complete.

FAA Video of the NexGen Air Traffic System

The radar screens in the nation's aircraft control towers are based on technology dating to World War II. Many of the routes airliners fly were laid out at a time pilots followed bonfires for navigation at night.

The promise of NextGen, as explained in a video on the Federal Aviation Administration's website, is to bring all that into the 21st century.

"You will appreciate the increased safety, environmental benefits and reduced delays as the Next Generation Air Transportation System is adopted," the video says.

What sounds so whizzbang in the video isn't really all that different from the satellite-based GPS navigation systems many Americans have in their cars, but adopting that technology to the airline industry has been a challenge.

The Transportation Department's inspector general reported that one of the key software components of the system is running more than $300 million over budget and might not be fully phased in for another five years.

Airlines, too, have been investing in elements of the new system. One, in particular, would enable aircraft to land in a more efficient, fuel-saving manner — better than the way planes land now.

"You can actually feel it, where a plane will lose altitude and it will drop, say 5,000 feet, and then it will stay steady for a while at the same altitude and then it will drop again," says Steve Lott with the Air Transport Association, the airline industry lobbying group. "It's this stepped landing approach that is not particularly efficient, and using satellite technology, we can have a smoother landing."

Lott says the airline industry wants the FAA to allow more use of the advanced navigation procedure, for which many aircraft are now equipped. The deputy administrator of the FAA, Michael Huerta, told a congressional panel recently the agency is working on making that happen.

"In the year ahead, what we really want to do is focus on how can we improve the quality of these procedures, and how can we see the very real benefits associated with reduced fuel consumption, reduced time and corresponding environmental benefits as well," he says.

But Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says until Congress approves a long-term bill for the FAA, the NextGen program will remain in a holding pattern.

"We're stuck in mid-air because of the fact that Congress won't pass an FAA bill. As soon as they pass a bill, we've got a big, bold vision for Next Generation technology," he says.

The government's share of the NextGen program is estimated to be more than $20 billion. That's another big concern of its supporters — coming up with that cash at the same time the government is desperately looking for ways to cut spending.

Photo: Flickr/gTarded


Source: NPR


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British Airways -2011 Advert: To Fly. To Serve.

Source: British Airways


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Bombardier's New CRJ, The CRJ-1000 Nex Gen

Source: Bombardier


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Air Crash Investigation - Cold Case

Cold Case Part 1



Cold Case Part 2



Cold Case Part 3



Cold Case Part 4



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Airbus A400M TP400-D6 Engine Test

The EuroProp International TP400-D6 is the all-new powerplant for the Airbus Military A400M, when it enters service it will be the most powerful turboprop in the Western world.(approx.11,000 brake horse power.) This video made at Istres, France shows the engine at a test run.



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SilverCrest Corporate Movie

In 2006 Snecma launched a technology validation program to pave the way for a new generation of business jet engines, Silvercrest, intended for mid- and high-end bizjets. Building on the excellent results of initial core testing, Snecma continues to develop this engine, rated at 9,500 to 12,000 lb of thrust, by working closely with aircraft manufacturers to gear up for the next generation of large, long-range business jets.






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