Hi Folks,

Maybe am getting too old for my shoes or a little bit confused but according to the latest issue of Airliner World it states that the flights for Virgin will be ACMId and operated by AVION EXPRESS that small ACMI operator from Lithuania but now you guys are saying its Aer Lingus which is it please not that it makes any world of difference since it wont be a full VA experience but still Aer Lingus is not Avion Express??

Help an old man be clear
KA:diablo:

MATT-100

You cheeky Git with that Christmas tree joke of yours, Ill be sure to let the management know what you said I have quiet a few friends in that company, I can give you an exclusive they are changing the Livery upon new delivery of new A350s being ordered not long into Q1 2013, I met the Aircraft engineer that actually designed the current livery a couple of years back and the new livery doesnt look half bad at all, love your MEA photos for someone who has almost 10 000 Photos of that airlines some dating back to the LIA days before they were absorbed into today’s MEA, love the rest of those shots as a not soo good photographer who has hardly anytime to do some photography I admire your and other’s work on here and I comment usually when I feel I need to comment and have time to comment so feel proud from an industry veteran that his giving you time to comment on your cheeky jokes and brilliant photos well done Matt.

KAL…

MSR

The simple answer is basically local perception, mention Russian Aircraft to Jo Average Iranian Woman/Man they will automatically think DANGER and AIRCRASH its a world wide phenomena when it comes to Russian/Chinese aircraft we as Aviation professionals know otherwise but when you tell your public your modernising your fleet Russian/Chinese made equipment will be the last on thier minds thus lay the problem.

To dig deeper into the Question Mr/Ms J Boyle asked reference the Spare parts unfortunatly when you talk about the Iranians reverse engineering something they will always have help, in terms of thier Nuclear program the plans and expertise came from Russia, in terms of thier Military Aviation Program I have it on good Authority that the Chinese helped on this matter.

Now the spare parts to be reversed engineered its not a difficult task you may say but who in thier right mind would want to help FORGE Aircraft parts more so when it comes to Testing these Forged parts you are talking about assembling a supply line/factory of said parts and the reverse engineering will be without no forms of Plans to look at and each part could well be touch and go.

Besides apart from the embargo of supply and demand in Iran, do you think any CAA in Europe will allow them then to fly into Europe knowing full well thier Aircraft are full of FORGED Spare parts and again do you as a Jo Average Iranian would be willing to take a risk with a potentially default part that is forged then comes the INSURANCE companies who in the first place ONLY INSURE Iranian Aircraft due to Goverment Subsedies but Personally I think they would FLATLY REJECT Any insurance claim that may arise from a crash due to an Unlisenced replica of an aircraft spare part.

I must also inform you that I totaly reject the theory of the Iranian captain in question due to the fact I know that there are many Newer Aircraft now entering the Iranian Market using an Array of Eastern European and African AOCs under the disguise of ACMI contracts and then for the planes to be sold directly to the Airlines in Questions, a good example of this would be the 2 Former GERMAN AIR FORCE A310s which used to transport the Chancellor but got bought by a Ukrainian Company then Sold to an Iranian company with a HUGE Spars Package I believe this was briefly covered by Airliner world in 2010.

I believe the Use of the language used by the Iranian Captain was deliberate in terms of shocking the international view point to perhaps enhance the bargaining power of at least lifting the embargo on the civil aviation sector in Iran WHICH PERSONALLY I WHOLE HEARTEDLY Support as a Proffessional within Aviation I always wish the safest of flights for all travellers around the world wherever they might be, and I absolutly hate the colonial mentality of the USA in terms of IF YOUR NOT WITH US, WE WILL PUNISH YOUR ENTIRE COUNTRY NOT JUST YOUR GOVERMENT/MILITARY, good example IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN, VIETNAM ETC ETC…

I hope there aren’t any ‘easing on the pressures facing airlines in Iran’…

Let’s just take a step back and look at why Iran has sanctions in the first place; Iran is, as I’m sure you’re aware, in the process of developing nuclear weapons. With Iran having an unstable government, there’s no telling if these weapons are just for deterrence. I’m sure the last thing anyone wants is to wake up in the morning to see a nuked Israel on page 1 of the papers.

If Iran wants the spare parts so badly, all it has to do is abandon its nuclear program.

In fact an Iran Air crash might even put pressure on the Iran government to abandon the program, to allow vital spare parts through to the airlines. So I’m really against any easing of pressures.

Matt you need to lay off Fox and NBC for your sources of information please allow me to jog your memory for a little bit.

1. America Accuses Iraw of having WMD not only that but WMD that can deployed in 45min (THAT TURNED OUT TO BE ABSOLUTE UTTER RUBBISH)

2. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory to the IAEA Non prolifiration treaty since its inception (ISRAEL HAS NEVER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IT NOR SIGNED UP TO IT)

3. If my History serves me right the USA is and has always been the only country to have commited Genocide with the use of Nuclear weapons or have you forgotten Hiroshima etc?

4. Also may I remind you of the Chemical weapons used against unarmed civilians in both the Occupied Republic of Palestine and the Occupied Republic of Lebanon by Israel not my words its the words of the UN.

5. May I also remind you that the former and current General Secretary of the IAEA Have both catigorically stated there is no EVIDENCE not even proof but EVIDENCE that Iran’s Nuclear program is anything but for peaceful Energy use.

6. How many Wars and Massacres have been conducted by the USA around the world and by Israel Regionally and not forgetting the various Wars launched unprovoked by both sides, (THE NUMBER IS ENDLESS).

7. How many Wars has Iran Started not even one, the only War was the 7 year War with Iraq which Saddam with the Help of Israel and the USA started against Iran Unprovoked.

8. Are you also forgetting Israel has over 200 Nukes so if anyone is unstable and is willing to use them it would be Israel as it has no respect for international Law.

9. How many UN Resolution has Israel failed to comply with until this day Last time I check with the UN it was over 700 Resolutions so you do the Maths.

Now the politics is out of the way, Its shameful by anyone remotly connected to Aviation to glorify any potential hazard connected to COMMERCIAL CIVILIAN OPERATIONS in the way you have done so and to Justify it with absolute UTTER RUBBISH PROPAGANDA is beyond shameful.

No one is stating Iran is an Innocent Angel or Innocent party in anything but the facts speak loud and clear, It is tantamount to willful attempted Murder putting embargo on CIVIL Operations that have no MILITARY connection both directly or indirectly, to basically Collectively punish an entire NATION/PEOPLE based on the PROPAGANDA and LIES against thier goverment is wrong morally and otherwise, please also do not forget that 49% of the population voted against the current goverment.

Lastly there are many PRIVATE companies in Iran owned by DUAL Nationals holding US and European Passports who have paid thier Taxes to the IRS and the European Tax systems way before embarking on thier Ventures in Iran should they Also be Punished.

This Embargo is nothing short of a Joke to Please Israel and AIPAC and more to do with Squizzing PETROL from Iran now that the USA has Saturated its STOLEN supplies from IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN.

This has nothing to do with World Security since the USA is the WORST COUNTRY in the World to lecture the 195 Countries in the UN about CIVIL RIGHTS AND PEACE……

Matt you need to be more clever in what you read and where you get your Information and do not be a SHEEP…….

I think way back when, Middle East Airlines of the Lebanon was planning to order the concord and I believe there was even an image done back then by the manufacturer with the MEA livery but obviously due to the unfortunate civil war that order never came to light.

Why dont you fly to BEIRUT LEBANON, I am not sure exactly how many points that earns you, but Beirut is the number 1 destination to visit during 2009 according to the New York Time and CNN and the 3rd best kept secret according to the Lonely Planet.

During october its still warm enough to swim and in the mountains you should have some snow for skiing, its 4.30hrs by BMI flight.

KA:)

Indeed it is called such a place heehee:D

Both it and SEN are seeking new Airline customers, But if I was a choosing man I would put my money on SEN but then again I always liked a ranked outsider.

The Aircraft being used is owned outright and they are now in process of finalising AOC application, however I also hear they could by pass this part by buying a spanich Cat B AOC.

As for base am not sure, But for something like the size of AC I would tend to put my money for a smaller London Airport, rather than the usual suspects.