Then when will we see computer hard drives with such sizes? Bit meaningless to have that much portable memory when you can’t place it on your computer.

But… who on earth goes ‘spotting’ at 5.30hrs in the morning? 😮

Someone who lives very close to the airport obviously. When I go spotting I more often than not leave at 5:30 and can then begin spotting at 7 at best. Hence I never made sunrise photos. But now I live near(ish) to EIN that may change. Provided there are morning flights at this ****hole.

If I can stretch the 747, so can Boeing! Seriously though, how many attempts have Boeing cancelled now for a modernised 747? I want to see it fly before i believe it.

How are these spotters going to be screened? Someone who applied for a job at LHR (sorry, i forgot who but he is here) had to wait over a month for the check to be finished. You think that they are going to do such a strict check for the enthiousiast? Surely not, so how large a chance will there be of catching that terrorist? It’s not as though they walk around with an Al’Qaida membership card.

Just to me stinks like nothing more than a money grabbing excercise with as bonus a few headlines on how strict BAA is on security.

It was decided a while back that SAA would retire the 737NGs and get back airbus narrowbodies. A319s and A320s. Not sure if A321s are also part of the mix. Combine that with the orders for A330s and A340s and it won´t be long till SAA is completely Airbus except for the 747 fleet. A fleet that might be replaced by A346s and/or A380s in the long run.

It depends where you are going. It is no problem in AMS as long as you turn it off. Once landside you can turn it on again, also remember you may not leave it on when on the plane.

In some countries owning a scanner is illegal. Belgium for instance does not allow it. They will confiscate it and give you a fine. As far as I know Belgium is the only European country that bans them completely.

I am quite frightened by this statement:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3939455.stm
…A two-inch door to the fuel tank was later found unscrewed. The screws were found hanging in a small plastic bag…

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_avsafety/documents/page/dft_avsafety_030051.hcsp
…An inspection inside the gear bay revealed that the centre fuel tank purge door was not in place. The purge door was hanging on a lanyard inside the fuel tank and a plastic bag was attached to the purge door opening. The bag contained fuel and it also contained the screws that would normally hold the purge door in place (see Figures 1 and 2)…

Sounds like a mayor maintenance error.