I just checked my training notes and couldn’t see any DfT rule saying that they had to do a 20 minutes rotation, though that’s not to say it’s not true. It may be a 20min recomendation time.

What areas are you trained in? If it is only loading and boarding cards I imagine as harsh as it seems they may not have too much of an issue leaving you there as it isn’t demanding. Where I worked there were people who loaded for whole 8 hour shifts, because it was there job.

I think the 20min rule is only really for the x-ray due to the concentration and so because of that there is generally supposed to be a 20 minute rotation. I have even seen people searching for up to an hour at a time.

If I was you I would wait to see what the next shift is like. The management will probably remind all staff people should swap around so you will probably have more luck asking the people you’re working with at the time for a swap.

It’s an interesting compromise. On one hand you could hope to go on a T7 with PTV’s for, perhaps, a more enjoyable flight. On the other hand you could hope to go on one of the last (of a few) MD11’s in commercial service!

Boeing is in a big black hole at the moment and are scarce on engineers , test pilots and other key technical folks

Not to worry, I will come to their rescue once I’ve graduated!

I love these types on discussions on the forum. Although I can’t contribute a lot to the discussion through lack of knowledge, experience and/or information from contacts etc it makes for very interesting reading. So I thank you to those passing on your knowledge to the rest of us!

It is astounding how Emirates is able to afford everything in their order book. Though they do have a very clever strategy of linking individual cities around the world to a ‘new and exciting’ part of the world that a lot people want to experience, whilst offering a high level of service and good frequency. So I guess these new aircraft will all be beneficial!

Exciting times the next couple of decades will be for this industry. We have already witnessed the first major milestone with the induction of the A380 into commercial service. What lies ahead are new, innovative approaches to aircraft design and power plants. It will be exciting to whiteness these enter service and change the industry also.

There is so much ground braking stuff that goes on behind the scenes that many don’t realise:

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 24, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], using a Ford Motor Company-developed hydrogen engine, has successfully tested the hydrogen propulsion system of its High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft.

“This test demonstrates the technical readiness of the hydrogen engine system and confirms the capability breakthrough in flight endurance and altitude that could be realized by a variety of military and commercial customers,” said Darryl Davis, vice president and general manager, Boeing Advanced Precision Engagement and Mobility Systems.

During the test, the engine ran for nearly four days in a controlled chamber at Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, Va., including a total of three days that simulated conditions at 65,000 feet. The propulsion system included a multi-stage turbocharged internal combustion engine and its associated subsystems. The Ford engine earned better than expected fuel economy while demonstrating complete airflow and torque control across the engine’s operating range.

“This simulated flight allows us to showcase the capabilities of Ford’s proprietary hydrogen engine technology and the durability of our four-cylinder engines,” said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “We are very pleased with the results. The gasoline version of this same engine can be found in our Ford Fusion and Escape Hybrid vehicles.”

The Boeing HALE aircraft is designed to economically maintain persistent presence over a specific ground location from stratospheric altitudes, providing tremendous potential for surveillance and communications applications. The test marked a key step toward proving the essential technical elements are in place for full-scale development.

“This test could help convince potential customers that hydrogen-powered aircraft are viable in the near-term,” said Boeing Advanced Systems President George Muellner. “This is a substantial step toward providing the persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities our customers desire.”

Boeing, as HALE’s system designer and integrator, is working closely with Aurora Flight Sciences and Ford to develop the aircraft’s propulsion system.

HALE is designed to stay aloft for more than seven days and carry payloads weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Potential applications include battlefield persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, border observation, port security and telecommunications. The long endurance autonomous aircraft will be a propeller-driven, lightweight structure with a high-aspect-ratio-wing.

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q4/071024b_nr.html

Seen worse re-makes (Spirit, off hand). But hey, I’m sure they spent a lot of time and money researching (perhaps including a national customer opinion) a rebranding that would be both up-to-date and stylish whilst still reflecting the countries identity, no? :rolleyes:

Where as the new colours are quite plain and the scheme a bit too simple…….I never have liked the current, ‘old’, one either. Looks a bit too….sharp and outdated to me :rolleyes: