RE: Mirage 2000 Scare

What you set as an example don´t change my views about the point. In Europe there´s support. Everyone thinks something should be done and the US has the right to do something and hunt these guys down. However I am not sure, if what´s being done is the proper way to solve the situation or it´s simply fueling future problems. I would recommend a more subtle and effective way. The country is too destroyed for the bombs to be effective. Ground troops should be deployed and stop bombing campaign. It´s just an opinion folks.

RE: SAS crash at Milan

In the wake of this crash, ground radar will be fitted in some airports in Spain. TFN where the serious crash happened some time ago already has one. MAD; BCN, BIO and my hometown SCQ will have it too. This radar could be also really important in cases of old planes with a defficient equipment to detect storms on approaching, night and when the cocpit radar is off. On the northwest of Spain we suffer from really bad weather and visibility problems all the time and it will be needed despite the number of operations is very short.

RE: Mirage 2000 Scare

Ufff, I would be terrified, specially after hearing that the mentally retarded wanted to crash planes against several european cathedrals. One the shrine of St James (Santiago. Tradition says, that this saint was supposed to expell arabs from Spain) where I live. We are having intense debates about the possibility of having a jet in our local airport in case a plane gets away from its assigned corridor. I wouldn´t be amussed at all.

RE: Merge or face ruin?

Who knows which ones will survive at the end. It seems that mergers are needed, not because I think the situation is serious (I think all this fuss is to reduce capacity and cut jobs) but in order to compete with the american ones. The problem is, like in case of money, people look for hint of soveranity in airlines more than mere carriers. Citizens are not pragmatical and think they are more….French, British, Spanish….whatever is they have the flag on planes. I think Pan European airline should be created (it doesn´t matter if it has the blue and stars flag on it) but something strong. Competence risk?, probably but big Swissair collapsed and small Easyjet is belligerant in many routes. Be small doesn´t mean being weak. In here, we have serious doubts that Air Europa could survive. I SAY MERGE

RE: A330-500

The major cuts in cost will come from fuel consumption and the new airbus reduce dramatically the amount of parafin consumed. We have to make two levels. Airlines which can´t afford operating a new A330/350 and have to get a A310 which is cheaper (still in production) and big airlines which want the extra cost for operating the last in technology because their main competitors will tend to have the best equipment in the same route. Probably in a domestic Indonesian route, for example where there´s not much competition a A310 will do or even in charter segments with no alternative or some airlines like Royal Jordanian, Yemenia which don´t have competitors in their niches. But on the North Atlantic, where competence is fierce, passengers are aware of the types of planes they are flying and brand new planes are always needed. On the other hand in small communities and regional airports, the A330 is too big for long haul and the A310 (which is being used now) is ageeging.

RE: A330-500

That´s a really interesting question. I suppose new replacement for the ageeing A310 need to be in market soon. There are lots of airlines which are using it for long haul, don´t want to A330 because it´s too big and need a new plane. In Spain Air Plus Comet and Iberworld two long haul charter airlines have pointed repeatedly they need a new plane. They are focusing their attention to the A330/A340 but the crisis in the sector wouldn´t recomend incorporate them. A A330-500 would be perfect. It would really versatile for short haul high density (like the Chinese domestic market) if costs are lower than A310/300.

RE: Crossing the Atlantic Ocean with two engines

It´s not so difficult for a twin engine (I have to remind you that there are A319 and B737 which make ETOPS). In any case planes which aren´t ETOPS and have to cross the Atlantic make a multiple stop flight on the North Atlantic (close to the Poles) where you could find lots of small airports all the way.