ASL Airlines Belgium Boeing 747-400F aborts take-off at Nanchang Airport

23 August, 2019.

An ASL Airlines Belgium Boeing 747-400F (OE-IFB) operated flight 3V820 between Nanchang Airport, China and Liege, Belgium. During take-off at Nanchang, however, the pilots rejected take-off. As a result, the tires of the aircraft’s main landing gears deflated. The pilots evacuated the aircraft by using the right-hand upper deck slide.

As the aircraft is currently disabled on Nanchang’s single runway, the airport is currently closed. Six flights were forced to divert to nearby airports, airlines were forced to cancel already more than 80 flights (according to flightradar24-statistics).

ASL Airlines Belgium Boeing 747-400F rejected take-off at Nanchang Airport, China. Flight number 3V820. Slide on the upper deck deployed. The single runway of the airport is closed. pic.twitter.com/IsfP4aDcrL
— ChinaAviationReview (@ChinaAvReview) August 24, 2019

High temperature caused tires automatically deflated during rejected takeoff. Slide on the upper deck deployed. pic.twitter.com/sg5m6pKaxM
— ChinaAviationReview (@ChinaAvReview) August 24, 2019

ASL Belgium B747-400F (OE-IFB) experienced 14 of 16 tire blow-outs during a take-off abort at Nanchang Airport (ZSCN, KHN), China. The crew evacuated via chute. Cargo Flight #3V820 to Liege became disabled on the runway forcing the temp closure of the airport. @ChinaAvReview pic.twitter.com/U1NJZAOSf5
— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) August 24, 2019

A passenger PC-12 was chartered to ferry 747 tires from the nearest airport that has enough inventory.(Shanghai, 800km). All seats removed. Reduced runway used for taking off and landing. pic.twitter.com/mX8Yd0lsik
— ChinaAviationReview (@ChinaAvReview) August 24, 2019

source https://ncairways.co/asl-airlines-belgium-boeing-747-400f-aborts-take-off-at-nanchang-airport-china-aviation24-be/

British Airways incorrectly told passengers flights were cancelled due to email error

British Airways sent out an email incorrectly telling passengers their flights were cancelled.Some passengers rebooked alternative flights after receiving the email – only to later be told their cancelled flights would still go ahead as planned.

The airline’s pilots plan to strike for three days next month, but passengers who had flights on non-strike days were also contacted by mistake and told to rebook or ask for a refund.

British Airways apologised for the “confusion and inconvenience” and encouraged anyone who had rebooked to get in touch.

The airline said in a statement: “We are sorry that some customers received an email in error to say that their flight had been cancelled on non-strike days.

“We are getting in touch with all those customers this afternoon to clarify that their flight will go ahead as planned.

“We are sorry for any confusion and inconvenience this has caused.

“We would encourage anyone who has incurred any expenses as a direct result to get in touch, and we will deal with each case on an individual basis.”

Thousands of people received emails overnight warning flights on 9, 10 and 27 September would be hit by a “large number of delays and cancellations” after the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) union confirmed strike action over a pay dispute.

Balpa said 93 per cent of members voted in favour of the action after rejecting a pay rise package of 11.5 per cent over three years.

Support free-thinking journalism and subscribe to Independent Minds

Passengers took to Twitter on Saturday to vent their confusion after receiving the email in error overnight.

Many complained their honeymoons had been ruined, including one woman who claimed her only option was to pay £3,500 to rebook with another airline.

Another wrote: “You have ruined our day we’re not even flying on one of your pilot strike days but you’ve still chose to cancel our flight #BritishAirways your reputation is shot!

“Now our bridal party won’t even make the wedding.”

source https://ncairways.co/british-airways-incorrectly-told-passengers-flights-were-cancelled-due-to-email-error/

BJP puts high hopes on Telangana, other parties lag way behind

Hyderabad: The BJP’s bid to make a stronghold in Telangana is bothering the TRS, but the Congress says it is sure that the BJP will not succeed in becoming as the chief Opposition party as it does not have a rural vote base.

As per the state Congress leadership, it has an  organisational structure in every nook and corner of Telangana, while the BJP has such a structure in only one fifth of the villages.

---

Telangana is one state in India where the ruling party (the BJP) has little presence till now. Though the BJP could win only one of the 119 seats in the Assembly elections held in December last year, the BJP is optimistic about its prospects in Telangana after bagging four of the 17 constituencies in the recent LS elections.

The BJP had a 7.15 per cent vote share in the state in the December Assembly polls. This increased to 19.65 per cent in the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress, though it won only three seats, had a vote share of 29.79 per cent. The TRS retained power in the state with a vote share of 47.38 per cent in the Assembly elections and won nine seats in the LS polls with a vote share of 41.71 per cent.

Congress leaders, as anticipated, reject the BJP’s claim about growing in the Southern State as incorrect and misleading.

The ruling TRS leaders, including its working president K.T. Rama Rao, say they still consider the Congress as their main opponent in the state, and the BJP is making a hue and cry about emerging as the strongest Opposition is just false and baseless.

MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said there is also a strong regional feeling which the BJP can’t change.

The fact of the matter is- the time has changed quickly and so has the perception of the public. There have been two huge legistative shake-ups in recent weeks in the country:

• Triple Talaq
• Art 370

to which BJP’s rivals have no answers.

Congress Leader P C Chidambaram has been caught in corruption cases. Relatives of another Congress leader, Kamal Nath, have seen similar actions. The Congress defends them. A section of Congress have started refusing to follow party lines. In the process, the Congress loses credibility with every passing day.

On the other hand the BJP leader, the PM Narendra Modi’s stature is growing every day.

..

source https://ncairways.co/bjp-bets-on-telangana-other-parties-claim-not-yet/

Hypersonic Airliner to Fly From Los Angeles to Tokyo in Less than Two Hours

Some researchers are working on a new generation of supersonic airliners, capable of speeds between Mach 1 and Mach 5. Others are dreaming bigger, NBC News reports.

Last year, Boeing unveiled a design for a plane capable of reaching Mach 5, the low end of a realm known as hypersonic speed. And the Stratofly MR3, a 300-passenger airliner under development by a European consortium that includes the German Aerospace Center, the French Aerospace Lab and eight other universities and research organizations, would fly faster still.

Stratofly would likely be reserved for longer journeys. It could zip from New York City to Sydney, Australia, in about three hours, according to the consortium, or make the trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo in about an hour and 45 minutes.

Later this year, the Stratofly consortium plans to begin wind tunnel tests of the engine components. But it will take many years to bring Stratofly to life. The key technologies might not be ready until 2035, Viola says, with another decade needed before flight tests are completed and the plane is ready to carry passengers.

source https://ncairways.co/two-hours/

United Airlines suspends service between Chicago and Hong Kong

“While our service between the United States and HKG (Hong Kong) remains a vital part of our network, we have decided to suspend service between ORD (Chicago) and HKG after the return flight from HKG on Sept. 9, 2019,” the company said in a statement.

United Airlines did not cite the ongoing protests in Hong Kong as a reason to cancel the direct route. Instead, the airline said that it has seen “a reduced demand for travel from Chicago.” Despite the suspension between Chicago and Hong Kong, “United remains the largest U.S. airline to HKG,” the company added.

Hong Kong has been facing mass demonstrations for nearly three months. The protests were sparked by a now-suspended bill that would allow fugitives to be extradited to China, where there is a separate legal system. Since then, the movement has expanded to include an inquiry into alleged police brutality and universal suffrage in the city, which currently only has partial democracy.

The majority of protests have been peaceful, but groups of protesters shut down the city’s international airport for two days earlier this month.

United is also planning to suspend service between Guam International Airport (GUM) and Hong Kong starting on October 14, a change that was previously announced.

At the same time, United Airlines confirmed to CNN that it will add a second flight between San Francisco and Hong Kong this fall to complement its existing service. “We look forward to our upcoming addition,” the company added.

source https://ncairways.co/united-airlines-suspends-service-between-chicago-and-hong-kong/

The demise of BJP leaders leaves a void in Indian polity

New Delhi: With the death of former Union Minister Arun Jaitley, the BJP, India’s current ruling Party, has lost several of its most energetic and visible public faces in a period of one year.

The BJP has suffered the loss of great leaders like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj, former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, former Union Minister Ananth Kumar during the last two years or so.

---

The setbacks began with the death of one of the tallest leaders of the party, Atal Bihari Vajpayee (93), on August 16 last year after a prolonged illness followed by the passing away of former Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar (59) in November 2018.

The party suffered one more jolt with the death of Goa Chief Minister and former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in March 2019. Parrikar handled the defence portfolio during the Rafale deal and the surgical strike post Uri.

Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley passed away in quick succession in August 2019, in a span of 18 days, leaving a void in the party that may be difficult to fill for a long time to come.

While the Modi government had jump-started its second innings taking one major decision after another, there is a deep sense of loss in the party over the demise of Swaraj and Jaitley.

Both the leaders had risen through the ranks, participated in BJP’s struggles, and immensely contributed to its rise as the principal pole of national politics. Both leaders were seen to be simple, incorrupt, intelligent and talented besides being suave and affable.
…

source https://ncairways.co/from-vajpayee-to-jaitley-demise-of-bjp-stalwarts-leaves-void-in-indian-polity/

Tips In Acquiring The Best Airfare Deals For Added Savings

You don’t have to pay for the full amount for your airfare if you don’t want to. There are plenty of ways to get the best airfare deals for added savings. Imagine using the money you saved for souvenirs or for some fun in the city you plan to travel to.

Keep in mind that the best airfare deals are not only limited to the amount you pay to get from one destination to the other. You might also want to consider other services pertaining to the deal — like hotel accommodations, transportation service, tours, freebies, light meals and snacks, and the likes. Getting the best out of your travel experience will surely make for a worthwhile deal.

If it’s your first time to look for a budgeted airline service for better savings, then here are some tips that might be able to address your needs.

Tip # 1: Check All The Options Available

Research is the key if you want to get the best airfare deals offered in the market. Keep in mind that there are plenty of travel-related companies in the business and you can be sure that there’s one that offers a price that fits perfectly with your wallet.

Don’t settle for the first airfare deal that attracts your attention since there could be others out there that might be lower than the first. Keep calling travel agencies or consult with a travel agent to know all the options available for you.

Tip # 2: Check The Internet For Airfare Deals

You can find a lot of good travel offers on the World Wide Web. There are plenty of travel sites and airline companies that offer their services to the online consumer with the lowest rates available. Feel free to use search engines to look them up and start comparing them out until you find one that suits your budget, as well as the possibilities of big savings and other benefits for your travel.

One idea here is to determine the exact day of your travel and make use of the booking or reservation systems on these sites to look at the possible rates offered under their company on different dates. You can experiment with other flight schedules to see if there are any changes to their offers.

Tip # 3: Group Travels

One way to get some savings out of your travel expenses is to go with a group. Most airline companies and travel agencies offer huge discounts for bulk reservations. You might want to check out different airline companies in regards to this offer to make sure that you get the best rates in the market for you and your entourage.

Tip # 4: Book For The Air Travel In Advance

Advanced booking or reservations can grant you some discounts on airfare deals. To put it simply, travel companies often give discounts if you book for a flight at least months or weeks in advance. The longer the schedule of your departure you booked, the bigger the savings you get.

If all else fails, you can always ask a travel agent to help you look for the best airfare deals in the market. Just make sure to provide them with the specifications of your travel for them to offer you selections that fit perfectly with your taste and budget.

source https://ncairways.co/tips-in-acquiring-the-best-airfare-deals-for-added-savings/