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Contact photographer Mathias Henig
What: Air Canada Airbus A330-300 en route from Calgary to London
Where: Calgary
When: Jul 6th 2010
Why: On the runway, the pilot rejected takeoff because of an engine surge. The passengers were returned to the gate, and the plane taken for inspection. Passengers were provided an alternative Boeing 767-300 to complete the flight.
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Contact photographer Thomas Ernst
What: Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-300 en route from London to Miami
Where: London
When: Mar 12th 2010
Who: 231 passengers, 14 crew
Why: After takeoff, the plane was struck by lightning. Experiencing a technical problem after the lightning strike, they dumped fuel (over the coast of N. Wales) and returned to London where they made a safe landing.
Pictured: A Dassault Falcon owned by Sears Canada
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Contact Photographer Corey Robinson
What: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s private Dassault Falcon 900EX en route to Boston for the Kennedy funeral
Where: Boston
Who: Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Why: After a bird strike nearly crippled the landing gear, the pilot requested an emergency landing in Boston–and landed safely.
Safely for everyone but the bird.
George’s Point of View
Birds could care less who the plane it belongs to.
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Contact photographer Mehdi Nazarinia
What: Qantas Airbus A330-200 en route from Sydney to Melbourne
Where: Sydney
When: Mar 6th 2012
Why: The flight was taking off when the plane suffered a bird strike. Passengers inside the plane heard a “bang” and an engine began vibrating.
Pilots the plane safely in Sydney, where passengers disembarked and waited less than three hours for a replacement plane.
Passengers commended the Qantas crew for handling the situation efficiently.
One gets the impression that a Qantas flight crew emergency response is the direct opposite of the chaotic endangerment response of the Costa Concordia (cruise) crew. Not at all the same situation, and yet, in many ways, similar. In both situations, the lives of the passengers are dependent on the efficiency and emergency response of the captain and crew.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Javier Bravo Muñoz
What: Iberia Airbus A319-100 en route from Madrid to Vienna
Where: Vienna
When: Feb 15th 2012
Why: On approach to Vienna, the plane was struck by lightning.
Pilots landed the plane safely and handed off to maintenance where it will be inspected. Another plane was called in to handle the return flight.
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Contact Photographer Matthias Bindseil
What: Tarom Romanian Air Transport Airbus A310-300 en route from Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) to Tenerife Sur Reina,CI (Spain)
Where: Madrid
When: Jun 18th 200p
Who: 201 passengers and 10 crew members
Why: En route the windshield cracked, and the flight was diverted safely to Madrid. No injuries were reported though the cockpit depressurized.
Toulouse, France, January 11, 2011– India’s largest low cost carrier, IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 180 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft of which 150 will be the neo option and 30 will be standard A320s. It is the largest single firm order number for large jets in commercial aviation history, and also makes IndiGo a launch customer for the A320neo. The airplanes are expected to be delivered between 2016 and 2025. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date.
The A320neo, available from 2016, incorporates new more efficient engines and large wing tip devices called Sharklets delivering significant fuel savings of up to 15 percent, which represents savings of over 400,000 USgal of fuel and up to up to 3,600 tonnes of CO2 annually per aircraft. In addition, the A320neo provides a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.
“This order for industry leading fuel efficient aircraft will allow IndiGo to continue to offer low fares” said Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal, co-founders of IndiGo. “Ordering more A320s was the natural choice to meet India’s growing flying needs. The opportunity to reduce costs and to further improve our environmental performance through the A320neo were key to our decision.”
“The A320 Family is the recognised market leader. The A320neo, offering maximum benefit for minimum change, will ensure that this continues to be the case for many years to come.” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers. “This order positions IndiGo to take full advantage of the predicted growth in Indian air travel and we are delighted that they continue to build their future with Airbus.”
Aditya Ghosh, President of IndiGo said, “This order of 180 aircraft reaffirms IndiGo’s commitment to the long-term future of aviation in India. The additional aircraft will enable us to take our low fares and courteous, hassle free service to more customers and destinations and will create more job opportunities and growth for several other aviation related businesses.” Ghosh added, “Our environmentally friendly fleet of the A320neo will set a benchmark by significantly reducing the impact on the environment and lead the way to a more sustainable mode of flying.”
The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Over 6,800 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and over 4,500 delivered to more than 310 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With 99.7% reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. The A320neo will have over 95% airframe commonality with the standard A320 Family whilst offering up to 500nm (950 km) more range or two tonnes more payload.
Aditya Ghosh said, “We are delighted at extending our long term partnership with Airbus.”
