Last week I received an email from the Swiss Breitling Connie group that it will not fly in the 2010 season. Reason, corrossion on one of the main spars in the wing. Repairs will be made but not expected ready in time to have a economical season for the group. So she will be back in the air in 2011....

I've read on Aviation News Netherlands (luchtvaartnieuws.nl) that the project leader for the A400 is getting things ready to pull the plug all together on this aircraft. The article said that customers are not willing to pay the extra cost to get things sound on this plane. I can hardly imagine that...

Yes the Dutch authorities need a lot of convincing that's for sure. I'm also convinced that the people working and flying the CAT and the DC-3's are very professional people. Training in both maintenance and flying are of very high quality. So you also flew Fifi Kate :D how nice!! I believe she's so...

Hey Cat, I didn't know that you were in it soooo deep :wink: In that case I do want to thank you for your help, it was indeed a very close call after our 1996 crash. Today we made a good start of the flying season. PH-DDZ made 3 flights with regular paying pax on a sight seeing tour over Holland and...

In respect to the grounding story of the DC-3 in Europe. Don't forget DDA Classic Airlines out of Amsterdam. They still operate two DC-3's under full JAR OPS certificates. Being PH-PBA c/n 19434 and PH-DDZ c/n 19754 from the top of my head that is. This museum organisation is a fully licensed Airlin...

I'd go for the trees any time. Just in case I'm out for a while, so I can't drown. But like everybody says, there is a lot to consider in such an event so who knows.

Just heard something regarding the death of the flightcrew. It seems (according to the media) they got hit by an instrument panel that came loose in the back of the cockpit...... I have no idea as to what kind of panel that can be but who knows.

Yeah, this one was really old, 7 years ......... well informed those people
Paint is still wet....

In my opinion, those people who are doing such things are a sad excuse for a human being!!!!! I know some cases are indeed pretty funny, but in this one they are way out of line.

This tells me (again) why I don't like americans

The nerve indeed!!!!!

And they call themselves a civilised country........

Copy that Mr. Wings!!

Thanks Pika, I learn every day :D Wow Mr. Wings, yes I was being sarcastic. Maybe not so nice regarding this issue. But that's me, what can you do? In Europe we also have only none smoking on all flights. And even I, as a heavy smoker, think that it is a good thing. Go figure.... I must be mad :mrgr...

That article pretty much seems to cover it. They talk about a three men flight crew here........ in a 738.... interesting. Must be someone riding along I guess. Question as a none flying person. Isn't it standard practise to check your fuel burn / amount left on board / distance to go every.... 30 m...

Well I thought the issue with frozen fuel was reserved for the 777 only, but there has to be a first time for everything I guess. I do believe de non smoking sign was on and that had a good result. No smoke no fire, no nothing but a lot of pieces of airplane scattered around.

I have no knowledge about air pockets but I do know the weather was calm this morning. A little light fog was starting to appear but visibility should not have been an issue and I can't imagine air pockets when you have fog. Am I wrong by saying that? The combination seems a bit strange to me. The f...

Latest news we got here in Holland is that they ran out of fuel. That would indeed account for , little or no thrust and rate of decent...... Indeed still 9 lives lost including the pilots. Very sad thing but damn, am I curious what the report will say about this one......

Tim, I never used the frase "shitty airplane". The question read "Passenger perception" and I gave exactly that. I doubt very much that the Dash-8 is a bad aircraft. Regarding the incidents, and you are correct on this, most of them are coming from the SAS corner. So you might be right about it bein...

I have had my doubt's about the Dash-8 for a while now. Taking it's many mishaps into account over the last couple of years. And it always makes me wonder when I read that an airlines has ordered more Dash-8's. Take SAS, they had multiple problems and still order more of them. Don't they see what th...

Thanks for the tip OTN,

No words really........ I'm impressed once more...

Regards,
CF

I believe that the twotter with Harbour Air Malta is still operating there. There was a recent interview in the Dutch magazine Pilot & Airplane (February issue, it's just in) with flight ops manager Barry Lightning. Things are working well according to that piece but things can change quickly in avi...

Yes they did. Simple reason is that the spares for the other type are gone. Even the blades they use were on loan from the MATS conny to make the ferry to Holland. The other parts are still in reasonable supply and they even say it is a more dependable system..... I don't know about that I'm no mech...

Fly upside down..... it might come back to you

Hello Caracrane, Yes that's the one. Back in time with Conifair C-GXKR of the top of my head and now registered N749NL, check here out on airliners.net. They have some great pics of her running up here enigines and so on. Now in full KLM livery and short nosed, I'm a sucker for the long one she had ...

Yes Cat I understand your busy now with other stuff. I'm so cross with authorities here that we as simple people are not allowed to fly on board the conny. She is a great looking (and sounding) plane. If not the best!! Let' s hope she does well this summer. Problem I think they will always have is t...

Hey . (if I may call you by your first name...) Is there no way you can still fly the Dutch Conny? I understand you don't fly for a living anymore but does that mean you are not allowed anymore? I have no idea about paperwork and such, I just love aviation and Canada, that's why I'm reading this for...