Fliers Stuck In Plane 6 Hours

The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - Forty-seven passengers were forced to sit in a cramped, smelly plane on an airport tarmac for six hours after their flight was diverted because of bad weather.The Friday night Continental Express flight from Houston to Minneapolis was scheduled to take just 2 1/2 hours, but the plane was diverted to Rochester because of stormy weather and landed about midnight.
Instead of allowing passengers to disembark and spend the night in the secure section of the terminal, however, the airline decided to keep the passengers onboard the aircraft, airport officials said Monday.

"It's not like you're on a Boeing 747 and you can walk around," Link Christin, a professor at William Mitchell College of Law, told the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. "This was a sardine can, with a single row of seats on one side of the plane and two rows of seats on the other. And they've got about 50 people inside, including babies, for the whole night. It was a nightmare."
ExpressJet Airlines, the flight's operator, couldn't allow passengers to disembark because the airport's security screeners had gone home for the night, company spokeswoman Kristy Nicholas said.

Airport officials said the airline could have allowed people into the secure section of the terminal. Continental Airlines issued a statement Monday apologizing to the passengers, calling the incident "completely unacceptable" and saying it was offering refunds and vouchers.
and later reboarded the airplane for their flight to Minneapolis.

Passengers were allowed into the terminal at 6 a.m., six hours after landing — that Flight 2816. "It was almost a surreal quality that kind of developed during the night," passenger Link Christin said. "It felt like you were trapped in a cave underground."

In the end, it took 12 hours and a new flight crew for Flight 2816 to complete its journey. There have been longer waits on airport tarmacs in recent years — passengers on a February 2007 JetBlue flight waited 11 hours at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport — but the Flight 2816 delay gives the airline industry another black eye and could give a lift to legislation aimed at preventing such nightmare scenarios.

Continental Airlines on Monday deferred most questions to ExpressJet Airlines, the regional carrier that operated the flight. But Continental did issue an apology to passengers, calling it "completely unacceptable" and offering refunds and vouchers for future travel. Flight 2816 left Houston at 9:23 p.m. Friday, scheduled to arrive in Minneapolis by midnight.

Instead, severe weather forced air controllers to divert the plane south to Rochester, where it landed after midnight.In Minneapolis, Continental's dispatchers decided to wait out the storms rather than cancel the flight and bus passengers the remaining 85 miles.Christin said a female voice shouted back asking if anyone wanted a drink.

"For the next five hours, there was no offer of drink or food," said Christin, a St. Paul resident returning from visiting his father. The flight was cleared to take off at 2 a.m., but the storms started up again. The passengers remained calm, Christin said. But he described a difficult environment where sleep was scarcely possible, with babies crying out every 5 to 10 minutes and not enough blankets or pillows to go around.

Passengers on another flight that had been diverted to the airport in Rochester, Minn., because of storms were allowed to disembark and were put on a bus that would take them the 85 miles to Minneapolis. And the terminal, where passengers could at least stretch their legs, breathe fresh air and use the vending machines, was a mere 50 yards away.

Adding to the frustration were periodic announcements that led passengers to think they would soon be moving. One announcement said a bus would soon arrive to take them to Minneapolis; an hour later, passengers were told the bus wasn't ready. At 5 a.m., the flight got clearance again. But by then, its crew had worked more than the legal limit of hours. Another crew had to be flown in.

It wasn't until 6 a.m. that ExpressJet let the passengers off the plane to enter the terminal. And it took 2 1/2 hours for the passengers to re-board the same plane — still with a full, smelly toilet — to head to Minneapolis. They landed at 9:15 a.m., almost a half-day after leaving Houston. Kristy Nicholas, a spokeswoman for ExpressJet Airlines, said passengers couldn't go to the Rochester terminal to wait out the storms because they would have needed to redo their security screening and screeners had gone home.

The airport's manager, Steven Leqve, said that wasn't true. Leqve said passengers could have waited in a secure area until their plane was cleared to leave."This is not an airport issue. This is an airline issue," he said. The Rochester airport took in another diverted flight, a Northwest plane from Phoenix, just before Flight 2816 landed. The more than 50 passengers on that plane were placed on a bus and made it to Minneapolis by 1:30 a.m. Leqve said the Delta manager in Rochester offered space on the bus to Continental, which declined.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee's aviation operations subcommittee, said the incident underscored the need to pass legislation setting a three-hour limit for an airplane to sit on the tarmac without passengers being allowed off. A so-called passenger bill of rights that would do just that recently passed the Commerce Committee and awaits action in the full Senate."There needs to be some common sense used in these cases and it seems to me these folks have a right to complain very seriously about what happened," Dorgan said.

The Air Transport Association, which represents a group of airlines that includes Continental, has resisted the legislation in the past. Spokeswoman Elizabeth Merida said the group continues to believe the legislation "will ultimately end up inconveniencing passengers rather than helping them."Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the bill would be considered by the Senate "at some point in the fall."

Republic Wins Bid for Frontier, Beating Southwest

August 14, 2009, 5:54 am — Updated: 3:28 pm -->
Republic Airways won the bankruptcy court auction for Frontier Airlines on Thursday, buying the Denver-based carrier for almost $108.8 million after Southwest Airlines’s rival bid was rejected.

Southwest said its $170 million bid was deemed unacceptable because the carrier would not back down from a requirement that its pilots and Frontier’s work out their integration before the deal would close.
Frontier said Republic made several improvements to its original June bid and has already received federal antitrust approval for the deal. A bankruptcy judge had approved Republic’s earlier bid but left open the door for another bidder.
Frontier said the plan calls for it and regional unit Lynx ”to maintain normal operations” as a stand-alone Republic subsidiary. Because of that, Denver travelers may see little change. But the deal is huge for Republic.

Until now, Indianapolis-based Republic has strictly been an operator of regional jets for big airlines like Delta, United, and US Airways. Now, between Frontier and its recent purchase of Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines, it’s jumping into the business of competing for passengers and setting its own schedules and prices.
That may not be so bad, said a Jesup & Lamont Securities Company airline analyst, Helane Becker.
Republic is well-run, she said, and anyway the old regional airline model is suffering as big carriers squeeze their regional partners and cut capacity, including regional flights.
”The major airlines can just crush these guys like a bug” in the regional business, she said.
Republic’s bid has it buying all of Frontier Holdings when that company emerges from Chapter 11 protection, which is expected later this year. It also agreed to waive any recovery on its $150 million general unsecured claim. The plan calls for current Frontier shareholders to receive nothing.
”Frontier has made impressive strides in returning to sustained profitability in a challenging and uncertain economic environment,” Republic’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, Bryan Bedford, said in a written statement.
Republic had loaned money to Frontier during its Chapter 11 reorganization, which began in April 2008. In June it offered to buy Frontier out of bankruptcy.
Southwest’s surprise bid, which eventually reached $170 million including repayment of Republic’s loan, looked likely to win. Southwest had enough cash to simply write a check for Frontier, and it had the motive. Southwest has turned Denver into one of its crucial airports, but it faced strong competition both from Frontier and UAL’sUnited, which has a hub there. Buying Frontier would have eliminated one of those competitors outright.

No Real Man Would Wear Them!!!

Family, There's a song, a dance and the clothing line to support this fashion (wonder???)

Skinny Jeans on men!!! (Black Men at that are wearing them!)Is this some new form of Homo-Thug or just straight up gay way to dress!!!

Even real gay men don't dress like this!!! It's one thing if the fellas give you crap about it but women are saying the samething!!! Men have no business wearing these and then sagging to boot!!! OMG!!!!

I got it, this is the new "Emo-Thug" look!!!There is a reason these jeans/pants died in the 80's!!! If you haven't seen the video the link is below!

Your a Jerk Video

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly on Bid for Frontier

Mon, 08/10/2009 - 13:30 — Paula Berg

A press release was issued today announcing that Southwest Airlines has submitted a proposal to acquire Frontier Airlines, which will be sold at auction in bankruptcy court this month. The following memo was sent to all Southwest Airlines Employees from our CEO, Gary Kelly.

This morning Southwest Airlines submitted a bid of more than $170 million to acquire Frontier Airlines, which has been in bankruptcy since April 2008. We understand an auction will commence later this week in New York. Once the auction is concluded, the bankruptcy court must approve the selection of the winning bidder.

So really, we just don’t know when it will be that we’ll hear about these results, but I commit that we’ll keep you informed as we go.
We believe Southwest’s bid represents the best possible longterm scenario for Frontier, its Employees, and the Denver traveling public. Southwest brings to the table the most consistently profitable airline in commercial aviation history, the best Customer Service record in the industry (as repeatedly determined by the Department of Transportation), an Employee-centric Culture, and low fares.

If we are successful in our bid, Southwest will offer a financially stable, Customer friendly, low fare alternative to the dominant carrier in Denver into the future.
I have seen and read speculation and reports as to why Southwest would be interested in acquiring Frontier. Simply enough, Frontier is for sale, and purchasing them would allow us to increase our Customer base in a city where we want to grow. Frontier also is a stellar airline with a great reputation known for quality Customer Service, passionate Employees, and low fares. Sound familiar?

Those are the three main ingredients that Southwest Airlines was founded on more than 38 years ago, and those three values remain at the core of our DNA today. While there are obviously some differences in our companies, we also see a lot of similarities.
I have also seen some speculation as to why this move makes sense for Southwest Airlines. Southwest is a growth company. Who would have ever thought 38 years ago that we would grow from offering service between three Texas cities to carrying more passengers than any other carrier in the United States?

Pretty remarkable, and even more remarkable is the fact that we have grown while being profitable for 36 consecutive years – a feat unmatched and unheard of the airline industry!
We began serving Denver in January 2006 with just 40 Employees and 13 daily nonstop flights. Today, we have nearly 400 Denver Employees and operate 113 daily nonstop flights to 34 destinations from the Mile High city, making Denver the fastest growing city in our history, and already among our top 10 airports (out of 66 and growing) that we serve in terms of daily departures.

It’s clear Colorado Customers appreciate our low fares, great service, and convenient schedule to places they want to go.
If our bid is successful, we will return to growth mode in the midst of a deep recession, expand our network in Denver to include many attractive destinations that we don’t currently serve today, and offer Denver travelers a stable, low fare airline with legendary Customer Service to compete against the dominant carrier at DIA.

Through this acquisition, Southwest will continue to provide Denver a financially stable source of its historically low fares well into the future. There should be no doubt; the bankruptcy process will require some change to Frontier in any scenario. Given Southwest's history and track record of running a successful airline, we believe that our bid is the best option on the table for Frontier, Southwest, and the traveling public.

A successful acquisition of Frontier Airlines by Southwest will expand our network of legendary low fares to additional cities, add jobs into Southwest through growth, and strengthen low-fare competitive pressure in Denver and other cities.

To listen to a conference call held today to discuss Southwest’s bid proposal with Ron Ricks, Executive Vice President Corporate Services and Corporate Secretary, and Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Planning, please click HERE.

Shannon Is First Euro Airport with Full U.S. Pre-Clearance

Western Ireland’s Shannon Airport has become the first airport outside Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean to provide full U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) pre-clearance facilities for transatlantic flights to U.S. destinations.

Shannon Airport had been providing U.S. immigration pre-clearance since a successful initial trial in 1986, but customs and agriculture inspections for each flight’s passengers still had to be performed upon their arrival in the U.S. However, signing of a pre-clearance agreement on November 14, 2008 in Washington D.C. by Irish Transport Minister Noel Dempsey and senior U.S. officials paved the way for Shannon to become the first airport outside of the U.S., Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean to provide full U.S. pre-clearance facilities.

Shannon Airport immediately began work on a new passenger screening area; inspection area; post-clearance passenger holding lounges; a secure and segregated baggage holding area; and staff offices. All were required for the new facility. The facilities were designed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Shannon Airport in western Ireland has become the first airport outside Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda to offer full U.S. Customs and Border Patrol pre-clearance facilities for flights to U.S. destinations

Dan Rooney, the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, visited Shannon Airport today to welcome passengers travelling with Continental, Delta and US Airways to the United States. These were the first passengers to be cleared through Shannon’s new US pre-clearance service facility. The passengers encountered no further checks at Newark, JFK and Philadelphia airports, the respective destinations of the three airlines’ flights.

Martin Moroney, Shannon Airport’s director, says the service will open up very significant opportunities for business development for Shannon.

“This is an historic day for our airport and, indeed, a milestone moment in Irish-US relations,” says Moroney. “Shannon is the first airport in Ireland to have these facilities in place, and [it] represents a major upgrade of the pre-inspection which commenced in 1986. It is a very proud moment for us and we look forward to maximising this opportunity in the years ahead.”

While the pre-clearance service began today with commercial flights provided by major US carriers, preclearance for general aviation flights, including corporate jets, is scheduled to begin later in the year. Shannon Airport says the attractiveness of the service is already reflected in British Airways’ decision to have a transit stop in Shannon and avail of pre-clearance at the same time on its new all-business service from London City to New York JFK, which starts in September.

Pat Shanahan , the chairman of Shannon Airport Authority, said last November that the pre-clearance agreement would create a significant advantage for Shannon over other European airports, as well as raising the profile of the Shannon Airport and the West of Ireland brands considerably throughout the world.

In addition to fast-tracking access for passengers flying from or through Shannon to U.S. international airports, pre-clearance would also enable services to be established directly to any domestic US airport, he said. This would make Shannon an ideal airport for low-cost transatlantic carriers and open the way for significant executive-jet business into any location in the US.

Shannon Airport's ability to offer full U.S. CPB pre-clearance facilities means that commercial and business-aviation lfights alike will be able to fly to any U.S. airport from Shannon as long as its runway is long enough, not just international gateways

“This agreement has the potential for Shannon to emerge as a major transatlantic aviation gateway. It has the potential to significantly increase the number of transatlantic flights daily in and out of Shannon, which will strengthen revenue through increased landing and handling charges and support employment levels at the airport in the process,” Shanahan said in November.

Moroney added that having full pre-clearance at Shannon would also reduce processing costs and connection times for airlines, enhancing the airport’s attractiveness to carriers ― not least those already operating transatlantic services at Shannon ― and also business-aviation operators.

Full U.S. CBP pre-clearance facilities are also due to open at Dublin airport by November 2010, according to the Irish Times.

by Chris Kjelgaard
http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airports/shannon-is-first-european-airport-to-offer-full-u-s-pre-clearance/

Continental flight 128 to Houston Makes Emergency Landing in Miami

Severe turbulence forced a Continental Airlines flight to land at Miami International Airport (KMIA)

Monday morning after at least 26 people were hurt, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman Elkin Sierra.

Continental flight 128 was heading from Rio de Janeiro (SBGL) to Houston (KIAH) with 168 people on board, said MIA spokesman Marc Henderson. According to the Federal Aviation Association, the plane reported turbulence around 4:30 a.m. and landed safely in Miami KMIA at 5:30 a.m.



Of the 26 injured, 14 were taken to area hospitals. Twenty-two are said to be in stable condition and four are in serious condition.

From Sky 10, rescue crews could be seen using catering trucks to move the passengers off the plane and onto the tarmac where several ambulances waited to transport the injured to the hospital. The catering trucks were used as elevators to prevent further injury to passengers once they were stabilized, Sierra said.
Eight people were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital and three to Mercy Hospital with non-lifethreatening conditions. It is not yet known where the others were taken.
A passenger on the flight told Local 10 the remaining passengers were taken off the plane.

Where To Legally Join The Mile High Club

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So if you were ever wondering about what goes on in the aircraft bathrooms on the red-eye flights from the West Coast to the East Coast, here is a easier way to get your groove on at 35000' feet! join the Mile High Club and there are airlines that actually exist to test your freakier side! Flying for the airlines I have seen my fair share of people who feel the need to "do the do" and have something to talk about with each other for years to come. Now the airline bathrooms are about as big as a pantry closet in your home but cleanliness is not exactly what I would call it that's for sure!

Most people opt for the under the blanket, in the back couple of rows, dark late flights or overnight international flights to get a little stress reliever. The buzz kill is if you get caught it can be very embarrassing or even valid enough to have you arrested and or jailed! So that's where Mile High Club type airlines come into the picture.

One airline is in Australia and a little more real working airline and one that does it in Arizona for the Burning Man event in the dessert and that looks like a guy who knows Jimmy Buffet, happens to have a plane and will let you and your significant other play for about an hour! It's not for everyone but most people do think about it and if you have, read on and see some of the history and what still is a thrill and taboo in the world of aviation and the airlines!

BlkCigarCzar

Now it has never been more difficult to join the Mile High Club than it is today. Even if two of you successfully make it into the bathroom, that darn space has gotten so small that you can barely go about your usual business; forget sexy affairs.

In response to these hassles, at least two aviation groups have sprung up, solely specializing in flights for Mile High Club membership:

Erotic Airways

A legit (enough) operation out of Queensland, Australia, they'll fly lovers up in twin-engine Beech H-18S from Redcliffe Airport, Nathan Road, Redcliffe Peninsular. Flights for a couple start at $570 for a 40-minute flight, and include champagne, chocolates, a safe sex kit, and a certificate of Mile High membership.

Tack on another $63 per extra passenger, until the onboard double bed is packed full, should you desire. The semi-NSFW website is worth a glance, if only to be highly entertained at their copious use of the words "sexperience" and "sexpedition."

Mile High Club at Burning Man

When the desert frolickers at the Burning Man festival aren't creating and then destroying giant sculptures, they're making time for novelty sex. This is not as concrete an operation as Erotic Airways, but with Burning Man coming up at the end of this month, we figured some of you might want to keep an eye out.

Here's what the airplane, airport, and terminal look like, and it's piloted by the "pilot" in this picture. Judging from that last picture, heading up in the skies to over Black Rock City will yield you a certificate of Mile High Club membership as well.


We've got no leads on pricing or timing of this one, but if you happen by "Fractal Pilot" while in the desert later this month for Burning Man Black Rock City, do let us know ... for research reasons. Right? Research reasons!

Airline grounds 'mile-high club' aboard new giant jet

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/airline-grounds.html

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the A380 super-jumbo jet. Fasten your seat belts and be sure your seat back and tray table are in the complete upright position. And please — no sex."

Though you're not likely to hear that over the intercom, Singapore Airlines today asked that prospective A380 passengers stow their airborne ardor until they land, the BBC and Reuters report.

The announcement comes just a week after the airline became the first carrier to fly the monster plane, traveling between Singapore and Sydney. The first-class cabin contains 12 private suites with double beds, an almost irresistible temptation for MHC frequent fliers. Trouble is, they're not totally sealed or sound-proofed. (Hey, what do you expect for $14,320?)

"All we ask of customers, wherever they are on our aircraft, is to observe standards that don't cause offense to other customers and crew," the airline's statement said.
Earlier, we wrote about that for some folks, it's join the mile-high club, go directly to jail.

Aboard SQ A-380, Nicer than most apartments but aboard a plane!

Mile high club (History)

The mile high club (or MHC) is a slang term applied collectively to individuals who have engaged in sexual intercourse while on board an aircraft in flight. There is no known formally constituted club so named. However, since "membership" of the "club" is really a matter of an individual asserting they have qualified, the qualifications for membership are open to some interpretation.

Some people attribute the allure of the club to the lower atmospheric pressure in the flight cabin, which they claim increases the intensity of orgasms.[citation needed] Another explanation is the vibration of the airplane, which may make arousal easier.

Others say they have fantasies about pilots or flight attendants, or a fetish about planes themselves. For many others, perhaps the majority, the appeal of joining the MHC is the thrill of doing something taboo and the thrill of the risk of being discovered.

A website using the name Mile high club humorously claims the "club's" "founder" as pilot and design engineer Lawrence Sperry along with "socialite Mrs. Waldo Polk" citing their possibly anecdotal flight in an autopilot-equipped Curtiss Flying Boat near New York in November 1916.

The American transportation authority NTSB reports a documented case in which sexual activity is at least partly responsible for an aviation accident.

H-16 Curtiss Flying Boat circa 1917

UPDATE: Another operator out there offers MHC flights!

Well FYI, here is some updated info on MHC operators and it's called Mile High Flights! It's based in the UK and they actually have a nice airplane with plenty of room. The Cessna Grand Caravan is a very good airplane and suitable for providing this kind of service. Looks like they thought it through, from pillows and plankets down to the roses and an aircraft length curtain for some privacy! Now regular rules apply for take-off and landing so that's the only thing that makes this flight like any others at least with one major exception! Check this one out because it looks a little more legit and well thought out!

MILE HIGH FLIGHTS

We have tried to make Mile High Flights as accessible to everyone as possible and there are options to suit every budget.

There are 2 options to choose from. You can add deluxe packages to these and if you require something a little more extravagant we are more than happy to help you out.

This is our most popular flight. The experience will last just over 1 hour with 40 minutes in the air. This gives you plenty of time to relax and get into the mood and enjoy the views inside and outside the aircraft.

This is the most exclusive of our standard packages. The whole exerience will last about 1hr 30 mins with a full 60 minutes in the air. This will provide you and your partner ample time to indulge in your ultimate fantasies and experience an adventure fit for Hollywood

On arrival at the Gloucestershire Airport (Staverton) you will be met by your 'Captain' who will help put you at ease and answer any questions you have. Before boarding, your Captain will run through the simple but essential safety instructions.

Once on aboard, If you have opted to sample from the 'Deluxe' option, your chilled Champagne and Strawberries will be waiting for you to get you in the mood before the captain lets you know when it is safe to begin your initiation.

The fast climbing aircraft will be one mile high within 5 minutes of takeoff. At that time, you will have between 25 and 35 minutes of privacy to take in the views outside and of course...... those private views inside.

You and your loved one will remain totally undisturbed except for the hum of the engines and the sunlight through the cabin windows. We have provided a comfortable mattress with sumptious duvets, pillows, cushions and blankets to relax on.

After the flight you will be presented with a Mile High Flight 'Certificate of Initiation' before pausing for a photo to remember your adventure by.

A perfect trip for any romantic couple and a wonderful way to celebrate any event from Birthdays, Anniveraries, Engagements or just to let them know... you love them.

This is no ordinary 'little' plane.

Were not talking 4 seater. Were not talking 6 seater... You will be flying in the largest single engine aircaft in the world.
The Cessna Grand Caravan is a unique plane perfect for this adventure providing ample space, luxury and privacy.

The Cessna Caravan has an unrivalled safety record and is widely regarded as one of the best 'small' commercial aircraft in the aviation world. You might say its perfect for safe sex !!
Your captain has over years and miles of experience and will make your take-off, flight and landing an exciting, relaxing experience you will never forget.

A full safety briefing will be given prior to boarding the aircraft. Seatbelts must be worn during take-off and landing. You will be notified by the Captain when you may remove your seatbelts.
All flights are only suitable for consenting adults (aged 18 and over).

If there are adverse weather conditions (e.g. low cloud) your flight may have to be postponed. Please make sure you call the 'terminal' prior to travelling to the airport to confirm that the flight is going ahead. If your experience is cancelled due to weather or technical problems you will be offered an alternative date.

Flights may be booked during daylight hours between May and October. Special flights may be available at Christmas and Valentines (plus other times) but cannot be guaranteed and may be subject to a premium.

Contact us for more information

If you would like to discuss any aspect of your future flight or you require any further information please contact us on: 07960 858 747 or emailinfo@milehighflights.co.uk

Please allow at least 4 weeks between your booking and flight dates.

The Air-Sickness Bag and Toilet Tax: Is the Airline Industry’s “Cheap Flight Revolution” Worth the Cost?

File Photo: MD-11 Taking Off (Not your no frills aircraft)

No-frills airlines have come under attack again for forcing passengers to opt-out of travel insurance when booking cheap flights —- a practice that contravenes European Union protocols.

Hidden Taxes

A few weeks ago the British the consumer watchdog Which? released a study revealing that budget carriers – including EasyJet, Jet2 and Monarch - automatically added travel insurance to online ticket purchases.

Selling insurance as the default option – whereupon customers must untick boxes to avoid paying for the insurance – is against European Union directives and is consequently banned. Lorna Cowan, editor of Which? explained: “With airlines still opting people into insurance, consumers could unwittingly buy a product which is of no use to them, and at up to £10 ( 16.44990 USD) per person this can add up,” she said.

“Buying insurance at the same time as your flights may seem like an easy and convenient option. But if you’ve already got an insurance policy, or it doesn’t provide the right amount of cover for you, it’s as useless as no cover at all.”

British Airways has also launched a website designed to illustrate the differences in service received by low-cost passengers when compared to more traditional airlines. Whereas everything from food & drink to priority boarding was included in the cost of a flight with BA, the airline is quick to point out, these represent additional costs of a ‘cheap flight’ with a competitor.

So, could this be the beginning of a backlash against charges which see passengers forced to pay for everything from checking-in at the airport to putting baggage in the hold and (perhaps most notoriously of all) using credit cards to pay for tickets at a cost of £5 ($8.22 USD as of 28 Jul 2009) per journey per person?

The Air-Sickness Bag and Toilet Tax

Unlikely. The cheap flights revolution is ingrained in the national consciousness to such an extent these days passengers are even willing to suggest which charges they would like to see introduced in the future.

When Ryanair suggested it would be able to cut the basic cost of tickets even further with the introduction of new charges, passengers were quick to endorse everything from a ‘fat tax’ for overweight passengers, corkage fees, and even a charge to smoke in a specially converted cubicle.

A plan to charge passengers to use the toilet – termed ’spend a pound to spend a penny’ – eventually triumphed, but was later rejected by the Irish airline. However, a plan to charge for sick bags has also been mooted of late.

So it seems not only do passengers begrudgingly pay the charges demanded of them, they would also be willing to pay more if it lowered the basic cost of a flight.

Are the “No-Frills” Carriers Here to Stay?

It seems the best course of action for dealing with low-cost carriers is to stoically bear the cost of travel. Think of a cheap flight as a ‘pay-as-you-go’ deal. While the original cost of travel – the flight – is included in the bargain, there are likely to be a myriad of other charges along the way.

By only using what you really need – and cutting costs, by carrying less luggage, for example – will the cost of travel fall. No-frills carriers are still likely to cost less than their flag carrier counterparts and, while this is the case, charges for everything for toilet paper to the use of a wheelchair seem likely to stay.

Southwest Airlines Plans to Bid for Frontier

Southwest Airlines Sports Illustrated Jet Landing In Phoenix

Southwest Airlines said on Thursday that it was preparing a bid, valued at a minimum of $113.6 million, for its low-fare rival Frontier Airlines, which sought bankruptcy protection in April 2008.
The Southwest bid potentially tops a $108.8 million offer for Frontier made by Republic Airways in late June, and which was given tentative court approval on July 13. Frontier confirmed that it had been notified of Southwest’s initial, non-binding bid.

Frontier Airlines In Denver

Under that plan, Frontier, which is based in Denver, was set to become a subsidiary of Republic, an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America.

But Frontier was allowed to seek competing bids, and could terminate its agreement with Republic if it received a higher offer. The deadline for bids is Aug. 10, and an auction for the airline’s assets could be held in United States Bankruptcy Court in New York the following day.

If it is successful, Southwest plans to make a “substantial investment” in Frontier and operate it as a separate subsidiary, until the airline can be folded into Southwest, Ron Ricks, a Southwest executive vice president, said in a statement.

The airline did not say whether its offer would be in cash or if any financing would be involved. Mr. Ricks said Southwest is studying Lynx, a regional airline that is a subsidiary of Frontier, but did not know whether it would also try to acquire that carrier.

Like Southwest, Frontier is a low-fare airline that has been highly regarded within the industry for its customer service. But Frontier filed for bankruptcy last year after a dispute with its credit-card processor, although it has continued to operate since then.

“We are excited about the opportunity to submit a bid,” Gary Kelly, Southwest’s chief executive, said in a statement. “We see a strong fit between our company cultures, a mutual commitment to high quality customer service, and similar entrepreneurial roots.”

Frontier has 5,000 employees and 51 aircraft, while Southwest has 35,000 employees and more than 500 aircraft. One conflict between the carriers could be that Frontier’s fleet relies on aircraft made by Airbus, while Southwest only flies the Boeing 737.

Nonetheless, the purchase of Frontier by Southwest would greatly increase its operations in Denver, where Frontier ranks as the second largest airline, behind United, which uses Denver as a hub. United, however, would still remain in the lead, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

If Southwest is successful, it would mark the second time in two years that it has purchased the assets of a bankrupt rival. Last year, Southwest took over the assets of ATA Airlines, which ceased flying, a move that gave Southwest access to gates at LaGuardia Airport. Southwest began serving LaGuardia on June 28.

In 2004, Southwest and ATA set up a code-sharing agreement and Southwest acquired ATA’s gates at Midway Airport in Chicago.

Go to Southwest Airlines’ Press Release »

Crowdsourcing Airport Security Wait Times

Josh Sulkin, of FlyOnTime.us, has created this interesting little Twitter crowdsourcing experiment:

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

TSA Security Checkpoint at Terminal C of Newark International Airport.

Here is something I found that may be helpful during your travels in the coming future. PDA's, IPhones and Blackberry smart phones will be able to check the wait time at security checkpoints via twitter. As popular as Twitter is becoming and getting used or attached to everything society does, why not check the security checkpoint lines. It's still in it's infancy but the theory of being able to find out how long the checkpoint lines are before you get there would be a good bit of information especially if your running a little late! (Not for my blog readers, they don't run late because they were prepared in advance) :-)

So follow the instructions and see what you find out and let me know if it works or what problems you may have incountered. You will need to know your 3 letter ID airport code (ex. Denver-DEN or Cinncinati-CVG) or you can go to the airport code link and look your airport departure or destination identifier. 3 Letter ID Airport Codes

I'm going to have my smart phone friends try it out and see what they think so I can get some feedback and as soon I do I'll post some of there comments and or concerns.

Let me know what you think!!!

Have a safe trip and remember "Be Proactive Not Reactive" when you fly and enjoy your trip!

BlkAv8tor2003

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/07/crowdsourcing_airport_security_wait.html

From Josh Sulkin "I'd like to announce some major changes to the Apps For America 2 entry FlyOnTime.us, as well as ask for your help in a "crowdsourcing" experiment I'm conducting."

First the experiment...I originally wanted to incorporate the data from the TSA's airport security line wait time calculator into my website, but unfortunately they discontinued it for some reason:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/waittime.shtm

It seems they are revamping it, but regardless it didn't provide the information I really want which is real-time data on the wait time at the airport security lines.
My proposal is for you to go to flyontime.us from your iPhone, Blackberry, or other smart phone when you enter a security line and tell me what airport you're at (a form for this will automatically come up if you're viewing the website on a mobile phone).

Likewise, when you exit the security line, just click a button on the site to tell me so, and this way I'll know how long you were in line. If enough people do this, I can get real time statistics on airport security wait times.
I also wrote some code to monitor Twitter, so if you want you can just tweet this message when you enter airport security:

#airportsecurity xxx in and tweet this message when you leave the line:

#airportsecurity xxx out where xxx is an airport code like "ord" or "lax".

This way you don't have to go to my website but I can still monitor the real-time wait times. More information on this is available at:

http://www.flyontime.us/lines/security

I have no idea if this idea will work or be a total flop, but this is Sunlight LABS after all, so it seems like a good place to try this kind of experiment. So, if you're traveling some time soon, consider contributing your wait time. Also, if you like this idea, please spread the word (one way is to mention @flyontime and "TSA crowdsourcing" on twitter).

Airport Security Lines

This part of FlyOnTime is under development as travelers send in their security line wait times.
Search

Note
You can search real-time and historical wait times in the security lines at major U.S. airports.

When you go to the actual website all the airport codes, days of the week and times will be in a drop down box.

Airport:
(city or code)

Day: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

(optional) Time: 00:00 - 00:59 01:00 - 01:59 02:00 - 02:59 03:00 - 03:59 04:00 - 04:59 05:00 - 05:59 06:00 - 06:59 07:00 - 07:59 08:00 - 08:59 09:00 - 09:59 10:00 - 10:59 11:00 - 11:59 12:00 - 12:59 13:00 - 13:59 14:00 - 14:59 15:00 - 15:59 16:00 - 16:59 17:00 - 17:59 18:00 - 18:59 19:00 - 19:59 20:00 - 20:59 21:00 - 21:59 22:00 - 22:59 23:00 - 23:59
(optional)

Participate
We gather all of our airport security line statistics from YOU, the users of this site. We depend on our users to tell us when and where they are entering and leaving an airport security line. You can contribute one of two ways:

1) On your smart phone's web browser

Visit flyontime.us from your iPhone, BlackBerry, or other smart phone and tell us what airport you're at and when you enter and leave a security line. If you're on a smart phone right now, enter our mobile site.

2) On Twitter

When you enter a security line, tweet this message: #airportsecurity xxx in and when you leave the line, tweet: #airportsecurity xxx out where xxx is an airport code like "ord" or "lax". The airport code is optional for the second message. Also, "in" and "out" can come before or after the airport code.

The following example will work too: I'm going to #airportsecurity in ord and I hope I make my flight.

http://twitter.com/flyontime

Teen misses flight home after scorpion sting at Sky Harbor

PHOENIX -- A scorpion at Sky Harbor Airport delayed a teen's trip home from vacation on Tuesday.

Cris Belfer, 19, said he had just hugged his friends outside the security checkpoint in Phoenix, and made his way into the secure area, when he felt a stinging sensation on his neck."It felt almost like somebody stuck a needle in you for a second and pulled it out," said Belfer.

The New Jersey resident quickly looked down and noticed a scorpion on his shoulder."I brushed it off and then stepped on it and killed it," said Belfer.The Phoenix visitor said he thought he would be okay and decided to proceed through the security checkpoint. But that quickly changed.Once through the checkpoint and at his gate, he began to feel the effects of the poison from the sting."I thought I would be fine, but I started feeling weird, kind of crazy," said Belfer.

He then called his friends who had dropped him off at the airport and Belfer went to an information booth."They were really nice and we called poison control, after talking to them, we decided to go to the hospital," said Belfer.

The 19-year-old was treated at St. Joseph's Hospital."I was there for about six hours,” said Belfer. “It was only precautionary because it was in my neck, so close to my head.”It's not clear if the scorpion fell from the ceiling inside the terminal or if another passenger carried it in.It's the second case of a passenger flying out of Sky Harbor to be stung by a scorpion.

MORE: Yikes: Gilbert man stung on airplane by 1 of 6 scorpions Earlier this week, a Gilbert resident was stung mid-flight on Southwest Airlines from a scorpion that's believed to have been inside his carry-on luggage.According to an airport spokesperson, the facility has weekly pest control service and cannot recall the last time a passenger was stung by a scorpion.

As for Belfer, Continental Airlines re-booked him on a flight home to New Jersey Tuesday afternoon."I have no hard feelings against Phoenix, I love Arizona, the whole thing was just crazy," said Belfer.

Southwest B737 near Indianapolis produces scorpion and medical emergency

The crew of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, flight WN-2093 from Las Vegas,NV to Indianapolis,IN (USA), reported about 20 minutes prior to scheduled landing and just prior to midnight, that a passengers had received a sting by a scorpion and requested paramedics to meet the airplane upon landing.

The aircraft landed safely about 18 minutes past midnight, the passenger was taken care of by waiting paramedics, but did not need to be taken to hospital.

6 scorpions were discovered in the carry on luggage of the passenger, the airplane had to be fumigated.

The airline reported, that the passenger had been going through his carry on luggage, when he felt numbness in his hand and arm and suspected a scorpion sting. They never had a scorpion on board of any of their airplanes before.

Survey Says United's Flight Attendants Are The Worst

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!

Well as we can see day by day the U.S. airline industry doesn't fair all that well compared to the world carriers when the traveling public is queried! Singapore Airlines is on top and if you follow the airlines in performance and service almost every year. (see the photos below and you will see why). With the fuel crunch, economic down turn and the airlines charging for everythingunder the sun it's no wonder the U.S. carriers don't score well. Excessive delays and passengers who think they are priviledged to fly don't really know how to travel in today's airline world and be ready for the ups and downs that may arise. So it’s still interesting to see what a bunch of random people think about what’s going on in the sky. Here in the U.S. most people will think a good airline trip is one that left and arrived ontime. There is a little more than that to it but here is a list of the best airlines of 2009!

AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2009

Rank Airline
1 Cathay Pacific Airways
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Asiana Airlines
4 Qatar Airways
5 Emirates
6 Qantas
7 Etihad Airways
8 Air New Zealand
9 Malaysia Airlines
10Thai Airways

The annual survey of frequent fliers by Seatguru.com, the popular online guide to airline seating, doesn't have a lot of highlights for U.S.-based airlines.

U.S. carriers serve the worst food -- if they serve food at all, that is -- and have the least comfortable seats, the survey of 1,600 fliers found.

Apparently, people don’t like much when it comes to United. The airline scored the title of rudest flight attendants. Don’t worry American Airlines and US Airways weren’t too far behind for flight attendant friendliness. All three domestic carriers were neck and neck when it came to the quality of their in-flight dining: not good. The trio also didn’t do too well when it came to the coziness of seats.

The best? Singapore Airlines, followed by British Airways, Houston-based Continental Airlines and Air France. Many U.S. carriers have eliminated meal service on domestic flights.
One domestic carrier, JetBlue Airways, did come out on top for the most comfortable economy-class seats, according to the survey, while Singapore Airlines led the field for business class. The least comfortable: American, United and US Airways.

Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance, with 91% of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of schedule. Comair, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, had the worst at 68%. Northwest Airlines Flight 803 from Atlanta to Honolulu was the most frequently delayed, being late a whopping 96% of the time. Northwest Airlines Flight 803 from Atlanta to Honolulu was the most frequently delayed, being late a whopping 96% of the time.

Of course Singapore Airlines did the best when it came to pretty much everything. They blew away the competition with their food, flight attendants, and most comfortable business class seats. Too bad they aren’t offering a domestic JFK to LAX route anytime soon.

Besides service and quality, the survey also had some information regarding other in-flight, uh, entertainment. Flyers shared their most memorable gross-out items, and crushed bananas, dirty diapers, and “mystery stains” were some of the gems that you can look forward to on your next flight. As far as seatmates are concerned, people want to fly with the President and First Lady, but if they’re too busy, they’ll settle for Brangelina or Posh ‘n Becks.

Statistically, there’s not too much information from where these number were pulled, or how many travelers contributed their two cents. That’s why we’re opening up to you; we want to know if you agree with these results. Is United Airlines the biggest failure in the sky, or is there an airline that’s even worse? Most of the people surveyed flew at least eight times last year.

Obama's Historic All-Female Marine One Crew

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 checking In!!!

As an aviator any "first" that come along, I love to hear about them. So here is President Obama adding to the list which now includes the first Historic All-Female Marine One Crew front and back, including the aircraft Crew Chief!!!

That's what I'm talking about and it's great to see that even the President believes in the Marines and it's corp of female pilots who trained very hard I'm sure to make it to the pinnacle of their aviation careers thus far!

First I blog that an African American female aviator makes a trip across country at 15 years of age under the guidance of a Tuskeegee airman and now this and all of this is in the light of the 40 year annivesary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon!

This is why I love aviation in all areas because it's always exciting to see what "we" as aviators can get ourselves into and then share it with the world!!!

Good job and keep the blue side up to the ladies of Marine One!!!

It was another first in presidential history.
When President Obama left the White House on Thursday for Andrews Air Force Base, the Marine One helicopter that lifted off from the South Lawn was piloted by the first female helicopter aircraft commander in Marine One history. Maj. Jennifer Grieves of Glendale, Ariz., flew her first Marine One mission in May 2008,

In honor of Grieves' last day in the rotation, the Marines assigned two other female officers -- Maj. Jennifer L. Marino, of Palisade, Colo., and Sgt. Rachael A. Sherman, of Traverse City, Mich. -- to complete the crew. And that all-female crew was another first.

Marine Corps Maj. Jennifer Grieves is interviewed at the White House in Washington, Friday, July 17, 2009

WASHINGTON — Jennifer Grieves wanted independence, exposure and something she could be proud of when she joined the Marine Corps. She got all that, and more — including a place in history as the first woman to ever pilot Marine One, the president's helicopter.
For about 40 times in the past 14 months, she has been the one responsible for ferrying President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney to and from Andrews Air Force Base, and other points in their world travels.

Maj. Jennifer Grieves waits on the South Lawn of the White House for President Barack Obama to board Marine One, Thursday, July 16, 2009, on her last day in her rotation as pilot of Marine One. Grieves is the first female Marine One pilot, and the Marine One crew is made up entirely all women today in honor of her achievement. She was designated the helicopter aircraft commander of Marine One in May, 2008.

Her 14-month rotation as a "Marine One" ended Thursday with another first: An all-female crew, led by Grieves, landed on the South Lawn of the White House to take Obama to Andrews for a day trip to New Jersey and New York.
For Grieves, now a major, enlisting was not about piloting the president or being the first woman with the responsibility.
"It's just about being a Marine," she says matter-of-factly.
Grieves, 38, joined nearly 20 years ago in her hometown of Glendale, Ariz., seeking broader horizons. Until then, her only exposure to the military was a grandfather who had served in the Navy.

"I think I just wanted some independence. I wanted some exposure. I wanted to be a part of an organization that I could be proud of," she said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press. "I had no idea initially that it would turn into something that I've been more proud of than anything else in my life. I got lucky in that respect, and I made a good decision and it ended up turning out very well."

Grieves came to helicopters by chance. A college mentor recommended that she take an aptitude test. She did, and it pointed her toward flying. She was accepted to flight school and "ended up realizing that I should have wanted to do that ever since I was a kid."
"It's something I love," Grieves said of flying; she can fly three different types of helicopters.
A supervisor who had served in the Marine One squadron recommended that she apply. She joined in 2005, spent a couple of years as a co-pilot and then became qualified to fly vice presidents and visiting heads of state.

She was given the ultimate responsibility, being designated a "Marine One," in 2008.
The native of Alameda, Calif., said she didn't realize the significance of her achievement until her rotation ended Thursday. Next comes leadership school in Quantico, Va., starting in August. Grieves expects to finish in June 2010 and return to flying, either in North Carolina or Afghanistan.

"Yesterday, I realized that it might be significant, and it might be important," she said, adding that she was proud of her crew and all the Marines who support her. "And I guess, a little bit, I'm kind of proud of myself, too."



Marine One pilot Maj. Jennifer L. Grieves, of Glendale, Ariz., left, copilot, Maj. Jennifer L. Marino , Palisade, Colo., center, and crew chief Sgt. Rachael A. Sherman, Traverse City, Mich., take off from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 16, 2009, with President Barack Obama aboard. Grieves, the first female Marine One pilot, is on the last day in her rotation as pilot of Marine One. The Marine One crew is made up entirely all women today in honor of her achievement. She was designated the helicopter aircraft commander of Marine One in May, 2008.

On Thursday, Obama greeted Grieves and her co-pilot, Maj. Jennifer Marino, of Palisade, Colo., as he boarded. Once on the tarmac at Andrews, he walked up front and told them how proud he was, she said. He gave her one of his personal presidential coins.
"He said he's always felt like he was in good hands with all of us," Grieves said.
There's little time to get to know the president, but that isn't Grieves' job.
"Our job is to fly him, to be professional, take him from A to B and to take him there safely," she said.

Her first day flying Bush, "I was a nervous wreck. I was extremely nervous," she said.
She remembers he boarded and came to shake her hand. "He kind of did a doubletake," at the sight of a woman in the pilot's chair. They greeted each other and "he smiled at me and I knew. I kind of felt what he was thinking and he walked back to the back and he was great ever since, just like President Obama," Grieves said. "I think the fact that they both have daughters makes it a little more special for them."

Youngest African American Female To Have Completed Flight Across Country

Kimberly Anyadike



15-year-old Kimberly Anyadike became the youngest African-American female pilot to ever fly across the United States, finishing a 13 day flight and 23 cities with the help of her safety pilot, 87 year old Tuskegee Airman, Levi Thornhill.

Anyadike, who met over 50 Tuskegee Airmen during her trip, says she "wanted to inspire other kids to really believe in themselves," and that she wanted to pay tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen along the way, as "They left such a great legacy. I had big shoes to fill.

All they wanted to do was to be patriots for this country. They were told no, that they were stupid, that they didn't have cognitive development to fly planes. They didn't listen. They just did what they wanted to do." A clip of the pilot, below:

“Tuskegee Airmen Briefing” Toni Frisell 1945

Anyadike is believed to be the youngest African American female to have completed the journey, and among the youngest people in the nation (regardless of race or gender) to have done so.

She left from Compton at the end of last month on a small red-tailed Cessna. The tail of the plane was painted red in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen who she hoped to honor:

They [The Tuskegee Airmen] left such a great legacy. I had big shoes to fill . . . All they wanted to do was to be patriots for this country. They were told no, that they were stupid, that they didn’t have cognitive development to fly planes. They didn’t listen. They just did what they wanted to do. (LA Times)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video above is after the completion of the cross country trip

Anyadike’s co-pilot was also a Tuskegee Airman and during the 13 day trip, she stopped in 4 different states along the eastbound leg of the trip to meet surviving members of the all African-American Air Force unit. 50 Airman signed her small plane in thanks. Many were glad to see the legacy of African American pilots continuing into the next generation.

TAM is also a shining examples of black people doing for themselves. Founder, Jamaican-American, Robin Petgrave started the program to inspire youth and get them off the streets and away from exploitation. It is currently supported by the Association of Black Pilots and the Tuskegee Airman Chapter in LA, as well as the KIPP school (open to all inner city youth seeking college prep education). And TAM is part of a larger community effort to help inspire kids from Compton that many locals have spoken out in praise of and helped support through time, effort, media, and funds.

In a world where we are still willing to kick children out of a pool for being the wrong “complexion” or to disparage the intelligence of young girls while encouraging them to see their power in flesh and product, Anyadike offers a critical alternative of hardwork, knowing one’s history, and daring to dream. The collective effort of women and men from Congress to Compton ensured that the youngest black female pilot just made a safe and historic flight around our nation. Her skills and accomplishment will no doubt inspire other young girls and nationally disparaged youth; they certainly inspired me.

Anyadike also understands the importance of continuing the legacy, stating her other main reason for taking the flight amidst discouragement from others was:

Given that the first all African-American female crew (pilot, co-pilot, and flight attendants) flew only a year ago, Anyadike’s significance to women’s aviation cannot be underestimated. Not only does her flight represent an important shift away from a largely male, or male only, tradition in aviation (black or white) but was also part of the efforts of several strong women to keep the program where she learned to fly alive.

Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, designed to inspire at-risk and low income youth to not only learn to fly but also to take hold of their dreams, was largely supported by female Congressmen. Senator Diane Finestein and Congresswoman Richardson have been key advocates for the program and were also on hand to meet Anyadike when she reached the East Coast. Congresswomen Juanita Millender-McDonald and Figueroa have been important local advocates for the program, taking their accomplishments to the hill.

Congresswoman Millender-McDonal also helped spearhead efforts to get the program re-funded under the Bush administration; those effots were stopped by then-Pres Bush, citing Katrina rebuilding as his reason, tho many believe it was part of a longstanding tradition of Republicans to refuse to fund targeted programs regardless of how beneficial they may be. While Bush failed to see the significance of the program, the male pilots behind the program were much clearer on its goals and were just as keen as the women involved to ensure female representation and gender equity in the program.

Tuskeegee Airman Thornhill, Anyadike & Petgrave

Crash Update: Air France A332 over Atlantic on Jun 1st 2009, aircraft impacted ocean

The BEA has concluded their press conference introducing the results of their investigation and their preliminary report so far.The key sentences have been (according to simultaneous English translation by BEA):- No technical problems with the airplane before the takeoff.- The airplane did NOT break up in flight.-

The 24 ACARS messages refer to the loss of airspeed (pitot tubes)- The airplane also lost information about the direction the airplane was going to.- The airplane hit the ocean in a flat attitude at high vertical speed. - Weather was a classic ITZ scenario.Nothing had been found before June 6th, then the first bodies and parts have been found.

Parts from the nose to the tail of the airplane have been found including parts of the structural body of the airplane, one part of the engine and parts of the main cabin have been recovered. No clothes have been found, recovered life vests were not inflated. 51 bodies were recovered.One of the cockpit walls has been found deformed.

A large part of the crew rest room has been found, impact marks indicating that something came from the bottom up to the top. The debris recovered so far suggests, that the airplane did not break up in flight, but went down vertically.Three other flights (IB-6024 [A343, Rio De Janeiro GIG-Madrid MAD 12 minutes behind AF-447], LH-507 [B744, Sao Paulo GRU-Frankfurt FRA] 20 minutes behind AF-447, AF-459 [A332, Sao Paulo GRU-Paris CDG 37 minutes behind AF-447]) tracked the same route to TASIL between FL350 and FL370 around the time of the crash.

They all had to avoid storm cells and diverted from the airway between 11 and 80nm. They experienced moderate turbulence. All three flights had problems to establish communication with Dakar. There were no satellite phone conversations from those crews.The weather in the Intertropical Convergence Zone was a classic scenario with storm cells. The airplane had started the engines at 22:10Z and got airborne at 22:29Z. Last radio communication was at 01:35Z. No transfer had been completed from Rio's control to Dakar control. An attempt by the AF-447 crew to establish contact with Dakar Control has been detected at 02:01Z (the wording to the means of communication was unclear, supposedly it was a digital data transmission via ACARS). No distress call was detected.

First alerts were sent at around 8:30 (unclear whether GMT, local Europe, local Brazil).The BEA refuses to believe, the black boxes would not be found, however stated, that the search for the recorders will be terminated on July 10th.The Original BEA English translation said: The airplane went down vertically, a review of French wording offers a different picture however stating, that the airplane came down in a flat attitude at high vertical speed.The full preliminary report has just been published: French Version (13MB) and English Version (3MB).