Cielus: March 2013

Sunday, 31 March 2013

Qantas Airways and Emirates Airline Dual A380 take off at Sydney Airport

Dual A380 Flyover Sydney

Two Airbus A380s made a dramatic tandem flight Sunday over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to launch the new Qantas-Emirates partnership, hailed by the Australian carrier as a “seismic shift” in aviation. The tieup, approved last week by Australia’s competition watchdog, allows the two airlines to combine operations for an initial period of five years, including coordinating ticket prices and schedules. It will also see Qantas switch its hub for European flights from Singapore to Emirates’ Dubai base as it attempts to turn around its struggling international business.
“Dubai is the best hub for Qantas in the 21st century,” the company’s chief executive, Alan Joyce, said after watching the flyover by superjumbos from both airlines at 1,500 feet (450 meters) over Sydney’s famous landmark. “It is eight hours’ flying time from 75 percent of the world’s population.” At a news conference with Emirates President Tim Clark, Joyce said the partnership would offer huge benefits to customers in terms of network and frequent flier benefits, cutting flight times to top European destinations.
“This is one of the biggest days in Qantas’ 92-year history. That’s because this partnership will play a critical role for us into the future,” Joyce said. “This joint network with Emirates is a key part of tackling the structural challenges that Qantas International is faced with. But more than that . . . it is a seismic shift in global aviation.”
Qantas said the feat by the two superjumbos is thought to be the first time anywhere in the world that two commercial airline A380s have flown in formation. The alliance is seen as vital to the sustainability of Qantas, which last year posted its first annual deficit since privatization in 1995 due to tougher competition and high fuel costs for its international arm. With services to Asia no longer tied to onward links to Europe, Qantas has said that it is also considering new direct destinations from Australia, including Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda.

Qantas Airways and Emirates Airline Dual A380 take off at Sydney Airport

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igV9rjTvnI8]

Dual A380 Flyover Sydney

Two Airbus A380s made a dramatic tandem flight Sunday over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to launch the new Qantas-Emirates partnership, hailed by the Australian carrier as a “seismic shift” in aviation.

The tieup, approved last week by Australia’s competition watchdog, allows the two airlines to combine operations for an initial period of five years, including coordinating ticket prices and schedules.

It will also see Qantas switch its hub for European flights from Singapore to Emirates’ Dubai base as it attempts to turn around its struggling international business.

“Dubai is the best hub for Qantas in the 21st century,” the company’s chief executive, Alan Joyce, said after watching the flyover by superjumbos from both airlines at 1,500 feet (450 meters) over Sydney’s famous landmark. “It is eight hours’ flying time from 75 percent of the world’s population.”

At a news conference with Emirates President Tim Clark, Joyce said the partnership would offer huge benefits to customers in terms of network and frequent flier benefits, cutting flight times to top European destinations.

“This is one of the biggest days in Qantas’ 92-year history. That’s because this partnership will play a critical role for us into the future,” Joyce said. “This joint network with Emirates is a key part of tackling the structural challenges that Qantas International is faced with. But more than that . . . it is a seismic shift in global aviation.”

Qantas said the feat by the two superjumbos is thought to be the first time anywhere in the world that two commercial airline A380s have flown in formation.

The alliance is seen as vital to the sustainability of Qantas, which last year posted its first annual deficit since privatization in 1995 due to tougher competition and high fuel costs for its international arm.

With services to Asia no longer tied to onward links to Europe, Qantas has said that it is also considering new direct destinations from Australia, including Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda.

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Comet PANSTARRS and a new moon

On March 12, 2013, Comet PANSTARRS was aligned with a very new moon and slid towards the horizon together. This timelapse shows frames captured every 5 seconds. From my home near Santa Fe, New Mexico. By Michael Zeiler

Comet PANSTARRS and a new moon

[vimeo 61684192 w=600 h=450]

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Sukhoi SuperJet 100 Getting Ready For Interjet

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCtQdlhZmu4?rel=0]

Comet PanSTARRS

Taken by Johnny Horne on March 10, 2013 @ Harrells NC in southeastern NC, USA.

Comet PanSTARRS

Taken by Johnny Horne on March 10, 2013 @ Harrells NC in southeastern NC, USA.

Sunday, 10 March 2013

Comet Panstarrs C/2011 L4

Taken by Dr. Fritz Helmut Hemmerich on March 10, 2013 @ Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Comet Panstarrs C/2011 L4

Click on the image to view animation.

Taken by Dr. Fritz Helmut Hemmerich on March 10, 2013 @ Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Saturday, 9 March 2013

Airbus A350 almost ready for testing

Photo: Airliners.net

Airbus has switched to nickel-cadmium batteries, in the wake of the problems which grounded the Boeing 787 in January, to reduce the risk of delaying the program.

Bright Comet PANSTARRS

Image above: For those in search of comet L4 PANSTARRS, look to the west after sunset in early and mid-March. This graphic shows the comet's expected positions in the sky. Image credit: NASA. Discovered in June 2011, comet 2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) bears the name of the telescopic survey that discovered it -- the less than mellifluous sounding "Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System" which sits atop the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii.

Airbus A350 almost ready for testing

Photo: Airliners.net

Airbus has switched to nickel-cadmium batteries, in the wake of the problems which grounded the Boeing 787 in January, to reduce the risk of delaying the program.