[Guardian Ng] SOME few years ago, precisely in the early 2000s, it looked as if it was over for turboprop aircraft, as far as airlines were concerned.
The revival of the propeller-driven planes -- which typically consume a quarter to a third less fuel than equivalent jets -- marks a significant new trend in the industry.
Although the latest generation of turboprops has addressed some of the comfort issues by flying above turbulence and providing quieter cabins, analysts said that the airlines' worries about their bottom line outweighed any passenger preferences.
Until recently, many commuter airlines had been determined to consign the planes to history and convert to all-jet fleets, which offer greater passenger comfort.
Planes with jet engines were faster, more comfortable and somehow more modern looking than ones with whirly things on the wings.
Nigerian travellers would not hear of it and airlines jettisoned them and went for jet airlines. Passengers enjoyed it while those who operated the aircraft type lost customers. All that mattered to them was satisfying their customers.
The airlines did this during the boom in air travel. It also happened at a time many could afford to travel and at a time when airfares were low.
The operators could afford to do that then, but the reality has dawned on them that for so many years, they developed and still developing routes with B737-800/700/500/400, A320, A319, MD 80/83 and many other regional jets.
There is nothing wrong operating these listed aircraft types to places like Abuja, Kano, Port-Harcourt or Owerri only if the airlines have about a hundred or more passengers to be airlifted to such destination. It makes no economic sense if an airline with less than 60 passengers decides to embark on such short trip with highly fuel consuming aircraft.
The case favouring turboprops is also bolstered by ongoing high fuel costs outside globally. Bombardier has seen sales success of its Q400s of late as airlines realise the benefit of high-speed turboprops.
In Nigeria, there is a revival for the turboprops and smaller jets, as ATR, Bombardier and Embraer are in Nigeria for the share of the market, just as the recent decision by the federal government to bail out airlines by way of intervention fund has made them to be more aggressive in their marketing scheme.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/16/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
I fly Alaska (Horizon Air) when going from Seattle to Vancouver BC, Montana, and places like Kelowna BC. Very comfortable aircraft, with a pretty quiet cabin for a turboprop. The fuel savings makes these commuter flights affordable.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/16/2013 0:14 Comments ||
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#2
:)
I like the spin up to full power, it works for me on some lizard level that even a big block don't.
#5
Also Hawker Beechcraft is coming out of its bankruptcy/business structure ruling and is ready for business. This is Rep. Mike Pompeo (KS-4) district (Bombardier is also stationed in Wichita KS), which after the flogging received by Obama and his corporate jetsetter comments nearly shuttered this industry. Literally the day after O's comments orders were cancelled by half with only the Chinese and Mid East clients continuing their purchases. Also, the trainer/scout/light assault prop program being mysteriously rigged for a Brazilian company. When Rep. Pompeo had his moment, he was absolutely right (and not even to mention the Pipeline project involves his district).
One of the things on my genie list would be to ride bombadier on a B-24 across the English Channel and fly 100ft across the Overlord beaches.
#6
Related: ANA is flying the majestic Airbus A380 from Singapore to Hong Kong; still haven't figured out how the econimics work on that. The bird weighs over a million pounds @ take off and such a short flight the 4 engines are really working and drinking hard. so either the 540+/- seats are paying it or it is a loss leader to spread the image of the airline and as a feeder for the long haul routes where jets can be really efficient.
Somehow I don't think Boeing is worried about a fall off in small jets at the expense of turboprops, not with a 737 backlog of over 1100.
And with at least 2 new regional jets coming on line soon, Bombardier and Mitsubishi, the market for short haul jets looks pretty good from where I sit.
[MAGHAREBIA] Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh on Thursday (March 14th) formally assumes the post from Hamadi Jebali.
The handover comes one day after the Larayedh government won a vote of confidence to lead the country out of crisis. The new governing coalition received a clear mandate of 139 votes - 30 more than needed.
The new government includes representatives from Ennahda, Ettakatol and Congress for the Republic (CPR). Independents lead the defence, interior, justice and foreign affairs ministries.
Larayedh said the duration of the work of his government would not exceed nine months.
On Tuesday, the new PM outlined the priorities of his government: creating favourable conditions for elections, re-establishing security, fighting crime, violence and corruption, improving economic development, boosting employment and continuing the process of democratic reform.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/16/2013 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] The head of Tunisia's ruling Islamist party Ennahda insisted Friday that his group was opposed to female circumcision, after one of its MPs caused a storm by reportedly saying the operation was "aesthetic."
"We do not approve of female circumcision, a practice supported neither by Ennahda nor by religion, and which is not a part of our culture," Rached Ghannouchi told a news conference in Tunis.
"Whoever approves of female circumcision cannot remain within our ranks," he added.
Ennahda MP Habib Ellouze sparked outrage in the north African country with comments he reportedly made last week in an interview published in an Arabic newspaper.
"In the (African) regions where it is hot, people are forced to circumcise girls ... because in these regions clitorises are too big which affects the spouses," Ellouze was quoted as saying in the Sunday edition of Maghreb.
"There are more circumcisions but it is not true that circumcision removes the pleasure for women. It is the West that has exaggerated the issue. Circumcision is an aesthetic surgery for women," he reportedly said.
But Ellouze on Monday accused the newspaper of distorting his quotes, saying the journalist "attributed remarks to me that I have not said."
Ennahda, which heads the Tunisian government, is regularly accused of orchestrating a creeping Islamization of society and seeking to limit the rights of women. It denies the charges.
The International Organisation of Migration says around 100 to 140 million women have suffered female genital mutilation around the world, mainly in Africa.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/16/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
But they won't stop, It's in the book, Don't ya know.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
03/16/2013 9:43 Comments ||
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[MAGHAREBIA] The number of deaths from alcohol poisoning has reached 79 in Tripoli, Health Minister Nouri Daghman said on Thursday (March 14th).
About 800 have been sickened from drinking the homemade methanol-tainted brew since March 7th. The number is steadily increasing, straining Tripoli's health districts, the minister said.
Six people were arrested in the incident and two are on the run, Tripoli's security chief said.
"They were banned from travelling via Libya's crossings," Col. Mahmoud al-Sharif said on Tuesday. He noted that he had a list of 24 people with criminal records who deal in selling alcohol.
The consumption and sale of alcohol is banned in Libya. It is brewed in homes or farms away from police eyes and is usually poorly made, without proper equipment.
Al-Sharif said that alcohol dens, especially local manufacturing, had recently been discovered by police and security units in various areas.
"Foreign workers who suffer from some diseases are behind that, but this is done with the co-operation of some Libyans," al-Sharif said.
The alcohol poisoning disaster threw into sharp relief the lack of medical services in Libya and the government's capacity to react to emergency situations.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/16/2013 00:00 ||
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Ouch!!
People in Cyprus have reacted with shock to news of a one-off levy of up to 10% on savings as part of a 10bn-euro (£8.7bn; $13bn) bailout agreed in Brussels.
Savers could be seen queuing at cash machines amid resentment at the charge.
The deal reached with euro partners and the IMF marks a radical departure from previous international aid packages.
President Nicos Anastasiades defended it as a "painful" step, taken to avoid a disorderly bankruptcy. It had, he said in a statement, been a choice between the "catastrophic scenario of disorderly bankruptcy or the scenario of a painful but controlled management of the crisis".
Did his savings account get whacked for the 10%, or did he have advance notice and conveniently move his money to the Caymans?
The Cypriot leader, who was elected last month on a promise to tackle the country's debt crisis, will address the nation on Sunday.
#2
The Cypriot leader, who was elected last month on a promise to tackle the country's debt crisis, will address the nation on Sunday.
Ja, from his hidden underground bunker. Makes a person wonder if there should be a clause in a Constitution which would prevent or at least deter government tyranny...
#3
Trust us, we're from the government. Right. Another reason to point out the failure of European 'enlightenment' that the Left seems so intent on imposing on America.
Given the record of this administration to ignore established law regarding bond holders of the business formerly known as General Motors, I don't expect things like the Constitution Art I, Section 8 [The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises] or Amendments IV or V would deter the embezzlers to cover their loses similarly here. Though it would off set the economic collapse somewhat by the need to hire extensive bodyguards for the pols.
President Nicos Anastasiades defended it as a "painful" step, taken to avoid a disorderly bankruptcy.
I believe the Icelanders chose the 'disorderly' approach, much to the consternation of the bankers.
#6
Reminds me of FDR's virtual seizure of private gold holdings, invalidation of gold clauses in previously written contracts, and the US Supreme Court's later validation of these actions. Theft, fair & square.
Is this how the next upgrade of Stuxnet makes its way into Iranian computers?
by George I had not thought of that...
Iran will be holding joint exercises with Oman in the Persian Gulf next Iranian year (changes on March 21), CHN Press reported. Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the joint exercises will feature rescue and relief operations.
Sayyari also said that for the first time Iran's naval forces crossed the equator in the Pacific Ocean.
Sayyari previously said that Iran and Oman together with other friendly and brotherly countries in the region can establish security in the important region which includes the sensitive and strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Omani commander, for his part, said Muscat is eager to develop military ties with Iran in naval fields and hold more joint naval drills.
In January 2013, Iranian and Omani naval units staged a series of joint maneuvers in Iran's Southern waters to practice their skills and capabilities in rescue and relief operations.
The Iranian Navy's surface and air units as well as several units of Oman's Royal Navy Force took part in the Iran-Oman joint relief and rescue drills in the Southern waters of Iran's Hormuz Island.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/16/2013 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] A senior Iranian cleric accused President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad of "heresy" on Friday by saying in his tribute to late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez that he would be resurrected with Jesus Christ.
"Those comments on Chavez's return with Christ were heresy," Ayatollah Ahmad Janati, the hardline chief of the influential Guardians Council, told worshipers at Friday prayers in Tehran.
Janati was referring to comments by Ahmadinejad on March 6 in which he called Chavez a "martyr" who would "return, along with the righteous Jesus and the perfect human."
The last was an allusion to Shiite Islam's 12th imam that Iran's majority faith believes will return with Christ to bring peace and justice to the world.
Janati said Iran's clergy had been "upset" by the remarks.
"Should people say whatever comes to mind? I wish (Ahmadinejad) had spent a few days in a seminary before discussing such issues," he said.
"Chavez was a populist and anti-American. His political agenda was completely acceptable. But he was not a Muslim," Janati added.
Janati's Guardians Council is charged with overseeing elections and interpreting the constitution.
Iran has scheduled a presidential election for June 14 to find a replacement for Ahmadinejad, whose disputed re-election in 2009 sparked street protests and a deadly crackdown by the regime in response.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/16/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
"Chavez was a populist and anti-American. His political agenda was completely acceptable. But he was not a Muslim," Janati added.
"On March 13 213, a Tucson, Arizona radio host published a photograph of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords holding an AR-15 rifle at a gun range. Giffords has since confirmed that the photograph is authentic."
#1
Liberals who are hypocrites....Shocking! I've never heard of such a thing! It's almost as unheard of as sunrise, sunset, weather, gravity, and water being wet.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
03/16/2013 7:34 Comments ||
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#3
Yup, they're stupid, don't think we peons can read, or think.
Do you think we, the people will LET what happened to YOUR wife, happen to OURS, Hell no BOZO.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
03/16/2013 9:41 Comments ||
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#4
I wonder how many after action reports Marky has done in his career; would love to hear the decision process on this one. This bald faced liar was once given authority of assault jets and high capacity diapers; I wouldn't trust him with a car accident report.
#5
that Ultimate Moral Authority? You don't got it anymore, Mark and Gabby.
Nicely done, hypocrites
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/16/2013 10:39 Comments ||
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#6
Gabby's pic with the evil gun was simply a political necessity for a Democrat in Arizona. She's already been forgiven by all the proper thinking people, wait and see...
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/16/2013 10:50 Comments ||
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#7
Yes, but she is set to retire and the move to cross the T and get Mr. Giffords elected as a machine tool should be in jeopardy.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Guardian Ng] SOME few years ago, precisely in the early 2000s, it looked as if it was over for turboprop aircraft, as far as airlines were concerned.
[MAGHAREBIA] Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh on Thursday (March 14th) formally assumes the post from Hamadi Jebali.
[MAGHAREBIA] The number of deaths from alcohol poisoning has reached 79 in Tripoli, Health Minister Nouri Daghman said on Thursday (March 14th).
[An Nahar] A senior Iranian cleric accused President 
