Tag: Natural

Germany First Lady Elke Budenbender Christens Berlin Express

October 4, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Hapag-Lloyd AG (Frankfurt: HLAG) has officially welcomed into its fleet the “Berlin Express”, the first ship of its new Hamburg Express class. At an event attended by some 300 guests from business and politics, naming patron Elke Büdenbender performed the ceremonial christening of the ship at the Container Terminal Burchardkai (Athabaskakai) in the Port of Hamburg. Among the guests were Peter Tschentscher, the First Mayor of Hamburg, and Daniel Günther, the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein.

The Hamburg Express class will mark the beginning of a new era for Hapag-Lloyd and its fleet. In total, a dozen state-of-the-art large container ships will be put into service by 2025. Together, these vessels will make an important contribution to Hapag-Lloyd’s efforts to operate its entire fleet in a climate-neutral manner by 2045. Thanks to their cutting-edge dual-fuel technology, they will also be able to operate using non-fossil fuels, such as bio-methane and e-methane, and thereby generate hardly any CO2 emissions.

For the time being, liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be used, which will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25 percent and soot emissions by 95 percent. In addition, advanced components – such as an optimised hull and a highly efficient propeller – will help the vessels to reduce fuel consumption and thereby greenhouse gas emissions.

The “Berlin Express” was built at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard in South Korea. With a length of almost 400 metres and a capacity of 23,600 TEU, it is the largest cargo ship ever to sail under German flag. The container ships in the Hamburg Express class will exclusively operate on the cargo-intensive Far East route between Asia and Europe. The “Berlin Express” will operate regularly on the FE3 service, which sails between Ningbo and Hamburg, via Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Yantian, Hong Kong, Singapore and Rotterdam.

Maldivian Airlines updates regional fleet with additional ATR 42-600 order

September 20, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France, September 19, 2023 – Maldivian Airlines, the national airline of the Maldives and the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer ATR, have signed a firm order for two ATR 42-600 aircraft. These highly-efficient new aircraft will join the airline existing regional fleet, including two ATR 72-600 and one ATR 42-600, to replace older generation turboprops.

With these modern aircraft, powered by extra efficient PW127XT engines and featuring a spacious and appealing cabin, Maldivian will offer further reliable and affordable connectivity to the archipelago’s communities and businesses, contributing to the Maldives’ economic dynamism while lowering emissions.

About Maldivian

Maldivian, the national airline of the country embodies the spirit of the Maldives by providing exceptional air travel services that showcase the natural beauty and warm hospitality of the island nation. The airline is the leading domestic carrier with a scheduled network comprising of 16 domestic sectors. Maldivian operates the largest wheel-based fleet in the country which includes DeHavilland Dash 8 and ATR aircraft. Maldivian Seaplane, which consists of DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, further enhances the airline’s domestic operation by providing specialized tourist air transportation service connecting customers directly to the doorstep of their chosen resort. Operating from its hub in Male’, the airline provides international scheduled flights to cities in India and Bangladesh.

Saab’s Fourth GlobalEye Conducted Successful First Flight

April 3, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

The first flight of the fourth GlobalEye is an important milestone in Saab’s Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) program and highlights that Saab can rapidly and reliably deliver GlobalEye.

The Saab (OTC: SAABF) aircraft took to the skies from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden on April 03, 2023 and performed several tests related to the aircraft’s capabilities.

GlobalEye is the most modern multi-domain Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) solution with an array of active and passive sensors that provide long-range detection and identification of objects in air, at sea and over land.

By providing real-time information to units in air forces, armies and navies, GlobalEye enables enhanced situational awareness of the surrounding areas and early detection of threats. It can also be used for non-military tasks such as leading and coordinating rescue missions during natural disasters or larger accidents at sea or on land.

Flying Kangaroo to Launch New Flights to Iconic Australia Outback Town

February 9, 2022 / WIL BALDWIN

Qantas (QAN.AX) announced today it will add Broken Hill to its domestic route network for the first time, with the airline to begin direct flights from Sydney starting on April 8, 2022. The airline will operate two weekly round trip flights between Sydney and Broken Hill with its 50-seat Q300 aircraft.

QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the service will create stronger connections for the far west of New South Wales for both business and leisure travelers. Broken Hill Regional Council Mayor Tom Kennedy welcomed the announcement of the new Qantas services as they will provide the local community with additional choice and flexibility.

Broken Hill is the newest destination to join QantasLink’s extensive regional network, with the airline now operating flights to 57 regional and rural towns across Australia. With the inclusion, the Group has launched 52 new domestic routes, including many country destinations since the start of the global pandemic, as Australians seek new holiday adventures closer to home.

The flights will operate on a Monday and Friday to offer Broken Hill residents an easy long weekend in the city and allow visitors to make the most out of their outback exploration. Fares will start from $269 one-way, but to celebrate the new destination, Qantas is offering a special sale fare starting from $189 one-way, available for sale until 21 February, unless sold out prior.

Shell Selects H160 for Operation by PHI in Gulf of Mexico

February 19, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Marignane, France, 15, February, 2021 – International energy group Shell has selected leading US offshore helicopter operator PHI to operate four Airbus H160’s to service a support contract in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract marks the entry into the oil and gas market of the H160 with a wealth of design features promising new levels of safety, comfort and schedule reliability in offshore operations.

The three companies – Airbus, PHI and Shell – are cooperating in a unique partnership. In a pioneering move, Airbus will provide one H160 ahead of final deliveries to PHI and Shell for a year-long route-proving programme to enable the operator and the final customer to familiarize themselves with the type’s advanced features and mitigate the normal challenges around entry into service.

At PHI it will be based at Houma, Louisiana and join a large company fleet of H125’s and H135’s deployed in emergency medical service throughout the United States, as well as two H145’s operating for Shell on pipeline survey work in Louisiana, and two H145’s flying the world’s longest harbour pilot shuttle in Mackay, Australia.

With 68 patents, the H160 is the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter and features an unprecedented suite of pilot aids delivered through its Helionix avionics which substantially reduces crew workload and decreases the risk of pilot error.

They include the world’s first ground helipad assisted take-off procedure, a vortex ring state pre-alerting system and a recovery mode to automatically regain steady flight in difficult circumstances.

The H160 is powered by two of the latest Arrano engines from Safran Helicopter Engines and incorporates an embedded monitoring system and a redundancy of sensors, and can be maintained autonomously far from base. The design emphasises robust corrosion defence specifically envisaging offshore missions.

Union Pacific Names Craig Richardson Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary

December 8, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Union Pacific today named Craig Richardson executive vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. Richardson is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s legal affairs, including commercial transactions and litigation, regulatory matters, labor and employment. Richardson also supervises the railroad’s compliance and ethics program, and risk management initiatives, including Union Pacific’s police department. He succeeds Rhonda Ferguson, who served as executive vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary.

Richardson most recently served as vice president of commercial and regulatory law. He’s also held the position of associate general counsel.

“Craig has provided critical leadership, guiding us through sensitive and complex legal matters with insight, sound judgment and clarity,” said Chairman, President and CEO Lance Fritz. “He is a superior partner and counselor and has the expertise we need during this time of unprecedented change within our nation and company.”

Richardson’s experience spans commercial and regulatory litigation, including oil and gas, environmental, and antitrust law, as well as all aspects of multi-jurisdictional permitting of global energy infrastructure. For nearly a decade, he served as the Chief Legal Officer of El Paso Corporation’s Pipeline Group, the largest network of interstate natural gas pipelines in North America, delivering over 30% of the natural gas consumed in the United States. He was responsible for all legal matters nationwide, waging successful litigation in executing El Paso’s $8 billion portfolio of crucial additions to national energy infrastructure from California to New York.

Embraer E195’s Make Vietnam Debut with Bamboo Airways

September 29, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Two Embraer E195s have commenced operations in Vietnam with Bamboo Airways, offering the first jet service to Con Dao from Hanoi, Vinh and Hai Phong. Con Dao Island and the surrounding National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty 1400km (760nm) from the capital Hanoi, off the southern coast of Vietnam. The popular tourist destination, featuring an archipelago of 16 islands, is currently only served by turboprop aircraft due to its short runway, light pavement, and lack of fuel provision.

The Embraer E195s join Bamboo Airways’ fleet on a wet-lease agreement with Denmark based Great Dane Airlines, adding to the growing number of E-Jet operators in the Asia Pacific region.

“Bamboo Airways is proud to offer jet-operated flights to Con Dao with the E195s,” said Mr. Dang Tat Thang – Executive Vice Chairman of Bamboo Airways. “The aircraft’s short runway performance makes it an ideal aircraft for flights to and from Con Dao. The two by two seating will offer our passengers a high level of comfort in a modern, spacious aircraft, including the one-of-its-kind Business Class on the route to Con Dao.”

“Congratulations to Bamboo Airways on this strategic move. The E-Jets will give them great flexibility both in performance as well as in economics,” says Raul Villaron, Vice President, Asia Pacific for Embraer’s commercial aviation unit. “The E195’s fuel efficiency and economics enables Bamboo Airways to cost effectively manage fluctuating demand and operate lower density routes with the right sized aircraft. We welcome Bamboo Airways to the Embraer family and our global team are here to support them.”

Bamboo Airways is the first to operate direct flights to Con Dao from three cities; the capital Hanoi, Hai Phong city in the North and Vinh city in the central area. There will be two flights a day on the Hanoi – Con Dao route and daily flights from Hai Phong and Vinh to Con Dao in the initial phase. Bamboo Airways are operating the aircraft in a comfortable single class configuration with 118 seats.

Embraer is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft up to 150 seats with more than 100 customers from all over the world. For the E-Jets program alone, Embraer has logged more than 1,800 orders and 1,600 aircraft have been delivered. Today, E-Jets are flying in the fleet of more than 80 customers in some 50 countries. The versatile 70 to 150-seat family is flying with low-cost airlines as well as with regional and mainline carriers.

Airbus & Texas DPS Explain Large-Scale Search and Rescue Operations

February 24, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Article by Belén Morant, Media: Airbus Helicopters; Jonny Carroll; DTX Media

Tim Ochsner, Chief Pilot of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), explains the key to the success of the SAREX (search and rescue exercise)

When it comes to offering an adequate, effective and rapid response to natural disasters there’s no room for improvisation, particularly when a number of different agencies are involved. Tim Ochsner, Chief Pilot of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), explains the key to the success of the SAREX (search and rescue exercise) conducted by more than 20 different agencies since 2015, which has now established itself as the benchmark for rescue training in the US.

How did the need arise to organise rescue training on such a large scale as SAREX?

In 2011, the state of Texas had huge problems with wildfires, and the following years we had two major floods. All the agencies equipped with aerial capability for these kinds of situations were involved: the Army with their Lakotas, our local EMS agencies, the Austin Police Department with their H125 and San Antonio Police Department with an H125 as well…

We all quickly formed a team and worked together out of necessity due to the flooding. We didn’t have time to set much up – we just did it.

After those events, we thought we needed to come up with a better plan for training, establish a communication plan and standard operating procedures. We had to establish a cooperation framework that was independent to the parties we tend to work with, because at the end of the day these things can change. That’s how the SAREX exercise came about.

Click the link for the full story, more pictures, and a video! https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/stories/sarex.html

Save Our Malayan Tiger Campaign Set to Roar with AirAsia

November 12, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

SEPANG, 13 November 2019 – AirAsia has unveiled a special ‘Save our Malayan Tiger’ aircraft livery in support of the government’s campaign to save the fast-disappearing Malayan tiger.

The ‘Save Our Malayan Tiger’ livery forms part of AirAsia’s ongoing sustainability efforts to support conservation and environmental programs, and would encourage millions of people to pledge their support for the cause.

The Airbus A320 aircraft livery was unveiled by the Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Yang Berhormat Dato’ Dr Xavier Jayakumar alongside AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group President (Airlines) Bo Lingam and AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat here in Sepang today.

AirAsia Group Head of Global Affairs & Sustainability, Shasha Ridzam said, “Malayan tigers are a majestic symbol of strength and part of our national identity. We would never want our children to grow up in a world where the Malayan tiger exists only as an image on the coat of arms. That is why we must play our part in protecting them. I hope this new livery helps to bring the government’s wildlife conservation campaign to life.”

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes also added, saying, “Congratulations to the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources for taking proactive measures in protecting our Malayan tigers, and we’re proud to be able to do our part in helping this campaign.”

Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources YB Dato’ Dr Xavier Jayakumar said, “We are proud to take the Save Our Malayan Tiger and Hutan Kita campaigns to new heights with AirAsia. The alarming decline of our national symbol is clear evidence that we need to do more when it comes to conserving our tigers. Our Hutan Kita campaign is an important cause as well, as without our forests, there will be no tigers and wildlife. We hope with AirAsia’s support, we will further raise the awareness on these important messages not just in Malaysia but in the region as well and be the vehicle of change for our tigers.”

AirAsia has also extended its support to the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources’ environmental campaigns by sponsoring return flights for 10 orang asli to attend the Hutan Kita Exhibition Launch in August 2019, in addition to supporting a visit to the National Wildlife Rescue Center (NWRC) in Sungkai, Perak for its Allstars in October 2019.

AirAsia’s sustainability efforts include guest education, carbon reduction and waste management, the collection and separation of recyclable items on board and community-based tourism programmes such as JourneyD. AirAsia also fosters social enterprise initiatives across Asean through its philanthropy arm, AirAsia Foundation.

About Maldivian

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