Belgrade, Serbia

Wishing you all the best in 2012!

In hope that the new year will bring the EX-YU aviation world even more success

~
Sretna nova godina
Srećna nova godina
Срећна нова година
Среќна нова година
Srečno novo leto
Gëzuar Vitin e Ri
~

Best wishes
Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com

Skopje, Macedonia

Happy New Year to all readers of the NZ Civair blog!

My daughter sent me this photo of the Cessna U206F floatplane ZK-PCS taken just after it had dropped her off at Crail Bay in the Marlborough Sounds on 29 December, after a flight from Picton, and I thought it had a nice holiday feel to it.

ZK-PCS is operated by Westland Air Charter of Picton and has been on the New Zealand register since 20/5/97. Previously it was C-GBCS.

The year that was … 2011

Historic passenger and traffic growth, a new airport, bankruptcies, government bailouts, failed privatisation and a bag of corporate corruption insured 2011 to be one of the more eventful years in commercial aviation in the former Yugoslavia. Read below for the most important Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com of 2011 by month.

~ JANUARY ~

• New CEO for Adria Airways chosen in face of financial trouble
• New terminal plans revealed for Priština Airport
• Tunisia flights suspended due to revolution

~ FEBRUARY ~

• Skywings International based in Skopje declares bankruptcy
• Wizz Air announces flights to Skopje
• Construction of Kraljevo’s Morava Airport begins
• B&H Airlines and Jat Airways begin evacuation flights from Tripoli
• Montenegro Airlines suspends Priština and Skopje due to unpaid debt

~ MARCH ~

• Tender for the construction of Zagreb’s new terminal begins
• Jat announces return to Spain after fourteen years
• Adria Airways expands Priština base operations
• Flights to Tripoli suspended as no fly zone introduced
• Iran Air begins refuelling stops at Belgrade Airport
• Wizz Air opens Belgrade base

~ APRIL ~

• Banja Luka Airport faces closure
• Montenegrin government bails out national carrier
• Overhaul of Ohrid Airport completed
• Chicago - Zagreb - Belgrade flights announced for summer months
• Air Arabia launches Tuzla flights

~ MAY ~

• Croatia Airlines turns twenty
• Ten companies in Zagreb terminal bid
• Montenegro Airlines orders new jet
• B&H Airlines suspends Vienna and Frankfurt flights
• Eagle flies into Montenegro Airlines Fokker nose cone

~ JUNE ~

• Adria celebrates fifty years
• Adria requests 50 million Euro bailout
• Jat Airways resumes Dubrovnik service after two decades
• Chicago - Zagreb - Belgrade flights cancelled hours before inauguration
• Croatia Airlines launches Belgrade service

~ JULY ~

• Mat Airways ceases operations
• Record year for Croatia Airlines
• Construction begins on new Priština Airport terminal
• B&H suspends Stockholm and Gothenburg

~ AUGUST ~

• The tender to find a partner for Serbia’s “new Jat” begins
• Flydubai announces Belgrade flights

~ SEPTEMBER ~

• A new era for Skopje Airport as new terminal opens
• Adria announces network suspensions
• B&H Airlines launches Pescara flights
• airBaltic expresses interest for the “new Jat”
• Croatia Airlines and Adria join forces
• Adria saved from bankruptcy

~ OCTOBER ~

• First flight to Kraljevo Airport
• New Maribor based airline Golden Air launches flights
• Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com reveals party politics at Jat Airways
• Golden Air grounded
• Dubrovnik Airline grounded
• Baltic Aviation System buys Jat tender documents

~ NOVEMBER ~

• Family rules at Montenegro’s airports
• Qatar Airways announces Zagreb flights in 2012
• Jat Airways announces Croatia expansion in 2012
• Qatar Airways announces Belgrade flights in 2012
• US blocks Adria jet sale to Iran

~ DECEMBER ~

• Baltic Aviation System looses Jat interest
• Single offer for Zagreb’s new terminal
• Record year for Tivat Airport
• Belgrade Airport tops three million passengers
• Belgrade Airport expansion begins

With 370.000 visits in 2011 and 365 news items, thank you for visiting, reading, contributing and interacting with Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com.
See you in 2012!

The Jabiru J200 ZK-CHW3 (c/n 009) from the Watkins Family Trust of Auckland was seeking shelter from the inclement meteorological condition by over nighting in the Pat Scotter hangar.

Above : strongly rumoured to have been sold to new owners at Tauranga: is the North American NA78 Harvard 3* ZK-XSA (c/n 78-6647). It was out and about today (31-12-2011).

Tucked away was the Jabiru J120-C UL ZK-EFG3 (c/n 001) of Hamilton Computer Services of Christchurch. This little aircraft flew across the Tasman Sea from Lismore to Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands and into Kerikeri on 13-11-2009.

And something different -:- Taking of from Rangiora today.

I was sad to hear of the recent death of Stuart Tantrum at Blenhiem. Stuart was a can-do homebuilder who built some really interesting sport and antique aeroplanes. I first knew Stuart in Levin when he was my stage inspector for my Jodel D9 project, and later he successfully test flew the completed aircraft at Foxpine. He was a great help to me and very generous. I remember him giving many children joyrides from Foxpine in his Tiger Moth ZK-ALX.

Stuart was AACA member number 266 and he built aircraft quickly. His SE 5A Replica ZK-SET was completed in 1978 (whereas my Jodel which must have been started around the same time, was not completed until 1984). ZK-SET is photo'd here at Foxpine in the 1990's, piloted by Stuart after being rebuilt by him following its accident at the 1992 Auckland air Expo.

But Stuart really pushed the envelope with his second aircraft, the Fokker Dr1 Triplane Replica ZK-FOK. I was always impressed by Stuart's workmanship as I saw this aircraft coming together in his garage in Levin - so many parts in those 6 wings! ZK-FOK is photo'd here at the 1986 Manawatu Chapter AACA flyin at Feilding in December 1986, in its original lozenge colour scheme. This aircraft can be considered to be the grand-daddy of all the amazing WW 1 aircraft that we now have in New Zealand, including 6 other imported Fokker Triplanes.

Stuart was badly injured in the crash of his Tiger Moth ZK-ALX at Foxpine in January 1986. However he continued with his love of aviation to be back flying again later that year

Stuart then shifted to Blenhiem where he formed Antique Aero Engineering Ltd, and he worked there with his son Wayne. Antique Aero Engineering restored several excellent examples of antique aircraft including Rob Mackley's Stearman ZK-BWR and Tiger Moth ZK-BMY.

However, Stuart's foremost legacy to the history of aircraft in New Zealand is the wonderful complete and authentic restoration of Avro 504K ZK-ACU, including an original rotary engine used by the aircraft in the 1930's. This is New Zealand's oldest existing aircraft having been first registered in 1931 and operated by the New Zealand Permanent Air Force. It crashed at new Plymouth in November 1935 and the remains ended up in the Taranaki Museum. The remains were eventually obtained by Stuart and he began restoration in Levin, later shifting the project to Blenhiem. ZK-ACU was restored to the civil aircraft register in October 2008 for The Vintage Aviator, and Stuart carried out the test flying schedule. ZK-ACU is photo'd above in The Vintage Aviator's hangar at Masterton in March 2010. If you look closely you can get an idea of the amazing job that Stuart made of the restoration.

As I said in my introduction, Stuart was a can-do type of guy, and he was a very clever man.

31 Desember 2011

Su-30 of the Vietnam People Air Force (photo : Jetphotos)

Interfax-AVN - Russia successfully carried out a contract to supply Vietnam 12 multifunctional fighters Su-30MK2.

"In accordance with the timetable agreed with the customer next four Su-30MK2 posted on Friday from Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Vietnam," - said a source in the military-industrial complex.

He recalled that the delivery of the first four aircraft were delivered in June this year.

(Interfax)

As the year winds down, it is an appropriate time to reflect on it, and also to plan for 2012.  At this time last year, I set some goals for my blog in 2011, and although not all were reached, the most important one was: I wrote articles consistently throughout the entire year.

The lesson that I take from this is that an ambitious goal may be reached by setting many small achievable ones.  In 2011, I posted 61 articles.  While some might call these posts, my readers will defend me when I say that my written pieces are not typical "posts" just as this site is not a typical "blog".  My articles are usually about 1,000 words, but sometimes 2,000 words.  If the average post is 1,200 words, then I wrote over 73,000 words on various topics within the realm of science and engineering over the course of this year.

It would seem daunting to commit to the goal of writing 73,000 words in a year, particularly if it were done on the side, like a hobby, as is the case for me.  I mean, this many words could easily fill a full fledged book.  I instead committed myself to write about one article per week.  As each article represents a very reasonable task on its own, the final result, while it appears grandiose when surveyed as a whole, was arrived at without much stress or concern.

I am happy to report that the audience for my blog grew steadily throughout the year.  To be sure, my articles have not gone viral - I remain jealous of the viewership of YouTube videos of cats rolling around in vomit, which easily generate millions of hits just days upon their uploading.  I suppose my site is more like a slowly growing bacteria; I like to think that my blog is going bacterial.

During the month of January 2011, I had just over 400 hits.  Over the last three months of this year, the blog averaged 3,000 hits.  While these numbers are not huge by any measure, I am still excited that thousands of people around the world are taking the time to read my words, which include some fairly in-depth discussions of reasonably complex content.  There are no cute cats on my site, nor is there anything gross or shocking.  Visitors to my blog have a head on their shoulders, and in general, have an earnest desire to be informed about new technologies and scientific discoveries.  I would describe my current audience as small but mighty.

All this being said, never before 2011 could I state that thousands of people have taken the time to consume anything that I produced.  And, although the comments board is not as busy as I'd hoped it would be this year, there have been many interesting and thoughtful comments posted by many.  Thanks to all who have taken the time to continue the discussions that I try to stimulate within my articles.  The nice thing about receiving just a few comments every week is that I can easily keep up with them, and post responses.  Please, keep them coming.

This year, I posted about topics ranging from aerospace to quantum physics to God.  And, despite all of the deep, existential discussions, which seem to me to be the most intriguing, the most read article of mine this year, was "Why Don't Airplanes Flap Their Wings?" which was read by 860 people.  This tells me that people want to know how every day technologies work.  I will continue to discuss technologies that we take for granted in 2012, and if a few more people understand the basic principles behind the tools with which they interact through a quick read on my site, then I am happy for it.

In the month of March, I had Aerospace Month.  As this was a relative success, I plan on having one or more themed months in 2012 - I am leaning towards an "Energy Month".

One other important addition in 2011 was the "For Physics Students" page, which I have been building.  In truth, "The Engineer's Pulse" has become much more student-centered than I had originally planned for.  Many of my favourite articles to write are inspired from content that I teach, and writing the articles empowers me to give clearer and more compelling lectures.  The truth is that even if this blog never becomes very 'popular', it will not have been a wasted effort, as it has proven itself to be an extremely useful teaching tool for me.

That being said, please do not hesitate to pass my articles along via whatever means (Facebook, Twitter, etc) to anyone whom you know that may find them interesting.  Do you know any science-minded students or tech-savvy adults?  Send them my way.

I wish all of you a prosperous 2012.  Oh, and by the way, I have seen the future, and I am glad to report that the world does not end.  On the downside, Donald Trump gets elected as the President of the United States.  Hmm, maybe that is the end that the Mayans were referring to all along.

Everyone gets the big scare speech early on in their flight training: "If you lose power on takeoff," say our trusty CFIs, with the requisite sobering tone of voice, "DO NOT try to return to the airport if you are below X feet above ground...always find an emergency landing area somewhere ahead."
Everyone has their favorite altitude number for "X", which is a factor of many variables, including aircraft engine off glide ratio and density altitude.  Usually it's a comfortably conservative number, say 1000 feet minimum AGL.

There's a good reason for that cautionary buffer zone of course: many pilots - and passengers - have died trying to make the killer turn back to the airport from too low an altitude.
In an attempt to demystify the infamous "Impossible turn", AOPA online managing editor Alyssa J. Miller goes about the worthy business of investigating firsthand just how high one should be above launch airport altitude to feel safe about turning back for that oasis of engine-out safety: the runway.

It's all based on aviation journalist Barry Schiff's Impossible Turn Maneuver Checklist, also replicated in the article.  Miller's goal is to "find out how much altitude you need to turn around safely—not to try to turn the aircraft around in a pre-set amount of altitude."
It's an important distinction, that difference between knowing the absolute minimum altitude you'll need vs. having a mindset of "must turn in 500 feet" to wrestle with.
And she does a service thereby for all of us by accumulating some real world numbers.
Taking wing, she climbed to a safe altitude with CFI Sandy Geer, then recorded several repetitions of:
<> simulated engine failure on takeoff
<> stabilizing to best glide speed
<> turning 270 degrees (a turn left or right dictates you will need more than just 180 degrees to line back up with the runway)
<> flaring, as if performing a landing
<> then recording the total altitude lost from pulling the power.
Miller's best altitude loss number was 300 feet in a Cessna 172!  The average altitude lost for the entire group of simulations was between 300 and 500 feet.  I'm itching to try this in an LSA...especially a motorglider.
After discussing their efforts, they each settle on a minimum above ground comfort altitude: CFI Reed's is 1000 feet AGL, while Miller says she might consider 750 feet her personal minimum.
Both note that in a true emergency situation any number of distractions will lead to greater altitude loss, or as we say Webside: YRMV (Your Results May Vary).  
It's a thought-provoking read, with a helpful accompanying video.  
At Sebring next month, I'm going to add this maneuver to my pilot report flight list, which should also give me some interesting comparison figures between different models of LSA, since all flights will take place from the same airport. 
Meanwhile, you can check out the article here.

30 Desember 2011

Airbus Military A330 MRTT (photo : Aus DoD)

The fourth Airbus Military A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport for the Royal Australian Air Force has been formally handed over to the service, leaving just one aircraft of its order still to be delivered.

Known as the KC-30A in RAAF operation, this particular aircraft is the only one for the RAAF to have been converted from the basic A330 in Madrid, the others having been converted by Qantas Defence Services in Brisbane, Australia. It took part in the A330 MRTT development programme and has been extensively renovated prior to delivery in Madrid.

Following the handover the aircraft will remain in Spain for continued test work and will be transferred to RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland later in the year. The fifth and final aircraft will be delivered in the third quarter of the year.

The A330 MRTT recently underwent successful refuelling trials in Australia with a RAAF F/A-18 fighter and earlier this month was displayed by the RAAF at the LIMA Airshow in Malaysia.

It is the world’s most advanced air-to-air tanker and the only certified and flying new generation tanker/transport aircraft in existence. It will substantially increase the aerial refuelling and logistical capabilities of the RAAF.

In RAAF service, the aircraft are equipped with two underwing refuelling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) enabling it to be refuelled from another tanker. Powered by two General Electric CF6-80E engines, the aircraft are equipped with a comprehensive defensive aids suite (DAS) and fitted with 270 passenger seats.

(Airbus Military)

Sarajevo - Mostar in 2012

B&H Airlines plans to launch flights from Mostar to Sarajevo next year in hope of attracting transit passengers through the Bosnian capital. It has been proposed for the flights from Mostar to depart early in the mornings in order to connect on to B&H’s European network. The flights from Sarajevo to Mostar would leave in the evening hours, with the service to be operated by an ATR72. B&H has requested an exemption from fees at Mostar Airport during its first year of operations and has asked for the flights to be partially subsidised by the Mostar city authorities.

B&H operated flights from Mostar to Pescara in Italy for several weeks over the summer, which proved popular with tourists. The airline is mulling over plans to launch services to Rome next year. B&H Airlines will handle similar passenger numbers as last year. Despite a promising start to the year, with a strong passenger surge recorded, numbers were severely hit in the past few months after the airline’s destination network was significantly cut. On the other hand, Mostar Airport handled 35.329 passengers by the end of November, an increase of 98%.

After a bit of a rummage around I dug up these photographs from the bowels of the old shoe box.
In my misspent youth I spent a lot of time hanging around at the Wellington Aero Club and assisting Ivan East in the hangar when an extra pair of hands were needed.
On 01-02-1964 I was on hand to capture the Avro 694 Sport Avian MkIVM ZK-ACM (c/n 499) being manoeuvred into the Club hangar.

Above: With its prancing horse and Checkered tail it rests alongside the Cub ZK-BTV. In the background is the newish Woolworths.

Above: Proud owner Keith Trillo watches as Barry McAlly and Frank Johnstone (unsure of the spelling of both these gents names) prepare to place it in the hangar.

In the hangar with Cub ZK-BQN on the left and the Cessna 310G ZK-CFG in the back corner.

It underwent an extensive rebuild and flew again on 30-11-1967.

 Above is a photo from Peter Ingram showing it post restoration with wings folded.

As seen on 18-11-1967. In 1970 it was stored in a barn near Wanganui; unfortunately to be destroyed by fire in February of 1974.

29 Desember 2011

HDW U-216 conventional submarines (all images : Militaryphotos)

U-boats may be on navy's shopping list

Australia's ''future submarine'' could be a super U-boat built by a German company that made many of the submarines that nearly brought Britain to its knees in World War II.

HDW has released details of a concept design, designated the Type 216, for a long-range conventional submarine.

Experts say the design, based on the successful Type 214, is specifically targeted at Sea 1000 - Defence's future submarine program.

Rex Patrick, a former submariner and the director of Acoustic Force, said yesterday the information available indicated Type 216 would meet the requirements spelt out in the 2009 Defence white paper and there was no reason the submarines could not be built in Adelaide.

''I think they [HDW] have been working on the Type 216 for some time with candidates like Australia, India and Canada in mind,'' he said.

Another HDW design, the Type 209, is the basis for three submarines Indonesia is buying from Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine Engineering.

The $1billion contract for the three, two of which will be built in South Korea and one in Indonesia, was signed on December 20.

Defence has been considering a number of European submarines, including the HDW 214, the Spanish Navantia S-80 and French DCNS Scorpene, as replacements for the trouble-plagued Collins for some time. It has confirmed ''requests for information'' are to be sent to the three manufacturers.

Defence has also signed a contract with Babcock to research a land-based submarine propulsion test facility and a ''Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan'' is being prepared.

While Defence has acknowledged the European vessels offer proven designs and shorter delivery times than an Australian-designed submarine, the concern is they are too small to meet Australia's broad needs as outlined in the 2009 white paper.

The ''supersized'' HDW Type 216 may change that. It is more than twice the size of the three submarines that have just been commissioned by Indonesia.

Designated the Type 1400, the Indonesian boats will still be very capable. The first is expected to be in use by 2015 with the second scheduled for delivery in 2018.

There is grave concern delays in the Government's decision making process means there is no longer sufficient time to design and build an ''evolved'' Collins class boat by the 2025 deadline.

Former ASC chief executive officer, Greg Tunney, is on the record as having said ''serious concept work and definition studies'' should have begun in 2010.

HDW's Type 216 concept, the subject of a special report in the current edition of Jane's International Defence Review, overcomes the shortcomings of small European submarines and would take less time - and money - to build than a ''son of Collins'' analysts claim. At almost 4000t, 89m long and with an extendable minimum range of 10,400 nautical miles (19,240km), it outclasses the existing Collins in every way.

The evolved 216 would come with air-independent propulsion giving it a nuclear submarine-like ability to linger underwater in choke points such as the Straits of Malacca for weeks on end. It would have the ability to launch cruise missiles, carry a ''swimmer delivery vehicle'' for special operations and be extremely quiet thanks to propulsion design parameters and an outer shell that absorbs sound.

(Canberra Times)

Numbers up as airline subsidies are approved for next year

Skopje is enjoying a significant increase in the number of passengers since it opened the doors to its new terminal in September. Last month, Macedonia’s main hub welcomed 56.180 passengers, an increase of 17.1% compared to the same month last year. The strong growth was followed up by an increase in the number of flights being operated to Alexander the Great Airport, up 15.4% on November 2010. Ohrid Airport, on the other hand, welcomed 1.332 passengers. Combined, the two handled 57.512 passengers, up from 50.541 passengers last November.

So far this year, Skopje and Ohrid airports have handled a combined total of 765.309 passengers. Therefore, they have already exceeded 2010s end of year result when they saw 756.088 passengers through their doors. In recent years the two airports have recorded rapid passenger growth, despite the demise of Macedonia’s national carrier MAT Macedonian Airlines.

Meanwhile, the Macedonian government has approved plans to attract new airlines by offering subsidies of up to five million Euros within the next three years. The choice of airlines that will receive the financial support will depend on several criteria such as frequencies, number of destinations as well as projected passenger numbers. A total of 1.4 million Euros in subsidies will be offered next year, increasing to 1.5 in 2013 and 2.2 million in 2014. Macedonia is currently served by two scheduled low cost airlines: Wizz Air and Pegasus Airlines.

Getting into the New Year garage cleanup spirit, the FAA has amended its Part 61 flight training rule, finalized in 2009, with some needed clarifications and corrections.

photo courtesy Aviation Advertiser

The stated purpose is to "revise the training, qualification, certification, and operating requirements for pilots, flight instructors, ground instructors, and pilot schools."
The primary change as it relates to our corner of the aviation universe: Flight examiners giving the checkride for the Sport Pilot ticket do not need a medical certificate as long as they have a U.S. driver's license: i.e. the same self-certification of competence to fly requirement that governs the Sport Pilot license qualification.

A pleasant surprise at Taupo 28 December was the visit of New Zealand's one and only Piper PA46 Meridian ZK-OLY.  This slick machine arrived from its Fielding base via Gisborne and after a refuel continued home to Fielding.

More on ZK-OLY here: http://galonghaulnews.blogspot.com/2011/06/piper-meridian-n598c-zk-oly-long-haul.html
And a nice Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKjTQ83tZI

Thanks to Henry M for these great shots taken at Taupo:

These first two shots show the Rockwell 114 ZK-ELL3 (c/n 14229). Above at the fuel pump at Rangiora; and below is a close up view of the logo on the fuselage side. This arrived via container at Hastings in September 2010 for Gwailo Investments Ltd and is now on the line with Air Hawkes Bay Ltd.

ZK-ELL has featured before in these pages at

http://design-plane.blogspot.com/2010/10/rockwell-114-zk-ell.html

http://design-plane.blogspot.com/2010/11/rockwell-114-zk-ell-first-flight.html

Below we have the Wairakei Holdings Eurocopter EC 120 B Colibri ZK-IFR2 (c/n 1312) which did a series of circuits at NZRT.

 Below we see Grant Porter feeling for the ground at Rangiora in his Avid MkIV ZK-JHW (c/n 1434D). This has also been on this blog previously at

http://design-plane.blogspot.com/2007/12/more-wigram-sightings.html

At Rangitata Island today Alan Bowman spied this Timaru based Beech V35 Bonanza ZK-DDG (c/n D8220) of Russell Rarity. This moved to Timaru in about February this year after some 35 years at Gisborne.

28 Desember 2011

Airborne Low Frequency Sonar for MH-60R ASW helicopters (photo : Raytheon)

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, R.I. is being awarded an $80,830,000 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-11-C-0077) to provide for the procurement of 25 MH-60R AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) systems for the Royal Australian Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex, France (68 percent), and Portsmouth, R.I. (32 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

(US DoD)

November numbers down at Adria, on the up at Croatia Airlines

Adria Airways has faced the full brunt of its network suspensions in November as the Slovenian carrier handled 60.300 passengers, down 9.5% compared to the same period last year. The average cabin load factor was also under par standing at 57.9%. The figures were to be expected since the number of flights operated by Adria in November decreased almost 8%. So far this year the carrier has handled approximately 1.098.538 passengers, which is just under last year’s result for the same period. Adria will have a tough ask to exceed last year’s annual result when it welcomed 1.170.235 passengers.

Meanwhile, in November, Croatia Airlines carried 112.100 passengers, an increase of 6% compared to last year. From January until the end of November, the Croatian carrier welcomed 1.708.355 passengers. It is on course to surpass its 2008 end of year record when it saw 1.8 million passengers. This November, its cabin load factor stood at 67%.

As was previously reported, Jat carried 77.751 passengers in November, leading to a total of 1.141.476 passengers for the year. As a result, until the end of November, when passenger figures from all of the national carriers of the former Yugoslavia are combined, they carried a total of just over four million passengers.

Yesterday (27-12-2011) I was fortunate to get a back seat ride in the Piper PA-28-181 Archer 111 ZK-LJC over Christchurch City, Lyttelton and the Harbour entrance. The dead grassed areas have been sprayed and are to be re-planted with the new grass that birds dislike.

Above is the view on final approach to Rnwy 02 at Quake City (NZCH).

Above is the view that Andy Heap had yesterday from the Grob G102Club 111b Astir ZK-GNH. He is sneaking along the Robert Ridge, with Lake Rotoiti out and down to the left of picture. A tad more right rudder please Andy.

The latest addition to the gliders operating out of Lake Station is this Rolladen-Schneider LS4 ZK-GVL (c/n 4085) of David Van Der Linden of Richmond. First registered in NZ on 21-09-2011, it is yet to be certified.

A couple of strays from the North Island.
Cessna A152 ZK-ETS (c/n A1520886) is a very recent addition (15-11-2011) to the Wellington Aero Clubs fleet.

 Cessna 152 ZK-JIA (c/n 152 80726) is a member of the Kapiti Districts Aero Club

All three pics from Andy Heap.

 ZK-SKS (c/n 815) is the Mike Kindon built Aeros Ukraine Skyranger Swift as seen at Rangiora yesterday (26-12-2011). It was recently re-engined with a Rotax 582: replacing the earlier Simonini.

Piper PA28-151/180 Cherokee Warrior (Bold Warrior mods) ZK-TGF (c/n 28-7715223) from TGF Aviation of Parakai was parked over at Rangiora.

The Vans RV6A ZK-VIA (c/n 23401) of Derek and Christine Edwards of Levin dropping in for fuel before heading further north.

Already at the pumps was the Cessna U206F Stationair 11 ZK-DKB (c/n U206F 02170) up from Clyde and heading for Paraparaumu and further afield.

 Cessna U206G Stationair 6 ZK-ETN (c/n U206 05866) was listed to Invercargill Holdings Ltd on 15-09-2011. It i seen here at Queenstown carrying Alpine Air titles on the rear door and "Operated by Southern Lakes Aviation Queenstown on the forward fuselage.

 ZK-FIG2 is a Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP (c/n 172S-9619)  (NZ) Ltd was first registered to Glenorchy Air Services and Tourist Co Ltd on 03-05-2004. In July of 2007 it moved up to CTC Aviation Training at Hamilton; returning to Glenorchy Air Services and Tourist Co on 29-10-2007. It moved over to the Wakatipu Aero Club on 01-07-2010 and carries their Air Wakatipu markings.

The Cessna 208 Caravan ZK-SKB (c/n 20800244) [the Hank Sproull Kero Burner] fired up and ready to move out at Queenstown.

Another Wakatipu Aero Club / Air Wakatipu aircraft is this Cessna 172P ZK-ETT (c/n 172 74937) which has been with the Club since 06-01-1998. (That will be the nose of the Gulfstream G-V N780W on the right of the pic)

Sly Srpska left in the cold in favour of Jat

The government of the entity of Repubilka Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina will pay Jat Airways four million Euros over the upcoming 2012 summer season to operate flights from Banja Luka to Belgrade and Vienna. Sky Srpska, the Banja Luka based airline which is still without aircraft of its own, is unhappy with the deal as it means it will not get its own jet until at least the 2012/2013 winter season. “We are very surprised. We nominated Sky Srpska to operate the flights from Banja Luka and now we hear that Jat will operate the service”, Zoran Injac, Sky Srpska’s CEO, said. “It’s completely irrational”, he adds.

The government on the other hand says its agreement with Jat is a done deal. “We have a few technical details to sort out. We need to obtain all necessary licenses from the Civil Aviation Authorities of Serbia and Austria”, the Minister for Traffic and Infrastructure, Nenad Čubrilović, says. He notes that 8 million Convertible Bosnian Marks (just over 4 million Euros) will be provided in subsidies for the service. Although flight details haven’t been revealed yet sources close to the airline say it has been suggested for the service to operate two to three times per week with an ATR72. The additional flights could impact Jat’s plans to launch flights to Pula and Split in the summer of 2012.

Despite a helpless Sky Srpska, it is believed the government concluded that it would cost less to subsidise the flights from Belgrade instead of having to pay not only for an aircraft lease or purchase but also for air crew and other staff in what is still a very small market. During the year, the government of Repubilka Srpska subsidised Adria Airways’ flight from Ljubljana which saw only an average of five passengers per flight. Once the subsidies dried out, Adria suspended the service.

27 Desember 2011

An EC225 helicopter lands Sunday morning at Vung Tau Airport in the southern province of Ba Rai-Vung Tau. (all photos : Tuoi Tre)

The Vietnamese Navy received Sunday morning two EC225 helicopters, made by French helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, in a ceremony at Vung Tau Airport in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The EC225 is a long-range passenger transport aircraft with an integrated display system and a digital four-axis autopilot.

Commander of the Vietnamese Navy Admiral Nguyen Van Hien (2nd right) and other delegates at Sunday morning's ceremony to receive two EC225 helicopters at Vung Tau Airport in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The chopper, which is designed for offshore patrol and search and rescue missions, can fly at up to 260 kilometers per hour and reach a flying range of 900 km.

It has seating arrangements for 19 passengers, with an 11-tonne loaded weight.

Inside the cockpit of the EC225

Commander of the Vietnamese Navy Admiral Nguyen Van Hien and Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Vietnamese People’s Army Lieutenant General Tran Quang Khue attended this morning’s event, together with many other high-ranking officers of the country’s navy and air force.

An exhibition flight carrying the delegates was conducted shortly after the ceremony.

One of the two EC225 helicopters flies over Vung Tau sky this morning in an exhibition flight.

The Navy also announced a decision to form an EC225 helicopter squadron on this occasion.

Above are four photos taken by Tuoi Tre reporters Sunday morning.

(Tuoitrenews)