Video: Air Force Landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor for President Obama’s visit to Phoenix

Today, Obama came to Phoenix to speak at ASU. Following is the video of Air Force One Landing at the Sky Harbor Airport -

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Activists, Greenpeace and Celebrities buy land to stop Heathrow Expansion Plan

We have heard about different ways activists have tried to stop Heathrow’s expansion, but recently they came up with a novel idea – buy a piece of land (almost an acre is size) in the middle of the planned site for expansion. Celebrities like Emma Thompson, Alistair McGowan; millionaire Tory Zac Goldsmith and a lot of activists contributed to buy the piece of land now called “Airplot”.

From Mizozo.com -

Celebrities like “actress Emma Thompson, the comedian Alistair McGowan,
millionaire Tory Zac Goldsmith”, greenpeace and activists bought a
portion a land in the middle of Heathrow’s expansion project.The land plot is called “airplot” and a thousand of brits have their name on it’s registration.

Cons 

• More planes, more pollution = more carbon emissions
• More planes – more noise

Pros

• More planes – More jobs
• More planes – More money for London or UK (since every person flying through or from London pays airport tax)

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Superwoman? Born with no arms, Jessica flys a plane with her feet

Jessica Cox (25 year old from Tucson, Az) was born without arms but that did not stop her from flying an aircraft. She recently became the first pilot licensed to fly with only her feet. She used one foot to man the controls and the other to guide the steering column. She got her Sport Pilot Certificate that qualifies her to fly a light-sport aircraft to altitudes of 10,000 feet.

Her flight instructor is Parrish Traweek (from San Manuel’s Ray Blair Airport).

From Fox News -

“When she came up here driving a car,” Traweek recalled, “I knew she’d have no problem flying a plane.”
Finding a plane that was
compatible with her abilities was a task within itself. She found it in
the Ercoupe, a plane manufactured in the mid-1940s. Locating one took
her to Florida and California, although she finally find one less than
70 miles away in San Manuel.
“Once you’re with Jessica for
about 20 minutes, you don’t even notice she doesn’t have arms,” Traweek
said from the one of the airport’s hangars.
Cox, unwrapping a piece of
chewing gum with her toes nearby, was clad in a yellow T-shirt sporting
a stick figure with truncated arms beneath the phrase: “Look Ma, No
Hands.”
“Jessica’s showing people there are no limits,” he said. “Jessica’s incredible. She really is.”

That slate is now covered with achievements from a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arizona to two black belts in tae kwon do. She’s also seeking a publisher for her life story. She keeps even more active with swimming and walking.

Bravo Jessica! All of us need to be a little inspired from her. It does remind me of Jim Carrey’s new movie Yes Man

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Good News Everyone: Indianapolis gets a new Terminal

Indianapolis International Airport’s new Midfield Airport is all set to open on Tuesday November 11th 2008 (purposely delayed 2 weeks to coincide with Veteran’s day). The ceremony will be include “a 1,000 foot ribbon, dozens of speakers, bagpipes and a flyover by the Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing“. Free parking will be available at the garage. The first commercial flight will land after 8pm on Tuesday (opening day) and the departures will start Wednesday.

Event Details from IndyStar -

The ceremony on the upper-level drive at the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal will start at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Other event highlights include:

» The Indianapolis Firefighters Emerald Society Bagpipers will play.

» The Indianapolis Airport Police & Fire Honor Guard will post the colors.

» Airport police and fire officers Jason Garner and Ed Jordan will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Anne Valentine will sing the national anthem.

»
The Rev. Yung Sheng Chen, a member of the Indianapolis International
Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy board of directors, will offer the
invocation.

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Hurray!!! Qantas starts LAX service with its Airbus A380

Today Qantas became the first airline to fly a commercial flight to USA (Los Angeles) on the world’s largest commercial aircraft, Airbus A380. The current flight numbers for the the Airbus A380 are QF 11 and QF 12. The flight will allow passengers to fly Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) or Brisbane (BNE). The airplane will also fly a weekly flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles.  Currently the airlines is running a limited seat pricing for a round trip on the Airbus A380 for less than $1000.

The flight landed at LAX on runway 25L in the South Airfield at 7:26 am. After landing the plan head over to Tom Bradley International Terminal for arrival procedures.

The A380 Welcome Party

The flight was welcomed by “Qantas Ambassador-at-Large John Travolta, Australian
entertainment legend Olivia Newton-John and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R.
Villaraigosa.

“

Features of the Qantas Airbus A380 (from Market Watch Article)

• 14 single private suites in First Class featuring a 17 inch LCD wide screen video monitor, a unique touch screen control unit, and a seat (manufactured by B/E Aerospaces’s VIP jet group) that swivels into a comfortable armchair and a fully flat, extra long and wide bed;
• the next generation of Qantas’ award-winning sleeper seat Skybed in Business Class, which now offers an extra long and fully flat bed with ergonomically enhanced cushioning, a larger in-arm entertainment screen, additional storage options and more privacy;
• a private lounge area in the upper deck Business Class cabin featuring leather sofas, a self-service bar, large video monitor with laptop connectivity and a feature display cabinet;
• Premium Economy seats by Recaro, with fully adjustable, in-arm, digital wide screen television monitors, and a self service bar dedicated to the upper deck Premium Economy cabin;
• Recaro seats in Economy Class featuring a sliding base that moves with the seat back to create a more comfortable, ergonomically tested position to aid sleep and eliminate pressure points and a foot net to stop sliding during sleep;
• four self-service bars in Economy Class; and
• state-of-the-art Panasonic inflight entertainment system with more than 100 on demand movies, 500 television selections, up to 1,000 audio CDs, 30 PC style games, and a selection of audio books, language tutorials, destination information, business education and radio channels.

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Anil Ambani buying SpiceJet?

Anil Ambani, successful Indian businessman who is the 6th richest businessman in world, is reportedly in talks to buyout SpiceJet, the Delhi (India) based low cost airline. Though the airline has reported that no formal offer has been sent by the Reliance head. Earlier, Anil Ambani had reportedly lost his bid to buy Air Deccan to Kingfisher’s Vijay Mallaya.

Indian Airline Industry, despite the huge growth, is losing a lot of money. I wonder if it is prudent to buy an airline, esp. with oil reaching the cost of $130+ per barrel.

Reminds of Richard Branson’s famous quote – “The fastest way to become a millionaire is to start off a billionaire and then buy an airline“.

Facts about Anil Ambani (from here)-

• Net worth – US$45 billion (6th richest in the world)
• Chairman of – Reliance Capital, Reliance Communications and Reliance Energy
• Son of – Dhirubhai Ambani, founder of the Reliance Group.

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Naomi Charged on the Terminal 5 incident

Naomi Cambell has been charged on the incidence assaulting two police officers during a luggage incidence at Terminal 5 of London’s Heathrow Airport. The incidence happened during the infamous chaotic opening week of Terminal 5.

From Associated Press –

“The Crown Prosecution Service said Campbell faced six charges — three
counts of assaulting a constable, two counts of using threatening,
abusive words or behavior to the cabin crew and one count of disorderly
conduct. Police said the assault charges related to two officers.”

“She arrived at the police station Thursday in a chauffeur-driven
Mercedes. She left without speaking, but her lawyer said the supermodel
was “bitterly disappointed” that she had been charged.”

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Dennis Farina Arrested at Los Angeles International Airport

Dennis Farina, the former “Law and Order” star and former Chicago Police Officer, was arrested at the Los Angeles Airport for carrying a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic weapon in his briefcase.

Farina, 64, was booked in a felony case after LAX screeners found a
loaded handgun in his briefcase as he prepared to board a plane. More…

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Naomi Campbell arrested at London Airport

Earlier today (April 3rd 2008) British supermodel Naomi Campbell was arrested for investigation of assaulting a police officer at London’s Heathrow Airport. She was arrested after she boarded a British Airways flight to Los Angeles.

Facts -

• This might be the first arrest on newly opened Terminal 5 of the Airport
• This might be the first celebrity incidence on Terminal 5
• Naomi Campbell has a history of legal problems due to anger driven assaults.
• She has been notorious for misusing cellphones for assault (first her assistant and then the housekeeper)

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