As any Aerospace engineer learns, the true crux in designing any plane is in the optimisation of the design. Do you focus more on the aerodynamics for a truly flight efficient wing-body and thus sacrifice payload? Do you focus more on structural integrity and fly a plane that handles like a 18 wheel truck with no power steering? The list of compromises goes on endlessly amongst the Propulsion, Materials, Safety, Manufacturing and Payloads teams as well. Overriding all of these though, is the D.O.C : Direct Operating Costs.
That's right. No avoiding it. Even before a single bolt is turned or the first aluminium sheet pressed, there is an intense round of cost estimating and market research and analysis. In other words, "Will this aeroplane be a good sales pitch?" This is extremely important as every cent spent in this stage of the development could have repercussions of up to thousands of dollars in the later stages of the development and manufacture process.
So it should be no surprise that one of the top priorities of Boeing and Airbus would be to ensure customer's confidence in their products AND the company itself. Airbus, being a subsidiary company of EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) with BAE (British Aerospace) as a shareholder, is routinely upheld as a sparkling example of what the old world powers can achieve through co-operation. I.E. beat the Americans.
Underneath all the handshakes, smiles and pat on the backs though, it is evident that the joint national leadership of an essentially commercial enterprise just isn't working out. Issues like national security, pride and economical policies hinder what is already a very delicate production line for the Airbus A380. Look back into the company's history and you will see a direct correlation between the internal political strife and major delays and manufacturing bottlenecks. One can just imagine the English, French, German and Spanish CEOs arguing with each other, refusing to budge on their respective country's demands on the company, forcing everything into a standstill.
I have nothing against this gathering of minds from all over Europe. In fact, I applaud it. But please, get rid of the politics involved as well and run it like a real business. The way things are now, it's more like a family business that has been passed down the generations and now the extended family is just bickering over who gets what title while nobody really pays attention to the dwindling profits and business orders.
So get down to business already. Recent changes in Airbus and EADS have been encouraging, but please don't let it be just another façade and show for the media. Just do it already.
Singapore Airlines takes delivery of first Airbus A380
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 October 2007 1641 hrs
TOULOUSE, France: After two years of delays and internal problems, Airbus finally delivered the first A380 to Singapore Airlines in a glittering ceremony in front of 500 guests.
And while it may be years before it break even, the manufacturer is hoping that the plane's debut into commercial service will persuade a fresh wave of orders.
Orders dried up around the time the airliner's troubles started.
From the start of the ceremony, it was quite clear who the star of the show was.
But beyond the glitz, a lot is riding on how this first plane performs in commercial service later this month.
Singapore Airlines, which has been facing a capacity crunch because of the delay, is planning to use the A380 as the backbone of its long haul operations.
Could that mean new orders from a carrier that prides itself on a young, modern fleet?
Chew Choon Seng, CEO, Singapore Airlines, says: "We'll take it one step at a time. We've placed orders for 19 - they will take over from remaining 19 Boeing 747-400s that we presently operate and we'll move on ahead. So a lot is riding on the introduction of this place into service."
SIA is certainly charting a new course in aviation travel with suites that take first class travel to a whole new dimension.
And this may yet open a whole new market segment for the carrier.
As for Airbus, it will now have to focus on delivering the other orders on time.
Thomas Enders, CEO, Airbus, says: "We will have recurring deliveries first for SIA and then other customers but obviously there is huge challenge still ahead of us and nobody should be surprised because delivering one aircraft, delivering thirteen aircraft next year and then steeply ramping up production is presenting a lot of challenges."
Airbus also hopes to keep new orders coming in.
It has received orders for some 189 A380s so far - 165 firm and 24 on option - but that is below the 420 it said previously it needed to break even.
But despite all the problems, this is a plane that has captured the public imagination.
From the time the idea was first introduced at the turn of the century, the vast amounts of space available has led to all sorts of ideas from bars to casinos being on board.
SIA is hoping to get its fourth plane by April next year, ahead of the competition, and will fly to Sydney London and Tokyo.
Emirates and Qantas are next on the delivery list. - CNA/ch
Bella Que fa?
Bonita,
Bonita Que tal?
But Belle,
Je ne comprends, pas, francais.
So you'll have to speak to me,
Some other way.
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Now playing: Atlantic Starr - Always
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When Did You Last See Your Father? is an unflinching exploration of a father/son relationship, as Blake Morrison deals with his father Arthur’s terminal illness and imminent death. Blake’s memories of everything funny, embarrassing and upsetting about his childhood and teens are interspersed with tender and heart-rending scenes in the present, as he struggles to come to terms with his father, and their history of conflict, and learns to accept that one’s parents are not always accountable to their children
If our fridge looked like this everday, Tat would be the happiest man alive. Note, that grey barrel you see on the bottom left corner is a mini-keg of beer.
Space travel turns 50 this month. Kicked off by the Russians with Sputnik I, the space race that ensued between USA and USSR has left us humans a legacy of Apollo Missions, the MIR and its successor the International Space Station (ISS). The old debate on whether space exploration is worth the hefty price tag when then money could be spent on helping the needy and underprivileged continues. There have , of course, been errors. However, space exploration creates real benefits and not just physical ones like satellite communication, weather forecast and nano-technology. What about the intangible sense of pride, the stirring of spirits? How about the innovations that came about and inspiring of young minds? Surely the farther mankind reaches into space, the more we will cherish Earth and try to make it a better place.
Some interesting facts:
Mercury - 1 Mission : 1 successful
+1 en route
+1 planned
Venus - 40 Missions : 26 successful
+1 planned
Moon - 80 Missions : 45 successful
+4 planned
Mars - 38 Missions : 18 successful
` +1 en route
+4 planned
Asteroids - 4 Missions : 4 successful
+1 planned
Jupiter - 8 Missions : 8 successful
+1 planned
Saturn - 4 Missions : 4 successful
Uranus - 1 Mission : 1 successful
Neptune - 1 Mission : 1 successful
Pluto (currently no longer a planet) - 0 Mission
+1 en route
Comets - 10 Missions : 9 successful
+1 en route
The furthest humans have gone to date is our Moon, though aspirations to send a manned mission to Mars still appear to be on the cards. Will we set up a colony there one day? Do we dare? Look at our Earth, ravaged by us in the relatively short time humans rose to be the dominant species. We must explore though, for that is how we as a species have always made new discoveries and achieved major advancements materialistically and spiritually.
To the heavens and beyond.
Somehow, nobody else finds this comics funny. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?? :(
I find it hilarious. Don't you? Maybe I am a freak with a skewed sense of humour.
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Now playing: Dishwalla - Angels Or Devils
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Meteorologists in Singapore must have one of the easiest and most boring jobs around...
