Today the Airbus A320-214, N106US, of US Airways flight 1549 was lifted out of the Hudson River.
(Click on pictures for full size.)
Photo via Flickr by Kevinh_photos
Photo via Flickr by Lorcan Otway
Photo via Flickr by Lorcan Otway
Photo via Flickr by Lorcan Otway
Photo via Flickr by Lorcan Otway
US Airways flight 1549, an Airbus A320-214 (N106US) en route from La Guardia (New York) to Charlotte did an emergency landing in the Hudson River five minutes after takeoff.
The plane may have hit a flock of birds, damaging both engines, and then descended. After suffering the bird strike, the pilot tried to return to the airport, then made a controlled landing into the Hudson. Ferries and other boats converged to help with a rescue effort, as the plane drifted south in the water.
Videos
*Update*
CCTV Camera Captures Flight 1549
Interview with survivors
More Photos
http://twitpic.com/135xa
http://flickr.com/photos/gregorylam/tags/january152009/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/miracleonthehudsonriver/pool/
Apparently all 150 passengers and 5 crew members could be rescued from the ice-cold water! Incredible job by the pilots, crew and rescuers!
Several commuter ferries as well as the Coast Guard Cutter Ridley arrived quickly to help rescue passengers on the plane. New York Police Department divers dove into the water to assist with the rescue as plane floated southbound on the river, possibly due to the tidal direction.
The divers were dropped into the water from helicopters overhead, police officials said. Some passengers were able to free themselves from the plane. They could be seen on the exterior in televised reports.
One passenger interviewed on WNBC said that the pilot told everyone on board to brace for a hard landing. Passengers started saying prayers before the plane hit the water. The passenger, who said he saw the left engine blow out, added that it was “kind of orderly†getting off the plane.
The pilot Chesley Sullenberger and his crew will be honored for their remarkable job by New York mayor Bloomberg with handing over a “Key to the City of New York”.
Images: MSNBC
Story at Ney York Times: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/plane-crashes-into-hudson-river/?hp
Videos: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887506#22887506
Today, Airbus started construction work on the final assembly line for the A350 XWB, the new highly efficient wide-body aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2013.
The 74,000 m2 factory will house the first stages of final assembly for the A350 XWB: the joining up of the fuselage and wings. Aircraft testing and cabin equipping will then be completed in the nearby A330/340 Facility.
The 140 M€ Airbus facility at Toulouse, France, will provide work for more than 1,000 people when fully operational, and will be the most eco-efficient Airbus final assembly hall.
During the construction work, the concrete and foundations of the old buildings will be recycled and reused in the new facility. An energy management system will optimise energy use meaning that the photovoltaic roofing will provide much of the buildings electricity requirements. The new streamlined aircraft assembly process will allow teams to work in parallel, reducing the time from start of final assembly to aircraft delivery by 30 percent.
Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO said, “The detailed definition freeze at the end of 2008 and the start of construction work on our new Final Assembly line confirm that the A350 XWB is making steady progress. Set for first delivery in 2013, the A350 XWB will shape efficiency for the aviation industry. The global Airbus community, including our employees, suppliers and customers, are working closely together for the success of this programme.“
Source: Airbus
Tomorrow 14 January, Airbus will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Airbus A350 XWB jetliner’s final assembly line facility. The event, presented by Tom Enders, Airbus President & CEO, will take place in Toulouse, France.
Airbus is providing live video streaming on its website!
Live streaming at airbus.com
Scheduled start time: 14:30 (GMT+1) [Your local time here]
Enjoy!
Image: Airbus
Airbus yesterday reached its target of delivering 12 A380 aircraft in 2008, bringing the total number of A380s delivered to date to 13.
The first A380 was delivered to Singapore Airlines on 15th October 2007, with five more delivered to the airline in 2008. Qantas received three A380s in 2008, and Emirates four – the most recent of which was delivered on the 30th December 2008 from the Airbus delivery centre in Hamburg, Germany.
“We have met our 2008 delivery schedule”, said Tom Enders, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer. “That was only possible thanks to a tremendous team effort. This gives us a good basis to further ramp up our production in 2009. With the in-service fleet steadily growing, our airline customers are benefiting from lower operating costs while their passengers are benefiting from unequalled cabin comfort and quietness. The environment is benefiting too. With lower emissions and noise, the A380 is the most eco-efficient aircraft in service today.”
The in-service A380 fleet has flown more than 21,000 revenue flight hours in more than 2200 commercial flights carrying more than 890,000 passengers. The world’s first full double-deck aircraft is now connecting four continents and flying on seven major international routes. A380s in service link Singapore with Sydney, London and Tokyo, Dubai with New York and London, and Sydney and Melbourne with Los Angeles.
Being greener, cleaner, quieter and smarter, the A380 is setting new standards for air transport and the environment. In addition to the quiet and spacious double-deck cabin, the A380 is also setting new industry-standards for the environment. The in-service experience has shown that the A380 consumes 20 percent less fuel per seat than the previous largest aircraft, representing the lowest fuel burn of any large aircraft ever.
Orders for the aircraft stand at 198 from 16 customers. In 2009 Airbus plans to deliver 21 A380s.
Source: Airbus
Photo: Airbus
BAA Jet Management Ltd of Hong Kong has taken delivery of its first managed Airbus aircraft, an A318 Elite, becoming the first to operate the type in the Asian region.
The Airbus A318 Elite – the first to be registered in the People’s Republic of China – is now based at Shenzen and is available for VVIP charter.
“This Airbus A318 Elite is the first in Asia to offer customers something that they cannot get with other high-end business jets – much greater comfort, space and ease of movement around the cabin,” says BAA Managing Director Ricky Leung. “And with seating for 18 passengers in our A318 Elite, we can also carry larger business groups and families than any other corporate jet currently available for VVIP charter in the region today,” he adds.
The Airbus A318 Elite is the newest member of the Airbus ACJ Family and offers the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet in its class, as well as all the benefits of a modern and elegant design.
“Asia has long been an important market for Airbus – it’s where we won our first airliner sale outside Europe – so it’s great to see BAA becoming our first operator in the region for our modern A318 Elite corporate jet,” comments Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, John Leahy. “The longer you fly, the more important your comfort becomes, so the A318 Elite really does have a lot to offer,” he adds.
The A318 Elite is the most affordable aircraft in the Airbus ACJ Family, and features a cabin created in co-operation with Lufthansa Technik. Its interior comprises several different seating zones in a spaciously large living area, as well as a very practical and private office that converts into a bedroom, complete with ensuite bathroom.
Part of the world’s most modern airliner family, the A318 Elite features a robust airframe and systems, proven in millions of hours of airline service as a member of A320 Family, from which it is derived.
The Airbus ACJ Family has many corporate jet “firsts” to its credit. These include being the first with fly-by-wire controls, the first with centralised maintenance for faster and more efficient trouble-shooting, the first to offer Category 3B autoland, and the first to make extensive use of weight-saving carbonfibre. Airbus ACJ Family has more than 100 firm orders to its credit, and is now flying on every continent, including Antarctica, highlighting its versatility.
BAA is one of the leading aviation companies in Asia, offering a complete range of business jet services, including charter, aircraft management, flight support and aircraft sales and acquisitions. It will also manage three Airbus ACJs and two A350 Prestiges.
Source: Airbus
Photos: Airbus
Arik Air, the fast growing private airline based in Lagos, Nigeria, received its first A340-500 today, 1 December, at a ceremony at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France. The ceremony was conducted by John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, and Arik Air Chairman Sir J.I.A Arumemi-Johnson in the presence of senior government officials from various African states, board members and key business partners of the airline, and other VIP guests.
The new aircraft is the first of three A340-500s ordered by Arik Air for use on international long-haul routes to London, New York and Houston. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines, the carrier’s new A340s will offer the best possible passenger comfort in a two-class configuration.
“Our new A340-500 is the first newly built long-range aircraft delivered to a Nigerian airline in more than 20 years, making it the first airline in Africa to operate this variant. It will allow us to launch intercontinental flights, linking Nigeria with the US and the UK, using state of the art technology,” said Sir Arumemi-Johnson, Chairman of Arik Air.
Source: Airbus
Image: Airbus
Al Jaber Group’s new aviation division, Al Jaber Aviation (AJA) , has placed a new firm order for two Airbus Corporate Jetliners (ACJs) and revealed a previously undisclosed order for two A318 Elites, adding to a previous deal for two A318 Elites. The order makes AJA the largest single customer for the Airbus ACJ Family in the Middle East, with total orders for six aircraft.
“Our Airbus ACJ Family aircraft will offer private travel in unprecedented comfort and style, providing families and companies with a new way to fly,” says Al Jaber Group Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Al Jaber. “In addition to the huge improvement in space and comfort, high-end travellers in the Airbus ACJ Family will also benefit from separate cabin-zones and unmatched freedom of movement in flight,” he adds.
“The Al Jaber group has a proven track record of success in construction, logistics, manufacturing and shipping, and is well placed to extend this into business aviation by combining its entrepreneurial skills with the modern Airbus corporate jet family” says Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, John Leahy. “Al Jaber Aviation is also the first Middle East-based company to offer Airbus corporate jet travel to the VVIP market,” he adds.
Airbus’ A318 Elite is the newest and most affordable Airbus corporate jet, and features a stylish and practical cabin created by Lufthansa Technik, with seating for up to 18 passengers. The Airbus ACJ is derived from the popular A319 airliner, and can be equipped with seating and facilities tailored to customer needs.
Both aircraft feature the widest, tallest and most spacious cabin of any single-aisle corporate jet – their cabin cross-section is almost twice as wide as that of traditional business jets – making them the new top-of-the-line in high-end travel.
Source: Airbus
Comlux Aviation, the VIP charter division of Comlux The Aviation Group, has ordered a second A320 for its VVIP operation, consolidating its role as the largest operator of the Airbus ACJ Family.
The new Airbus A320 will help to meet demand from the important Middle East market, and complements an A318 Elite and an ACJ that are already operated on VVIP charters by Comlux. Comlux has now placed orders for a total of nine aircraft, comprising four A318 Elites, two Airbus ACJs, two A320 Prestiges and one A330-200 Prestige.
“We were one of the first to recognise the need for even more space and comfort than traditional business jets, and because the Airbus ACJ Family has the widest and tallest cabin in its class, we can offer a lot more than other charter companies,” says the Head of Comlux Aviation’s VVIP Charter Division Ettore Rodaro . “The outstanding reliability of our Airbus ACJ Family is another plus that our customers appreciate, and we can also offer them a lot of experience in managing their VIP Airbus aircraft,” he adds.
“Comlux Aviation has built a well deserved reputation for top-class service, and we like to think that the Airbus ACJ Family cabin’s elegant ambiance, spaciousness and ease of movement has been a contributory factor,” says Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, John Leahy. “We have a great product in the Airbus ACJ Family, and as operators such as Comlux make it more and more visible to customers, demand will continue to grow,” he adds.
Comlux Aviation has operated its first Airbus ACJ for several years, and last year became the first to put the A318 Elite into service, flying it an impressive 1,200 hours in its first year of service. It has three Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) from the airworthiness authorities in Malta (EASA), Switzerland and Kazakhstan, allowing it to best serve its customers in different regions.
In addition to the widest cabin in its class, Airbus’ ACJ Family also provides a very quiet environment, making it especially attractive to high-end travellers – particularly on long flights when a lot of time is spent in the aircraft.
Source: Airbus
Air Arabia (PJSC), the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, has signed a firm contract for 10 additional A320 aircraft. The contract follows one for 34 Airbus A320s signed at the end of 2007.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman, Air Arabia said, “Following Air Arabia’s expansion plans and the new hub in Morocco expected to operate next year, expanding the fleet size is certainly a need. Our vision is to be one of the world’s leading budget airlines in terms of profit margin, innovation, reputation, and operational excellence, and having the A320 at the heart of our fleet is the best and quickest way we can achieve this.”
“We are pleased Air Arabia has once again confirmed their trust in our A320 family. With this decision, Air Arabia recognises the technological superiority of the A320, which also has the lowest operating costs in its class. The A320 also has the widest fuselage giving added operational efficiency and passenger comfort including increased storage volume,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.
Sharjah based Air Arabia already operates 16 A320s, and serves a network of more than 44 destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia and North Africa. With the establishment of a second hub in Casablanca in early 2009, Air Arabia will extend its network to Europe, Middle East and Africa through a joint venture with Moroccan privately owned airline Regional Airways. The new airline will be called Air Arabia Maroc. Launched in 2003, Air Arabia has served more than 5 million passengers over the past four years.
Source: Airbus
Photo: Airbus
