A Tatarstan Boeing 737-500
There has been a lot of talk about these new SkyRider seats where people get only 23″ of seatpitch vs 30″+ of most other low cost carriers. Well, it could be worse. Tatarstan Airlines, based in the Russia Federation, allowed six passengers to stand for a five hour flight.
You see, a charter group booked out all 148 seats on a Tatarstan Boeing 737 from Antalya, Turkey to Ekaterinburg, Russia. At the last minute, the airline had to swap out planes, but the new 737 only had 142 seats. This is where the big mistake was made.
Instead of telling six people they won’t be able to take the flight, they gave them a choice. Either wait seven hours until the next flight or fly on this one standing up for five hours. Decisions, decisions. Well, all six people decided to stand.
The airline should have never given the choice to the passengers. There are grave safety issues with having extra people on an aircraft. Weight, life vests and no security from turbulence. I don’t know who is more stupid in this scenario, the airline that gave the option to stand or the passengers who took them up on the offer.
Not related to the story, but I wanted to share this photo of two old IL-86’s that Tartarstan used to fly.
Thanks Ben for the tip!
Image: Osdu
Boeing 787 Dreamliner ZA006 takes off earlier today from Paine Field. Photo by simpilot459 via Flickr
The sixth Boeing 787 Dreamliner (ZA006) successfully took off from Paine Field (KPAE) at 11:43am. It was scheduled to fly for a about three hours, but cut its flight short after about an hour, landing at Boeing Field (KBFI).
Boeing tells Aubrey Cohen with the Seattle PI that the flight was cut short due to a “maintenance issue,” but they are still counting it as a success. “The air crew experienced a maintenance issue during flight and as a precautionary note decided to land at Boeing Field,” Boeing 787 spokeswoman Yvonne Leach said. “A flight of this length is still considered a success first flight and we are proud to have the sixth and final flight test airplane enter the program today.”
Unfortunately, I was not able to make it for the take off or landing, but Boeing stated they will be posting video of the take off in the near future. I will be updating this blog with more information as it is received.
Check it out:
* Video from Liz Matzelle (@ImperfectSense) of ZA006 completing simulated landing test on Saturday at KPAE
* Photos and video from KPAE blog
* Flight path of ZA006 flight today via Flight Aware
* Simpilot459 also got two photos of ZA006 on taxi: ONE & TWO
* Nice nighttime photo of ZA006’s nose at Boeing’s fuel dock via @Sabian404
Image: Simpliot459
Two Royal Air Maroc and one JAL Boeing 787 Dreamliner next to the Future of Flight
Here it is, the beginning of October and for some odd reason we are having really nice weather in Seattle. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. Knowing Saturday was probably going to be one of the last sunny days we are going to see around these parts and knowing Boeing towed three Boeing 787’s right next to the Future of Flight, I figured it was a really nice day to go visit Paine Field (KPAE) again.
How many brand spak'n new Boeing aircraft can you identify here?
There are a lot of Boeing 787 Dreamliners sitting outside waiting for parts. There are so many, that Boeing is having to get creative with where they are parking the aircraft. There are now three 787 Dreamliners parked next to the Future of Flight and two more outside the Boeing hangars. The three by the Future of Flight are two Royal Air Maroc Dreamliners and one JAL. By the hangars is a JAL and one all white 787 (photo).
That's a lot of eye candy at Boeing's fuel dock
The Dreamliners aren’t the only thing overly impressive on this trip. There were also five aircraft sitting at the Boeing fuel dock. Two Dreamlifters, one Boeing 747-8, one Boeing 777 for V Australia and one Boeing 767 for JAL.
It is a stare off between Boeing 747-8's
On the east side are quite a few new Boeing 747-8s. The British Airways World Cargo 747 is still sitting with just a blue belly as it was a few weeks back. There is also a nice collection of Boeing 747-8F in Korean Air Cargo and Cathay Pacific liveries. There was also one that just has the rudder painted and is a Nippon Cargo Airlines 747-8F (photo).
Visiting Paine Field is always an awesome experience, especially when it is sunny. I feel very lucky to live just a quick 15 minute drive from one of the most interesting airports in the world.
CHECK OUT 51 PHOTOS OF AIRPLANES AT PAINE FIELD (KPAE)
How well did you do in this airline livery challenge?
YES! I did it. I made a very challenging Ultimate Livery Challenge that few people could get. However, maybe that is not the best way to do it, since I want more people to be able to enjoy. Anyhow, I knew this one was going to be difficult, but holy cow some people got them all right.
Click on the photographer’s name to see the full version photo.
#1 China Soutwest Airlines Boeing 737-300. Photo by AlainDurand.
#2: AeroPeru DC-8-62. Photo by Savas Garozis.
#3: Air Mauritius Airbus A340-300. Photo by Thomas Becker.
#4: Ecuatoriana Airbus A310-300. Photo by Axel J.
#5: Kar Air Airbus A300-200. Photo by Jordi757.
#6: Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-200. Photo by AlainDurand.
#7: Bulgarian Airlines Ilyushin IL-18V. Photo by RAScholefield.
#8: Nigeria Airways DC-10-30. Photo by Savvas Garozis.
#9: Buzz Boeing 737-300. Photo by Helmut Bierbaum.
#10: L’Avion Boeing 757-200. Photo by Kurt Greul.
So who were the livery-nerds who got them right?
* Gordon W (@GordonWerner): he is the only person to get all three livery challenges with aircraft types correct.
* Liz M (@ImperfectSense): not only did she get all the liveries, but she also got all the aircraft types.
Those semi livery-nerds with 5 or more correct:
* Patrick O: 9
* Ben W: 9
* Rory M: 8
* Raul G: 6
* Michael K: 6
* Robin J: 5
The winners will be mailed prizes and heck, since this one was so difficult, I am going to send AirlineReporter.com stickers to everyone who got five or more correct!
Team Marco Polo provides knowledge and humor...some of my favorite things.
Ah, to travel the way it used to be. Think you have it hard now with little leg room and peanuts? Go back to the late 1200’s and travel with Marco Polo, talk about having it rough. I am sure he would have LOVED to pay for a little bag fee to travel 4000 miles in a few hours versus three years.
Anyhow, Mr. Polo recently celebrated his Birthday and the fine folks over at Team Marco Polo made a fun celebration video (there might be someone familiar at the Future of Flight in that video). I talked about this very funny Seattle based kids travel show a while back and they are still moving forward.