Tanker fleet used to deal with massive fires in California

Fixed wing air tanker and helicopter operators are helping firefighters get the upper hand on a massive fire which has been burning for the past month in the Klamath National Forest along the California-Oregon border. Known as the Happy Camp Complex fire, the lightning-sparked conflagration has torched nearly 100,000 acres and is currently just 30 percent contained.

“Of our 10 tankers working right now throughout California and Oregon, seven are in southern Oregon or northern California,” said Dan Snyder, Chief Operating Officer of Missoula, Montana-based Neptune Aviation Services. “All seven have been deployed at different times on the Happy Camp Complex fire throughout the past month. In fact, we have had as many as five tankers working on that fire simultaneously since it started in mid-August.”

The tanker fleet, Snyder reported, is a combination of BAe 146 regional airliners, recently modified as aerial tankers, and the company’s legacy P2V Neptunes. Those operating on the Happy Camp Complex fire have been flying out of Medford, Oregon. Each aircraft is supported by two flight crew members, and two mechanics. The fixed wing tankers are operated under US Forest Service (USFS) exclusive use contracts.

On September 5, CHI Aviation moved a Bell 205 helicopter, along with a pilot, mechanic and fuel truck driver, to the Happy Camp Complex fire, according to Larry Kelley, the company’s Boise, Idaho-based Director of Fire Operations. The Bell 205 had been at Trinity, California, from which it had been deployed on fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest since June. Kelley said that two additional helicopters, a Bell 205 at Salmon, Idaho, and a Bell 212 at Hood River, Oregon, are available for dispatch to the fire, if needed by the USFS. All three are under exclusive use contracts.

“The helicopter is being tasked with whatever the Forest Service requires it to do, for as long as it’s needed,” said Kelley. “That includes water drops, and transportation of firefighters and supplies.”

Source and image: AHSAFA

Airbus opens training center in Monterrey

VivaAerobus, the low cost carrier serving Mexico, has chosen “Training By Airbus” to provide simulator trainingand courses for pilots, maintenance personnel, flight operations engineers and cabin crews in Miami and Monterrey, Mexico. The 10-year agreement includes more than 25,000 flight training hours for approximately 750 pilots. VivaAerobus, which is in the process of converting to an all-Airbus operator, has ordered a total of 52 A320 Family aircraft.

Full-flight training for VivaAerobus pilots has been ongoing at the Airbus Training Center in Miami, and by early 2016 VivaAerobus will start training at a new satellite training operation in Monterrey’s North International Airport located on the campus of the University of Nuevo León.

This will be the second Airbus Training Center in Mexico housing an Airbus A320 simulator. In June, Airbus announced that it would open a training center in Mexico City by 2015. 
“As a low cost carrier, getting the best quality training for our staff is important to maintaining world class safety standards," said Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of VivaAerobus. “Having Airbus train our crews locally in Monterrey supports our ability to keep costs down and continue to deliver the lowest possible fares for our customers."

“The State of Nuevo León is proud that Airbus has chosen Monterrey as a location for their next training center,” said Dr. Jesús Ancer Rodríguez, Chancellor of the University of Nuevo León. “Airbus and its customers will surely benefit from Monterrey’s highly qualified aviation industry, and the University of Nuevo León is the perfect location to foster such skilled professionals.” 
“The Airbus Training Center in Monterrey will build on Miami’s success by bringing our state-of-the-art training services and experienced instructors directly to VivaAerobus, consequently supporting their growth by increasing the productivity of their pilots, engineers, maintenance and cabin crews," said Rafael Alonso, President of Airbus Latin America and the Caribbean.

Source and image: Airbus

IT in aviation training: a call for evolution

major aircraft manufacturers sharing a backlog of over 10 000 aircraft, MRO providers worldwide are finding themselves under increasing pressure to introduce new means designed to meet the demand for appropriate support of the rapidly growing global fleet. Meanwhile, as a large portion of services in the industry is still heavily reliant on human labour, a peaking demand for appropriate technical training is not expected to drop any time soon. In such an environment, the introduction of innovative IT-solutions can not only improve some of the training-related processes but also enable service providers to significantly cut costs.

During the last decade or so IT has truly changed the wayairlines conduct business. According to SITA, the level of IT operational spending by carriers worldwide topped $10.8 billion in 2013. The majority of carriers anticipate another increase in the airlines’ IT budget in 2014. However, the implementation of informational technologies in maintenance operations, let alone technical training, is definitely lagging behind. Meanwhile, as costs related to maintenance typically make up to 17% of all operating costs, it is the area in which technology can be used to optimize operations and boost profits.

“There is a set of major factors currently contributing to the increased IT spending within the aviation industry, including higher airline profitability, next-generation aircraft and engines, as well as cloud computing, mobility and advanced analytics,” shares Kestutis Volungevicius, the Head of FL Technics Training. “Moreover, as changes in the aviation industry are happening at an increasingly rapid pace, the demand for faster training solutions rises accordingly.”

According to FL Technics Training, the retiring current generation of technicians along with the on-going fleet renewals might drive the aviation industry to the point when the lack of qualified aviation specialists will eventually interfere with its expansion plans. Data by AWIN indicates the overall rate of technical personnel eligible for retirement should reach 9.6% this year, followed by 11.3% in 2015 and 13.3% in 2016. “Add the need to support new sophisticated solutions implemented in new generation aircraft, and you will find yourself in a highly competitive business environment with a booming demand for relevant specialists and training services. As a result, training providers are in constant search for innovations which would enhance and facilitate the training process with quality, flexibility and cost effectiveness in mind,” says Kestutis Volungevicius.

Normally, the duration of a typical technical training-related trip is at least 4 days. Considering the fact that an individual specialist usually requires approximately 3 training courses per year to maintain and raise his qualification, this adds up to over 280 hours or almost 35 working days, which an average MRO professional currently spends in training-related travels on a yearly basis. Meanwhile, the approximate average expenses on a trip with a two-night stay may reach up to $800-$1 400. Needless to say, in an economic environment which presupposes cost cutting and maximized efficiency this is not something an MRO provider can really afford.

“As the costs of training are constantly rising, more and more distance training solutions, such as online courses, are emerging worldwide to aid both individuals and organizations in reducing their course-related travel costs and allowing to avoid the need for lengthy trips to the training facilities,” comments Kestutis Volungevicius. “In an industry where every second and every dollar matters, the decision to opt for such services and implement the modern technologies alongside regular training solutions might actually might become the critical aspect in gaining the much-needed competitive edge,” concludes the Head of FL Technics Training.

Source and image: Avia Solutions Group / Fl Technics Training

Australian leader Tony Abbott raises terrorist threat level to high

Australian leader Tony Abbott raises terrorist threat level to high: http://bbc.in/1uKSEOK

The move which is the first in more than a decade, comes in response to growing concerns over the impact of militant conflicts in Iraq and Syria on Australia.

Sarah Palin to Barack Obama: 'Go big or go home'

Sarah Palin urged President Barack Obama to “go big or go home” against the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but said it’s hard to put much faith in his new promises.

“War is hell. So go big or go home, Mr. President,” Palin wrote on Facebook on Wednesday night. “Big means bold, confident, wise assurance from a trustworthy Commander-in-Chief that it shall be worth it. Charge in, strike hard, get out. Win.”

Palin’s post came shortly after Obama’s prime-time television address in which the president outlined plans to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIL.

“Go big and be real, Mr. President, if you’ve really changed your mind again and now wish to engage,” Palin wrote.

She continued, “For the sake of peace-loving people in America and throughout the world, let’s hope Barack Obama means what he says when he uses terms like ‘defeating’ ISIS. He is so inconsistent in leading a failed agenda that it’s virtually impossible to put any hope in his new promises, because either his past statements shrugging off ISIS as just a ‘JV squad’ was all talk, or tonight’s new terminology is just all talk.”

TRAVEL TREND ALERT: HOTELS FOLLOWING AIRLINES INTO PROFITS FROM FEES

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/04/14 -- The high cost of travel may be getting higher these days while consumers find themselves paying extra for items that were formerly included. Hotels across the country are raking in the cash by charging for amenities and services that may not even be used by patrons, seeing revenues nearly double in the past ten years by charging fees.

The latest issue of Travel-Intel, the news channel for Tours.com, reports that while the airlines took in a whopping $12.7 billion in profits last year -- nearly half of that in baggage and change fees -- the hotel industry may not be far behind. Travelers who want a bed, a bath and maybe some Wi-Fi are now paying more than the sticker price with resort fees that have soared to a record $2.25 billion for the hospitality industry.

Lark Ellen-Gould, Content Director, Travel-Intel & Tours.com

Travelers checking into a hotel in the future may find the bellhop is actually a "botlr." The issue looks at an experiment by Aloft Hotels, starting with a property in Cupertino, CA, that is dispatching R2-D2-sized robots for various on-property duties and guests are showing their appreciation through tweets, rather than tips.

Travel-Intel also reports on the vanishing vacation that is slowly evaporating within perceptions of disapproval in corporate America. A report released last month through the U.S. Travel Association shows that 40% of American workers are leaving paid vacation days on the table this year, sacrificing their health and well-being and adopting a "work martyr complex" to demonstrate their value.

The article also highlights a recent study that shows how important to health and well-being a vacation can be, starting with findings that vacations can spark romance in a relationship (80%). Respondents also noted (71%) that taking a vacation often makes them feel better about their job.

Bookish travelers looking for literary immersion within a thrilling safari in Africa will want to read about Micato's "Hemingway Wing Safari Tour" that traces the paths of the author and spends time in some of his favorite spots in Kenya and Tanzania. Micato is a trusted upscale tour company and part of the exclusive Kurtz-Ahlers Collection.

Meanwhile, Disney Cruise Line gets some light shed on its new offerings and itineraries as presented through an in-depth interview between Travel-Intel cruise editor Bill Becken and Disney Cruise Line's CEO Karl Holz.

Finally, Travel-Intel offers a tip to travelers who may need to access medical records while traveling -- something that can be daunting even in the best of circumstances and often impossible during an emergency. MyMedicalRecords.com offers a solution to that problem, a very welcomed convenience that could be life saving.

Travel-Intel goes out weekly to more than 130,000 sellers of travel and is also posted online at Tours.com. It partners witheGroup Communications to offer strategically targeted marketing services to keep travel agents and sellers of incentive and group travel up on an ever-changing world of products and destinations.

The publication reports from travel conferences and popular hotels, exotic resorts, cruise ships and travel destinations near and far with stories that feature the latest intel on travel. Current features and archives can be viewed at www.travel-intel.com.

"Travel is not just about beaches and best bets. It's a wide and wild industry that is changing every day and as a trusted news publication to travel agents and travel providers, Travel-Intel helps keep players in this industry on top of their game," says Lark Gould, content director for Travel-Intel and Tours.com.

As a veteran travel journalist who has been covering the travel industry for more than 20 years, Gould puts her incisive perspective into the weekly publication, with features and news updates, and also "packages" issues that detail great deals to be found at hotels and resort locations worldwide. Travel-Intel can be viewed as a stand-alone site on Tours.com. Gould publishes travel columns and stories in Larkslist, genConnect, Barclay's Travel Community, the Washington Times and Business Traveler USA.

About Tours.com: Tours.com Since 1995 - The Worldwide Directory of Tours & Vacation is the most comprehensive directory of tour and vacation providers searchable by company name, destination and/or activity. Find a Travel Agent Specialist search feature allows one to find travel agents with in-depth knowledge in their chosen specialty. The Travel Resource section includes all the information a travel professional may need from Passport & Visas, Travel Insurance, Accommodations ( B&B, castles, villas and more, etc) Cruises, Barges, Boats, Yachts & Ferries, Rail & Railroad Vacations just to name a few.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2670431

Contact:
Maria Polk
President & CEO
Phone: 415-332-7916
maria@tours.com 

Mugabe prepares to exit power as his wife warms up for the seat

TOO BAD