Aviation News, Boeing, Airbus

Kenya Airways aims to grow into a decidedly dominant African airline with a notable presence in Asia, Europe and the America’s while operating a modern fleet of new airplanes. Kenya Airways was already on pace to become a world-class network airline for its flights to Africa and Kenya by 2005.

Volkswagen’s Touareg has one of the cleanest diesel engines in the world. Its BlueTDI engine with SCR catalytic converter reduces nitrogen dioxide (NOx) emissions by up to 90 percent. Touareg BlueTDI delivers 165kW/225 PS and meets even the strictest “Tier2 Bin5” exhaust emissions standards implemented in the US states particularly in California, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Maine.

In the USA economical turbo-diesels like the V6 BlueTDI more than any present day powertrain technology can help in reducing oil consumption and the generation of climate-impacting greenhouse gases. Volkswagen will offer the Touareg with the SCR catalytic converter starting 2008 first in the US as part of its BlueTec alliance with DaimlerChrysler and Audi. The BlueTec alliance was started by the three carmakers last year.

Volkswagen has also scheduled the launching of a smaller Jetta in America in 2008. It will also be equipped with NOx storage catalytic converter that eliminates up to 90 percent of nitrogen oxides. Both the Touareg BlueTDI and Jetta are scheduled to debut in Europe. The Euro 4 standard currently specifies a NOx limit of 0.25 g/km while the US standard which Volkswagen Touareg BlueTDI satisfies specifies a NOx limit of 0.043 g/km or 0.07 g/mile. Aside from the remarkable NOx catalytic converters that Touareg and Jetta have, they are also equipped with heavy duty VW axles.

It should be noted that the Touareg TDI had successfully towed a Boeing 747 and was made possible by its especially modified VW axle. By towing the 155 ton Boeing 747, Volkswagen Touareg has displayed not only the prowess of its engine but also the durability and power of every component.

The SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) Catalytic Converter
SCR is short for “Selective Catalytic Reduction”. Its main function is to selectively convert the nitrogen oxide or NOx exhaust components to nitrogen and water without producing any undesirable byproducts. Volkswagen’s Touareg BlueTDI which will debut at the Geneva Motor show will also feature an oxidation catalytic converter and a diesel particulate filter.

Imagine sitting comfortably on your flight. You have just had a relaxing glass of wine and are about to nod off till you reach your destination. A phone rings. The passenger sitting next to you takes his mobile phone out of his pocket, and starts to chat to a friend, negotiate a business deal or whatever! Welcome to the chattering class.

Like it or not, the prospect of using mobile phone on the planes is closer than ever. OnAir, a company backed by Airbus has technology that allows mobile phone calls without interfering with ground based networks. Ryanair, Europe’s largest low cost airline has announced plans to equip its entire fleet of Boeing 737s with this technology to enable passengers to make in-flight calls. Air France is to do the same with its Airbus A318 planes. It is only a matter of time before other airlines follow suit.

Why should airlines invest in this technology? They want a share of the phone call revenue. Ryanair’s reasoning is that this will keep its fares down.

Will people flock to airlines that offer in-flight calling? How much the passengers are likely to pay for the privilege of making a call even if the flight is cheap? Time will tell. Prices are likely to be on the higher side initially and they will come down in time.

Surveys conducted recently suggest that a vast majority of people approve the idea of an ability of making calls from the plane while only around 54% business and 40% leisure travellers are likely to switch their phones on as long as call prices are under $2.50 per minute. Interestingly Europeans are much warmer to the idea of in-flight calling than their American counterparts. United and Delta do not want it, yet!

The ability to make in-flight calls, and any airlines’ interest in this, is an interesting development. This is more so since Boeing recently scrapped Connexion, its impressive satellite based in-flight broadband service on its planes.

The Europeans are likely to give a formal go ahead to in-flight mobile calling soon by start issuing frequencies and guidelines to airlines.

I think that this service will more likely to be a success in short haul flights where people do not mind sitting next to a fellow passenger shouting into his mobile phone, however annoying it may be, as long it helps airlines subsidise their airfare.