Robots can fly – but,

Image: winfuture.de

 

Robots can fly – but, they cannot do this at the same level of safety as manned aviation. Moreover, it is more than questionable whether automated flight systems/robo-pilots will be more efficient or effective than manned systems in the foreseeable future. This was the conclusion reached by the participants of the 22nd symposium of the Research Network for Pilot Training (FHP), which took place at the end of September under the topic “Are Robots Learning to Fly? – How will the current hype about artificial intelligence (AI) affect work in the cockpit as well as the training and further education of pilots?

A guest contribution by Max Scheck, Lufthansa Captain A320, Master of Aeronautical Science and member of the board of the research network for commercial pilot training, FHP. Continue reading “Robots can fly – but,”

USA: Immediate punitive tariffs on European aircraft

Airbus A321 XLR of the US-American airline JetBlue/Foto: Airbus

 

 

The USA is beginning to impose new penalties on imports from Europe. An additional penalty duty of 25 percent will be imposed on imports of numerous products such as cheese, wine, butter and olive oil. When importing aircraft, an additional duty of 10 percent is levied.

The USA had Continue reading “USA: Immediate punitive tariffs on European aircraft”

Established aviation companies must keep pace with innovative ideas from start ups

the development of environmentally friendly mobility concepts will be one of the central challenges of the coming decades/Foto: Dassault Systemes

The development of environmentally friendly mobility concepts will be one of the central challenges of the coming decades. An interesting exhibitor in this field at this year’s Paris Air Show was “Dassault Aviation”, a subsidiary of the multinational software development company “Dassault Systemes”. “Established aviation companies must keep pace with innovative ideas from start-ups that are entering the market”, says CEO David Ziegler. Continue reading “Established aviation companies must keep pace with innovative ideas from start ups”

Austrian Airlines inspects aircraft using drone technology

Since mid-year, Austrian Airlines has been testing a completely new technology for the technical inspection of its aircraft fleet:/Photo: Austrian Airlines

 

Using autonomous drones developed by the French start-up “Donecle”, Austrian Airlines’ aircraft are checked for damage to paintwork and structures. The innovation not only makes work easier for the airline’s technicians, but the shorter duration of the check – less than two hours instead of the previous four to ten hours – also ensures faster availability of the aircraft in daily operations. Continue reading “Austrian Airlines inspects aircraft using drone technology”

Mahler´s Fourth Symphony at the end

RMF 2019 – Final concert, Christiane Karg, soprano, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mirga Grazinyté-Tyla/Foto: RMF / Ansgar Klostermann

 

On 31.08.2019 the 32nd season of the Rheingau Music Festival came to an end with Gustav Mahler’s 4th Symphony in the Basilica of Eberbach Monastery with the soprano Christiane Karg and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under the direction of chief conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla from Lithuania.

Mahler’s 4th Symphony is balm for the soul. It calms, decelerates and helps the listener to ,come down to earth´. The Basilica was the ideal place to make this happen on August 31, 2019. Continue reading “Mahler´s Fourth Symphony at the end”

Clear Air Turbulences – are on the rise

No pilot, radar, satellite or meteorologist can predict clear air turbulence/photo: reisenerd.de

Clear Air Turbulences, short CAT, which occur completely unexpectedly, increase. The tricky thing about it is that no pilot, radar, satellite or meteorologist can predict a CAT. The turbulence comes from nowhere. According to atmospheric scientist Paul Williams from the University of Reading (England),  this phenomenon is likely to occur much more frequently in the future, because climate change not only affects the ground, but also the altitude in a special way.

11 July 2019: Air Canada’s Boeing 777 flew quietly over the Pacific. The night was cloudless. Many passengers slept, Continue reading “Clear Air Turbulences – are on the rise”

Johannes Brahms: A German Requiem

Brahms Requiem at Eberbach Monastery, Matthias Winckhler Bassbariton, Bach Choir Mainz, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern, conducted by Ralf Otto, © RMF / Ansgar Klostermann

Brahms gave a very special Requiem to the music world: “A German Requiem”. On August 24, the soprano Sophie Wagner, the bass baritone Matthias Winckhler supported by the Bach Choir Mainz and accompanied by the Deutsche Radio Philharomie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern performed as part of the Rheingau Music Festival in the basilica of Eberbach Monastery with overwhelming intimacy and impressive intensity.

When Brahms presented his work to the public Continue reading “Johannes Brahms: A German Requiem”

Ryanair: hundreds of jobs on the tip

Ryanair B737-800/Foto: Ryanair

 

Because of the flight ban for Boeings medium range jet 737 MAX there are hundreds of jobs on the tip of the Irish low-cost airline. The company needs around 1,500 fewer pilots and flight attendants than originally planned, Michael O’Leary told the staff in a video message. Continue reading “Ryanair: hundreds of jobs on the tip”

Ruinous price war in the sky – Airlines serve greed and irresponsibility of consumers

Quickly and cheaply jetting somewhere has serious consequences/photo: tz.de, Munich Airport, Terminal 2

 

Serving the irresponsibility and the greed of consumers for ever cheaper ticket offers, to quickly jet somewhere at the weekend, to fly domestic routes, has further dramatic not only ecological but also economic consequences for the airlines itselves.

On the morning of 30 July, the Lufthansa share fell by up to seven per cent to its lowest level for two years. The discount battle with airline tickets Continue reading “Ruinous price war in the sky – Airlines serve greed and irresponsibility of consumers”

Lufthansa on the verge of restructuring?

Discussion about a lean holding company has begun/Foto: Lufhansa

 

First the profit warning, then the fall in the share price, Lufthansa recently shocked investors. Various media speculate that Group CEO Spohr could counter the increasing pressure with a restructuring. Apparently a lean holding company is being discussed.

Lufthansa could transform itself into a holding company in the future. The “Handelsblatt” writes that a new, leaner group structure is being discussed in the company’s Executive Board and parts of the Supervisory Board. Continue reading “Lufthansa on the verge of restructuring?”