Tag: airlines

A Day in the Life of a Commercial Pilot

Anil Goyal

For most people around the world, air travel these days is like taking a walk in the park. When people board the aircraft in today’s connected world, the mobile phones, the laptops and the stress of what is to follow at the end of the flight leaves little room for appreciating the beauty of flight itself as they are being transported over thousands of kilometres in a matter of hours. Ever since the Wright Brothers defied gravity in their ‘Wright Flyer’ at Kitty Hawk, advancements in aviation technology have made…

Mi-26 Halo: Largest Helicopter Flying Experience

Anil Goyal

The quality of person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavour. Vince Lombardi The Mil Mi-26 is a twin-engine heavy transport helicopter designed and manufactured by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Russia, for both military and civilian roles. It is the largest and powerful helicopter in the world and entered into service in 1985. The Mi-26 can perform a number of tasks, including the transferring of military equipment, namely personnel carriers, and mobile ballistic missiles, to distant locations. Composite material and…

Flypasts

Anil Goyal

Lord of Sea and Earth and Air,Listen to the Pilot’s prayer—Send him wind that’s steady and strong,Grant that his engine sings the songOf flawless tone, by which he knowsIt shall not fail him where he goes;Landing, gliding, in curve, half-roll—Grant him, O Lord, a full control,That he may learn in heights of HeavenThe rapture altitude has given,That he shall know the joy they feelWho ride Thy realms on Birds of Steel. Cecil Edric Mornington Roberts To be a military pilot, you need a pure passion for aviation. You have to…

Women Voices in Military Aviation

Anil Goyal

“There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.  Rihanna  It’s not very often one hears about India trailblazing on issues of gender equality. On the contrary, the country regularly makes headlines for all the wrong reasons when it comes to women: high rape statistics, dowry deaths, and pervasive discrimination. The data collated by the International Society of Women Airline Pilots showed that India had the highest proportion of female…

Flight Deck / Cockpit Windshields

Anil Goyal

When you’re in flight-deck, the only thing separating pilots from the minus 56 degrees centigrade and unbreathable, thin air outside is an airplane cockpit windshield. On one side, there’s a warm, pressurized cabin where you can work and on the other, a world that would kill you in minutes if you were exposed to it. Between the two, just incredibly sturdy windshield. There are two primary purposes for the windshields. Number one, protect the crew from the outside harsh environment and number two allow the crew to see outside. Besides…

Intrepid Pilot: Test Pilot

Anil Goyal

In the case of pilots, it is a little touch of madness that drives us to go beyond all known bounds. Any search into the unknown is incomparable exploitation of oneself. Jacqueline Auriol Living on the edge, reaching his limit, seeing the world in rare angles and heights is all too often part of the test pilot job. Today we will meet Gp Capt Sharad Aneja (Retd) an intrepid test pilot who will tell us all about this fascinating world. He spent precious 24 years in the IAF, not to…

Attitude Defines Success!

Anil Goyal

 “Learning to fly an airplane taught me a way of thinking, an approach to problem-solving that was applicable and effective. Pilots are very methodical and meticulous, and artists tend not to be.” Chris Carter What makes a  pilot good at what he/she does? Obviously it is not just training.  Becoming a pilot is about more than training and building flying skills. Beyond the technical abilities required to earn their wings, pilots must also develop a balance of leadership skills, discipline, critical thinking skills, and a proper attitude. And while no…

Beyond Fear and Death

Anil Goyal

You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can’t, you do the next best thing. You back up but you don’t give up. Chuck Yeager In aircraft, an ejection seat is a system designed to rescue the pilot or other crew of an aircraft in an emergency. In most designs, the seat is propelled out of the aircraft by an explosive charge or rocket motor, carrying the pilot with it. Once clear of the aircraft, the ejection seat deploys a parachute. Prior to WWII, the only means of…

Its Time for Airlines to Go Green

Anil Goyal

Air transport connects the world, bringing people and goods together. But the benefits of aviation also have an environmental downside. Emissions, noise, industrial processes, and waste must be managed by the industry, reduced, and where possible eliminated. Reducing climate change is a serious global challenge. Commercial aviation is responsible for about 2% of global carbon emissions. In 2009 the aviation industry put in place an ambitious and robust carbon emissions strategy, with targets and a four-pillar action plan. The aviation industry recognizes the need to address the global challenge of…

It’s Time for Airports to Go Green.

Anil Goyal

The aviation sector is facing increasing pressure to clean up its act when it comes to climate change, but gas-guzzling airplanes aren’t the only culprits. As airports expand, so too does their carbon footprint, with more energy required to power new terminals, ground transport vehicles, and the creation of infrastructure. Building capacity for additional aircraft can also create a backlash amongst environmentalists – see, for example, the frenzy over a potential third runway at the UK’s Heathrow Airport. Many airports across the world have therefore adopted greener elements into their…