deicer

Evidence is showing that it is another design change that Boeing made without informing customers or changing manuals and training. After previous issues along the same lines, I feel they are deserving of the beatings they are getting/will get in the press and online. Their corporate culture hasn't changed. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/09/alaska-flight-incident-boeing-pilots-cockpit-00134515 Alaska flight incident reveals another feature Boeing didn’t inform pilots about Federal investigators said that Boeing didn’t make pilots aware that when a plane rapidly depressurizes, the cockpit door will fly open. The cockpit door aboard last week’s troubled Alaska Airlines flight surprised the flight crew by swinging open seconds after the fuselage suffered a potentially catastrophic rupture, according to the chair of the federal agency investigating the incident. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said during a news briefing Monday that the cockpit doors flew open immediately after the paneled-over exit door popped off of the fuselage. A flight attendant had to try three times to get it to close again, Homendy said. “The cockpit doors flew open immediately and at this point the flight attendant in the forward portion of the aircraft was standing. The cockpit door flew open, hit the lavatory door,” Homendy said. “The lavatory door got stuck. She did attempt to shut the door three times, it eventually shut but it did blow open during the explosive decompression. Homendy’s revelation echoes criticism heaped on Boeing during earlier probes of another in the 737 MAX line of planes, the MAX 8, in which pilots said they were not properly trained on a flight control system on board the plane that was implicated in two deadly crashes overseas. In 2020, pilots were required to undergo new simulator training and training for erroneous angle of attack sensor malfunctions as part of the plan to put the 737 MAX back into service. “It’s another round of Boeing not telling pilots about an airplane detail, which erodes the trust relationship and more importantly it narrows the safety margin.” said Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents pilots from American Airlines. Homendy said that Boeing would make changes to its MAX 9 manual to make clear that the doors are designed to open. In June, the FAA announced it will require a secondary barrier between the passenger cabin and cockpit of new commercial planes that are manufactured starting in the summer of 2025.

Maybe that's the policy at YYZ's CDF, I don't know and can't confirm that. The company I worked for did give us a bonus for exceeding the savings they projected by us doing what we did. Not money, but a few extra days off.

While I'm no longer in the biz, it never is a cheap proposition to deice. On top of the fee per departure charged through the year, it's also charged by the litre. That's why back in the day we used to squeegee off the wings of as much snow as possible, and in light frost conditions mopping leading edges and spoiler panels. All we could do to mitigate the expense while operating within the safety guidelines.

If you go to the Boeing website...

Rest assured Kip, we won't be riding you across the country

https://positivepsychology.com/humor-psychology/

https://aeronewsglobal.com/eva-air-orders-18-airbus-a350-1000s-and-15-a321neo/ EVA Air orders 18 Airbus A350-1000s and 15 A321neo Taiwan’s EVA Air has finalised a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of 18 long-range A350-1000s and 15 single-aisle A321neo. This sees the airline become the latest global carrier to select the A350-1000 for its future long haul requirements.

The Artemis mission to the moon is now delayed again. With Boeing building the capsule, read what you want into it. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/nasa-delays-artemis-ii-moon-mission-that-includes-canadian-astronaut-jeremy-hansen/article_1be8c338-4273-5c14-8cf7-0ac9ee797e7f.html NASA delays Artemis II moon mission that includes Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen NewsAlert: Canadian astronaut's moon trip delayed NASA says it will be delaying the Artemis II moon mission that includes Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, initially scheduled for November of this year. NASA says it will be delaying the Artemis II moon mission that includes Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, initially scheduled for November of this year. The U.S. space agency provided an update today on the timeline for the upcoming mission around the moon and said it will be pushed back to September 2025 due to a number of technical issues and to allow more preparation time. A subsequent mission, Artemis III, which will land astronauts on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, has been delayed until at least September 2026.

Nice playground!

Almost prophetic, wasn't it?

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61108 U.S. electric capacity mix shifts from fossil fuels to renewables in AEO2023 The U.S. power grid nearly doubles in capacity from 2022 to 2050 to meet increasing demand for electric power, and most newly built capacity will be from renewable energy technologies, according to most cases in our Annual Energy Outlook 2023 (AEO2023). Declining capital costs for solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage, as well as government subsidies such as those included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), result in renewables becoming increasingly cost effective compared with the alternatives when building new power capacity. Economic growth, paired with rising electrification in end-use sectors, results in stable growth in U.S. electric power demand through 2050.

The good old Tritanic! https://avgeekery.com/stargazer-the-lone-tristar/ Stargazer: The Lone Flying L-1011 TriStar Out of 250 Lockheed L-1011 TriStars ever built, only one remains airworthy today. The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar was a groundbreaking aircraft for its time. In the transformative decade of the 1960s, technological and engineering advancements in aviation occurred at breakneck speed. One of the innovations that came out of the race to create the “biggest and the best” was the Palmdale, California-built Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. Out of 250 L-1011 airframes ever built, just one remains airworthy as of November 2023. Known as “Stargazer,” the last remaining TriStar spends her days flying some pretty interesting missions. The last remaining airworthy L-1011, 67th off the line in Palmdale, was delivered to Air Canada as C-FTNJ in March 1974. After a (very) brief stint with Air Lanka in 1982, she would return to Air Canada later that same year. She would conclude her commercial service with Air Canada in October 1990. However, her time on the ground would be minimal as she embarked on a new journey two years later when she was delivered to Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman). After substantial modifications, the TriStar was reborn as the Pegasus Air Launch Platform and renamed Stargazer in May 1992. Beating out other potential choices, including the B-52 Stratofortress, the Boeing 747, and the DC-10, Stargazer (reg: N140SC) became the carrier aircraft for the Pegasus, the world’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. The Pegasus is an air-launched launch vehicle developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, now under the umbrella of Northrop Grumman. Instead of conventional ground-based launches, the Pegasus is air-launched from the belly of the L-1011, negating the need for an expensive first-stage booster. Since its debut at California’s Dryden Flight Research Center in 1990, Pegasus has achieved numerous milestones, including being the world’s first privately developed space launch vehicle and the first air-launched rocket to place satellites in orbit. Pegasus boasts a track record of 45 missions and the successful deployment of nearly 100 satellites. With its three-stage configuration, the Pegasus rocket is designed for launching small satellites weighing up to 1,000 pounds into low-Earth orbit. Carried by the Stargazer L-1011 aircraft to an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet, the rocket is released over the open ocean, experiencing a five-second free fall before its first-stage rocket motor ignites. With the help of its unique delta-shaped wing, Pegasus typically accomplishes satellite deployment into orbit in just over ten minutes at a speed of eight times the speed of sound. This unique air-launch system allows customers to launch their payloads from just about anywhere on Earth. In fact, Pegasus launches have taken place in locations across the U.S., Europe, and the Marshall Islands, making it the world’s most adaptable space launch vehicle. The L-1011 First Flew in 1970 THE ROLLOUT OF THE LOCKHEED L-1011 TRISTAR IN 1970 | IMAGE: JON PROCTOR – GALLERY PAGE HTTPS://WWW.JETPHOTOS.COM/PHOTO/5893645PHOTO HTTPS://CDN.JETPHOTOS.COM/FULL/1/18870_1168031604.JPG, GFDL 1.2, HTTPS://COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG/W/INDEX.PHP?CURID=31480277 Conceived in the 1960s, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar was designed to be a technologically advanced, long-range, and reliable airliner. With its diverse portfolio of civilian aircraft, such as the Electra and the Constellation, as well as military aircraft, such as the C-130 Hercules, the C-141 StarLifter, and the C-5 Galaxy, Lockheed was approached by American Airlines to develop a widebody civilian jetliner. Lockheed’s aim was to produce a competitor to the other two widebody aircraft at the time – the Boeing 747 and Douglas DC-10. The L-1011 had a seating capacity of up to 400 passengers in a twin-aisle configuration. With a range exceeding 4,000 nautical miles, the TriStar was praised for its comfort, efficiency, and safety features. A trio of three-spool Rolls-Royce RB211 engines powered the L-1011, a distinctive feature that set it apart from the DC-10. While Douglas opted for a third engine mounted above the fuselage for economic reasons, the L-1011 featured an innovative S-duct air inlet embedded in the tail and upper fuselage. This design reduced drag, improved stability, and lowered the empty aircraft weight. Other technologically advanced features aboard the TriStar included: Autoland capabilities An automated descent control system Lower deck galley and lounge facilities Following its maiden flight on 16 November 1970, Eastern Air Lines took delivery of the first L-1011 on 26 April 1972. The L-1011 Faced Production Challenges Despite its technological superiority over the DC-10, the L-1011 faced several challenges during production. The program, initiated on orders from TWA and Eastern Air Lines, experienced delays due to issues with engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce. The TriStar launch was postponed by a year, allowing the DC-10 to take the lead. However, the L-1011’s advanced technology came at a considerable cost, leading to a high price point. Originally conceived as a “jumbo twin,” the decision to use three engines was driven by the need for sufficient thrust to take off from existing runways. Additionally, regulatory restrictions existed on twin-engine jets throughout the 1980s. These regulations prohibited the operation of flights more than 30 minutes from the nearest suitable airport. This made trans-oceanic operations impossible for twin jets at the time. Despite these challenges, the L-1011 program produced 250 airframes between 1968 and 1984. Production ended in 1982 with the 250th unit, falling short of the 500 needed for Lockheed to break even. Lockheed’s withdrawal from the civilian airline business followed this setback, paving the way for the MD-11. By this time, however, twin-engine aircraft like the Boeing 777 were superior to inefficient three-engine behemoths. The L-1011 boasted a relatively safe track record, with only one fatal accident attributed to a problem with the aircraft. Delta Air Lines was the type’s largest operator before its retirement in 2001. Internationally, Cathay Pacific acquired 21 TriStars from bankrupt Eastern Air Lines, retiring them in 1996. TWA bid farewell to the L-1011 in 1997. The last airline to operate it was American Trans Air (ATA), which ceased operations in April 2008. With the demise of ATA, the sun set on the life of the venerable TriStar. Like many majestic aircraft in recent years, the L-1011 TriStar has slowly faded into the sunset. Luckily, its legacy is preserved with the Stargazer — for now. From its role as a mid-century widebody competitor to a vehicle that blasts rockets into space, this last airworthy TriStar is a living dichotomy of the golden age of aviation and the modern marvels of space-age technology.

It appears there are more quality control problems with the 737 Max. Inspections now required on all rudder linkages. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/28/boeing-urges-inspections-of-737-max-planes-for-possible-loose-bolt.html Boeing urges inspections of 737 Max planes for ‘possible loose bolt’ KEY POINTS Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 Max planes to look for a “possible loose bolt” in the rudder control system. It’s the latest quality issue to affect the company’s best-selling jetliner. The inspections will take about two hours per plane, and all new 737 Maxes will undergo the check before they’re handed over to customers.

Seems to be some 'developments' in this case... https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/police-probing-whether-montreals-gold-seizure-is-tied-to-torontos-massive-gold-heist Police probing whether Montreal's gold seizure is tied to Toronto's massive gold heist "In order not to interfere with the ongoing investigation, we cannot provide further information," a Montreal police spokesperson said. Montreal and Toronto-area police are investigating whether the surprise seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold during a firearms raid in the east-end of the city Tuesday is connected to in April’s daring $20-million gold heist at Toronto’s Pearson airport, the Montreal Gazette has learned. “The investigative team assigned to this case is aware of the seizures in Montreal and is working with the lead investigators from the SPVM and respective policing partners in Quebec to determine if there is any connection with our investigation,” Tyler Bell-Morena, a spokesperson for the Peel Regional Police, said in an email Friday afternoon. “There is no further update to provide as of yet.” In contrast, Montreal police were tight-lipped about their collaboration with their Ontario counterparts. “In order not to interfere with the ongoing investigation, we cannot provide further information,” Mélanie Bergeron, a spokesperson of the Service de police de la ville de Montréal (SPVM), told the Gazette, declining to confirm or rule out a possible link. On Tuesday, Montreal police stumbled upon a huge cache of gold while carrying out what was intended to be a raid to seize illegal firearms. Police arrested seven people and grabbed nine firearms, a kilogram of cocaine, and a kilo and a half of methamphetamine. They also confiscated $500,000 in cash and “a large quantity of gold.” “The exact value of the precious metal seized has yet to be determined, but is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” the SPVM declared in a statement. In the annals of Montreal crime, the seizure of such a quantity of gold is extremely rare, if not unprecedented. A review of nearly 40 years’ worth of published crime stories in the Gazette found only one comparable story: In 1994, provincial police carried out a series of raids on the West End Gang, seizing 26.5 tonnes of hashish at the Port of Montreal, along with $800,000 in cash and two two-kilogram bars of gold.

This is a fun channel to watch with the odd gem that pops in....

It's also why sports teams are owned by billionaires. https://minnesotareformer.com/2021/07/15/the-billionaire-playbook-how-sports-owners-use-their-teams-to-avoid-millions-in-taxes/ The Billionaire Playbook: How Sports Owners Use Their Teams to Avoid Millions in Taxes

If you like it hot... https://www.iflscience.com/pepper-x-is-crowned-worlds-hottest-chili-by-guinness-world-records-71174