Once the lockdown is lifted, your flying experience will take on a new avatar. It’s as yet unclear when flights will resume and what the new social distancing norms will be, but the pandemic will radically shake up aviation, just like 9/11 and the security challenges it ushered in did nearly two decades ago. The check-in changes You will notice the changes the moment you reach the airport. In fact, it could set in even earlier. While booking tickets, the airline may ask you to furnish a medical certificate to establish you are not displaying corona symptoms. Some international airlines were insisting on a medical certificate at the time of check-in even before the lockdown. There is every likelihood that more flyers will opt for web check-ins. However, you may still need to approach the counter if you have check-in baggage, unless a newly evolved technology takes care of that, too. At the airport, not only will the social distancing norms be more stringent, but the...
The Airbus A340 was specially designed for long haul flying and had something not seen with other widebody aircraft flying today. It was a unique middle landing gear that allowed the plane to take off with heavier loads and carry more fuel for its four hungry engines. What is the middle landing gear? If you have ever looked carefully at a picture of an A340 (or if you are lucky, in real life), you might have noticed an extra landing gear on the belly in the middle of the plane. Here it is on a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 to the rear of the aircraft. Looking at the bottom of an A340 you’ll see that there are already two other sets of landing gears under the wings, why would an aircraft need a third in the middle? Why some A340s have the middle landing gear Plain and simple, the extra landing gear allows the A340 aircraft to have a higher MTOW (maximum take-off weight). This means more passengers and cargo, plus more fuel to go a longer dist...
When it comes to engines, much like plane manufacturers, there are a few players leading the market. GE, Rolls Royce, and Pratt & Whitney are likely the names you hear the most when looking at the industry (or looking out the window). But which of these three giants is the leader? And what planes do they power? Essential parts The engine is an essential part of the aircraft, providing the power and thrust required to operate an aircraft and keep it in the air. Engines also determine aircraft efficiency , a key factor in reducing emissions and fuel burn. When purchasing planes, airlines are faced with the option of which engines to put on their planes. Safety isn’t usually an issue with most engines, although a few have seen recurring issues , which means airlines usually make the decision on price alone. So, what choices do airlines have for engines? That depends on your plane and aircraft type. Take the A380 for instance. When purchasing the aircraft, airlin...
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