>> Concorde: Golden age of supersonic travel

by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 22 October 2006


IN MARCH 2006, while on my way to the departure terminal at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport in Paris, I spotted Air France Concorde - registration number F-BVFF - on static display at a strategic spot near the terminal.

A graceful airplane indeed, even as it stood grounded on its pedestal!

That chance encounter with Concorde rekindled my memories of Concorde's first visit to Singapore. On 7 June 1972, British Aircraft Corporation prototype 002 (G-BSST) - landed at 1700 hours at Paya Lebar Airport after a stop-over in Bangkok.

The photo above shows G-BSST flying past the Singapore waterfront on its approach to Paya Lebar Airport during the historic flight. Captained by test pilot Brian Trubshaw, the supersonic jet had lifted off from Heathrow Airport, London just nine hours earlier.

From a vantage point in a packed arrival lounge, I watched it taxied in to a rousing lion-dance welcome by an enthusiastic reception party. Concorde 002, resplendent in a glossy white-blue-red livery, sitting on the crowded tarmac was just in a word: magnificent.

Since their retirement, hardly anything was heard of them. Of the original 20 built between 1966 and 1979, 14 flew passenger services with Air France and British Airways before retirement hastened by the tragic crash of Concorde F-BTSC on 25 July 2000.

Four prototype jets were built: two each in Britain and France. Production of the jets were shared equally between both countries. The first production aircraft in each country - used for airworthiness certification, promotion, airline training and route-proving flights - did not enter airline service.

The remaining fleet of Concordes is dispersed in several countries. Many, preserved and protected from the elements, survived as museum exhibits or on display stands at airports. In preserving, upkeeping and displaying the retired planes, both AF and BA did their utmost to ensure the legendary Concorde would be remembered always. But in this respect, Air France seemed to be better organised with its five aircraft.

Today, the status of the fleet as it is:

MSN - REGISTRATION - AIRLINE - FLIGHT HOURS - CURRENT LOCATION

001 - F:WTSS - AS/BAC - 812 - French Air Museum, Le Bourget - Paris

002 - G:BSST - BAC/SA - 836 - RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset

101 - G:AXDN - BAC/Asp - 575 - Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire

102 - F:WTSA - BAC/Asp - 656 - Orly Airport, Paris

201 - F:WTSB - Asp/BAC - 909 - Aerospatiale HQ, Toulouse, France

202 - G:BBDG - BAC/Asp - 1,282 - Brooklands Museum, Weybridge

203 - F:BTSC - AF - 11,989 - Crashed on July 25, 2000, remains kept at Le Bourget

204 - G:BOAC - BA - 22,260 - Manchester Airport, England

205 - F:BVFA - AF - 17,824 - Smithsonian Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Dulles Airport, Washington DC, USA

206 - G:BOAA - BA - 22,786 - Museum of Flight, East Fortune airfield, Edinburgh

207 - F:BVFB - AF - 14,771 - Sinsheim Auto und Technik Museum, SW Germany. Displayed besides Russian Tupolev Tu-144.
208 - G:BOAB - BA - 22,297 - Heathrow Airport, London - beside runway 23

209 - F:BVFC - AF - 14,332 - Airbus factory, Toulouse, France
210 - G:BOAD - BA - 23,397 - Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum, New York

211 - F:BVFD - AF - 5,821 - Retired 27 May 1982, scrapped 1994, fuselage stored at Le Bourget

212 - G:BOAE - BA - 23,376 - Grantley Adams Airport, Barbados, West Indies

213 - F:BTSD - AF - 12,974 - Le Bourget Air & Space Museum, Paris, France

214 - G:BOAG - BA - 16,239 - Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle, USA

215 - F:BVFF - AF - 12,420 - Paris CDG Airport, France

216 - G:BOAF - BA - 18,257 - Filton airfield, Bristol, England. It flew the last flight by a Concorde. UK Concorde preservation body is planning to keep this plane airworthy. Plans are in progress for its permanent indoor display at a new aviation heritage centre in Filton.

No passenger jet could match Concorde. In design, power and speed, it marked the pinnacle of man's endeavours in the history of civil aviation.

Concorde's service ended in 2003, symbolised poignantly by the majestic aeroplane grounded at Paris CDG airport. It ended too, the romance of supersonic passenger travel in unsurpassed comfort and style.

For the discerning air traveller, it was an illustrious aerial career shortened far too soon.

Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.

New civil aviation English test for pilots
by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 9 August 2006


THE INTERNATIONAL Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has informed its membership of 189 nations of its new English proficiency requirement for pilots and air traffic controllers. By March 2008, they must have at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency to qualify for their licence.

Using a scale of one to six, with six being the highest level of English, candidates will be tested on their language skills. A lowest level of four is needed to qualify for the respective licences.

Civil aviation adopts English as its working language worldwide.

The new ICAO rule resulted from a need to spruce up the standard of English, both spoken and written, among pilots and air traffic controllers. This is borne out by the impact recent events had on safety in air travel.

In the past decade, ICAO recorded 1,500 fatalities globally caused by poor communications between pilots and the control tower. Moreover, international standard of communication in English has become increasingly critical with new airlines taking off in Asian and other traditionally non-English-speaking countries.

An acceptable international standard means proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English. Proficiency also requires a knowledge of air traffic parlance and proper pronounciation.

Singapore Airlines supports the ICAO move according to its Vice-President for Public Relations, Mr Stephen Forshaw. So does the International Air Transport Association of 261 world airlines. But most Singapore's pilots and controllers are already using a high level of English due to their professional entry requirements. Therefore, they should qualify for the ICAO test.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will be assessing soon, about 2,500 pilots and some 200 controllers. Those who fail the test will have to attend remedial lessons.

Recently, the Singapore Aviation Academy in Changi organised a meeting of representatives from 31 nations, ICAO and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations. Delegates discussed the issue and its implications facing airlines and airports.

SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organisation/Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.

>> Singapore joins major air exercise
by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 1 August 2006


EXERCISE Pitch Black 2006, Asia-Pacific's biggest multi-nation air exercise, began yesterday in Darwin, Australia. It will end on 6 August 2006.

Air forces of Australia, Britain, Singapore, Thailand and the United States are taking part in the biennial war-games. Some 60 planes from the five nations are participating.

Aircraft types taking part are:
F-5s, F-16s, KC-135Rs and E-2Cs from the Republic of Singapore Air Force;
F/A-18s, F-111s, B-707s, C-130s and AP-3Cs from the Royal Australian Air Force;
F-16s from the Royal Thai Air Force, and an E-3D Airborne Early Warning jet from the Royal Air Force.

Singapore has also deployed I-Hawk and Mistral air defence missiles.

Exercise Pitch Black 2006 allows the five friendly forces to carry out joint training operations under realistic wartime conditions. It sharpens the ability of the various forces to operate together and fosters camaraderie among them.

SOURCE: Ministry of Defence News Release, Republic of Singapore