Monday, November 28, 2011

Blackshape Prime - Sirius Magazine Trailer (GoPro HD)

Here is a footage of the presentation of the Ultralight aircraft Blackshape Prime, one amazing machine.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Aviation Blogging and Gadgets

That's what this blog is all about. In a single word is Aviation but following the title of this post it is a Blog and also has some gadgets. You don't think so? Well I have been watching this blog statistics and I have found that already 137 views were from the Apple's iPad. Great!
I don't have one, and I really regret about that not because I want to consult or post in my Blog outdoors but because there are a huge number of applications that can be very useful for pilots.
Here is a footage of AvWeb.com in YouTube relative to the Jeppesen applications for iPad witch I think are amazing and with great capacity. This can be a good revolution in aviation specially about charts and flight navigation.




House cleaning

You might already noted that this blog had some changes in the look. Well I hope that you like the new look as I do and just to complete the new look I only have to say that the picture in the back is a FSX picture from an EC-135 in the region of Madeira with the scenery Wonderful Madeira almost real I should say.



S is for Souda Bay


Past three months the Portuguese Navy Helicopter 19Th Detachment Fénix Flight went on a mission in the Aden Gulf against piracy aboard the Portuguese Frigate N.R.P. "D. Francisco de Almeida".

The mission took about three months but we have been in the area of operation just about two months and the rest as passed in transit from and to Portugal. Our journey started at August the 15Th and lasted until November the 15Th the day of our return to our home base near Lisbon.

During the transit to the operation area the ship and helicopter detachment spent most of the time training for the upcoming mission, training procedures and means of operation related to the type of mission and to maintain the qualifications of both aircrew and ground crew up to date.

Our first stop was in Greece on the beautiful island of Crete at a military base near Shania known as Souda Bay. Because of maintenance issues I had the opportunity to visit Shania Airport and Military Air Base operated by the Greek the American and at that time and because of the Libya operations also used by the French and the Italian. Well a pilot among airplanes what more can I ask for this Christmas?

Here some pictures of my stay in Crete. Some are images air to ground from the helicopter and other of the air base, hope you enjoy them.










From this position to the bottom Photos by: Roberto Cachaço






Sunday, August 14, 2011

Before leaving checklist!

Of course besides being a helicopter maintenance technician in the Portuguese Navy I'm still a civilian pilot and continue to look for a flying job witch is becoming a huge task almost with epic contours due to the number of low time pilots in the same situation.

As I'm going to be out for a considerably long period of time I have tried to fly as close as possible to the day of the departure to the mission.

Today was the day.

Here are some pictures of the flight from Cascais to Portimão.









Saturday, August 13, 2011

Going out!

Some of you know that in a short time I'll be going to the Aden Gulf participating in the Ocean Shield NATO mission. This mission comprehends in the protection of ship convoys that are being attacked by Somali pirates and the Portuguese Navy as part of the NATO will participate in this effort to protect these ships from any threats.

On board the Portuguese frigate "Dom Francisco de Almeida" - a dutch navy M class frigate - will be the Fénix Flight Detachment witch I'm part of.

I will try to maintain contact and updates, specially for the spotters and enthusiasts that love the Portuguese Navy Lynx, so stay tuned!

See you soon.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

EAA AirVenture 2011 at Oshkosh!

From today until July the 31 is running the "World's Greatest Aviation Celebration" at Oshkosh
To those who won't go there stay tuned in the official EAA Airventure Website and watch daily videos on Youtube produced by AvWeb.com and AeroTV.com

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Windy days

Does anyone has Saint Peter's cell number? It was just to ask him if he wouldn't mind to close all the windows and doors. It's windy here.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

About my Swiss experience...



A few posts ago I've told you about my experience on my trip to Switzerland. The Airline, aircraft, airports, etc. Now this post is to talk about something a bit different from this Alpine paradise.

- aircraft picture

- aircraft picture

Those who are related to the business aviation or at least have knowledge about the subject are well familiar with one or two Swiss aerodromes such as Samedan at St. Moritz. But Switzerland isn't just business aviation with aerodromes near the ski resorts. As a matter of fact on a train trip from Geneva Aeroport to Brig, a small city in the Canton of Valais I saw 5 airfields and could count more two that are the Geneva Airport and de Lausanne Aerodrome. I mean this was only in a space of a Inter regional train 2 hour trip, amazing. Two of the airfields had a well treated and seem in top condition grass strip, the rest were all with concrete or tarmac runways.

- aircraft picture

But of course that an airfield without aircraft isn't interesting but fact is that except one aerodrome all the others had light airplanes, light helicopters and a huge quantity of gliders, I must say that I'm in live with this. One of these airfields is Sion Airport witch is a regional airport not bigger than Cascais in Portugal and approximately the same type of normal operation such as air schools, business jets, commuters and some helicopters, here there was also helicopters and airplanes for crop dusting. Interesting.

On the first day of my time in Lausanne suddenly I heard a familiar noise that sounded like a radial aircraft engine and as I was in a very beautiful wood tower in a high point of Lausanne soon I've started looking at the sky for the origin of this noise. Small sparkling in the eyes and there he was, a very beautiful Navy Blue WWII aircraft. Now that's one thing that I wasn't prepared to see in Lausanne. First with the cloudy sky and the distance I thought that the "flying musem" was something like a Curtiss Hell Diver but in a research here at home I found out that it is a General Motors TBM3.

General Motors TBM-3R Avenger aircraft picture

And what a machine!

Resuming if I found out that the swiss living conditions are very good there are no doubts about it. Now, would I leave Portugal to go a live there in the case of a Flying Job? You bet I will.

Paris Air Show 2011 - Eurocopter X3

Saturday, July 16, 2011

New Engine options presented at Paris Airshow

On the way back to Lisbon


On the last Post I described my trip to Lausanne, Switzerland. Now here's the way back to Lisbon.

First there was the train ride from Lausanne to Geneva in order to get to the Airport. The check in went normally without problems and the queue wasn't long as it was early  for my flight. After a coffee and a small internet consult, about that internet in Geneva Airport has 1 hour free all you have to do is sending your cell number to receive the password, as I was saying after the coffee I've headed for the security checks witch I think are getting to small for the number of passengers but very well organized witch allowed to walk through without major delays.


The boarding went normally and there I was again in an Airbus A319 from Iberia. Now there was a special thing about this aircraft. It's name was the "Lince Ibérico", Iberian Lynx, in all seats among with safety card a on board magazine there was the explanation of the name of the aircraft. Normally Iberia names their aircraft with personality names but this was different. On the flyer there was a small text about the Iberian Lynx witch is the only wild cat close to extinction. There are only small groups mostly in Spain that live in pure freedom  and there are several tries in Spain and Portugal with a moderate success to reproduce the species in natural reserves and specially made parks to that effect.

Airbus A319-111 aircraft picture

After flying on the "Lynx" there I was again on Terminal 4 of Madrid Barajas and after another smooth landing I really start to think seriously about the best landing contest thing.

This final leg started in the worst way... with a delay. Well it wasn't a huge delay just about 30 minutes but still a delay. You have to do it better Iberia.
With a good tail wind and a fast boarding the delay was practically recovered and at the time of landing there was only a 10 minutes delay witch is a good recovery.

The landing at Lisbon Airport wasn't so smooth as the rest of this journeys landings due to some cross winds and turbulence on final of runway 03 but even though a good one.

Balance of this trip: first of all I would like to express here my appreciation  for the sympathy of the Iberia crews not perfect but very good; second I think that the flights went very normally without anything abnormal to report about the them; third the price was really a good price and the turnaround at Madrid is no sacrifice after all I'm a Pilot.

One thing I think isn't so good but I understand due to the economical situation of Europe and specially Airlines, you see there was no catering service unless you pay and a Sandwich at 7€ is to much I'm sorry after all Iberia is still a Flag Airline not a low cost that treats passengers as cattle sometimes. But there are economical reasons for this and the competition for the internal routes in Europe is at it's top and of course with the competition of the low cost airlines reducing anything on board is a tough competition and the truth is that my tickets were cheaper than Easy Jet's cheapest ticket when I bought them so let's think it compensates the sacrifice.

Flight trip to Geneva with Iberia


Las week I went on a trip to Lausanne, Switzerland. About a month ago I've started to prepare this journey and when I looked at the tickets price it was very interesting that the only low cost airline that flies to Geneva didn't have the lowest prices. The lowest price airline that could take me from Lisbon to Geneva was Iberia. Only with a small issue, a scale at Madrid Barajas Int Airport. Even though this wasn't so bad at all I mean, I love airplanes so what could be better than a two leg trip instead of one leg? He He.

First part of the journey was in an Airbus A320 that left Lisbon quite on time with a rolling take off and if it wasn't the massive air traffic in Madrid it would arrive earlier than the predicted. The flight was normal with no problems at all and the landing was very very smooth, my congrats to the cockpit team.

Airbus A320-214 aircraft picture


Soon the airplane stopped at the terminal 4 of Madrid Barajas Airport and there I was at this very recent terminal completely adapted to the reality of the increasing commercial aviation demands. As it was only a one hour and a half wait I decided to walk in the terminal watching the commercial areas but always with the other eye on the aircraft outside that could be seen from this massive windows.
The terminal seems to me that it's well organized and has everything to don't let you to get lost or lose your flight. One remark, the PA system doesn't warns about the flights to you have to consult the terminal departures boards but even that it's very easy because there are so many.

- aircraft picture

After finding the gate of my flight I've embarked on an Airbus A319 and headed for Geneva.
This second leg went as the first one just a bit longer as this one was a 2 hour leg and the other one was a 1h10m leg. The flight went with no remarks of anything abnormal and the landing was very smooth once more these guys at Iberia might have some kind of competition to see who gets the smoother landing I think.


Airbus A319-111 aircraft picture


After Geneva another passion of mine: trains, Lausanne here I go.


Safety Report – 07/14/2011 – Delta 767 Clips Vertical Fin of Bombardier Regional Jet


From: Flightstory.net

Date: 07/14/2011 07:56pm
Location: Boston, MA
Aircraft Type: Boeing 767-300 Registration: Unknown
Operator: Delta Air Lines Flight: 266
and
Aircraft Type: Bombardier CL-600-2D24 Regional Jet CRJ-900ERRegistration: N132EV
Operator: Atlantic Southwest Airlines (Delta Connection) Flight: 4909
Phase: Taxi
Level of Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
With its left wingtip, Delta Airlines flight 266 bound from Boston to Amsterdam clipped the vertical stabilizer of Atlantic Southwest Airlines (Delta Connection) flight 4909, a Bombardier CRJ-900ER (N132EV). The collision occured while both planes were taxiiing for departure. Damage to the Bombardier vertical fin has been pretty bad as you can see in the photo below. NTSB is investigating.


Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 4904 Vertical Fin Damage

Photo: Boston Herald, Mark Garfinkel/AP

Delta Airlines Flight 266 Wingtip Damage
Photo: Boston Herald, Mark Garfinkel/AP

Airbus delivers 800th A330



Airbus has recently delivered it's 800th A330 to Aircastle Advisor Ltd for operation with Hainan Airlines, this airplane is a A330-200F and it's the third one flying with HNA colours. Until now have been ordered about 1140 A330s around the world and the A330 family has accumulated more than 14 million hours flight time.

800th Airbus A330 - Will be operated by Hainan Airlines
Photo: Airbus

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Flying... as passenger :(



Probably some of you have already questioned why this blog isn't being updated with regularity. The truth is that I'm passing through a period with almost no flights and no news to tell. Sadly I must say but there are no news about new flights or flying jobs that I had been called to respond to innumerable CVs sent already, some of them to some remote regions of the globe, but that's the life of a low time pilot.

So tomorrow I'll embark in some flights but as a passenger. Destination: Lausanne, Switzerland. Firts leg from Lisbon, LIS, to Madrid, MAD, and then to Geneva, GVA, finally by train to Lausanne. This will be my first flight in Iberia the Spanish flag Airline let's see if "nuestros hermanos" can convince me as a passenger.

Airbus A319-111 aircraft picture

Sunday, June 5, 2011

And my first passenger is... My Dad!


Well this was a promise that I had made to my father that if one day I become a Pilot He would be my first passenger. Here it is. Mr. Cardoso went to the sky with his son in command.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Pirated Skies - Kyle and Amanda Franklin

Here is a video of a demo of the Pirated Skies show performed by Kyle and Amanda Franklin.

Not all Airman are Boys or Pilots

Sadly I just received the news that Amanda Franklin died today after a long and painful recovery after an airplane accident during the Air Fiesta air show on March the 12 this year.
Amanda was a wing walker and had a show performance with her husband Kyle Franklin in witch they pay the roles of pirates. "Scandalous Scarlet" Amanda walks on the wings as "Captain Cairo" Kyle flies performing some aerobatic maneuvers to delight of those who watch.
Since the Air Fiesta accident that Kyle has been posting regularly on his Facebook the painful days of Amanda and her fight to resist and recover from her injuries, Amanda had her body burned in about 95% and recovery was very complicated.
Kyle had created a fund so that all of us could somehow help in the relief of Amanda by helping with the treatments and hospital bills so that Amanda could get the best medical care.
Kyle is also recovering from his injuries from the air crash and really needs now of all support from all to recover also from his terrible loss.


Godspeed!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

About Covilhã Aerodrome



This is getting a habit to talk about some of the Portuguese aerodromes for the worst reasons and this time it's about the oldest Civilian Aerodrome registered in Portugal.


Covilhã Aerodrome had the first landing in 1946 and it's ID is ICAO LPCV and IATA COV.
This Aerodrome has revealed strategically situated in the center of Portugal, very close to the "Serra da Estrela" natural park so it has a huge importance for water bombers that operate from there during the fires seasons in the pique of the summer.

But some interests are considered somehow more important to who's in charge than the protection of the forest or the general and commercial aviation in Portugal so the Mayor of Covilhã celebrated a contract with PT, the Portuguese State Phone Company to install a Data Center in the fields occupied by the airfield. Rapidly people came to public protesting about that decision and complaining that the aerodrome was far more important to the region than a data center. In Covilhã is situated the UBI, Universidade da Beira Interior, and this particular University has an Aeronautical Engineering Department which is along with IST in Lisbon one of the two Universities with formation in the aeronautical area and now with a serious risk of not having an aerodrome in the  vicinity.

With the raise of protests against the decision of the Mayor some other voices have raised also saying that the Mayor has a house nearby the aerodrome and with the construction of the data center that area soon passes to a residential area and of course saying that in order to accept the PT proposal he had received some money has a personal benefit. I don't know anything about this tellings and I'm writing them as they were told so I decline any responsibility about them.

The fact is that Portugal will soon lose another aviation facility (see previous post) and general aviation in Portugal seems to becoming more and more an illusion or something that is only to ultralight aircraft. Sad very sad.

This is a link with Covilhã aerodrome information: http://www.pelicano.com.pt/zp_covilha.html

And this is the link to the petition created by the Aeronautical Engineering students against the aerodrome close: http://www.peticaopublica.com/PeticaoVer.aspx?pi=AeroUBIP

About Aveiro Aerodrome


Established in 1917 as a French Hydroplane Base with Portuguese support the Military facility of São Jacinto, has passed through many transformations during it's life.

From 1917 to 1918 the French had the right of use of this Naval Air Station and at the end of the World War I the facility was passed to the Portuguese by the hand of the Naval Aviation of the Portuguese Navy and it was a Hydro and Air Base of the Navy until 1953, one year after the creation of the Portuguese Air Force and had been at that time transfered to the new Air Force. during the Navy years the Air Base had operating the Naval Aviation School named as Admiral Gago Coutinho in the honor of the Portuguese Admiral that along with Commander Sacadura Cabral performed the crossing of the South Atlantic from Portugal to Brasil.
The Air Base passed to the Portuguese Air Force in 1953 and continued as so until 1993 when it passed to the Portuguese Army at the time of the conversion of the paratroops from the Air Force to the Army also. During the Air Force Period São Jacinto Air Base was the base of Paratroops who saw the installation of their training facilities next to the airfield and at 1993 the air side of the base was deactivated as a military facility. With the deactivation of the air side part of the base and the conversion of the paratroops to the Army São Jacinto Air Base had his name changed to Military Area of São Jacinto until 2006 when it changed again to Infantry Regiment Nr. 10.


With the transference of the facility and deactivation of the air side in 1993 the Airfield started to have a Civil use and named as Aveiro Aerodrome.Since then the relationship between military and civil in São Jacinto as been always peaceful and with no problems at all. Until now.
In 2010 by the order of the Commanding Officer of the Infantry Regiment the use of the airfield by civilians was suspended and the Aveiro Air Club who had their aircraft based there had to remove them as quickly as possible. And so there's the end of a story of peaceful living between the military and civilian.
The reasons presented by the Commander were that the airfield and the runway was in a need of refurbishing and the conditions of the facility were getting deteriorated, some say that this decision was taken after a C295M pilot of the Portuguese Air Force complained about the runway condition. Since that day the Aerodrome doesn't receive any civilian aircraft and the number of military ones is very low.


The Commander was complaining about the fact of the Aveiro Mayor not investing in the facility to make it more safe to pilots, and the City Mayor complaints about the fact that he has no responsibility to the Air Base as it is an Army property with the right of civilian use.
Sad thing is that this aerodrome is really a piece of the history of Portuguese Aviation and as it started and it seems that will be destroyed in a matter of few years due to a small misunderstanding between civil and military authorities.



As military from the Navy and specialized in helicopter maintenance I had the opportunity to operate from there during the Navy Day in 2009 and it was very pleasant to operate with a Navy helicopter from such historical Base but the rough conditions were everywhere from the dormitories to the hangar that had no lightning system and was serving as a garage to the Army trucks clearly a picture that São Jacinto had lost it's Glorious Days of Sea and Land Airplanes operated there.
I had the opportunity to land at Aveiro, LPAV, as a student pilot in 2009 and to me I think that Aveiro has all the possibilities to become one great Airfield for general aviation and even for small commercial aviation, it has a good runway and well aligned, it has an apron and space to build more if needed all it's missing is the will to make things to benefit aviation and local tourism which I'm sure it would benefit of the aerodrome use.


Both Lynx in front of the military hangars and control tower (deactivated) 

Air Club hangars and Cessna 152 

Averio Airclub Cessna 152 

Marks of the Air Force presence in early days 

Civilian aircraft shared the apron with our two Lynx with no problem 


Two Navy Lynx in the apron 

Military Hangars ans deactivated control tower 

Naval Aviation Monument

Vintage Aero Club

For those who follow this blog since around 2013 probably already have heard me talking about Vintage Aero Club. For those who didn&#...