Page 7 - AAA MARCH-APRIL 2012 Online Magazine

NEWS

INduSTRy NEWS ANd uPdATES

dREAM RECORd-bREAkER

The 787 Dreamliner racked up a swag of records with a 10,336 nmi (19,142 km) flight
to Dhaka, Bangladesh, recently. It set a new distance record for a craft in its weight
class (440,924 to 551,155 lbs), beating the previous record held by the Airbus A330
with a 9,126 nmi (16,901 km) flight in 2002. Not satisfied with that, the crew refuelled
and flew eastbound to Seattle 42 hours and 26 minutes after their initial departure,
completing the fastest around-the-world trip for the same weight class at 470 knots
(871 km/h). Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the
flight demonstrated that the 787 is a world-class product. “The airlines told us they
wanted an airplane that was fuel-efficient, durable and capable,” said Albaugh. “That’s
what we are delivering with the Dreamliner.”

REgIONAL STudENTS I-MAxEd OuT IN Hk
Aware that screens on planes are
Pratt & Whitney, has signed a 5-year MOU p e r i o d . sometimes a bit squinty, UA Cinemas has
with Singapore Polytechnic, extending the S t u d e n t s given travellers a treat in Hong Kong – as
program that started in 2010 through to r e c e i v e long as they have an hour or so between
2017. To date, some 150 students have the same flights. A new IMAX Theatre will open in
benefited from the program. Pratt & t r a i n i n g , the second quarter of 2012 in Terminal
Whitney anticipates at least 300 more both instructional and practical, as 2’s Level 6 entertainment zone at Hong
students will benefit from the Overseas aircraft maintenance engineers. Students Kong International Airport (HKIA). The UA
Industrial Training Program (OITP) and receive professional, hands-on training management say this will be the world’s
train at its Beijing or Guangzhou, China at Pratt & Whitney’s Customer Training first IMAX Theatre in an airport, and
locations. The company has also signed a Center in Beijing, a JV with partner will house more than 350 goggle-eyed
3-year agreement with National Formosa China Aviation Supply Holding Company. travellers watching 2D and 3D movies on
University (NFU) to offer aviation students Opened in 2002, the center serves more a 15 x 25metre screen. Pass the Coke and
exposure and training over a six-week than 1,000 students annually. popcorn, captain!
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