Today’s edition of lunchtime news chum brings a collection of articles related to air transportation:
- Russian To Catch a Flight. If you’re a transit geek like me, you’re fascinated by the different aircraft manufacturers and models. You remember the stories about the horrible Antonev and Tupolev aircrafts of the Soviet era. Well, the Russians are making planes again, and they may be coming to an airline near you. It is called the “Superjet”, and is aiming for the regional aircraft niche, presuming they can overcome public reaction and get certification. The Superjet is a 100-seat aircraft built by Sukhoi. The list price for the chubby, single-aisle aircraft is $31.7 million, about one-third cheaper than comparable short-hop jets from Embraer or Bombardier of Canada. It has a roomy cabin, with overhead luggage bins that can hold standard carry-on luggage, soft lighting, and high-bypass engines that hum rather than scream at take-off.
- The Venerable 737. The 737 lives on. Boeing has decided to reengine the aircraft as opposed to designing a new model. Boeing is calling the 737 with the new engine the “MAX,” as in maximum. It says the plane will be as much as 12 percent more fuel-efficient than its current 737, and 4 percent more efficient per seat than the Airbus A320neo. The original 737 flew in 1967.
- Time Passes When Flying Home…. An interesting perception issue. The return trip always seems shorter, even though it isn’t necessarily shorter. The human mind is a wonderful thing.
- Boarding Passes When Getting On The Airplane. If you’re like me, the boarding process confounds you… especially if you want to get overhead space. This article from USA Today looks at the different types of boarding processes, and the pros and cons of each.
