Posts Tagged ‘Aviation’

United Kingdom to Marseille

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Marseille is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in France. There are flights from the UK to Marseille from both London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Marseille Provence Airport is the city’s main airport and is the fourth largest airport in France. Expect to see both tourists and business travelers crowding its terminals. The city also has an excellent public transportation system.

It is located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea and is the largest commercial port in the country. The old port area that was popular prior to the’70s oil crisis has been redeveloped with an investment from the European Union.

The completely refurbished Old Port is now home to hotels, restaurants, bars, and caf?s, as well as a private marina. This renovated port is north of the new active commercial port, where over 100 million tons of freight?the majority of it petroleum?pass every year. Marseille’s position as a hub for industry and trade is complemented by its excellent infrastructure for travel by air, land, or sea. It is one of the major ports of entry into France, especially popular with travelers from Italy, Spain, Greece, and the Middle East.

With its location on the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille has mild winters and hot summers. The coldest months of the year are January and February, with July and August being the area?s hottest months. Harsh, cold winds blow into the city from the Alps in the winter and spring.

The city also boasts Marseille Provence Metropolis, the second largest research center in France. The research center employs thousands of scientists.

In addition to industry, plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, museums and theaters can be found in this city. Culture lovers are especially enamored of Marseille due to the large number of theaters in the city, including la Crie, le Gymnase and the theatre Toursky. The Marseille Opera is also very popular, with a season from September to June.

Like other areas of France, It is well-known for its incredible food. Local favorites include pastis, which is an alcoholic beverage similar to beer made with aniseed and spice. Other popular items are aioli (mayonnaise) served on fish or hardboiled eggs, tapenade, bouillabaisse, panisse and navette. All dishes are made with local ingredients, which make them very flavorful. Many restaurants can be found in the city’s Old Port area, which is the site of a daily fish market. The Old Port area is very beautiful at night, making it a popular spot for a long evening meal.

Noteworthy architecture in the city includes the Abbey of Saint Victor, one of the first places of Christian worship in France, and the Phare de Sainte Marie, a lighthouse lying on an inlet in the Old Port, as well as Museum of Old Marseille.

With all that the city has to offer to visitors, it is easy to see why Marseille is growing in popularity with travelers.

Tom Martens is the content coordinator for Bestukflights.co.uk the UK’s premier flight and travel comparison portal which includes a detailed section on Travel and Flights to Marseille

How To Get Flights To Tenerife

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Flying to Tenerife is easy any time of year with wide a selection of low-fare airlines and UK and Ireland airports.

Airports:

Aberdeen Belfast Birmingham Blackpool Bournemouth Bristol Cardiff Cork Doncaster Dublin Durham Tees Edinburgh Exeter Gatwick Glascow Leeds Liverpool Luton Manchester Newcastle Norwich Nottingham Shannon Stansted

Airlines:

British Airways Jet2 Monarch Scheduled Aerlingus Ryanair Thomsonfly Flyglobespan

Flights to Tenerife are very reasonable, currently staring at around-8. The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is a popular destination among UK travelers. Tenerife generally has two busy seasons. The first is during the winter when it experiences an influx of older tourists escaping winter’s chill. The second extends from May to October, with families and college students on holiday.

The world-famous Tenerife Carnival is held in February in Santa Cruz. Held in the two weeks before Lent, Tenerife Carnival rivals Rio for size and grandeur. The party culminates with a parade and the Burial of the Sardine, in which a huge model sardine is carried through the streets, followed by mourners, and eventually burned.

You will likely find the best deals in the off-season. The climate is fairly constant, so you’ll still be able to enjoy the beaches and attractions in less-crowded conditions.

There are two airports on Tenerife. Most traffic comes into Tenerife South Reina Sofia Airport (TFS), which also offers more than 100 connecting flights to additional destinations. Tenerife North handles inter-island flights for island hoppers. You can also take the ferry to explore the other Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands are known as the Islands of Eternal Springtime for a reason. There is little difference between summer and winter temperatures with winter temperatures bottoming out at-C. Summer months are balmy but comfortable. But, as an illustration of this island’s contrasts, the average annual temperature at the inland the Teide National Park is only 9C.

As you would expect, Tenerife offers white, sandy beaches and a lively night life. Beyond the usual tourist attractions, visitors find vast natural beauty and splendid landscapes. The snow-capped Mount Teide rises from the center of the island, providing its breathtaking backdrop. In the north, you’ll find a variety of wildlife and their habitats, ranging form rugged rocky coves to lush greenery. Farther south, the beaches stretch in the sun - home to resorts like Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos.

Tenerife’s capital city, Santa Cruz, offers tax-free shopping for bargain hunters. The Mercado de Nuestra Senora de Africa, an Artistic Historical Monument, has galleries of merchants of all varieties surrounding a central courtyard and clock tower. One of Spain’s largest ports, this cosmopolitan city also offers parks and historical theaters.

Cable rides to the top of Mount Tiede, one of the world’s largest volcanoes, will offer spectacular views from the highest point in the Atlantic Ocean.

For children of all ages, the Monkey Zoo is a must. Located in Los Cristianos, most of the animal cages are open for visitors to walk into. You can buy food for the animals at the entrance, so you are guaranteed an up-close experience with a variety of animals including ring-tailed lemurs and iguanas.

Susan is the marketing director for the UK’s leading Flight comparison portal, which includes detailed information on Flights To Tenerife

Business Travel Made Easy

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Flying commercially is not too bad if you can be flexible on times and travel dates, but when you are trying to fit in flight plans between business meetings it will become clear that the business traveler is merely at the mercy of the commercial airlines and their schedules which are subject to change at a moments notice, most commonly due to a flight that is not worth their effort to make simply because they have under booked it, hoping to get some last minute travelers to fill it up.

Sometimes flying for your business, or sending your employees on a business trip is an unavoidable situation. This is why may business owners have begun to rely on private jet charters, for all their air travel needs. Business utilize these charter planes just as much as they utilize limos for all their on ground travel needs.

With a private jet charter you are able to depart form a location that is convenient to you and at a time that fits into your schedule. The staff for your jet charter no only accommodate your travel time needs, but they also make sure you have all that you need while you are in flight, as well as provide transportation for you to and from the aircraft.

Traveling with a private jet charter allows to to feel like a real professional. It is a first class experience that you will soon not forget. When traveling with a private jet charter you will feel more like a star and less like part of a cattle herd.

Flights that are geared toward your own personal business schedule and the in flight service is geared completely towards your needs. It is the best way to fly for business or pleasure, because these tailor made trips are not only convenient, but they also wind up cutting a lot of time off your travel day. It is a wise expense for anyone in the business world, where time is money and money is time.

A jet charter will provide you with the opportunity to enjoy your flight without having to deal with the hustle and bustle of a commercial airline. To learn more about hiring a private jet log onto www.privatejetscharter.net.

Get Flights to Madrid

Friday, December 4th, 2009

The only difficult part of shopping for an inexpensive flight to Madrid is making a choice from the range of options. At the time of this writing, no less than 9 UK and Irish airlines were offering direct flights to Madrid from 15 airports. Take your choice:

Airports: Aberdeen,Belfast, Bristol, Bournemouth, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Shannon.

Airlines: British Airways, EasyJet, Aer Lingus, Ryannair, Aireuropa, BMI British Midland, Iberia,Avro.

Because Spain is the top destination for UK travelers, low fares are easy to find. Currently, fares on the low-cost carriers range from 88 to 120, so Madrid makes a great holiday destination, even for travelers on a budget. Plan your trip to avoid summer in Madrid. October is an ideal time to visit the city if you like great weather, cheaper flights and lower hotel rates. If you enjoy cultural attractions and ski resorts, winter is a great time to visit.

Madrid’s airport, Madrid Barajas International Airport, MAD, is Spain’s busiest airport with more than 40 million passengers a year. It is located- km from central Madrid, and the Metro can get you there in 30 minutes, but you can also take one of the frequent shuffle buses or a cab. Keep in mind, traffic is usually bad, so the ride could be close to an hour.

Once in Madrid, the Metro and bus services are fast and inexpensive, as are cab services. It is best not to drive yourself in Madrid because of the dangerous traffic conditions. However, you can hire a car to drive out of town at the airport. Spain is a favorite holiday spot for more reasons that just affordability. The combination of Spanish charm, culture, art, nightlife and costal entertainments contribute to its popularity. Except for beaches, you can find attractions for all of these elements in Madrid.

Madrid is Spain’s capital and its largest city. Geographically located in the center of the Iberian peninsula, it has been the political, financial and administrative heart of the country for centuries. King Philip II established his royal court there in 1561. Successive kings contributed to Madrid’s grandeur by commissioning places, cathedrals, public buildings and monuments.

Some attractions to consider: For starters, the world-renowned Prado, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia for modern art and the newly public collection of Thyssen-Bornemisza are top attractions for art lovers. There is also the little-known Monasterio de las Descalas Reales, an elegant convent built in the 16th century for aristocratic nuns. Now a museum, you can see the priceless works of art and religious relics new nuns donated as part of their dowries.

For history buffs, visit the San Nicolas de las Servitas, believed to date back to 1085. For shoppers, El Rastro is one of the best flea markets in Europe. For culture/sport junkies, bull fights are held on Sundays and holidays throughout the year.

Experience Madrid’s unique night life by visiting tascas, pubs that serve tapas - Spanish appetizers ranging sausages to snails and always including good wines. Flamenco music is the soul of Spain, so plan to visit a flamenco tavern to experience these gypsy folk songs and dances. Remember, when in Madrid, start late and finish later when you’re going out. The food, drink and dancing often last until breakfast the next day.

Susan is the marketing director for the UK’s leading Flight comparison portal, which includes detailed information on Flights to Madrid

Getting Your Flight License - Time You Need For Your Pilot Licence

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Like most of us once, we have decided to embark on an adventure, we are anxious to get right at it. It is no different when it comes to one wanting to obtain their private pilot?s license. Once of the first questions you probably want to answer is how much of your time is it going to take to achieve your goal. There is no one answer to this. Its dependant on many factors. First, it depends on the location of your training and what is available. Are there several training facilities or just one? Do they operate full time or part time? Is there a waiting list to get in? These are all questions geared towards how long it will take.

Some of your decisions will structure the time frame. For example do you want to learn to fly in a rural setting where there is not much traffic or are you going to opt for city training where there is high traffic volume. There are good and bad points to both scenarios. It would be ideal if you could have the best of both worlds. Learning to fly in both a country setting as well as a city setting would certainly hone your skills as an upcoming pilot.

If your training is taking place in the city, you are going to be dealing with multiple runways, numerous other planes and even navigating landings via the winds. These factors are not so evident in the rural setting. No matter which setting you choose you will still have to learn the same flying techniques and skills. FAA regulations stipulate that you must be able to land and take off from a landing strip that has air traffic control via their tower.

Once you start your research for locating a flight training school, you will encounter both approved and non approved schools. This does not mean that the non approved schools are inferior. There was a large demand for pilots to carry out military operations as well as a requirement for commercial pilots. This demand created the birth of the approved flight training schools. Private Pilots remained and still do with the smaller non-approved flight training schools. The majority of these candidate want their private pilots license for recreational use or in some cases small business endeavors. All schools no matter whether approved or non approved must adhere to the same certification standards and regulations. The most noticeable difference between the two types of Schools is the non-approved have small operating budgets so they tend to teach at smaller airfields with most basic planes. They have smaller student quotas and the instructors are not paid the high salaries found at the approved schools.

When it comes down to how long it will actually take you will primarily depend on whether you can donate a full time schedule to your training or whether you can only intermittently attend training. In addition to this is available of room in the course. If flight training schools are scarce in your area then there maybe a waiting period to get in.

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How To Become A Professional Pilot - Getting Your License

Friday, November 27th, 2009

All prospective pilots must complete high school. A college-preparatory curriculum is recommended because of the need for pilots to have at least some college education.

Most companies that employ pilots require at least two years of college training. Courses in engineering, meteorology, physics and mathematics are helpful in preparing for a pilot’s career. Flying is taught in military and civilian flying schools. There are approximately 600 civilian flying schools certified by the FAA, including some universities that offer degree credit for pilot training. Pilots leaving the military are in great demand.

Certification or Licensing

To become a pilot, certain rigid training requirements must be met. Although obtaining a private pilot’s license is not difficult, it may be quite difficult to obtain a commercial license. Before you make your first solo flight, you must get a medical certificate and an instructor-endorsed student pilot certificate. In order to get that, you must pass a test given by the flight instructor. The test will have questions about FAA rules as well as questions about the model and make of the aircraft you will fly. If you pass the test and the instructor feels you are prepared to make a solo flight, the instructor will sign and endorse your pilot certificate and logbook.

To apply for a PPL (private pilots license), you must take a written examination. To qualify, you must be at least 17, successfully fulfill a solo flying requirement of 20 hours or more and meet instrument flying and cross-country flying requirements.

Types of Pilot Licenses

Student pilot certificate - Used for the initial training period of flying. Student pilots must fly with a flight instructor and can only fly solo after receiving appropriate endorsements from their flight instructor.

Recreation pilot certificate - Limits the pilot to specific classes and categories of aircraft, a limited number of passengers, the distance that may be flown from the point of departure, and flight into controlled airports.

Private pilot certificate - Allows a pilot to carry passengers and use his or her aircraft for limited business purposes.

Commercial pilot certificate - Allows a pilot to fly for compensation and hire

Airline transport pilot certificate - Required to fly as captain by some air transport operations.

All pilots and co-pilots must be licensed by the FAA before they can do any type of commercial flying. An applicant who is’ years old and has 250 hours of flying time can apply for a commercial pilot license. You must pass a rigid physical exam and a written test. Before you receive an FAA license, you must also receive a rating for the kind of plane you can fly (single-engine, multi-engine) and for the specific type of plane such as Boeing 747 or 707.

Sound physical and emotional health are essential requirements for aspiring pilots. Emotional stability is necessary because the safety of other people depends upon a pulot remaining claim and levelheaded, no matter how trying the situation. Physical health is equally important. You must have 20/20 vision with or without glasses, good hearing; normal heart rate and blood pressure, and no physical handicaps that could hinder performance.

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Find Those Able To Afford Charter Jets

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

Oh To Be Able To Afford Charter Jets

Do you have enough money to fly in charter jets? I do not. How great it would be to do all my air travel by charter jet. I would love to be able to fly anywhere at a moments notice.

I would never have to wait in line for the security check at the airport. I would not be removing my shoes to show the guard I did not have a bomb in my souls. I would not cringe when a person who should buy two seats sits in his one next to me. I would not have to put in my ear plugs because the kid behind me is afraid to fly and proves this by crying and screaming all through the flight. I could have an inflight meal rather than bring a fast food meal along with me.

No I would fly alone in my charter jet or with my invited guest. Out of boredom I would call for a jet and fly to Paris for a lunch at one of their quaint sidewalk cafes. Or I would fly to Toronto for a nice visit in a clean and friendly city that is like a mini New York.

Unemployment is in the news everyday as the numbers grow and grow. And yet I know there are still people who right now are getting aboard a charter jet for a trip to fun and adventure. Today when there is too much month left and not enough monthly income for many, the idea of a charter jet is a fantasy yes. But many are living that reality.

There are those who sometimes out of boredom call their charter jet service and then there limo company to take them to the airport. They decide on the way to the airport where they will fly. They might call their friends and invite them along for the trip. Imagine having a friend who invites you to fly with him to Madrid, Spain simply because he is bored and wants to get out of the country for a little while.

Of course charter jets are used by many companies to fly executives to various business meetings rather than use commercial jets. And from a practical standpoint it would make more economical sense to use a charter jet service than having your own jet.

Wealthy people are able to afford their own jet. But with the maintenance costs and upkeep and rental space, it makes more sense to use a private charter jet company. That way one has access to a jet anywhere at anytime without all of the cost associated with owning a fleet of one jet aircraft.

I saw a TV program on the reduced service offered by the airline industry given the cost of fuel and the growing competition in the commercial flying business. So many airlines lose money every year. Gone are the free meals, the free baggage service, and the friendly flight attendant is only seen on an old TV show. How much better to be rich and use charter jets for all your flight travel plans.

There are a lot of people looking for ways to charter jets, or charter flights so that they can get to their destination when they want, an in their own time.

Book A Flight According To Your Convenience With An Aircraft Charter Service

Friday, November 20th, 2009

There are several ways that flying with an aircraft charter service differs from flying on commercial airlines, however for the customer; those differences can be summarized up in the words flexibility, efficiency and privacy.

Large corporations often use a charter service to get executives from one point to another in the least amount of time when millions of dollars are counting on their ability to sign a contract on time. There are other times that a critically ill patient needs to be transferred from one medical care facility to another. Perhaps you are just trying to transfer your family from one city to another and would like for them to be as comfortable as possible. No matter what your priorities are, an aircraft charter service allows you to organize your trip according to your needs.

If you have flown the commercial airlines you know that what should be a three hour flight may sometimes take the majority of the day as you fly to the major hubs and then sit and wait for hours for your next flight. There are times that your drive to or from the airport takes longer than the actual flight.

Once you get to the airport you may face long lines and searches just to board the plane. Another danger is lost luggage. On board the plane, it would be impossible to conduct any business dealings.

In contrast, a charter flight can pick you up at your nearest airport and fly you to within miles of your final destination. You are able to choose your plane as well as any amenities that you want during the flight. In your own private plane, you can feel free to discuss business freely without the fear of being overheard. There is very little wasted time in a flight that takes you directly to your destination.

If you think charter services may be too expensive, do not forget what you will pay for travel, hotel and wages for busy executives. In addition, if more than one person is flying you can save even more money. The charter service will work around your schedule and be sure that you are at the place you need to be on time every time. For many businesses, air charter service may become your only option.

Aircraft charter services usually charge by the hour. Rates can vary according to several factors. The hourly rates are calculated by the actual time the plane is in the air. Therefore, a good tailwind can make your trip cost less. If you get stuck in a holding pattern, the trip can cost more. You will find that some carriers offer a guaranteed rate; however they must charge to cover such delays, so you may actually pay more for the trip.

There are times that passengers are also responsible for additional fees. Check with your carrier to see which ones apply. This will help you to better plan your budget.

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Do You Want To Be A Fighter Pilot? Requirements and Guide

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Becoming a fighter pilot is the dream of many, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to fulfill this dream. It is a long journey and some don?t quite make the requirements and perhaps this is due to not knowing all of them because there is a long list to complete. For those who are looking in this direction for a career, here is an outline of the requirements that you will need to tackle one by one.

Enrolling to Become an Officer of the Navy or Marine Academy

The first step is deciding whether you want to enroll in the academy for the Navy or the Marines. Each has different career lifestyles to offer you. Once you have enrolled, you must meet the physical requirements to become a pilot which are stricter than usual. You also fit into the cockpit and have good eyesight as well.

Upon your commission you have to choose your field of aviation before entering flight school. Even though technically you will apply for this aviation position, you will not make the last decision but the school decides this in the end.

Flight School

When you enter flight school you will always be considered of a lesser rank than anyone else until you achieve your pilot wings and this takes extra hard work. There are two categories of which you will be graded on. They are your academic classes that you will be attending such as the principles of flight and meteorology; then there is the flying that you will be graded on. This is done through flight simulators and actual flying.

During this time you will constantly be evaluated so if you start at the bottom you can earn your way to the top, however, it is essential that you remain in the highest of standings. The better that you do means there is a higher chance of getting into advanced flight training.

Advanced Training

There are two components of this advanced training. The first is the wilderness survival school. You will go through several days of training first before you are tested by being left in the forest to use these learned skills such as knowing which plants and insects you can eat and how to get clean water. You will also be trained to survive as a prisoner of war and when tested, if you are captured, you will have to undergo the same treatment and torture as real life would have it.

The second part to this training is when you are trained on the same type of plane that you will be flying when on the job. Once you have passed these tests and graduate from advanced training you will be considered an official fighter pilot.

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Pilot License Requirements - Post Solo Requirements

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

There is some controversy as to whether a flying student should progress onto the next phase of training if they have not completed their solo requirements. This would be to the post solo requirements. There is no hard and fast rule that says solo requirements cannot be completed after post solo has been completed or during actually.

The post solo requirements must be met before a student can, complete a solo cross county flight, or exceed a distance of 25 nautical miles beyond the starting point. The student cannot make a solo flight or landing other than the airport of origin.

For those students who want to be able to fly cross-country by themselves must have met the following requirements. (a) Received the proper flight training appropriate to the type of plane that will be used for the cross-country excursion. (b) Satisfy a competent instructor that the student is adept at the pre solo flight maneuvers and procedures as they pertain to the aircraft going to be used. (c) be prepared to adhere to what the instructor will allow.

The above are just the basic outline. If you were to look at each of these issues individually, you would soon discover that each segment is very detailed and specific. Learning to fly and meet all of the requirements to become a success private license pilot is in many ways more complex than some may realize. Often want to be pilots hear that you only have to completed a specific number of flying hours and that?s all there is to it. They almost have the concept that the autopilot will do the work for them. It is only after they delve into their training that they discover there is much more to it than that.

A good example is the skills and knowledge you must acquire to read aeronautical charts that are applicable to VFR navigation. Even learning to use a magnetic compass is necessary. Reading various charts is also mandatory. It will become necessary to be able to analyze various weather reports and follow regulations as they pertain to the specific weather conditions. All emergency procedures must be thoroughly understood.

In addition to this, one must learn about traffic patterns. After all, you are not going to be the only pilot in the sky. Most students seem to have the most difficulty with landing techniques and take off procedures. This is something that the upcoming pilot must become very adept at. Even something as what may seem simple as radio communication must be studied.

These are just a few of the subjects and areas that the flight student will be subjected to. The determination to apply oneself to structured learning and application must be present in order for the flight student to be success at their course. Otherwise, the result will be no pilot?s license and a total waste of money. If extra study or flight time is needed to become proficient then it is money well worth spent if it is a goal of yours to become a Private Pilot.

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