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Editor’s note: Geoff Hiscock is a former Asia business editor for CNN.com and is the author of “Earth Wars: The Battle for Global Resources,” published by Wiley.

(CNN) — The decision to grant permanent observer status to China and five other nations by the Arctic Council meeting in Sweden Wednesday reflects the heightened interest by some of the world’s most powerful economies in an area rich in oil, gas, minerals, fish and new transport possibilities.

For new observer nations China, Japan and South Korea, shorter shipping routes to Europe through Arctic waters could open up prospects of new energy supply options later this decade, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula in northwest Siberia.

It could also lessen China’s dependence on oil and gas shipped from the Middle East, which must pass through the Southeast Asian chokepoint of the Strait of Malacca. Allied to China’s interest of getting oil and gas delivered from new pipelines across Myanmar and Central Asia, the potential of the Arctic trade routes loom large in China’s strategic thinking.

Five years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) described the vast Arctic continental shelf as potentially the “largest unexplored prospective area for petroleum remaining on Earth.” A new U.S. Arctic policy unveiled by the Obama administration last week cites that 2008 study, which estimated that about 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of its undiscovered gas lies north of the Arctic Circle.

Glaciers melting around the world

Shell weighs risks in Arctic drilling

In a 2012 update, the USGS put the mean undiscovered estimate of recoverable oil in Russia’s Arctic provinces alone at 28 billion barrels, plus about 27 trillion cubic meters of gas.

China is keen to be more than just a customer for this Russian oil and gas. In February, the heads of China’s three state-controlled oil and gas majors — China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), Sinopec and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) — met one of Russia’s most influential players in the energy sector, Igor Sechin, chief executive of state-owned oil company Rosneft. The following month, Rosneft struck a deal with CNPC, giving it access to Arctic resources.

The Arctic Council, made up of the United States, Russia, Canada and the five Nordic nations — Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland — was set up in 1996 to coordinate policy in a resource-rich but environmentally sensitive part of the world. Before Wednesday’s decision there were already six observer states: the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands.

Now thepermanent observers are being joined by China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore and Italy, meaning that all of the key Asian economies now have a seat at the Arctic table, even though they will not have a vote on the Arctic Council. The European Union, the other major body seeking observer status, had its application affirmed but “deferred,” a rebuff that is likely related to an unresolved dispute with Canada over the fur seal trade.

Both China and India already have polar research stations in the northern part of Norway, as do most of the other observer nations.

The Arctic’s importance has gained extra strategic and economic significance as melting ice in the polar region strengthens the feasibility of nations to use the Northern Sea Route (NSR) across the top of Russia and the Northwest Passage through Canada’s Arctic archipelago. Canada claims the passage, which links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, runs through its internal waterways. The U.S. and other countries contest this, maintaining it is an international strait.

For China, the main transportation focus is the NSR, which runs along the northern coastline of Siberia from Novaya Zemlya to the Bering Strait. It is open only for about five months of the year, from late June to November or early December, and requires icebreakers to cut a path through the Arctic ice for specially strengthened oil and gas carriers.

But the route cuts as much as three weeks from shipping times between Europe and Asia. For example, Murmansk to China’s Ningbo port near Shanghai is 13,000 km via the NSR, compared with 22,000 km via the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean and Strait of Malacca.

In August to September last year, China sent its one and only icebreaker Xue Long (Snow Dragon) on a successful two-way test run of the NSR. It plans to add a second icebreaker to its fleet in 2014-15.

Over the past two sailing seasons, Russian oil and gas companies have tested the route for gas condensate and LNG shipments. In June 2011, Novatek, Russia’s biggest non-state gas company, sent 60,000 tons of gas condensate from Murmansk to the Chinese port of Ningbo aboard the MV Perseverance on a three-week voyage. At the end of 2012, Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom sent a 66,000-tonne cargo of LNG from Statoil’s Hammerfest terminal in Norway to the Japanese port of Tobata between November 7 and December 5. The route was cleared by three Russian icebreakers.

For now, the NSR is still very much in a test phase. According to the Centre for High North Logistics, an Arctic-focused information center based in Kirkenes, Norway, 46 vessels used the NSR in 2012, carrying about 1.26 million tons of cargo. That was an increase of more than 50% from 2011.

China envisages exporting consumer goods aboard container ships to Europe and receiving LNG cargoes via the NSR. Novatek, for example, is building a new port at Sabetta on the Yamal peninsula to service the LNG trade to Asia, with expectations of first gas in 2016 and exports of 15 million tons a year by 2018.

The NSR’s shortcomings are considerable: a short sailing season, the cost of hiring icebreakers, the operational hazards of extreme northern waters and the environmental risks of oil spills, collisions or sinkings. Even so, this Arctic shipping route is likely to be the focus of intense interest by China over the next decade.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/16/business/china-arctic/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/n3BgmKZaJvI/china-eyes-arctic-options-in-energy

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/o8omzGRYvL4/china-eyes-arctic-options-in-energy

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No longer grounded for safety concerns, United Flight 1 flew from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday.

A passenger on United Airlines Flight 1 looks out one of the Dreamliner’s oversized windows. The use of composite materials to build the airplane made larger window cutouts possible.

A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner sits on the runway in Houston on Monday as crews prepare for its first commercial flight since the fleet was grounded earlier this year. The Boeing 787 was the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.

Michael Reynolds of St. Louis, Missouri, reclines during the flight to Chicago.

The Dreamliner has larger overhead bins than similar airliners.

The aircraft’s lightweight design allows it to fly long distances more efficiently.

Alex Gilbert and Rebecca Davila watch a film during a flight on a Boeing 787
Dreamliner.

Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 of the 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.

A United Airlines maintenance worker examines a hydraulic line.

The plane is designed to be lightweight so that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe.

Composite materials have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.

United Airlines Capts. Neils Olufsen and Bill Blocker piloted the Dreamliner’s domestic return to flight on Monday.

United Airlines maintenance workers prepare the plane for flight.

Boeing’s Dreamliner design reflects the airlines’ demand for efficiency. That desire has triggered a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.

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Editor’s note: CNN’s Thom Patterson boards the 787 Dreamliner Monday for its first commercial U.S. domestic flight after it was grounded for battery problems. Watch for his report this afternoon on CNN.com and follow his progress on Twitter.

Houston (CNN) — Aviation fans have already named it Dreamliner 2.0.

No longer grounded for safety concerns, Boeing’s embattled 787 Dreamliner now has a few things to prove. Monday might be a good day to start. That’s when domestic Dreamliner flights return to America’s airways.

At 11 a.m., United Flight 1 is scheduled to depart Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The airline plans to roll out additional 787 flights throughout the week. Some international carriers have already resumed Dreamliner service.

For aviation enthusiasts it’s kind of a big deal. As word spreads of Dreamliner’s return, travel advisers report they’re getting calls from curious fliers looking to connect with one of United’s six 787s at Dreamliner hubs.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner got off to a rough start. Just over a year after its first commercial flight, the aircraft was grounded after batteries overheated on two flights. This Dreamliner, built for Air India, was the first produced at Boeing’s new production facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Aviation safety regulators have approved Boeing’s battery fixes, and Dreamliners have started to fly again. Earlier this year, this All Nippon Airways 787 made an emergency landing because of battery troubles. ANA plans to resume commercial Dreamliner flights in June.

The redesigned battery system, right, adds a containment and venting system to prevent possible overheating from affecting the plane. At left is a battery case damaged during a flight on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787. It was one of two incidents that prompted the Dreamliner’s grounding.

A LOT Polish Airlines 787, with a redesigned lithium-ionbattery system, performs a test flight in March at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner’s distinctive wings sweep back at 32 degrees.

United Airlines is the lone U.S. carrier flying the Dreamliner. These are Business First Class seats on one of United’s six 787s.

The use of composite materials on the Dreamliner makes larger window cutouts possible. Composites have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.

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Dreamliner’s turbulent debut

The Dreamliner can do THAT?

Why the FAA grounded Dreamliner

Dreamliner probe aimed at reliability

Are lithium ion batteries safe?

They want a chance to ride the 787 and experience its fancy interior lighting, high-tech windows and mysterious anti-turbulence technology. So far, United is the only U.S. carrier flying the aircraft

Dreamliner interactive: The Boeing 787 layout

This plane is so lightweight that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe. Boeing says the plane’s increased profitability will open more destination cities for travelers.

Industry observers are curious to see what the future holds for Dreamliner, the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.

Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.

Behind the scenes: Boeing’s Dreamliner battery fix

Here are five things about Dreamliner for American travelers to keep in mind now that it’s back in service:

How safe is it?

“It’s a safe airliner to get back on and fly,” says Capt. Kevin Hiatt, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, an independent aviation safety think tank. The FAA simply exercised an abundance of caution when it grounded the aircraft, he says. What travelers should take away from the grounding is “the fact that we’ve got a pretty good system that works.”

Still, now that all eyes are on Dreamliner in the wake of the grounding, new reports of even minor glitches are likely to make travelers nervous.

Japanese airline ANA reported an incident that damaged an electrical distribution panel on a Dreamliner test flight on May 4. ANA blamed it on a nut that had not been properly tightened, calling it a “minor issue” unrelated to batteries.

A team made up of experts from Boeing and from outside the company redesigned the battery system, which separates, insulates and ventilates the battery cells. Passenger rights advocates have screamed “conflict of interest” about the FAA’s longstanding policy allowing Boeing to certify components of its own aircraft. They’re calling for more independent testing and analysis of Dreamliner’s battery fix. But Hiatt says the process is safe and as independent as possible.

“Looking at historical data, we haven’t had any evidence over the years that self-certification has been responsible for any problems,” says John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, the federal air crash investigation agency.

Travelers have such high regard for the safety of the U.S. aviation system they don’t pay much attention to the kind of plane they’re flying, says Brett Snyder, travel adviser and self-described “president and chief airline dork” of CrankyFlier.com. Most aren’t worried about flying the 787, but if Dreamliner develops another problem “then that might change things.”

Goglia, who also worked for years as an airline mechanic, warns that a repeat incident with the batteries “would severely impeach Boeing’s engineering capabilities.” Success for the Dreamliner heavily relies on no repeats, Goglia says.

How’s its reputation?

When an aircraft is hit by the first FAA grounding order for an entire airliner type in three decades, does it come with a stigma? “They’re definitely going to have some lumps in the road because of that,” says Goglia.

On the other hand, Snyder believes the “average everyday traveler isn’t looking at the specific aircraft type. They’re looking at the flight times and they’re looking at the prices.”

“I’m sure there are some people that are feeling like they don’t want to get on it,” says Snyder. “They’ll probably feel that way in the short term until the Dreamliner develops a “track record of being reliable and safe.”

CNN.com readers have mixed feelings about the new plane.

“If there are no further incidents absolutely no one is going to remember this in a year or two,” wrote one commenter. “Other troubled airplanes like the DC-10 actually killed people and still went on to be successes.”

Another isn’t so optimistic: “I fly between continents 1-2 times per year and have done so for the last decade and I will NEVER set foot on a Dreamliner.”

How does it feel?

We’ll soon find out for ourselves when we fly United Flight 1 today, but supposedly, Dreamliner air is rare up there.

New cabin environmental systems allow control of air pressure and humidity.

Dreamliner’s cabin pressure is set to the equivalent of 6,000 feet above sea level — compared to the traditional setting of 8,000 feet. Feeling like you’re at a lower altitude lets the body absorb more oxygen, making passengers less susceptible to airsickness. Humidity in the cabin is supposed to feel more comfortable, too.

Everybody talks about the windows. By pushing a button under each one, it activates energized gel embedded in the windowpane, which darkens or lightens the glass. No shades necessary.

Check back here with CNN.com today and we’ll let you know what these tech-laden features are really like.

How does it ride?

It’s a mystery how it works, but the Dreamliner comes equipped with gust suppression technology that is designed to smooth the ride during moderate turbulence. Boeing is keeping its cards close to the vest. Suffice it to say sensors on the aircraft respond to turbulence and send command signals that adjust parts of the wings. Result: smoother flying, says Boeing. We’ll check it out for ourselves.

“It looks pretty awesome, although I’d just rather not have turbulence — then you don’t need the gust suppression,” jokes Snyder. “But I think it will be interesting to see how that feels, and how the plane handles it.”

How did we get here?

Boeing used to think airlines felt a need for speed.

But the company soon learned it had miscalculated. What the airlines really wanted was efficiency, triggering a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.

Here’s what happened: In the early 2000s, Boeing was brainstorming the next generation of airliners — the first that would be built largely from lightweight carbon-composite materials.

These new planes would jet across the nation at about 650 mph — nearly the speed of sound. They called this idea the Sonic Cruiser.

But as oil prices rose, the Sonic Cruiser took a dive. Boeing abandoned the concept, keeping the idea of a new lightweight, carbon-composite airliner. Speed was out, efficiency in. By 2003, the project had a name: Dreamliner.

This year, Boeing’s rival Airbus will follow Dreamliner with its A350 XWB, another sleek, long-distance fuel-sipper that can carry 200-plus passengers.

Related story: Airbus rolls out sleek, new A350 XWB

CNN’s Thom Patterson boards Boeing’s Dreamliner later today for its first domestic flight on a U.S. carrier after it was grounded earlier this year. Check back for updates later today and follow his progress on Twitter.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/20/travel/dreamliner-returns/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/TPTJSbHZUXs/dreamliners-return

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/OHg1FvKq1U8/dreamliners-return

Editor’s note: Victor Ehikhamenor is a visual artist, photographer and writer. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, AGNI, and Premium Times. He is the author of the non-fiction book on Nigeria, “Excuse Me!” and is a resident of Nigeria and the U.S. Twitter: @victorsozaboy

(CNN) — The corpse of another man’s mother always looks like firewood from afar, so says an African proverb. Until recently, terrorism, war and the accompanying human carnage in far-away countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and many other troubled countries meant just more news of the crazy world out there. Not because of my lack of empathy, but distance can be a ready-made palliative for pain.

Now, that distant and macabre dance of death that once seemed so far away on TV has come upon my country, Nigeria, with a big bang.

Suicide bombing, towns and villages getting blown up, allegations of extra-judicial killings by the police and the military, kidnappings, terrorist attacks on government establishments — total confusion and a lack of solutions to the violence is no longer just news, but a terrifying daily reality show.

In the current wave of violence, especially in the northern and middle belt of the country, which has culminated in President Goodluck Jonathan declaring a state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, one is at a loss as to where the country is headed in its near future.

Nigerian forces tout ‘massive deployment’ against insurgents

2012: Who are Boko Haram?

Obasanjo: Boko Haram undermine security

Nigerian president: Boko Haram ‘threat’

What has happened in Borno, a state in the northern part of Nigeria, in the past weeks is like full-scale war. A local official said recent attacks there, in the border town of Baga, left more than 185 inhabitants dead in unclear circumstances involving the military Joint Task Force (JTF), the peace-keeping government outfit that has been effectively inefficient in all the troubled zones. The army, however, said no more than 36 people were killed.

The burning embers of the Baga massacre had hardly cooled off when another attack was carried out in Bama, another town in the same state. According to the army, 55 people were killed by Boko Haram; casualties including women and children were burnt alive.

Watch this: Who are Boko Haram?

Following these deaths came yet another wanton killing of policemen and soldiers in another state. The dead, as usual, are a mixture of innocent civilians, military personnel, policemen and members of Boko Haram, the Islamic militant group that has been carrying out attacks since 2009.

The total break down of law and order and daily carnage made the governor of Borno, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, put the blame squarely on the doorsteps of his fellow politicians and the Nigerian government as the primary cause of thecountry’s state of insecurity.

According to the governor, “Underneath the mayhem of Boko Haram lies the underlying cause which is extreme poverty and destitution … until we address some of these issues the future is very bleak for all of us as the current crisis is just an appetizer of things to come. Very soon the youth of this country will be chasing us away.”

Read more: ‘Massive’ numbers of Nigerian troops target insurgents

The governor also gave his view of the current mindset of Nigeria’s political ruling class: “The most important thing in Nigeria is about the last election and the next election, the only thing that is agitating our minds is how we can perpetuate ourselves in power. How much we can steal, how many mansions we can buy in Florida, Dubai and London, this is what agitates the minds of the elites of this country.”

To hear this kind of finger-pointing and chilling words from one of those the rest of the country expects to resolve the conflict and bloodletting is quite enervating.

A previously proposed panacea to the madness was the proffering of amnesty to Boko Haram members by the federal government, which it has so far refused.

The whole amnesty idea to many observers bordered on the line of insanity and inanity. Two things — the amnesty program that was first introduced to curb violence and pacify militants in the Niger Delta by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and continued by Jonathan, cannot be said to be successful, as insurgency is still very much a clear and present danger in the Niger Delta. Secondly, it looks like crime pays in Nigeria when criminals and murderers are getting rewarded in the name of “amnesty” every time they put a gun or bomb to the government and people’s temples.

Boko Haram blamed for attacks in Nigeria

Spreading the wealth in Nigeria

Wealthy Nigerians and multinational expatriates have become prisoners in a supposedly free country, constantly moving with heavily armed guards. For most, this has not proven effective as some of their armed guards have been outgunned by terrorists and criminals who mean business.

Politicians are sometimes the worse off, and one cannot help but reason that the poverty planted by the rich and the ruling class over decades of misrule has yielded thorns in the flesh of our country.

Despite the declared state of emergency (which has received a mixed reception), people are losing hope faster than a nailed tire.

The insecurity is spreading to other parts of the country. Lagos is now taking on a new look of security consciousness. Many churches in the city have fully armed policemen holding AK47s guarding entrances during Sunday services. And it is no longer odd to walk into a cafe or restaurant and find armed policemen guarding diners, with guns resting among cutlery.

The government seems to have keeled over and resorted to a full-blown military offensive, both land and air, against Boko Haram and its allies. It is too early to determine if this latest solution will abate the madness but it is horrifying for people to live with this kind of killing and uncertainty every day.

When we now appear in foreign news segments we are right there with Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq … places that are in full blown war and used to seem so far away. And the question trembling in most people’s lips now is — are we also at war in Nigeria?

‘Are you in Nigeria? Have you been affected by the violence? Do you think the country is at war and, if so, how can it be stopped? Add your thoughts in the comments below.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Victor Ehikhamenor.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/20/opinion/nigeria-violence-victor-ehikhamenor/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/y78zzyaGUAY/nigeria-war

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/mlVfHlaO1Vw/nigeria-war

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No longer grounded for safety concerns, United Flight 1 flew from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday.

A passenger on United Airlines Flight 1 looks out one of the Dreamliner’s oversized windows. The use of composite materials to build the airplane made larger window cutouts possible.

A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner sits on the runway in Houston on Monday as crews prepare for its first commercial flight since the fleet was grounded earlier this year. The Boeing 787 was the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.

Michael Reynolds of St. Louis, Missouri, reclines during the flight to Chicago.

The Dreamliner has larger overhead bins than similar airliners.

The aircraft’s lightweight design allows it to fly long distances more efficiently.

Alex Gilbert and Rebecca Davila watch a film during a flight on a Boeing 787
Dreamliner.

Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 of the 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.

A United Airlines maintenance worker examines a hydraulic line.

The plane is designed to be lightweight so that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe.

Composite materials have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.

United Airlines Capts. Neils Olufsen and Bill Blocker piloted the Dreamliner’s domestic return to flight on Monday.

United Airlines maintenance workers prepare the plane for flight.

Boeing’s Dreamliner design reflects the airlines’ demand for efficiency. That desire has triggered a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.

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Editor’s note: CNN’s Thom Patterson boards the 787 Dreamliner Monday for its first commercial U.S. domestic flight after it was grounded for battery problems. Watch for his report this afternoon on CNN.com and follow his progress on Twitter.

Houston (CNN) — Aviation fans have already named it Dreamliner 2.0.

No longer grounded for safety concerns, Boeing’s embattled 787 Dreamliner now has a few things to prove. Monday might be a good day to start. That’s when domestic Dreamliner flights return to America’s airways.

At 11 a.m., United Flight 1 is scheduled to depart Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The airline plans to roll out additional 787 flights throughout the week. Some international carriers have already resumed Dreamliner service.

For aviation enthusiasts it’s kind of a big deal. As word spreads of Dreamliner’s return, travel advisers report they’re getting calls from curious fliers looking to connect with one of United’s six 787s at Dreamliner hubs.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner got off to a rough start. Just over a year after its first commercial flight, the aircraft was grounded after batteries overheated on two flights. This Dreamliner, built for Air India, was the first produced at Boeing’s new production facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Aviation safety regulators have approved Boeing’s battery fixes, and Dreamliners have started to fly again. Earlier this year, this All Nippon Airways 787 made an emergency landing because of battery troubles. ANA plans to resume commercial Dreamliner flights in June.

The redesigned battery system, right, adds a containment and venting system to prevent possible overheating from affecting the plane. At left is a battery case damaged during a flight on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787. It was one of two incidents that prompted the Dreamliner’s grounding.

A LOT Polish Airlines 787, with a redesigned lithium-ion battery system, performs a test flight in March at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner’s distinctive wings sweep back at 32 degrees.

United Airlines is the lone U.S. carrier flying the Dreamliner. These are Business First Class seats on one of United’s six 787s.

The use of composite materials on the Dreamliner makes larger window cutouts possible. Composites have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Dreamliner’s turbulent debut

The Dreamliner can do THAT?

Why the FAA grounded Dreamliner

Dreamliner probe aimed at reliability

Are lithium ion batteries safe?

They want a chance to ride the 787 and experience its fancy interior lighting, high-tech windows and mysterious anti-turbulence technology. So far, United is the only U.S. carrier flying the aircraft

Dreamliner interactive: The Boeing 787 layout

This plane is so lightweight that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe. Boeing says the plane’s increased profitability will open more destination cities for travelers.

Industry observers are curious to see what the future holds for Dreamliner, the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.

Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.

Behind the scenes: Boeing’s Dreamliner battery fix

Here are five things about Dreamliner for American travelers to keep in mind now that it’s back in service:

How safe is it?

“It’s a safe airliner to get back on and fly,” says Capt. Kevin Hiatt, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, an independent aviation safety think tank. The FAA simply exercised an abundance of caution when it grounded the aircraft, he says. What travelers should take away from the grounding is “the fact that we’ve got a pretty good system that works.”

Still, now that all eyes are on Dreamliner in the wake of the grounding, new reports of even minor glitches are likely to make travelers nervous.

Japanese airline ANA reported an incident that damaged an electrical distribution panel on a Dreamliner test flight on May 4. ANA blamed it on a nut that had not been properly tightened, calling it a “minor issue” unrelated to batteries.

A team made up of experts from Boeing and from outside the company redesigned the battery system, which separates, insulates and ventilates the battery cells. Passenger rights advocates have screamed “conflict of interest” about the FAA’s longstanding policy allowing Boeing to certify components of its own aircraft. They’re calling for more independent testing and analysis of Dreamliner’s battery fix. But Hiatt says the process is safe and as independent as possible.

“Looking at historical data, we haven’t had any evidence over the years that self-certification has been responsible for any problems,” says John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, the federal air crash investigation agency.

Travelers have such high regard for the safety of the U.S. aviation system they don’t pay much attention to the kind of plane they’re flying, says Brett Snyder, travel adviser and self-described “president and chief airline dork” of CrankyFlier.com. Most aren’t worried about flying the 787, but if Dreamliner develops another problem “then that might change things.”

Goglia, who also worked for years as an airline mechanic, warns that a repeat incident with the batteries “would severely impeach Boeing’s engineering capabilities.” Success for the Dreamliner heavily relies on no repeats, Goglia says.

How’s its reputation?

When an aircraft is hit by the first FAA grounding order for an entire airliner type in three decades, does it come with a stigma? “They’re definitely going to have some lumps in the road because of that,” says Goglia.

On the other hand, Snyder believes the “average everyday traveler isn’t looking at the specific aircraft type. They’re looking at the flight times and they’re looking at the prices.”

“I’m sure there are some people that are feeling like they don’t want to get on it,” says Snyder. “They’ll probably feel that way in the short term until the Dreamliner develops a “track record of being reliable and safe.”

CNN.com readers have mixed feelings about the new plane.

“If there are no further incidents absolutely no one is going to remember this in a year or two,” wrote one commenter. “Other troubled airplanes like the DC-10 actually killed people and still went on to be successes.”

Another isn’t so optimistic: “I fly between continents 1-2 times per year and have done so for the last decade and I will NEVER set foot on a Dreamliner.”

How does it feel?

We’ll soon find out for ourselves when we fly United Flight 1 today, but supposedly, Dreamliner air is rare up there.

New cabin environmental systems allow control of air pressure and humidity.

Dreamliner’s cabin pressure is set to the equivalent of 6,000 feet above sea level — compared to the traditional setting of 8,000 feet. Feeling like you’re at a lower altitude lets the body absorb more oxygen, making passengers less susceptible to airsickness. Humidity in the cabin is supposed to feel more comfortable, too.

Everybody talks about the windows. By pushing a button under each one, it activates energized gel embedded in the windowpane, which darkens or lightens the glass. No shades necessary.

Check back here with CNN.com today and we’ll let you know what these tech-laden features are really like.

How does it ride?

It’s a mystery how it works, but the Dreamliner comes equipped with gust suppression technology that is designed to smooth the ride during moderate turbulence. Boeing is keeping its cards close to the vest. Suffice it to say sensors on the aircraft respond to turbulence and send command signals that adjust parts of the wings. Result: smoother flying, says Boeing. We’ll check it out for ourselves.

“It looks pretty awesome, although I’d just rather not have turbulence — then you don’t need the gust suppression,” jokes Snyder. “But I think it will be interesting to see how that feels, and how the plane handles it.”

How did we get here?

Boeing used to think airlines felt a need for speed.

But the company soon learned it had miscalculated. What the airlines really wanted was efficiency, triggering a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.

Here’s what happened: In the early 2000s, Boeing was brainstorming the next generation of airliners — the first that would be built largely from lightweight carbon-composite materials.

These new planes would jet across the nation at about 650 mph — nearly the speed of sound. They called this idea the Sonic Cruiser.

But as oil prices rose, the Sonic Cruiser took a dive. Boeing abandoned the concept, keeping the idea of a new lightweight, carbon-composite airliner. Speed was out, efficiency in. By 2003, the project had a name: Dreamliner.

This year, Boeing’s rival Airbus will follow Dreamliner with its A350 XWB, another sleek, long-distance fuel-sipper that can carry 200-plus passengers.

Related story: Airbus rolls out sleek, new A350 XWB

CNN’s Thom Patterson boards Boeing’s Dreamliner later today for its first domestic flight on a U.S. carrier after it was grounded earlier this year. Check back for updates later today and follow his progress on Twitter.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/20/travel/dreamliner-returns/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/3ZtA4ZzwxVY/787-reboot-5-things-to-know

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/w5hQCcEpP_I/787-reboot-5-things-to-know

Editor’s note: Victor Ehikhamenor is a visual artist, photographer and writer. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, AGNI, and Premium Times. He is the author of the non-fiction book on Nigeria, “Excuse Me!” and is a resident of Nigeria and the U.S. Twitter: @victorsozaboy

(CNN) — The corpse of another man’s mother always looks like firewood from afar, so says an African proverb. Until recently, terrorism, war and the accompanying human carnage in far-away countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and many other troubled countries meant just more news of the crazy world out there. Not because of my lack of empathy, but distance can be a ready-made palliative for pain.

Now, that distant and macabre dance of death that once seemed so far away on TV has come upon my country, Nigeria, with a big bang.

Suicide bombing, towns and villages getting blown up, allegations of extra-judicial killings by the police and the military, kidnappings, terrorist attacks on government establishments — total confusion and a lack of solutions to the violence is no longer just news, but a terrifying daily reality show.

In the current wave of violence, especially in the northern and middle belt of the country, which has culminated in President Goodluck Jonathan declaring a state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, one is at a loss as to where the country is headed in its near future.

Nigerian forces tout ‘massive deployment’ against insurgents

2012: Who are Boko Haram?

Obasanjo: Boko Haram undermine security

Nigerian president: Boko Haram ‘threat’

What has happened in Borno, a state in the northern part of Nigeria, in the past weeks is like full-scale war. A local official said recent attacks there, in the border town of Baga, left more than 185 inhabitants dead in unclear circumstances involving the military Joint Task Force (JTF), the peace-keeping government outfit that has been effectively inefficient in all the troubled zones. The army, however, said no more than 36 people were killed.

The burning embers of the Baga massacre had hardly cooled off when another attack was carried out in Bama, another town in the same state. According to the army, 55 people were killed by Boko Haram; casualties including women and children were burnt alive.

Watch this: Who are Boko Haram?

Following these deaths came yet another wanton killing of policemen and soldiers in another state. The dead, as usual, are a mixture of innocent civilians, military personnel, policemen and members of Boko Haram, the Islamic militant group that has been carrying out attacks since 2009.

The total break down of law and order and daily carnage made the governor of Borno, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, put the blame squarely on the doorsteps of his fellow politicians and the Nigerian government as the primary cause of the country’s state of insecurity.

According to the governor, “Underneath the mayhem of Boko Haram lies the underlying cause which is extreme poverty and destitution … until we address some of these issues the future is very bleak for all of us as the current crisis is just an appetizer of things to come. Very soon the youth of this country will be chasing us away.”

Read more: ‘Massive’ numbers of Nigerian troops target insurgents

The governor also gave his view of the current mindset of Nigeria’s political ruling class: “The most important thing in Nigeria is about the last election and the next election, the only thing that is agitating our minds is how we can perpetuate ourselves in power. How much we can steal, how many mansions we can buy in Florida, Dubai and London, this is what agitates the minds of the elites of this country.”

To hear this kind of finger-pointing and chilling words from one of those the rest of the country expects to resolve the conflict and bloodletting is quite enervating.

A previously proposed panacea to the madness was the proffering of amnesty to Boko Haram members by the federal government, which it has so far refused.

The whole amnesty idea to many observers bordered on the line of insanity and inanity. Two things — the amnesty program that was first introduced to curb violence and pacify militants in the Niger Delta by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and continued by Jonathan, cannot be said to be successful, as insurgency is still very much a clear and present danger in the Niger Delta. Secondly, it looks like crime pays in Nigeria when criminals and murderers are getting rewarded in the name of “amnesty” every time they put a gun or bomb to the government and people’s temples.

Boko Haram blamed for attacks in Nigeria

Spreading the wealth in Nigeria

Wealthy Nigerians and multinational expatriates have become prisoners in a supposedly free country, constantly moving with heavily armed guards. For most, this has not proven effective as some of their armed guards have been outgunned by terrorists and criminals who mean business.

Politicians are sometimes the worse off, and one cannot help but reason that the poverty planted by the rich and the ruling class over decades of misrule has yielded thorns in the flesh of our country.

Despite the declared state of emergency (which has received a mixed reception), people are losing hope faster than a nailed tire.

The insecurity is spreading to other parts of the country. Lagos is now taking on a new look of security consciousness. Many churches in the city have fully armed policemen holding AK47s guarding entrances during Sunday services. And it is no longer odd to walk into a cafe or restaurant and find armed policemen guarding diners, with guns resting among cutlery.

The government seems to have keeled over and resorted to a full-blown military offensive, both land and air, against Boko Haram and its allies. It is too early to determine if this latest solution will abate the madness but it is horrifying for people to live with this kind of killing and uncertainty every day.

When we now appear in foreign news segments we are right there with Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq … places that are in full blown war and used to seem so far away. And the question trembling in most people’s lips now is — are we also at war in Nigeria?

‘Are you in Nigeria? Have you been affected by the violence? Do you think the country is at war and, if so, how can it be stopped? Add your thoughts in the comments below.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Victor Ehikhamenor.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/20/opinion/nigeria-violence-victor-ehikhamenor/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/QeO7fkAxe9U/horrified-nigerians-are-we-at-war

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/ky9tgdF0V8A/horrified-nigerians-are-we-at-war

Editor’s note: Victor Ehikhamenor is a visual artist, photographer and writer. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, AGNI, and Premium Times. He is the author of the non-fiction book on Nigeria, “Excuse Me!” and is a resident of Nigeria and the U.S. Twitter: @victorsozaboy

(CNN) — The corpse of another man’s mother always looks like firewood from afar, so says an African proverb. Until recently, terrorism, war and the accompanying human carnage in far-away countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and many other troubled countries meant just more news of the crazy world out there. Not because of my lack of empathy, but distance can be a ready-made palliative for pain.

Now, that distant and macabre dance of death that once seemed so far away on TV has come upon my country, Nigeria, with a big bang.

Suicide bombing, towns and villages getting blown up, allegations of extra-judicial killings by the police and the military, kidnappings, terrorist attacks on government establishments — total confusion and a lack of solutions to the violence is no longer just news, but a terrifying daily reality show.

In the current wave of violence, especially in the northern and middle belt of the country, which has culminated in President Goodluck Jonathan declaring a state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, one is at a loss as to where the country is headed in its near future.

Nigerian forces tout ‘massive deployment’ against insurgents

2012: Who are Boko Haram?

Obasanjo: Boko Haram undermine security

Nigerian president: Boko Haram ‘threat’

What has happened in Borno, a state in the northern part of Nigeria, in the past weeks is like full-scale war. A local official said recent attacks there, in the border town of Baga, left more than 185 inhabitants dead in unclear circumstances involving the military Joint Task Force (JTF), the peace-keeping government outfit that has been effectively inefficient in all the troubled zones. The army, however, said no more than 36 people were killed.

The burning embers of the Baga massacre had hardly cooled off when another attack was carried out in Bama, another town in the same state. According to the army, 55 people were killed by Boko Haram; casualties including women and children were burnt alive.

Watch this: Who are Boko Haram?

Following these deaths came yet another wanton killing of policemen and soldiers in another state. The dead, as usual, are a mixture of innocent civilians, military personnel, policemen and members of Boko Haram, the Islamic militant group that has been carrying out attacks since 2009.

The total break down of law and order and daily carnage made the governor of Borno, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, put the blame squarely on the doorsteps of his fellow politicians and the Nigerian government as the primary cause of the country’s state of insecurity.

According to the governor, “Underneath the mayhem of Boko Haram lies the underlying cause which is extreme poverty and destitution … until we address some of these issues the future is very bleak for all of us as the current crisis is just an appetizer of things to come. Very soon the youth of this country will be chasing us away.”

Read more: ‘Massive’ numbers of Nigerian troops target insurgents

The governor also gave his view of the current mindset of Nigeria’s political ruling class: “The most important thing in Nigeria is about the last election and the next election, the only thing that is agitating our minds is how we can perpetuate ourselves in power. How much we can steal, how many mansions we can buy in Florida, Dubai and London, this is what agitates the minds of the elites of this country.”

To hear this kind of finger-pointing and chilling words from one of those the rest of the country expects to resolve the conflict and bloodletting is quite enervating.

A previously proposed panacea to the madness was the proffering of amnesty to Boko Haram members by the federal government, which it has so far refused.

The whole amnesty idea to many observers bordered on the line of insanity and inanity. Two things — the amnesty program that was first introduced to curb violence and pacify militants in the Niger Delta by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and continued by Jonathan, cannot be said to be successful, as insurgency is still very much a clear and present danger in the Niger Delta. Secondly, it looks like crime pays in Nigeria when criminals and murderers are getting rewarded in the name of “amnesty” every time they put a gun or bomb to the government and people’s temples.

Boko Haram blamed for attacks in Nigeria

Spreading the wealth in Nigeria

Wealthy Nigerians and multinational expatriates have become prisoners in a supposedly free country, constantly moving with heavily armed guards. For most, this has not proven effective as some of their armed guards have been outgunned by terrorists and criminals who mean business.

Politicians are sometimes the worse off, and one cannot help but reason that the poverty planted by the rich and the ruling class over decades of misrule has yielded thorns in the flesh of our country.

Despite the declared state of emergency (which has received a mixed reception), people are losing hope faster than a nailed tire.

The insecurity is spreading to other parts of the country. Lagos is now taking on a new look of security consciousness. Many churches in the city have fully armed policemen holding AK47s guarding entrances during Sunday services. And it is no longer odd to walk into a cafe or restaurant and find armed policemen guarding diners, with guns resting among cutlery.

The government seems to have keeled over and resorted to a full-blown military offensive, both land and air, against Boko Haram and its allies. It is too early to determine if this latest solution will abate the madness but it is horrifying for people to live with this kind of killing and uncertainty every day.

When we now appear in foreign news segments we are right there with Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq … places that are in full blown war and used to seem so far away. And the question trembling in most people’s lips now is — are we also at war in Nigeria?

‘Are you in Nigeria? Have you been affected by the violence? Do you think the country is at war and, if so, how can it be stopped? Add your thoughts in the comments below.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Victor Ehikhamenor.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/20/opinion/nigeria-violence-victor-ehikhamenor/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/NXAVp038Sk0/is-nigeria-turning-into-the-next-iraq

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Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner got off to a rough start. Just over a year after its first commercial flight, the aircraft was grounded after batteries overheated on two flights. This Dreamliner, built for Air India, was the first produced at Boeing’s new production facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Aviation safety regulators have approved Boeing’s battery fixes, and Dreamliners have started to fly again. Earlier this year, this All Nippon Airways 787 made an emergency landing because of battery troubles. ANA plans to resume commercial Dreamliner flights in June.

The redesigned battery system, right, adds a containment and venting system to prevent possible overheating from affecting the plane. At left is a battery case damaged during a flight on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787. It was one of two incidents that prompted the Dreamliner’s grounding.

A LOT Polish Airlines 787, with a redesigned lithium-ion battery system, performs a test flight in March at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner’s distinctive wings sweep back at 32 degrees.

United Airlines is the lone U.S. carrier flying the Dreamliner. These are Business First Class seats on one of United’s six 787s.

The use of composite materials on the Dreamliner makes larger window cutouts possible. Composites have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.

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Editor’s note: CNN’s Thom Patterson boards the 787 Dreamliner Monday for its first commercial U.S. domestic flight after it was grounded for battery problems. Watch for his report this afternoon on CNN.com and follow his progress on Twitter.

(CNN) — Aviation fans have already named it Dreamliner 2.0.

No longer grounded for safety concerns, Boeing’s embattled 787 Dreamliner now has a few things to prove. Monday might be a good day to start. That’s when domestic Dreamliner flights return to America’s airways.

At 11 a.m., United Flight 1 is scheduled to depart Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The airline plans to roll out additional 787 flights throughout the week. Some international carriers have already resumed Dreamliner service.

For aviation enthusiasts it’s kind of a big deal. As word spreads of Dreamliner’s return, travel advisers report they’re getting calls from curious fliers looking to connect with one of United’s six 787s at Dreamliner hubs.

The Dreamliner can do THAT?

Why the FAA grounded Dreamliner

Dreamliner probe aimed at reliability

Are lithium ion batteries safe?

Dreamliner catches fire at airport

They want a chance to ride the 787 and experience its fancy interior lighting, high-tech windows and mysterious anti-turbulence technology. So far, United is the only U.S. carrier flying the aircraft

Dreamliner interactive: The Boeing 787 layout

This plane is so lightweight that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe. Boeing says the plane’s increased profitability will open more destination cities for travelers.

Industry observers are curious to see what the future holds for Dreamliner, the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.

Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.

Here are five things about Dreamliner for American travelers to keep in mind now that it’s back in service:

How safe is it?

“It’s a safe airliner to get back on and fly,” says Capt. Kevin Hiatt, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, an independent aviation safety think tank. The FAA simply exercised an abundance of caution when it grounded the aircraft, he says. What travelers should take away from the grounding is “the fact that we’ve got a pretty good system that works.”

Still, now that all eyes are on Dreamliner in the wake of the grounding, new reports of even minor glitches are likely to make travelers nervous.

Japanese airline ANA reported an incident that damaged an electrical distribution panel on a Dreamliner test flight on May 4. ANA blamed it on a nut that had not been properly tightened, calling it a “minor issue” unrelated to batteries.

A team made up of experts from Boeing and from outside the company redesigned the battery system, which separates, insulates and ventilates the battery cells. Passenger rights advocates have screamed “conflict of interest” about the FAA’s longstanding policy allowing Boeing to certify components of its own aircraft. They’re calling for more independent testing and analysis of Dreamliner’s battery fix. But Hiatt says the process is safe and as independent as possible.

“Looking at historical data, we haven’t had any evidence over the years that self-certification has been responsible for any problems,” says John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, the federal air crash investigation agency.

Travelers have such high regard for the safety of the U.S. aviation system they don’t pay much attention to the kind of plane they’re flying, says Brett Snyder, travel adviser and self-described “president and chief airline dork” of CrankyFlier.com. Most aren’t worried about flying the 787, but if Dreamliner develops another problem “then that might change things.”

Goglia, who also worked for years as an airline mechanic, warns that a repeat incident with the batteries “would severely impeach Boeing’s engineering capabilities.” Success for the Dreamliner heavily relies on no repeats, Goglia says.

How’s its reputation?

When an aircraft is hit by the first FAA grounding order for an entire airliner type in three decades, does it come with a stigma? “They’re definitely going to have some lumps in the road because of that,” says Goglia.

On the other hand, Snyder believes the “average everyday traveler isn’t looking at the specific aircraft type. They’re looking at the flight times and they’re looking at the prices.”

“I’m sure there are some people that are feeling like they don’t want to get on it,” says Snyder. “They’ll probably feel that way in the short term until the Dreamliner develops a “track record of being reliable and safe.”

CNN.com readers have mixed feelings about the new plane.

“If there are no further incidents absolutely no one is going to remember this in a year or two,” wrote one commenter. “Other troubled airplanes like the DC-10 actually killed people and still went on to be successes.”

Another isn’t so optimistic: “I fly between continents 1-2 times per year and have done so for the last decade and I will NEVER set foot on a Dreamliner.”

How does it feel?

We’ll soon find out for ourselves when we fly United Flight 1 today, but supposedly, Dreamliner air is rare up there.

New cabin environmental systems allow control of air pressure and humidity.

Dreamliner’s cabin pressure is set to the equivalent of 6,000 feet above sea level — compared to the traditional setting of 8,000 feet. Feeling like you’re at a lower altitude lets the body absorb more oxygen, making passengers less susceptible to airsickness. Humidity in the cabin is supposed to feel more comfortable, too.

Everybody talks about the windows. By pushing a button under each one, it activates energized gel embedded in the windowpane, which darkens or lightens the glass. No shades necessary.

Check back here with CNN.com today and we’ll let you know what these tech-laden features are really like.

How does it ride?

It’s a mystery how it works, but the Dreamliner comes equipped with gust suppression technology that is designed to smooth the ride during moderate turbulence. Boeing is keeping its cards close to the vest. Suffice it to say sensors on the aircraft respond to turbulence and send command signals that adjust parts of the wings. Result: smoother flying, says Boeing. We’ll check it out for ourselves.

“It looks pretty awesome, although I’d just rather not have turbulence — then you don’t need the gust suppression,” jokes Snyder. “But I think it will be interesting to see how that feels, and how the plane handles it.”

How did we get here?

Boeing used to think airlines felt a need for speed.

But the company soon learned it had miscalculated. What the airlines really wanted was efficiency, triggering a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.

Here’s what happened: In the early 2000s, Boeing was brainstorming the next generation of airliners — the first that would be built largely from lightweight carbon-composite materials.

These new planes would jet across the nation at about 650 mph — nearly the speed of sound. They called this idea the Sonic Cruiser.

But as oil prices rose, the Sonic Cruiser took a dive. Boeing abandoned the concept, keeping the idea of a new lightweight, carbon-composite airliner. Speed was out, efficiency in. By 2003, the project had a name: Dreamliner.

This year, Boeing’s rival Airbus will follow Dreamliner with its A350 XWB, another sleek, long-distance fuel-sipper that can carry 200-plus passengers.

Related story: Airbus rolls out sleek, new A350 XWB

CNN’s Thom Patterson boards Boeing’s Dreamliner later today for its first domestic flight on a U.S. carrier after it was grounded earlier this year. Check back for updates later today and follow his progress on Twitter.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/20/travel/dreamliner-returns/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/FoasnuudF8Q/5-things-to-know-about-dreamliners-return

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Hong Kong (CNN) — Dell, the world’s number three PC maker, reported Thursday a 79% profit plunge for the first quarter of the year — to just $130 million — owing to a slump in desktop and laptop sales, so-called “end-user computing” products. Quarterly operating income for the division fell 65% year on year.

“In the PC industry, everyone is struggling — not just Dell — and especially in the mobile PC market,” says Craig Stice, Senior Principal Analyst at U.S.-based Compute Platforms. “When I look at those (Dell) revenues split between mobility and desktop, they’re really not too far out of line with where the industry is at. The entire PC market struggled in Q1.”

Technology research firm Gartner estimated 79 million PC shipments occurred in the first quarter of 2013 — a fall of more than 11% year on year. HP saw a 24% drop in PC shipments, Dell fell 11% while Taiwan-based Acer Group fell nearly 30%.

The fall in global PC shipments contrasted with a rise in tablet volumes, according to IDC, an IT market research firm. From January to March this year, Apple shipped nearly 20 million units to be the world’s number one tablet maker; Samsung shipped nearly 9 million units for second place. The world’s top five tablet computer companies shipped more than 49 million units to record 142% growth year on year.

2012: Last rites for PCs?

Who will win control of Dell?

Dell’s humble beginnings

Dell has been trying to counter losses in its PC division by shifting to enterprise solutions, which includes hardware like computer servers, software for business applications and technical support to service clients.

Dell’s quarterly operating income for the enterprise division soared 71% to $79 million but contributed just 8% of the company’s total income.

“Enterprise solutions are significant growth opportunities,” says Stice. “The margins are certainly better than the PC area — high single digits to the low teens — versus the enterprise space which is considerably higher.”

In terms of hardware units sold for enterprise solutions, HP has traditionally been number one, with Dell and IBM rounding out the top three, adds Stice.

Still, the future seems anything but bright for the PC industry despite a flurry of attempted innovations, from super-thin and light ultrabooks to convertible PCs that can morph into tablet forms.

“Dell was a bit slow to the Ultrabook game and lost to players like (Taiwan’s) Asus and Acer,” says Richard Lai, Editor-in-Chief of Engadget Chinese. In addition, Dell’s dive into convertible laptops “was rather half-hearted: poor screen, too bulky.”

“You can kind of say the PC industry is throwing darts at the board to see what sticks,” says Stice. “If they can find that combination of a whole computing performance PC, with mobility and a low price point to compete with some of those $200 media tablets, then I think there’s opportunity. There’s still an opportunity for a PC refresh cycle. That can happen.”

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/17/business/dell-profit-plunge-desktop-laptop-futures/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/FNFuXoC2OH0/death-of-pc

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/ByrD8PBkQ6A/death-of-pc

Hong Kong (CNN) — Dell, the world’s number three PC maker, reported Thursday a 79% profit plunge for the first quarter of the year — to just $130 million — owing to a slump in desktop and laptop sales, so-called “end-user computing” products. Quarterly operating income for the division fell 65% year on year.

“In the PC industry, everyone is struggling — not just Dell — and especially in the mobile PC market,” says Craig Stice, Senior Principal Analyst at U.S.-based Compute Platforms. “When I look at those (Dell) revenues split between mobility and desktop, they’re really not too far out of line with where the industry is at. The entire PC market struggled in Q1.”

Technology research firm Gartner estimated 79 million PC shipments occurred in the first quarter of 2013 — a fall of more than 11% year on year. HP saw a 24% drop in PC shipments, Dell fell 11% while Taiwan-based Acer Group fell nearly 30%.

The fall in global PC shipments contrasted with a rise in tablet volumes, according to IDC, an IT market research firm. From January to March this year, Apple shipped nearly 20 million units to be the world’s number one tablet maker; Samsung shipped nearly 9 million units for second place. The world’s top five tablet computer companies shipped more than 49 million units to record 142% growth year on year.

2012: Last rites for PCs?

class=”expCaption”Who will win control of Dell?

Dell’s humble beginnings

Dell has been trying to counter losses in its PC division by shifting to enterprise solutions, which includes hardware like computer servers, software for business applications and technical support to service clients.

Dell’s quarterly operating income for the enterprise division soared 71% to $79 million but contributed just 8% of the company’s total income.

“Enterprise solutions are significant growth opportunities,” says Stice. “The margins are certainly better than the PC area — high single digits to the low teens — versus the enterprise space which is considerably higher.”

In terms of hardware units sold for enterprise solutions, HP has traditionally been number one, with Dell and IBM rounding out the top three, adds Stice.

Still, the future seems anything but bright for the PC industry despite a flurry of attempted innovations, from super-thin and light ultrabooks to convertible PCs that can morph into tablet forms.

“Dell was a bit slow to the Ultrabook game and lost to players like (Taiwan’s) Asus and Acer,” says Richard Lai, Editor-in-Chief of Engadget Chinese. In addition, Dell’s dive into convertible laptops “was rather half-hearted: poor screen, too bulky.”

“You can kind of say the PC industry is throwing darts at the board to see what sticks,” says Stice. “If they can find that combination of a whole computing performance PC, with mobility and a low price point to compete with some of those $200 media tablets, then I think there’s opportunity. There’s still an opportunity for a PC refresh cycle. That can happen.”

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San Francisco (CNN) — As a juvenile corrections officer in Southern California, Teresa Goines found it rewarding to work with troubled youth and help them turn their lives around.

The hardest part usually came after their release.

“They’d be super excited, ready to start a new life,” she said. “They’d be put in the exact same environment, though, so they’d reoffend, and they’d come back.”

Sometimes, Goines said, they would call and say they wanted to come back.

“That would break my heart,” she said. “I’d be all tough during the day and drive home at night and cry.”

Goines felt that by sending these young men home without enough support to keep them on the right track, the system was essentially setting them up to fail.

Finding a well-paying job can be a tough proposition when you have a criminal record, Goines said. She wanted to provide an alternative to gangs, knowing that such groups often give troubled youth a way to make money while providing a sense of family and social support.

Eventually, she came up with the idea for the Old Skool Cafe, a 1940s-style restaurant run entirely by young people from difficult circumstances.

The bistro is in one of San Francisco’s roughest neighborhoods, but inside, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Customers come from all over the city to enjoy the food and entertainment and to support Goines’ mission, which provides jobs, career training and a built-in support system to at least 25 at-risk people each year.

Goines estimates that 75% of those who’ve worked at the restaurant have been incarcerated or in trouble with the law.

Jonathan Zavala was first incarcerated at 14, and he floated in and out of California’s juvenile justice system for years. With his criminal record, he didn’t see many options for himself.

“I thought, ‘No one is going to hire me; what else can I do?’ ” said Zavala, now 19.

A year ago, his probation officer told him about the restaurant. Now, three nights a week, Zavala works as a server and has become a valued member of the Old Skool team.

Young people like Zavala fill all of the positions in the restaurant. With the help of a couple of adult mentors, they stock the kitchen, prepare the food, serve the meals and manage the staff. They also play a large part in creating their menu of “international soul food,” which now contains several of their family recipes.

Goines, a Christian, also offers to share her religious faith with any program participant who is interested, but she says that her program is completely inclusive and welcomes everyone, regardless of their beliefs.

The restaurant’s theme is inspired by Harlem in the late 1920s through the ’40s, and the staff is decked out in red-and-black uniforms from the time period. Goines loves the music and spirit of that era and knew it would be a cool, unique vibe that would help attract customers, but she also had another motive.

“From the Harlem Renaissance to … jazz and swing, so much of that was started by African-Americans,” she said. “So many of our youth are of minority descent, I feel like that connection to that era is really important.”

Zavala says he likes his uniform and red fedora.

“People, when they come in, they say, ‘You look good!’ ” he said. “They’re not used to seeing kids who’ve been in trouble look like that. They see us in a different way.”

Giving young people a chance to be seen differently — and to see themselves differently — is what the program is all about. It’s open to at-risk youth ages 16 to 22,many of whom are referred by social workers or probation officers. The applicants must submit letters of recommendation and a personal essay and go through two rounds of interviews with the program’s youth leaders.

Once accepted, they begin a four-month training course. During weekly sessions, employees teach the trainees the basics of every position in the restaurant. Then the new recruits test their skills by shadowing veteran staffers during their shift.

“Some days, you’ll be the house manager. Other days, you’ll bus tables or be the head chef,” Goines said.

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Trainees, like Old Skool staff members, attend workshops on financial literacy, résumé writing and interview skills. They also meet regularly with a life coach who helps them set goals and connects them with resources for housing or medical care.

Participants who haven’t graduated from high school must be pursuing a diploma or working on a GED. The program is very strict: More than one unexcused absence from work is enough to be dismissed.

Trainees receive periodic stipends, and if they complete the training, they can apply for a job. Employees earn minimum wage — $10.55 an hour in San Francisco — and tips are shared by the entire staff. They are also encouraged to take on more responsibility and help supervise the newer members. Ultimately, the youth leaders decide whom to hire and fire.

“The whole structure of this organization is meant for the youth to keep rising up in leadership and management,” Goines said. “I’m a big believer in ownership. … The more decision-making opportunities they have, the more life-changing it is.”

Tammy Vaitai, 22, was withdrawn and quiet as a result of the domestic violence she witnessed while she was growing up. She has been involved with Goines’ program for five years, and today she’s the youth manager of the restaurant, handling the scheduling, training and service in the “front of the house.” She also performs spoken-word poetry at the restaurant and recently started singing with the band.

“Now, I own my own car, I have a full-time job, and I’m currently applying to be a homeowner,” she said. “I’m so stoked about my future.”

She credits Goines with helping make it all possible.

“(Goines) pushes you past your comfort zone and past whatever limits you give yourself, ” she said. “She’s great at encouraging us to just dream big. She obviously did it herself. This (restaurant) was a big dream when it started off … and she made it happen. “

For Zavala, the program has been the break he needed to stay on the right path.

“I’ve been staying out of trouble,” he said. “Now, I have a support system. … I feel like we’re all like family trying to help each other.”

He’s hoping that Old Skool’s scholarship fund will help him attend technical school, where he wants to create and patent his own inventions.

Stories like this are what motivate Goines. She wants to establish other Old Skool Cafes across the country, and she hopes that some of the young people she’s working with now will help her.

“I think there’s something about a light going on when you realize your potential,” she said.

“The core of it is giving them hope. … Once that light goes on, whatever they do, they’re on their way to fly.”

Want to get involved? Check out the Old Skool Cafe website at www.oldskoolcafe.org and see how to help.

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