News World news Volcanoes Iceland aviation on red alert again after more volcanic activity

from theguardian


No ash detected, but authorities raise warning to the highest level and close airspace to 18,000 feet

• Reuters in Stockholm
• theguardian.com, Friday 29 August 2014 01.48 EDT

A road closed near the Bardarbunga volcano Photograph: Vilhelm Gunnarsson/Fretabladid/EPA

Authorities have raised the warning code for aviation to red following a volcanic eruption near Iceland’s Dyngjujokull glacier, but no volcanic ash has been detected, Iceland’s authorities said.

There has been heightened seismic activity in the area for about a week. Red – the highest level – indicates that an eruption is imminent or under way, with a significant emission of ash likely.

“The Icelandic Met Office has raised the aviation colourcode over the eruption site to red and the Icelandic Air Traffic Control has closed down the airspace from the earth up to 18,000 feet,” Iceland’s National Crisis Coordination Centre said.

“No volcanic ash has been detected with the radar system at the moment ... Seismic eruption tremor is low indicating effusive eruption without significant explosive activity.”

Ash from the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010 shut down much of Europe’s airspace for six days.

BOC Aviation Orders 82 Planes From Boeing

from wsj.com

At List Prices, the Aircraft Are Valued at $8.8 Billion

By 

GAURAV RAGHUVANSHI

Aug. 25, 2014 7:21 a.m. ET

SINGAPORE—BOC Aviation Ltd., the Singapore-based aircraft-leasing arm of Bank of China Ltd. 601988.SH -0.37% , said Monday that it has ordered 82 aircraft from BoeingCo. BA +0.68%

The planes are valued at US$8.8 billion at list prices, according to a Boeing executive.

BOC Aviation is buying 80 single-aisle Boeing 737 jets, including 50 of the latest so-called Max model, which offer better fuel efficiency. The planes are scheduled to be delivered from 2016 through 2021.

The order also includes two Boeing 777-300ER widebody jets. BOC Aviation has already found a customer for the two 777-300ERs, according to a company statement, which didn't disclose the customer's identity.

Customers typically receive discounts of between 30% and 40% on the list prices of airplanes; the exact price at which the jets are sold isn't made public.

This is the first direct order for the Max jets by BOC Aviation, said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing's senior vice president for sales for Asia Pacific and India.

"The Boeing 737 is a very liquid asset and competition for sale and lease-back deals is very high," Mr. Keskar said.

Aircraft-leasing companies either buy planes directly from manufacturers and then place them with customers, or buy planes from airlines under sale-and-leaseback deals that allow the carriers to sell the ownership of their planes and keep them off their own balance sheets.

BOC Aviation said it had 251 planes in its fleet as of June 30. The fleet includes 118 Boeing planes that are currently flying with 27 airlines.

Write to Gaurav Raghuvanshi at gaurav.raghuvanshi@wsj.com

NASA: Former astronaut Nagel dies after illness

from chron.com

 August 23, 2014 | Updated: August 23, 2014 3:19pm

Photo By NASA/AP 

In this undated photo provided by NASA, astronaut Steven R. Nagel poses for a picture. Nagel, who flew on four space shuttle flights, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, after a long illness. He was 67.

HOUSTON (AP) — Steven R. Nagel, a former astronaut who flew on four space shuttle flights, has died after a long illness. He was 67.

NASA said in a news release that Nagel died Thursday. Longtime friend Ed Reinholtz said Nagel died of cancer in Columbia, Missouri.

Nagel was a test pilot for the Air Force before becoming an astronaut in 1979.

NASA said he was a mission specialist during a June 1985 Discovery flight and the pilot aboard the Challenger in October 1985. He was commander on his last two missions — an Atlantis flight in April 1991 and a 10-day trip on Columbia in April 1993.

Nagel later worked as deputy director and deputy chief in two separate offices at Houston's Johnson Space Center.

Nagel retired from NASA in 2011.