Airlines

What happened when a 94-year-old former flight attendant saw a photo of herself at the airport

Imagine seeing yourself from 70 years ago at a crowded airport

Imagine seeing yourself from 70 years ago at a crowded airport. It can be surprising to suddenly catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror. Gwendolyn Bruhn, a 94-year-old ex-flight attendant, experienced this. Bruhn recently discovered herself in a group photograph of airline hostesses from 1947 when departing with her family from Honolulu, Hawaii’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

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Earlier this year, Gwendolyn Bruhn, 94, came face to face with her past when she saw this photo of 1940s flight attendants at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.
"I thought, 'Oh my god,'" Gwen told @CNNTravel "I saw my picture, as I was years back." (1/2) pic.twitter.com/b1pfEDxWJK
— Francesca Street (@FL_Street) November 29, 2022
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The outfits the girls were wearing at the time are fascinating: long skirts, spectator pumps, a pristine yellow button-up blouse, and flowers in their hair. Because of how different things were at the time, Bruhn was filled with memories when she unexpectedly found herself on the wall. In the image above, she may be seen in the upper right corner.

As reported by CNN After learning that the airline was hiring through a friend who worked there, Bruhn was given the position. In an interview, she stated, “At that time, they wore lovely grey uniforms and yellow blouses, and they were quite attractive. I had admired them from a distance, not knowing that someday I would be lucky to be wearing that same outfit.”

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Additionally, Bruhn remembered being questioned during the job interview if she had ever flown before and if she had ever been ill as a result of it. In spite of the reality that she had never really flown, she made the decision to lie and claim to have done so.

She was successful in landing the job, but her first few flights were plagued by nausea and air sickness. The rides weren’t as smooth then, unfortunately! In addition, the aircraft were fairly modest compared to the large jets used nowadays. She would really frequently be the sole flight attendant on board, which meant she would have to deal with anything from passengers trying to sneak alcohol on board.

She did, however, love her position and the opportunities she had to represent Hawaii, which at the time was not yet a state, to the rest of the globe while travelling and meeting people from all over the world. This required maintaining a specific weight, which was a requirement at the time for all airlines to keep flight attendants looking, in Bruhn’s words, “trim.”

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Before she met her husband, William Carl Bruhn II, she developed a passion of flying and even had dreams of becoming a pilot. She later gave up her work to start a family. In those days flight attendants were almost always expected to be single without kids. Similar to many other industries, it was typically expected that if you were married and had children, you would leave your job. In fact, several companies explicitly prohibited married women and mothers couldn’t work for them.

The couple had 4 kids and were married for 62 years before he passed away in 2012. Today she has 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Even a few members of her family later worked for Hawaiian Airlines. I’m delighted I got to work for Hawaiian Airlines for a while, Bruhn added. I never will forget how lucky I was to have all these memories to sit down with.”

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Airlines

Air India’s last VVIP Boeing 747 now found a new home in USA

Image:Wikipedia

In a symbolic transition marking the end of a storied chapter in aviation history, Air India bid farewell to its last remaining Boeing 747-400 jumbo jetliners, once revered for ferrying dignitaries including prime ministers, presidents, and vice presidents.

The sale of these iconic aircraft to AerSale, a company based in the United States, signals the closure of a remarkable era for the airline.

The decision to part ways with the Boeing 747s was driven by practical considerations. Tata Group, the new custodian of airindia flights, deemed these majestic planes uneconomical to operate in today’s aviation landscape. As such, out of the four sold, two will be repurposed into freighters, while the remaining pair will be meticulously disassembled to harness their valuable parts.

The transaction, orchestrated by Mumbai-based Vman Aviation Services, underscores the strategic shift in Air India’s fleet management strategy under its new ownership. Tata Group’s decision to divest from the 747s reflects a commitment to optimizing operational efficiency and aligning with contemporary industry standards.

Skytech-AIC, a UK-based remarketing firm engaged by Tata Group, facilitated the sale of these iconic aircraft, marking the conclusion of their illustrious service with Air India. The airline’s last flight featuring the Boeing 747 took to the skies between Delhi and Mumbai in March 2021, encapsulating decades of distinguished service and indelible memories.

The allure of used aircraft parts continues to resonate across the aviation sector, offering operators a cost-effective alternative without compromising on quality or performance. The transfer of these aircraft to AerSale not only ensures their continued utility but also underscores the enduring legacy of Air India’s fleet.

Airlines

A software error caused grounding the entire airline fleet

A software error caused the grounding entire airline fleet

On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop advisory for all Alaska Airlines and subcarrier flights due to a software issue, disrupting travel plans for passengers.

The FAA directive, which prohibited the departure of Alaska Airlines mainline and subcarrier flights, was implemented as a precautionary measure following the detection of the software problem. The ground stop was initiated after Alaska Airlines encountered difficulties during a system upgrade related to the calculation of weight and balance for their flights.

As a result, the airline opted for a temporary suspension of all its operations to address the issue and ensure passenger safety. Alaska Airlines promptly issued a statement acknowledging the incident and expressing their commitment to resolving the matter swiftly. “This morning we experienced an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance.

Out of an abundance of caution, we requested a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights, which was instituted at approximately 7:30 a.m. PT,” the statement read. Passengers affected by the disruption voiced their concerns on social media platforms, prompting Alaska Airlines to reassure them of their efforts to minimize the inconvenience and expedite the resumption of flights.

Following approximately an hour-long interruption, the FAA lifted the ground stop order, allowing Alaska Airlines and its subcarriers to resume normal operations. However, it was clarified that SkyWest, which provides regional service for Alaska Airlines and other carriers, was exempt from the ground stop and continued its flights unaffected.

Aerospace

Which is bigger 777x or 787 aircraft ?

The 777X is a new series of the Boeing 777 family and is designed to be larger and more efficient than its predecessor. It features two variants: the 777-8 and the 777-9, being the larger of the two.

The Boeing 777X emerges as the larger sibling within the Boeing family, representing a significant leap forward in both size and efficiency. Comprising two variants, the 777-8 and the 777-9, the latter takes the crown as the larger of the two. With its expansive fuselage and impressive wingspan, the 777X is tailored for long-range journeys and boasts a substantial passenger capacity.

On the other hand, the Boeing 787, affectionately known as the Dreamliner, occupies a niche in the market as a smaller yet formidable aircraft designed for medium to long-range flights. Its distinguishing feature lies in its composite fuselage, a technological marvel that renders it lighter and more fuel-efficient compared to conventional aluminum counterparts. The Boeing 777X is larger than the Boeing 787 aircraft.

When it comes to passenger capacity, the 777-9 reigns supreme, typically accommodating a sizeable contingent of 400-425 passengers in its standard configuration. In contrast, the 787, with its more modest dimensions, typically carries between 240-290 passengers, depending on the variant and layout.

One of the remarkable innovations introduced with the 777X is its folding wingtips, a feature designed to address the logistical challenges of accommodating such a large aircraft in conventional airport gates. These folding wingtips enable the 777X to retract its wings, allowing it to fit into gates designed for smaller aircraft while still reaping the benefits of an extended wingspan during flight, thereby enhancing fuel efficiency and operational flexibility