SINCE the late 1990s airlines wanting to buy short-to-medium-haul “narrowbody” planes with 100-200 seats have had little choice (apart from some creaky old Russian aircraft) but to pick either Boeing’s 737 or Airbus’s A320. As orders for such planes have boomed in recent years, aircraft-makers in China, Russia and Canada have been working on new contenders to break this American-European duopoly. On September 16th Canada’s Bombardier got there first, launching the maiden flight of its CSeries plane (pictured).
26 September, 2013
25 September, 2013
The Man Who Sold The Sky ??
John Leahy helped Airbus push Boeing out of the number one position in plane
sales. Can the best salesman in the business keep Europe at the top?
Read the speical Reuter's report on the man who sold the sky!
One warm July evening three years ago,
John Leahy set off along London’s river
Thames in an electric punt. With Leahy, a
sharp and energetic New Yorker who has
been Airbus sales chief since 1994, were
the company’s Middle East president Habib
Fekih and Tim Clark, president of Emirates
Airlines, one of the fastest-growing airlines
in the world.
Dubai-based Emirates was the largest
customer for Airbus’s A380 superjumbo but
Leahy wanted Clark to confirm his support
for the A350, Airbus’s bid to compete with Boeing's drealiner - the report continues here.
24 September, 2013
Ryanair Will Be Nice to Passengers?
Ryanair Europe's biggest budget airline, has promised to transform its "abrupt culture" in a bid to win customers from costlier rivals, admitting for the first time that a reputation for treating its passengers badly might have become a problem.
The Irish firm, this week voted the worst of the 100 biggest brands serving the British market by readers of consumer magazine Which?, said on Friday it would become more lenient on fining customers over bag sizes and overhaul the way it communicates.
"We should try to eliminate things that unnecessarily piss people off," Chief Executive Michael O'Leary told the company's annual general meeting, after several shareholders complained about the impact of customer service on sales.
He said the company would overhaul its web site, set up a new team to respond to emails and stop fining customers whose carry-on baggage exceeds minimum sizes by a matter of millimetres.
"A lot of those customer services elements don't cost a lot of money ... It's something we are committed to addressing over the coming year," O'Leary said.
23 September, 2013
Allegiant Grounding Over Slides
Allegiant Travel Co, a low-cost carrier that provides service to leisure destinations, is grounding as many as 30 of its aircraft, or roughly half of its fleet, to inspect emergency evacuation slides in response to an FAA request for information.
The company's shares fell about 5 percent.
In a statement on Friday, Allegiant cited a "compliance issue" that will necessitate prompt inspections of the evacuation slides in its MD-80 aircraft. It added that the move would lead to delays and cancellations, and said the process was expected to be completed by the end of this month.
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it directed Allegiant to report on the status of the slides on its MD-80s after it investigated an emergency evacuation of Allegiant Flight 436 at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Monday.
"The FAA this week became aware that Allegiant Air may not have inspected some emergency evacuation slides on its MD-80 fleet at required intervals," Ian Gregor, public affairs manager with the FAA Pacific Division, said in a statement.
22 September, 2013
US / American Merger Lawsuit
US Airways and American Airlines, whose proposed merger has been stalled by U.S. government opposition, urged a court on Friday to require the Justice Department to turn over documents relating to its approval of four previous airline mergers.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on August 13 to stop the planned merger of US Airways (LCC.N) and American's parent, AMR Corp (AAMRQ.PK), arguing that the deal would lead to higher air fares and other fees. A judge will hear the case without a jury in November and decide whether the deal can go forward.
The airlines have said that the merger is needed to help them compete in a rapidly consolidating industry.
In their motion, US Airways and American asked for analyses, studies, forecasts and other documents relating to the Justice Department's approval of the four mergers completed over the past decade.
Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) acquired Northwest Airlines in 2008, United (UAL.N) merged with Continental in 2010 and Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) bought discount rival AirTran in 2011. US Airways bought America West in 2005.
Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona said that the agency would reply formally to the motion next week.
The motion for the material, which could be quite extensive, will likely be granted, said Robert Skitol, an antitrust expert with Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
"There's no doubt about it being very burdensome," said Skitol. "This is very resource-intensive."
Previously, the government had said the request was too broad, and that data on previous mergers not relevant to this case.
The airlines and the Justice Department could settle the antitrust lawsuit, which would likely require the companies to sell certain assets. Any divestitures would require approval from the judge overseeing American's emergence from bankruptcy.
The airlines have defended the deal in court filings, saying it would create $500 million in savings to consumers annually by building a stronger competitor to Delta and United.
In its complaint, the Justice Department focused on Ronald Reagan National Airport, just outside Washington, D.C., where the two companies control a combined 69 percent of takeoff and landing slots. It also listed more than 1,000 routes between two cities where the two airlines dominate the market.
The case at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is No. 1:13-cv-12346.
From Reuters.com
US Skies Open For Ukraine Aviation.
Airlines based in Ukraine are now allowed to fly to the the United States, after the Federal Aviation Authority found the country's safety standards have improved.
The Authority does not rate or rank specific airlines but assesses whether a country's aviation authorities meet standards developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Those that do not meet the standards are not allowed to operate flights to the United States.
Countries that currently fall short of those standards include Bangladesh, Montenegro, Serbia, Guyana, and Indonesia.
According to the FAA, it worked with Ukraine's civil aviation authority to ensure that its safety oversight system complies with the ICAO standards.
The FAA announced the change Friday afternoon.
Read more:
21 September, 2013
PIA Pilot Guilty of Drunk in Charge of Aircraft
A pilot has pleaded guilty to being “impaired by drink” in the cockpit of a plane at Leeds Bradford Airport.
Irfan Faiz, 54, had more than four times the legal alcohol limit in his system when he was arrested after getting on board the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft, Leeds magistrates heard on Friday.
Other staff had noticed he was “unsteady on his feet” and smelt of alcohol before the flight to Islamabad on Wednesday night.
He was eating chewing gum and mints to mask the smell as he boarded the plane, the court heard.
Faiz, from Pakistan, was carrying out pre-flight checks when police were called and arrested him. The 180 passengers who were on board had to disembark and were put up in a hotel overnight before flying out on a rescheduled flight on Thursday.
Faiz pleaded guilty to carrying out an activity ancillary to an aviation function while impaired by drink.
Chairman of the bench James McAuley told Faiz: “By your actions you breached the trust of the public who must be comfortable that when travelling they are safe to travel.
“The consequences could have been serious loss of life.”
Faiz, who could face a prison sentence, was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court at a later date.
Singapore Airlines Unveils Grand New Cabin Designs, Launches 777-300ER
The race for the best international premium cabins heated up yesterday whenSingapore Airlines unveiled a new interior design in their upcoming Boeing 777-300 ER fleet. In a small event at the Boeing delivery facility outside of Seattle, the airline previewed the next phase of their cabin experience set to reach customers later this year.
Though the airline has widely been heralded as one of the best international carriers, it continues to innovate in this long range Boeing aircraft only five years after launching a new product on the A380. Asked about the short development cycle, James Boyd, VP of PR Americas said “We never want to rest our laurels,” and pointed to a tradition of innovation at the company.
While that evolution has resulted in aesthetic changes and inflight entertainment upgrades throughout the entire aircraft, the upgrades are most apparent in the first and business class cabins.
Seats have been redesigned to accommodate the ergonomics and needs of today’s business traveler with power, USB, lights and seat controls all at arm’s reach. There’s now space to stow a tablet computer and noise-cancelling headsets, and the seats have been updated to recline in a wider variety of positions.
Two Arrested After Sri Lankan Jet Diverts
A man is in hospital and another is in police custody after a plane was forced to make an emergency landing. The Sri Lankan Airlines A330 Airbus, which was carrying 267 passengers and crew, was due to land at Heathrow Airport but was diverted to Stansted Airport in Essex just after 7.30pm yesterday.
Sources said the drama unfolded after a passenger was overheard claiming "something" was on board the flight in the luggage hold. Once the aircraft touched down police boarded the aircraft and two British men, aged 49 and 57, were arrested.
A source said: "The plane was flying in when a passenger overheard a man saying there was something on the plane in the hold baggage.
"Obviously, they have to take it very seriously and go through their procedures and protocols and contact the police."
Police are treating the investigation as a criminal matter rather than a terrorism investigation. The suspects, who along with other passengers departed for Heathrow from Colombo, were arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft. The 49-year-old is being treated for a medical condition, not an injury, in hospital.
An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "The 49-year-old is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital and the other is in custody at Harlow police station.
"They will be interviewed by detectives.
"The incident is being treated as a criminal investigation.
"All passengers left the aircraft safely and have travelled onwards to Heathrow by coach."
Singapore to Crack Indian Market - with a little help.
By Gaurav Raghuvanshi
India’s aviation market has proved too hard a nut for many carriers, but Singapore Airlines and Indian conglomerate Tata Sons are taking a crack at it just the same.
Their 1990s joint-venture proposal was rejected by the government, but the partnership has since become possible: India changed its rules to allow foreign airlines to own up to 49% equity stake in Indian carriers.
Reviving a partnership with the Tatas makes a lot of strategic sense for the Singapore flag carrier. It has cash to spare, India is one of its key markets and the bulk of international traffic from India goes further west, which means the joint venture’s routes won’t overlap those of Singapore Airlines.
Still, the partners will have to contend with perils have caused many airlines in the last two decades to fail: Heavy regulation, notorious red tape, a state-subsidized flag carrier, cut-throat competition and a lack of brand loyalty among passengers.
Vijay Mallya‘s Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.532747.BY -1.08% was grounded last year amid mounting debt and unpaid bills. Previously, East-West Airlines, Modiluft and NEPC Airlines tried and failed in the Indian market. Entering India now may give the new carrier a chance to help fill the void left by Kingfisher’s exit.
“India’s aviation market has been expanding and we have been eager to participate in it,” said Nicholas Ionides, the senior vice president of public affairs at Singapore Airlines.
Mr. Ionides declined to give details about business strategy or the kind planes the joint venture would use, but he said the new airline would like to operate on international routes if it gets permission. Under current rules, an Indian carrier must fly domestically for five years before it can apply for permission to fly abroad—which makes profits hard to come by, said Brendan Sobie, an analyst with aviation consulting firm CAPA-Centre for Aviation in Singapore.
“It’s a long-term investment and they can’t expect profits in the initial years,” he said of the joint venture. “It’s a market in which nobody really has made money.”
Singapore Airlines has been keen to invest in newer airlines to chase growth as it battles weak profits in its main business. Its new long-haul budget unit Scoot Pte. started flying last year and the company doubled its stake in Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. to 19.9% earlier this year. In June it shed its 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic Ltd., selling it to Delta Air Lines Inc., writing off an investment that never made any money.
“They don’t want to sit still and watch the rest of the world change around them,” said Mr. Sobie. Singapore Airlines wants to expand in key markets—Australia, China and Indonesia in addition to India—both by increasing flights there and by growing “inorganically” where it can, he said.
Singapore Airlines might also want to find a strong partner airline in China and even take an equity stake if it could, but at the moment the regulatory environment is not too encouraging for foreign airlines and there are no obvious carriers for Singapore Airlines to partner with, said Mr. Sobie.
In 2007 the airline planned to buy a minority stake in Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Corp, but the high-profile deal was blocked by flag carrier Air China Ltd., which itself had been building a sizable stake in China Eastern.
The report continues here -
American Airlines Aircraft EL
An American Airlines plane flying from Costa Rica to Miami made an emergency landing on Colombia's San Andres Island Thursday, the airline said.
The airline said a "mechanical issue" was behind the pilot's decision to divert the flight to the island, located on Colombia's north coast.
CNN affiliate Caracol TV reported that smoke was seen in the cabin.
Flight 1204 was carrying 172 passengers and six crew, American Airlines said.
The passengers disembarked while the aircraft, a Boeing 757, was evaluated.
No one was injured, Caracol reported.
07 July, 2013
Tower audio released of 777 Crash at San Francisco
SF AIRPORT CRASH: Tower audio released of Boeing 777 crash. More soon.
06 July, 2013
777 Crashed at San Francisco
Breaking news,
A Boeing 777 bound from South Korea crashed Saturday upon landing at San Francisco International Airport, sending up a huge fireball and spinning before finally coming to a stop -- having lost its tail and, eventually, much of its charred roof.
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 left Seoul's Incheon International Airport earlier Saturday, according to FlightAware, a website that offers tracking services for private and commercial air traffic. An airline spokesman told media that 291 passengers and 16 staff members were aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard has transported one person to Stanford Hospital, said Corrine Gaines of the military branch. She did not provide additional information on the patient's status.
In brief remarks to reporters around 2 p.m. (5 p.m. ET), airport spokesman Doug Yakel did not offer any details on the conditions of the plane's passengers. Anthony Castorani, who witnessed the flight land from a nearby hotel, said he saw the plane touch the ground then noticed a larger plume of white smoke. "You heard a pop and you immediately saw a large, brief fireball that came from underneath the aircraft," he told CNN.
Plane loses tail during crash landing Plane crashes at San Francisco airport'Large, brief fireball' as plane landed Kristina Stapchuck saw the dramatic scene unfold from her seat on a plane on the airport tarmac. Soon after Flight 214 touched down, "it looked like the tires slipped a little bit and it rocked back," she said to the media. Parts of the plane began to break off as it rocked and then began to spin. Follow latest developments in the story "It all happened so suddenly," Stapchuck said. A photo provided to tv news by Eunice Bird Rah -- and shot by her father, who was a passenger on the plane -- shows flames and smoke bursting out of many of the aircraft's windows. Rah's father knew something bad was coming, he told his daughter, telling her the plane was coming in too low and the pilot tried to raise it at the last minute. Rah said her father "is doing fine, thank God," but noted that others appeared to be hurt. Said Rah: "It's heartbreaking." Video taken soon after the crash and posted on YouTube showed dark gray smoke rising from the plane, which appeared to be upright. That smoke later became white, even as fire crews continued to douse the plane.
CNN iReporter Timothy Clark was on an eighth-floor balcony of a nearby hotel when he heard the noise and saw a "dust cloud." "Then people running from the plane, then flames," Clark said. A photograph posted to Twitter shows what appear to be passengers walking off the plane, some of them toting bags, as smoke rises from the other side. "I just crash landed at SFO," read the accompanying message from David Eun. "Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine. I'm ok. Surreal..."
The Boeing 777-200LR has been in service since March 2006 The plane can carry 301 passengers and travel a maximum distance of 9,395 nautical miles Asiana Airlines operates 71 aircraft and serves 14.7 million passengers annually The airline was voted Airline of the Year by Global Traveler in 2011 In 1993, Asiana Airlines Boeing 737 crashed killing 68 people The top of the aircraft was charred and, in spots, gone entirely, according to video from CNN affiliate KTVU. The plane was on its belly, with no landing gear evident and the rear tail of the plane gone. Debris settled from the water's edge, along San Francisco Bay, up to where the plane eventually came to a stop. Fire trucks were on site; first responders could be seen walking outside the aircraft. Evacuation slides could be seen extending from one side of the aircraft, from which there was no apparent smoke. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer and author of the book "Lean In," was supposed to be on the flight. But she wrote on her Facebook page that she'd switched instead to a United flight, arriving about 20 minutes before the Asiana flight crashed.
The Bay Area airport was closed to incoming and departing traffic after the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration said on its website, adding that the time when it's expected to reopen is unknown. Flights destined for San Francisco's airport -- known by its call letters, SFO -- were being diverted to airports in Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose and Los Angeles, said Francis Zamora from the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. He added his office is working with San Mateo County's Office of Emergency Services in responding to the incident, Zamora said. San Francisco International Airport, located some 12 miles south of downtown San Francisco, is California's second busiest, behind LAX. There were a few clouds in the sky around the time of the crash, and temperatures were about 65 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Winds were about 8 miles per hour.
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a "go team" that will be led by chairwoman Deborah Hersman to investigate the crash, the agency said. Boeing is "preparing to provide technical assistance" to investigators, company spokesman Miles Kotay said in a statement. There are no signs of terrorism related to the crash, a national security official told CNN. Asiana Airlines -- one of South Korea's two major airlines, the other being Korean Air -- is investigating the cause of the crash, a company spokesman told CNN. The airline got the plane involved in the incident in 2006, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The craft has two Pratt & Whitney engines, it said. Asiana operates many of its flights out of Incheon International Airport, which is the largest airport in South Korea and considered among the busiest in the world. According to information on Asiana Airlines' website, the company has 12 Boeing 777 planes. They have a seating capacity of between 246 and 300 people and had a cruising speed of 555 mph (894 kph).
A Boeing 777 bound from South Korea crashed Saturday upon landing at San Francisco International Airport, sending up a huge fireball and spinning before finally coming to a stop -- having lost its tail and, eventually, much of its charred roof.
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 left Seoul's Incheon International Airport earlier Saturday, according to FlightAware, a website that offers tracking services for private and commercial air traffic. An airline spokesman told media that 291 passengers and 16 staff members were aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard has transported one person to Stanford Hospital, said Corrine Gaines of the military branch. She did not provide additional information on the patient's status.
In brief remarks to reporters around 2 p.m. (5 p.m. ET), airport spokesman Doug Yakel did not offer any details on the conditions of the plane's passengers. Anthony Castorani, who witnessed the flight land from a nearby hotel, said he saw the plane touch the ground then noticed a larger plume of white smoke. "You heard a pop and you immediately saw a large, brief fireball that came from underneath the aircraft," he told CNN.
Plane loses tail during crash landing Plane crashes at San Francisco airport'Large, brief fireball' as plane landed Kristina Stapchuck saw the dramatic scene unfold from her seat on a plane on the airport tarmac. Soon after Flight 214 touched down, "it looked like the tires slipped a little bit and it rocked back," she said to the media. Parts of the plane began to break off as it rocked and then began to spin. Follow latest developments in the story "It all happened so suddenly," Stapchuck said. A photo provided to tv news by Eunice Bird Rah -- and shot by her father, who was a passenger on the plane -- shows flames and smoke bursting out of many of the aircraft's windows. Rah's father knew something bad was coming, he told his daughter, telling her the plane was coming in too low and the pilot tried to raise it at the last minute. Rah said her father "is doing fine, thank God," but noted that others appeared to be hurt. Said Rah: "It's heartbreaking." Video taken soon after the crash and posted on YouTube showed dark gray smoke rising from the plane, which appeared to be upright. That smoke later became white, even as fire crews continued to douse the plane.
CNN iReporter Timothy Clark was on an eighth-floor balcony of a nearby hotel when he heard the noise and saw a "dust cloud." "Then people running from the plane, then flames," Clark said. A photograph posted to Twitter shows what appear to be passengers walking off the plane, some of them toting bags, as smoke rises from the other side. "I just crash landed at SFO," read the accompanying message from David Eun. "Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine. I'm ok. Surreal..."
The Boeing 777-200LR has been in service since March 2006 The plane can carry 301 passengers and travel a maximum distance of 9,395 nautical miles Asiana Airlines operates 71 aircraft and serves 14.7 million passengers annually The airline was voted Airline of the Year by Global Traveler in 2011 In 1993, Asiana Airlines Boeing 737 crashed killing 68 people The top of the aircraft was charred and, in spots, gone entirely, according to video from CNN affiliate KTVU. The plane was on its belly, with no landing gear evident and the rear tail of the plane gone. Debris settled from the water's edge, along San Francisco Bay, up to where the plane eventually came to a stop. Fire trucks were on site; first responders could be seen walking outside the aircraft. Evacuation slides could be seen extending from one side of the aircraft, from which there was no apparent smoke. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer and author of the book "Lean In," was supposed to be on the flight. But she wrote on her Facebook page that she'd switched instead to a United flight, arriving about 20 minutes before the Asiana flight crashed.
The Bay Area airport was closed to incoming and departing traffic after the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration said on its website, adding that the time when it's expected to reopen is unknown. Flights destined for San Francisco's airport -- known by its call letters, SFO -- were being diverted to airports in Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose and Los Angeles, said Francis Zamora from the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. He added his office is working with San Mateo County's Office of Emergency Services in responding to the incident, Zamora said. San Francisco International Airport, located some 12 miles south of downtown San Francisco, is California's second busiest, behind LAX. There were a few clouds in the sky around the time of the crash, and temperatures were about 65 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Winds were about 8 miles per hour.
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a "go team" that will be led by chairwoman Deborah Hersman to investigate the crash, the agency said. Boeing is "preparing to provide technical assistance" to investigators, company spokesman Miles Kotay said in a statement. There are no signs of terrorism related to the crash, a national security official told CNN. Asiana Airlines -- one of South Korea's two major airlines, the other being Korean Air -- is investigating the cause of the crash, a company spokesman told CNN. The airline got the plane involved in the incident in 2006, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The craft has two Pratt & Whitney engines, it said. Asiana operates many of its flights out of Incheon International Airport, which is the largest airport in South Korea and considered among the busiest in the world. According to information on Asiana Airlines' website, the company has 12 Boeing 777 planes. They have a seating capacity of between 246 and 300 people and had a cruising speed of 555 mph (894 kph).
21 April, 2013
Lufthansa strike sees 'massive' flight cancellations
German airline Lufthansa has
cancelled the majority of its flights scheduled for Monday due to a strike.
Ground staff have called a one-day strike in a pay dispute.
Last week Lufthansa rejected union demands for a 5.2% wage increase over the next 12 months.
Strikers are also looking for guarantees over job cuts. Like many airlines, Lufthansa is looking to cut costs in the face of stiff competition from low-cost carriers and big Gulf airlines, as well as rising fuel prices.
Unions staged a similar one-day strike last month. Short "warning strikes" are a common tactic among German unions, designed to put pressure on wage negotiations.
In a statement on its website, Lufthansa said passengers should expect "massive" flight cancellations and delays that will start to affect long-haul flights from Sunday.
17 April, 2013
Travel Books - Adam Shepard takes off on an epic adventure - One Year Lived!
From late 2011 to late 2012 that is exactly what author, motivational speaker and the Worlds slowest bar-tender, Adam Shepard did, as Jason Shaw recently found out. Shepard saved up some money, packed up a backpack with the bare basic essentials and after saving up for a while he set off on one of life’s massive adventures, during which he visited seventeen countries on four continents and remarkably he spent less that it would have cost him to stay at home.
In Australia he hugged a koala, in Slovakia, he bungee jumped off a bridge, in the Philippines e went wake-boarding but it wasn’t all relaxation and pleasure. Shepard also dug wells in Nicaragua to install pumps for clean water and in Honduras he served with an organisation that helps to improved the lives of poor children.
Shepard is no stranger to adventure, even before this epic journey around the world, just three years earlier he made national headlines for taking a year to test the viability of the American Dream. With just $25 in his pocket, he boarded a train and headed to Charleston, SC. Where he lived in a homeless shelter for seventy days. He took odd jobs until he managed to find a full-time job, eventually earning enough money to buy a pickup truck and a furnished apartment. He wrote about his experiences in the book Scratch Beginnings, which garnered a lot of publicity and interesting in the media, being featured on the Today Show, CNN, FOX along with many other publications.
This time the handsome man from North Carolina has written with a passion and a refreshing view on his travels in the book One Year Lived, published on 18th April. Shepard hopes his story of an epic adventure will spur on young American’s to really become global citizens and travel beyond America’s shores. “In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe, it’s normal for people to pack a bag, buy a plane ticket, and get ‘Out There.” Shepard says, “But in the U.S., though, we live with this very stiff paradigm—graduate college, work, find a spouse, make babies, work some more, retire—which can be a great existence, but we leave little room to load up a backpack and dip into various cultures, to see places, to really develop our own identity.
I recently caught up with Adam to find learn more his book One Year Lived and his epic adventure, I started by asking him if the prospect of spending a year away from home comforts, family and friends was at all scary or daunting?
“The prospect of being away was not daunting or scary, because I knew that home was waiting on the back end. I didn’t think twice about what I was giving up (career, etc.) by leaving, because I knew that this experience would supersede what I was skipping out on.”
“The toughest parts of this journey were leaving places where I had spent a month or more, where I had developed friendships with people. I likely won’t ever see any of them again in my life, and I knew that as I left the place. “
“My mom? Dad? Matt? Korey? I knew I would see them again. Beatríz (my home stay mom) in Antigua, Guatemala? Likely not.”
During this journey of discovery, you've visited so many places, experienced so many different things, are there any that really surprised you?
“Many things opened my eyes. The three biggest things that surprised me were: How far an American dollar goes abroad. I took this trip when we were still “in a recession” but in many countries I went to (Central America and Asia especially), I was still able to do a lot on a little. How unrestricted many countries are. A lot of things you see abroad would never fly in the States. High alcohol-content liquors (absinthe, for example) are normal in Europe. In the Philippines, cockfighting is a staple. In Thailand, you can just go to the firing range and rent an AK-47 while drinking your beverage of choice. That it took me four months to get robbed. “
That sounds nasty and could have been a real disaster?
“Getting robbed in Nicaragua could have been a lot worse. They got me for a couple hundred cash and my ATM card, but if I would have lost my emergency credit card, too, and my passport, my journey would have been devastatingly stalled for a good amount of time.”
How far out of your comfort zone did you go? “The trip itself was not far out of my comfort zone. I always knew I wanted to take a trip like this; it was just a matter of timing and affordability.”
“But the challenge I laid for myself was to make sure I didn’t leave any experience undone. I knew that I had the opportunity to live a pretty unique year, and I made sure I was front and center whenever there was a volcano to climb or corral to explore.”
“The best example is with the volunteering I did. I believe in giving back, but I’ve done this with a few hours at a time or writing a check to my college. But for my trip around the world, one-third of the year was dedicated to service, namely on two projects: working with a vacation activities program for children in Honduras and digging for clean water pumps for the native Miskito people of Nicaragua.”
“The most wonderful experiences of my year involved volunteering in Honduras and Nicaragua, and as such, one can say that the best times for me came when I stepped outside of the box of what my life had previously been.”
Where there any scary moments during the trip?
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