One woman from the USA filled her bag with cakes and snacks little did she realize she can have them served to her on the aircraft. I told her this and she said she was flying cattle class to Glasgow and the only reason she was here was that her flight was delayed and BA gave her and her husband use of the Club Lounge. Her friends were laughing at her stuffing her back full of goodies. She said wait till we are on the plane and then they will want some. true!
I will not need to do this. I must say British Airways do themselves proud in the club Lounge, good food and good wine. Makes you feel proud to be British. There are a lot of people here in the lounge from many different countries so they must be doing something right. None of your half price TESCO wine in here.
There’s guy over there with a phone in one ear and another in his hand. What do these people do. Has he a secret and does not want someone to know his number? Why not get a dual sim it would be easier.
Some people are eating as if it is their last meal others jus nibbling out of boredom. Excuse me while I top up my glass.
this is the life it reminds me of when I wa working with the Airlines as an Engineer and always flew Business Class. I even flew First on BA once. The second best flight I ever had. Why second you say? the best was on a delayed flight with Virgin many years ago. we were delayed and spent hours in the lounge drinking Gin and Tonics. I boarded the aircraft and we were given a Bucks Fizz. I sat down and the next thing I knew were were on approach to Miami. Thats the way to fly.
On board now and just had afternoon tea consisting of one egg mayonnaise sandwich one inch by 3 inch and one ham sandwich described as Palma ham. I am afraid BA let themselves down there at least it could have been a full size sandwich with the crust cut of. the Pinot Grigio was ok though I did like the scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. I need to get my monies worth.
Believe it or not Club class is full, there is depression on !!
Like Greece the government is broke but the people are living OK, why worry about it I cannot change it.
I had it rough when I was kid. We had next to nothing but we were happy and did not care how the economy was doing we were skintight all the time. in those days we also had to pay for university fees so what is new? Not everyone needs to go to uni. We need skilled people not educated people. here I go again on my high horse and it is Thursday. Not Monday. I think I am getting close to my best by date and close to use by date. We never had those as a kid either. I do not see what all the fuss is about.
Coming I to land now quite a pleasant flight no stress great.
My reason for going to Prague is I am hosting the Annual EASO conference at the Corinthian Hotel. Http://www.EASO.aero

So what are the words allowed in Block 11 of the EASA form 1 Issue 2
Here is a copy of the text. Taken from the NPA 2007-13

Block 11 Status/Work
The following table describes the permissible entries for block 11. Enter only one of these terms – where more than one may be applicable, use the one that most accurately describes the majority of the work performed and/or the status of the article.
Entry Meaning

Overhauled Means a process that ensures the item is in complete conformity with the
applicable service tolerances specified in the type certificate holder’s, or
equipment manufacturer’s instructions for continued airworthiness, or in the
data which is approved or accepted by the Authority. The item will be at least
disassembled, cleaned, inspected, repaired as necessary, reassembled and
tested in accordance with the above specified data.

Repaired Rectification of defect(s) using an applicable standard.*

Inspected/Tested Examination, measurement, etc. in accordance with an applicable standard*

(e.g. visual inspection, functional testing, bench testing and operational
checks). The results shall be described or referenced in block 12.
Modified Alteration of an item to conform to an applicable standard.*

Applicable standard means a manufacturing/design/maintenance/quality norm, method, technique or practice approved by or acceptable to the Competent Authority. The Applicable Standard shall be described in block 12.
I receive many questions on the rules, it is no wonder when they are in such a state.

Roger Kidd

Http;//www.easo.aero

I am often asked what is AS 9120? The correct title for use here in Europe is AS/EN 9120. The AS version is for use in the USA. The standards themselves are indentical in their requirements. Here is a brief explanation.

To survive in the Aviation Industry some form of Certification is required. With human lives and millions of Euros in equipment that depend on the reliability of aircraft parts, aircraft operators only deal with companies they can trust. Any organisation that can prove its safe operation, reliability and quality of their products will gain their customers trust.
The AS/EN 9120 Quality Management system for Aircraft Parts Suppliers, is one of the certifications that maintains oversight of the quality management in the aerospace industry. This AS/EN 9120 Standard is aimed primarily for the use of Suppliers to Manufacturers and Product Stockists and Distributors who supply to aircraft Operators.
AS/EN 9120 employs the Process philosophy and examines the quality standards of aerospace equipment Suppliers, re-sellers and official distributors in five main areas.
Traceability, the product must be entirely traceable back to an approved source.
Procurement procedures, to ensure that aircraft parts are obtained from approved sources.
Proper record keeping including copies of the airworthiness release documents.
These documents ensure the part has been duly been inspected and pronounced airworthy by an Approved Manufacturer or Repair station.
Control of any Non-conforming parts or Material must be maintained.
Monitoring and Measurement is a requirement of the standard and data should be analysed to enable continual improvement to take place. There are Mandatory reports to be made in the Revised standard which come into effect in July 2012. These include: On time delivery, Nonconforming Product, Corrective actions and Customer Complaints.

I checked the weather in Miesbach which is where I was headed. It was just 1 degree, so I picked up my coat and headed for the door when suddenly the smoke alarm went off! I managed to stop it before the whole house was awake. I had forgotten about my toast. Too late now it was burnt. Another sip of coffee ( decaf of course ) and I was off.

I departed on time at 07.30 and all was well until 2 miles down the M1 when the traffic came to a grinding halt. The traffic crawled at a snails pace for over 2 miles. I decided after listening to the traffic news that I would divert off the M1 and go through Castle Donington and join the M42 further down. Everyone else had the same idea and it was a long slow journey, but I eventually made it to the M42. The traffic was moving smoothly all the way to the M6 Toll road when it all stopped once again. The rest of the journey was done at 20 mph and I arrived at the long stay car park at 09.10. It then took another 10 minutes to find a space which turned out to be as far from the terminal as you can get at bus stop 5. By now the time was running way and I still had to check in and I was dying to get to the toilet. The Bus came along and it was a long slow process to the terminal and I was now getting desperate. Eventually I reached the terminal and dashed to the loo. I found the Lufthansa desk at desk 43 and checked in on the machine. Seat No 21D right at the back of the aircraft just as I thought. By the time I waited in the queue to check my hold bag, it was getting close to 10.00 am and I still had the dreaded security to negotiate. Fortunately there was not much of a queue and I managed to get through relative quickly after a search with shoes and belts off.
When I entered the departure lounge I looked at the screens to check my flight and it said “wait in lounge”, ah! time for breakfast I thought as my toast was in the bin. “Wetherspoons they do a good English breakfast”. I sat at a table no 32 and now I had to order my food. I cannot leave my bag at the table so I left my coat. How do you manage to give a table number when you are flying alone? You cannot leave your bag. Good job I had a coat! A full English was the order and it arrived some 10 minutes later. It looked a bit tired with dried up beans and hard hash browns. Thank goodness for HP sauce.

By now the screens were showing 45 mins before the gate opened. this enabled me to get a plaster for my heel as it was sore from the new shoes I decided to wear. Down to 15 minutes now after browsing the bookshop. I was going to do some work on my PC but the enthusiasm waned. No sooner had I walked away from the screen when it showed boarding at gate 45. That was the quickest 15 minutes I had ever encountered. As usual when I got to the gate they were not boarding so the crowd waited a further 10 minutes before we boarded. During this wait I lowered my pulling handle on my brief case to make sure they did not take it off me and put it in the hold. The CRJ has small overhead bins. I do know that my bag fits as I have traveled before on the CRJ. The secret is to carry your bag, not pull it.

The doors closed at 10.59 and then we spent the next 15 minutes waiting to take off. Take off was at 11.15.

I felt like I had already done a days work. Don,t you just love flying??

I tried to find the original article from the New York Times I was not very successful, but in doing so I found so many other people that had been hung twice because they did not die the first time.

This piece of history fascinated me it was only 100 years ago.
If you would like to read one of the articles I did find in the New York Times follow the link

New York Times

For a six year old Grace asks some tough questions. This morning she asked why does the school bus take so long to go round the corner. I said it is because the driver has to make sure he does not go up the kerb. But how does he do that. I said he has to watch the rear wheels because they get closer to the kerb that the front ones. She seemed happy that.

She has been of ill on two days this week she was sent home on Wednesday and had Thursday off. The doctors don,t seem to know what is wrong ,but she was feeing better today. She told me it was not because she had singing on Thursday.

The walk is down hill most of the way to the school, and we see many people walking mostly in the opposite direction to the senior school. This morning not one person said good morning to us. I look at them to say hello and they turned away, Why? I do not understand this or perhaps I do. No-one cares about anyone but them selves these days it seems to me. They are too wrapped up in their little worlds to see what is going on around them. What makes it worse is when you say good morning and they just grunt and not a sign of a smile.. My granddaughter said why are they so sad granddad. What do I tell her. I just say they got out of the wrong side of the bed. What does that mean she said> I said well if some one gets out of the wrong side of the bed, they hit the wall and bang their head so they have a head ache thats why they are sad. Well they should take a paracetamol she said.

We often pass a mixed race girl about 14 years old on the way to school and she is the only one to say good morning to us before we say anything and she gives us a smile.

What is wrong with people today no time for anyone. I have found out since I have reached middle age that life is too short to be sad or angry. Live every day the next maybe your last. Remember you cannot get depressed if your head is up.

I am in Athens at the airport. It is my first time in Athens I hope it will not be my last as I am trying to secure a contract for some work here. I have budgeted my costs before I came here but  having had dinner here, I have adjusted them upwards. Dinner here cost me 98 euro eating on my own. I had Mozzarella with tomatoes for starter and Sea Bass for main. One Campari and soda and a half bottle of wine. No sweet. 98 euros can you believe it. They say to be a millionnare you have to think like one.  How long will a million last with prices like that.

What would the Greek Gods think I wonder. Not That I will see much of the Greek history this visit. When I was at school we studied quite a bit of Greek Mythology and I used to love the films that were  made at the time, all that flesh showing. I was a teenage boy you understand. Anyway I am getting off the subject here.

I was thinking how many people are doing what I am doing just to make a living. Living in hotels for 1 or 2 nights a week and then moving on to the next hotel and if you are lucky home. This is my third hotel this week if you count my fathers place. He is 84 and I visit him and stay when I travel down South to Gatwick.

many people workig like I do do not even have an Office they work from home and travell to see clients. Their social life is no existent just like mine. You cannot make arrangements as you never know where you are going to be, and when you do something turns up and you are on the road again. Is it really worth it? I don,t think so. I am on the verge of giving it all up and doing something different. I have seen most of the world and really now it is all the same. Shopping malls and MacDonalds everywhere. Why bother?

You prbably think what an old fart. So what do I really care?