Wizz Air takes delivery of its 100th A320 Family aircraft

Confirming the success of the A320 Family for low cost airlines

Wizz Air (WIZZ), one of the fastest-growing airlines in Europe and the leading low-cost carrier in Central and Eastern Europe, has taken delivery of its 100th A320 Family aircraft, an A321ceo, at an event in Budapest Airport. The event was attended by Mr. Levente Magyar, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. József Váradi, WIZZ’s Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Andreas Kramer, Airbus Vice President Sales Eastern Europe and Central Asia; as well as Mrs. Jessica Villardi, Pratt & Whitney Regional Vice President, Europe, Russia & CIS.

“Wizz Air started to operate its first Airbus aircraft 14 years ago. Today Wizz Air has become a true success story, and we are proud to have played a major role in this journey, providing the most efficient aircraft with the lowest operating costs combined with unbeatable comfort in the widest single aisle cabin in the skies,” said Eric Schulz, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.

The aircraft, which carries a special livery to mark the occasion, is powered by IAE engines and configured with 230 seats. It is also equipped with “Smart Lavs,” an optimised lavatory design providing more cabin length for more seats and improved seat recline for more comfort.

The aircraft will be deployed on WIZZ’s extensive regional and international network covering 141 destinations across 44 countries in Europe and beyond.

WIZZ will take delivery of 268 additional A320 family aircraft over the coming years.

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with more than 14,000 orders since launch and more than 8,100 aircraft delivered. Thanks to their widest cabin, all members of the A320 Family offer unmatched comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18-inch-wide seats in economy as standard. With one aircraft in four sizes (A318, A319, A320 and A321), the A320 Family – seating from 100 to 244 passengers –seamlessly covers the entire single-aisle segment, from low- to high-density domestic to longer range routes.

 

Source : Airbus Website

Boeing announces details of $100 million employee education investment

Crowdsourcing drives new learning programs funded by U.S tax reform savings

CHICAGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] launched new workforce development programs today, the latest step in fulfilling its 2017 pledge to invest $300 million in employees, infrastructure and local communities as a result of U.S. tax reform.

The new programs come after the company crowdsourced more than 40,000 ideas from employees through an online survey and dozens of iPad-equipped “Idea Stations” at Boeing sites worldwide.

“When we asked our people how best to invest in their learning and development they spoke up loud and clear,” said Heidi Capozzi, senior vice president of Human Resources. “We listened and read every single idea that was submitted. Our long-term plans represent a down payment on the future of our employees and tomorrow’s technical workforce.”

The workforce development programs will launch an online network of resources designed to make learning more accessible to employees at all levels of the company. A new partnership with Degreed.com will provide employees with access to online lessons, certification courses and degree programs. The investment will also fund several programs to help employees enhance technical skills and understand industry trends, tools and technologies. The first program will focus on digital literacy, a key enabler of Boeing’s growth strategies.

The company plans to announce additional employee education investments later this year.

Boeing also made a $6 million investment in the future technical workforce through a partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and several Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The strategic investment will support scholarships, internships and immersive “boot camp” programs to help students experience what it’s like to work at Boeing.

Boeing is a leader in supporting employee learning and workforce development, and was recently recognized by Indeed.com as one of the top 15 companies in the U.S. for pay and benefits. Boeing also offers formal mentorship programs, internships, rotation assignments and leadership training at the Boeing Leadership Center near St. Louis.

Contact:
Peter P. Pedraza
Boeing Communications
+1 312-544-2379
peter.p.pedraza@boeing.com

 

SOURCE : Boeing Website

Poisonous electronic waste being processed in secret: Ministry

national June 05, 2018 01:00

By The Nation

Four factories lose licences, banned from importing e-waste for 10 years

THE INDUSTRY Ministry has suspended import licences of four companies found sending electronic waste to other factories that have no permission to handle the toxic material.

Deputy Industry Minister Somchai Harnhirun said four of seven plants inspected over the weekend were found to be violating the factory law by transferring the waste.

The four companies are JPS Metal Group, Yong Thang Thai, OGI Company and SS Import Export International. They have combined capacity to deal with 150,000 tonnes of waste a year. One more factory |was being examined, Somchai said.

Companies are allowed to import toxic electronic waste from abroad in accordance with the 1992 Factory Law.

Factories found violating the law would be prohibited from importing any e-waste for 10 years, the minister said.

An estimated 31 million tonnes of industrial waste will be registered in Thailand this year. Of that amount, 2 million tonnes will be of a hazardous type.

According to official assessment, Thailand has the capacity to recycle most of the waste, but 10 per cent must be disposed of.

This industrial waste will be either buried in licensed landfills or incinerated.

Prawit Horrungruang, managing director of Suntech Metals Company Ltd, meanwhile dismissed reports that it was implicated in the electronic-waste scandal that broke out on May 29.

“None of the containers police checked that day have anything to do with us,” he said adding that a supplier had once sent the wrong containers to the company three years ago, with electronic waste inside.

“But we have already sent back those containers to the supplier. We have already settled the matter with the Customs Department here too,” Prawit said.

Greenpeace urges action

Greenpeace country director for Thailand Tara Buakamsri said the problem of electronic waste smuggling to Thailand was not new, as this trade is a global business that generates huge profits. Thailand has indeed long been the destination for hazardous waste dumping, Tara added.

He emphasised urgent government measures were necessary to stop the flow of hazardous electronic waste into the country, since the wellbeing of citizens and their right to live in a healthy environment was at stake.

“Thailand has quite strong laws and regulations for hazardous waste management, but what the authorities lack is strict enforcement of those laws,” he said.

Dr Wachira Phengchan, director-general of the Health Department said toxins in electronic waste are health hazards whether they are consumed, exposed to the skin or inhaled.

Wachira said children and pregnant women face the highest risk from exposure to heavy metals and other poisons in e-waste, which can occur if they live near the recycling plants.

“The main toxic substance in electronic waste is lead, which can destroy the nervous system and disrupt child development. This e-waste also contains mercury, which is poisonous to the brain and nervous system as well,” he said.

He also warned there are other highly toxic substances in electronic waste, such as bromine, cadmium and chlorine that are very hazardous to people’s health.

 

Source :  The Nation Multimedia

Doyouthinkhesaurus: Thai ‘T-Rex’ cop gives traffic safety lessons

Around Thailand June 04, 2018 19:42

By Agence France-Presse
Nakhon Nayok

A high-fiving Thai traffic cop who shrugs off the heat — and the bemused glances of passers-by — to wear a T-rex costume to work says his prehistoric uniform is teaching kids road safety and convincing parents to obey traffic laws.

Sargent Tanit Bussabong has around 20 different outfits he reserves for traffic duty outside a kindergarten in Nakhon Nayok, a few hours outside Bangkok, including Minnie Mouse and a bear.

But he says the green, furry dinosaur outfit — complete with tiny arms — is “the most popular” with children and their parents.

A year after he first donned the costume, which makes him look as though he is riding a T-rex, Tanit says amused children are learning to trust authority and wait before crossing the road.

“They are happy, so am I,” he told AFP, adding that their “parents are also developing more respect for traffic laws.”

Source :  The Nation Multimedia

May the force be with you!

sports June 05, 2018 01:00

By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam
The Nation

Ariya conquers her demons to win biggest event in women’s golf.

 

Ariya Jutanugarn displayed fighting qualities worthy of a champion to dig herself out of a deep hole and win the $5 million US Women’s Open on Sunday.

The Kingdom’s most successful golfer squandered a seven-shot lead with nine holes remaining before edging out South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo on the fourth playoff hole to become the first Thai to claim the richest prize in women’s golf.

“ I feel great and really excited,” said 22-year-old Ariya, whose maiden Major was at the 2016 Women’s British Open.

“I’m really honoured to join the list of winners before me.”

The Bangkokian has endured setbacks before enjoying triumphs throughout her six years on the pro circuit – and so it was during the final round in Shoal Creek, Alabama.

Standing on 16-under-par and holding a seven-shot lead heading to the back nine, Ariya appeared to be cruising to her ninth career win and her second in a row after winning in Virginia a fortnight ago.

But a triple bogey on the 10th hole followed by two more bogeys on the 12th and 17th meant she needed to par the 18th to beat Kim.

However, she missed a 12-foot par putt to finish with a 73 for a 72-hole total of 11-under 277, to force a four-hole playoff with Kim, a one-time Major winner herself.

This time she did not suffer the meltdown that got the better out of her at the 2013 LPGA Thailand and 2016 ANA Inspiration, two big events she allowed to slip from her grasp.

In all four playoff holes, her first and second shots missed the fairways and even found the bunkers but Ariya, known to her fans as May, showed she had learned from her troubled past and somehow managed to keep her cool.

Kim birdied the first playoff hole and made bogey on the second, while Jutanugarn had a pair of pars.

They each made par on the third playoff hole and then Ariya pounced at the fourth, hitting out of the bunker and tapping home an easy championship par putt tory as Kim missed her par putt.

“After you have a seven-shot lead and end up having to go to a playoff, I had no expectations,” she said.

“If I have a playoff then I’m going to make sure I do my best every shot because I felt like I didn’t commit on the back nine. I felt like I had a last chance to make myself proud.”

Mother Narumon Tiwattanasuk and Ariya’s elder sister Moriya, who celebrated her own maiden LPGA win in California two months ago, were enormously relieved after watching the finale from the stands.

“You are such a fighter – – you never give up,” Moriya posted on her Facebook page. “I am so proud of you. What you did today was very encouraging. It was amazing to watch.”

With the win, Ariya will climb to No 2 in the world later this week as she sets her sights on returning to the top spot she held for two weeks last year.

“I haven’t thought about the ranking for a while but, of course, after this win I’ll be thinking about the ranking. I want to be No 1 to inspire all the kids in Thailand,” said Ariya, who earned US$900,000 from the win to take her career earnings past the $6 million mark.

However Ariya won’t be returning home just yet because she still has plenty of events to come in the US and Europe. All she is allowing herself is a one-week break before her next tournament in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit won the Best Low Amateur category, which meant Thais won both the professional and amateur categories of the 2018 Women’s US Open.

The UCLA freshman finished with two under-par-286 for tied fifth place alongside Lexi Thompson of the US, Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan and Sarah Jane Smith of Australia.

 

 

 

Source :  The NATION Multimedia