urban909

Awesome Cycles is a great place to go, whether you have ridden for a while or are new to it. They teach you to ride on anything from scooters to sport bikes (albeit on small cc bikes). I took the weekend, two day course, and if you pass their class you can take that information to the DPS office and just take the written. If you want to move beyond scooters, then you will already have your Class M on your license.

The UTA has ordered the same Siemans S70 LRV's that are currently used by METRO. Siemens Breaks Its Own Record for Largest Light Rail Vehicle Order

Looks like the 787 is making a rare stop at the Big Airport later this evening. If any of you want to brave the elements, here is the flight information. Should be landing around 19:00. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE5

Wanted to put this post in here (instead of starting a new topic), unless that is needed: December/end of year traffic numbers for international flights at IAH: Courtesy of Jim @ iahspottersclub via houstonspotters.net Air France was down 14.66%. They deplaned 5516 pax and enplaned 6456 pax. Load factors were 72% to IAH and 84% from IAH. For the year AF traffic was down by 15.6%. British Airways had a 15.65% decrease. They deplaned 8910 pax and enplaned 9169 pax. Load factors were 60% to IAH and 62% from IAH. For the year BA traffic was up by 1.3%. Emirates saw an increase of 74.29%. They deplaned 11,819 pax and enplaned 14,824 pax. Load factors were 72% to IAH and 90% from IAH. For the year EK traffic was up by 20.06%. Emirates is now the biggest international airline at IAH, besides Continental. The last two months EK has carried more passengers than any other international airline. KLM had a decrease of 3.28%. They deplaned 7328 pax and enplaned 7062 pax. Load factors were 78% to IAH and 75% from IAH. For the year KL traffic was down by 2.6%. Lufthansa decreased 0.67%. They deplaned 8393 pax and enplaned 8551 pax. Load factors were 85% to IAH and 87% from IAH. For the year LH traffic was up by 14.2%. Qatar Airways saw an increase of 1.26%. They deplaned 6380 pax and enplaned 8551 pax. Load factors were 79% to IAH and 94% from IAH. For the year QR traffic was up by 53.26%. Singapore Airlines increased 34.21%. They deplaned 5736 pax and enplaned 4728 pax. Load factors were 67% to IAH and 55% from IAH. Of the 5736 that flew to IAH 3705 started in SIN while 2031 got on at DME. Of the 4728 that left IAH 1355 got off at DME while 3373 continued to SIN. For the year Singapore Airlines was up 52.94%. VivaAerobus had estimated load factors of 72% to IAH and 62% from IAH. Alaska Airlines had load factors of 74% to IAH and 69% from IAH. Year end: Now that 2010 is in the books we can take a look and see how IAH did for the year. Total passengers at IAH were 40,479,569. That's a 1.2% increase over 2009. Domestic passengers were down 0.7% with 31,971,691. Compare that to 2009 with 32,197,411. International passengers did well at IAH with an increase of 8.9%. There were 8,507,878 international passengers at IAH in 2010. In 2009 there were 7,809,943. Cargo also had an increase in 2010. Air freight in lbs was 857,764,000. That's a 15.8% jump from '09.

I don't even think the 772 has the range capability, in terms of diversion time rules, etc. That had been mentioned by someone an airliners.net. I hope Boeing gets the kinks worked out quickly too. Setbacks happen (A380), and at least these problems are happening before frames are flying, instead of after they've had them delivered.

A 744 would be overkill for this flight. Even a 772 might be too much. The 788 was designed for long and thin routes, such as this. Too bad for Boeing and UA/CO (and me). I was hoping that my wife and would be able to fly this next year.

I used to live in Jakarta during the mid-nineties. We flew from IAH to LAX/SFO to KAI to SIN to CGK and that took about 36 hours! Now that was a brutal! I truly wish we had this flight then, as it would have cut out around 14 hours or so.

Courtesy of Houstonspotters.net: Air France saw a decrease of 11.88%. They deplaned 5573 pax and enplaned 7256 pax. Load factors were 63% to IAH and 82% from IAH. British Airways had a 17.90% increase. They deplaned 8404 pax and enplaned 9873 pax. Load factors were 54% to IAH and 63% from IAH. Emirates saw an increase of 21.23%. They deplaned 5614 pax and enplaned 5748 pax. Load factors were 70% to IAH and 72% from IAH. KLM had an increase of 0.22%. They deplaned 7168 pax and enplaned 7242 pax. Load factors were 75% to IAH and 76% from IAH. Lufthansa increased 27.62%. They deplaned 8799 pax and enplaned 9224 pax. Load factors were 83% to IAH and 87% from IAH. Qatar Airways saw a 25.59% increase. They deplaned 4325 pax and enplaned 4763 pax. Load factors were 56% to IAH and 61% from IAH. Singapore Airlines had an increase of 73.67%. They deplaned 3611 pax and enplaned 3692 pax. Of the 3611 that got off at IAH, 2126 got on at SIN while 1485 got on at DME. Of the 3692 that left IAH, 1474 got off at DME while 2218 continued their journey to SIN. Load factors were 62% to IAH and 63% from IAH. VivaAerobus had nine flights in September. They deplaned 620 pax and enplaned 564 pax. Estimated load factors were 46% to IAH and 42% from IAH.

Courtesy of Houstonspotters.net: Effective February 17th, United Airlines will commence operating a daily SFO-IAH-LIM service utilizing 2-class B767-300 equipment. UA854 SFO-IAH 0835-1416 763 UA854 IAH-LIM 1550-2325 763 UA855 LIM-IAH 0055-0630 763 UA855 IAH-SFO 0900-1121 763 This service will replace current Continental IAH-LIM B757 flight

I saw it last night too on my way home from work. (I work at Memorial City Mall). It definitely has a unique look to it.

It is, but I was hoping for something a little different. Maybe it's just because it's weird seeing the name "United" on CO's livery. It would have been nice to see a better hybrid blend.

Now that IAH is supposed to be United's main hub, I would think that the current capacity (ex. shifting their domestic 772's), as far as gate space goes, might be stretched. On a side note, the "new" livery is horrible.

I believe that both the 748I and 748F are fully able to use any airport facility that already handles those aircraft.

We have also been able to handle the AN-225 Mriya.

You mean a 77W (ER) ....

From houstonspotter.net: A contingent of Denver city and business leaders traveled to Japan last week to remind aviation officials that interest remains strong in attracting All Nippon Airways nonstop service between Tokyo and Denver. Visits by Denver airport and business officials to woo the airline have gone on for more than a decade, though Denver has maintained the pressure for the past six years. "We wanted them to know we're still aggressively pursuing the service," said Sally Covington, marketing chief at Denver International Airport. The nonstop service from Tokyo's Narita International Airport is important for DIA, Covington said, adding, "Tokyo is the gateway to Asia for us." Covington said the Tokyo-Denver connection would mean about $120 million a year in direct revenue for DIA and indirect and induced revenues. All Nippon Airways is the "launch" customer for the Boeing 787, called the "Dreamliner." Testing of the new 210-seat aircraft has been delayed. The Japanese carrier is considering at least two U.S. cities to serve with the widebody jet, with Boston, Houston and Miami also suggested. http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14924074

I agree with most on NASCAR. Bring some F1 racing or even better MotoGP or the Superbike, middleweight classes. Now THATS something I would go see. Rossi, Stoner, etc battling it out with in driving distance from my house! Nathan

huh...the only reason i asked was because on metro's website on phase II i believe, there is a commuter line on the map. i truly hope they continue to keep that 50 foot right-of-way. i drive out on westpark to 1463 every day and it is obvious and i know that is set aside; i just hope they continue to keep it, as it would be nice to have some sort of mass transit along that route. nathan

so they are not going to put rail along the westpark right-of-way? dang! i didn't know TXDOT was already going to expand lanes on the Westpark. i can see where it would be useful to extend it past 1463, but i thought commuter rail was in the works to go to Fulshear along that right of way? (i think, though, that Ft Bend County has not wanted to be a part of METRO do to taxes) the reason i am asking is that i recently moved out to katy and was reeeallly hoping for rail to be out here within the next 5 years-ish... nathan

ive been using it though, on the weekends and on "off" hours on my motorcycle. cops have actually passed me and i haven't been pulled over yet...

one thing i don't understand is why a two directional HOV/Tollway is not 24 hours. sorry if this was in one of the other posts, but it should at least be open on the weekends...

i noticed on the system map (phase II) there is now a commuter rail line going along the westpark tollway out to fulshear...when did this come about?

thanks. i know there are more than that its just a matter of trying to remember them all...i'll check out some of yours as well as i am always looking for new music.

The Adicts And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead The Arcade Fire Atreyu Beirut Bjork Black Flag Black Lips Boards of Canada Broken Social Scene Burning Brides The Capricorns Carissa's Wierd Circa Survive Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah The Cure Dead Kennedys Death From Above 1979 The Decemberists Depeche Mode Desaparecidos Dresdon Dolls Eagles of Death Metal Echo and the Bunnymen The Faint Franz Ferdinand The Future Heads Guitar Wolf Interpol Jay Reatard Joy Division, Kasabian Kill Hannah Knapsack Le Tigre The Mars Volta Mellowdrone Mew MGMT M.I.A. Misfits Modest Mouse Morrissey Muse Nathan Bostick New Order New York Dolls Oceansize Of Montreal Pixies Placebo The Quadrajets Radiohead The Ramones The Rapture Richard Hell and the Voidoids Sage Francis Silverson Pickups The Smiths The Sounds Syntax TV on the Radio... just to name a few

Singapore has a Consulate General in Houston, but I am suprised the UAE doesn't have one as Qatar does. Nigeria is also one I am suprised doesn't have consulate representation in Houston...