Flying Over Panama

The Panama Canal expansion and the australian trade

2010-07-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Last time I mentioned that Panama started to recover after the crisis and had the great challenge of expanding the Panama Canal.

The Panamanian people are very enthusiast about this project which will drive the economy. It will allow the transit of larger vessels so there will be more traffic and the government would collect more taxes for the passage of boats.

However, this is not a good deal for everyone. In his blog, Samuel Taliaferro talked very well about the consequences of the expansion of the Panama Canal “ Australia’s iron ore exporters are going to have to start dealing quite soon with the implications of the upgrade to the Panama Canal... Bear in mind that while Australia enjoys a geographical advantage over Brazil as an iron ore supplier to Asia, Vale's iron ore is of slightly higher quality, so competition to ship ore into China is going to heat up...”

You can find his post here: How the canal expansion may affect Australia mining?

The source article was published in The australian.com. It shows the concern of Australian ore exporters because of the Canal expansion which will increase competition for the export of ore to China. It is interesting to see the Panama Canal in this light. The coming years will tell how the Australian trade is impacted by the expansion of the canal and if the expectation of the government and the Panamanian people is reached. Stay tuned.

The Panama Canal expansion

2010-07-22T02:13:00.001-07:00

After a severe economic crisis that shook the global economy, some regions return to top. Panama is one of them. Indeed, this year, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) expects a 5% growth rate for the country, the highest growth of the region after the Dominican Republic, which expects 6% growth rate.

While the Dominican Republic bases its economy on tourism, Panama focused its economy on public infrastructure such as mining projects and the expansion of the Canal. The Panama Canal generates $ 5 million a day in revenue for Panama, but it became obsolete.

The expansion of the Canal is a pharaonic site: 7 years of work, five billion dollars to accommodate bigger ships.

Since its opening, the canal was a huge success and continues to be a key conduit for navigation. Each year, it is used by more than 14,000 ships carrying more than 203 million tons of cargo.

Its construction has been one of the most difficult engineering projects ever. Its impact on maritime trade was considerable, since it shortened the route of vessels. Although restored to Panama, the canal is still considered an inland waterway by the United States: it is thus stipulated in the treaty of surrender that ships flying the American flag have a right of way over another.
The Panama Canal is, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) , one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

In Panama -a small country of three million inhabitants in which the U.S. has restored Canal December 31, 1999- everything related to shipping is a state-wide matter. This unprecedented investment - a $ 5.2 billion - has first been the subject of a national referendum. In 2006, nearly 80% of the population voted in favor of the initiation of work. The day it began,September 3, 2007, all employees and students enjoyed from a Panamanian holiday, to better savor this historic moment.

The Canal has already brought four billion dollars to the country's budget hence Panama, wants to make it a business.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, winner of the Open de France:

2010-07-15T03:22:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was so impressed by the Solar Impulse that I have not talked about the open de France. So let me catch up on that story.

One week after the BMW tournament in Munich, to the Open de France Alstom took place in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The specificity of this event is that it never happens in the same city twice year after year.

Following a decisive play-off hole No. 18, Miguel Angel Jimenez won the most prestigious tournament EPGA, played on the course of the Golf National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The Spanish defeated his compatriot Alejandro Canizares, and the Italian Francesco Molinari. Gregory Bourdy ranks 9th, four shots behind the winner. German Kaymer, who won the title last year, has played well the last day but he could not go through.

Two weeks after his great run at the U.S. Open where he finished in 2nd place, Gregory Havret did not shine in his homeland: the 94th Open de France Alstom was over for the leading french player only two days after it started. Another french Grégory, Gregory Bourdy, ended up first in the list of the french players attending this edition 2010.

At 46 years old, Miguel Angel Jimenez breaks a record:never in the history of the open de France have we seen someone that old win the tournament. He posed for the official photo with a big smile and a cigar in his mouth.

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Successful challenge for the solar plane Solar Impulse

2010-07-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

The fact that we can fly 24 hours around the clock with nothing but sunlight has been successfully demonstrated by Solar Impulse. Solar impulse is an experimental aircraft that has been designed by a Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard who completed the first trip around the world with a hot air balloon in 1999. It was piloted by Andre Borschberg, CEO and co-founder of the project, a former fighter pilot.

The electro-solar plane landed today,Thursday, July 8 in the morning without incident after a flight of 26 hours only powered by solar energy and batteries.
The aircraft hit the runway at the military base of Payerne, in western Switzerland, cheered by hundreds of spectators.
The prototype, whose wings are covered with 12,000 photovoltaic cells powering four electric engines, took off Wednesday morning and continued the night flight without interruption , a first for the aircraft and the team. The lithium-polymer batteries 400kg installed on the aircraft, which have been recharged by solar panels throughout the day Wednesday, provided the energy to keep the aircraft in the air during red-eye hours. Solar Impulse had succeeded on April 7 in Switzerland its first flight about an hour and a half, the first step in a series of tests. "We did it, it's fantastic!" Said Bertrand Piccard.

The team of about 70 people plans to conduct more flights to calibrate the machine and eventually build a second copy, which will tour the world in five stops in 2013 or 2014.

Lucquin performance at BMW International Open

2010-07-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

Jean-Francois Lucquin made a good performance of the weekend at BMW International Open. The event was organized by BMW. A “hole in one on 17” and he left Munich at the wheel of a BMW 5 series. The French golf players are on a roll. I mentioned in a previous post the performance of Gregory Havret at Pebble Beach. now let’s see if they maintain that success at the Open de France which takes place from July 1st to 4th in France.

Robertson, BMW Group Board Member for Sales and Marketing, said: “Extraordinary sporting exploits deserve special reward. We’re very pleased that finally another player has succeed in winning this excellent prize, and wish Jean-François Lucquin every enjoyment with the BMW 535i.”
Lucquin celebrated with planting a kiss on the bonnet of his new car. Just one player had ever previously managed a hole-in-one at the Dornröschenloch, Raphael Jacquelin winning a BMW Z8 in recognition of his achievement here in 2001. And now his fellow compatriot Lucquin has followed in his footsteps.

Civil aviation test the fuel from algae

2010-06-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

We've heard a lot about algae which polluted seafood and attracted the ire of local residents. Beyond the negative effect of algae on shellfish, it is used as food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Today, I will talk about the use of algae in biofuel production. Indeed, freshwater algae can produce biomass. The first barrels of fuel made from algae have been produced and it is precisely the aviation industry who decided to test this new type of fuel, which explains my interest in the subject.

EADS, the parent of Airbus, has managed to fly a plane with a fuel derived from 100% algae. It was at the Berlin Airshow. The manufacturer estimated that biofuels could represent up to 30% of jet fuel used by 2030. EADS was very satisfied with the trial and they decided to keep going on in this direction. "It is a world first and a milestone for research at EADS, said Jean Botti, Chief Technical Director responsible for the multinational experience.This open the door for flignts carbon neutral and we will continue our research in this exciting field.”
Ecology has become a major concern for the aviation industry as evidenced by the Green Air Show held at Bourget a few days ago, which I talked about earlier.

The use of algae would be a good alternative to first generation biofuels such as ethanol which reduce the area dedicated to food culture, exacerbating hunger world. EADS said that the production of algae was not a threat to the crop for food because the alga was grown on very poor soils irrigated with unclean water or salt water.

But the challenge is to reach a production of algae at large scale and competitive price as yet, it is more expensive to produce algae oil then fuel made from oil. The aviation industry must innovate in clean fuels.

Europeans have dominated the US Open

2010-06-22T07:45:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Open at Pebble Beach had a surprise ending. The victory of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the top-ranked golf players, was expected. However this was not the case. In the end, the British player Graemme McDowell won. He recorded 284 hits in total counting after four innings.By winning the U.S. Open, the 30 year-old Brit, became the first European to win the title last 40 years. It is the biggest victory of his career.

"It's wonderful, I cannot believe it” admitted McDowell, receiving the trophy for the winner. “Winning a tournament is always demanding and winning the U.S. Open on a course like Pebble Beach is extraordinarily difficult. "

The Europeans have made a good run in this tournament : The French player -Gregory Havret- reached the second place even though this was his first participation to this competition. The two men succeeded to handle the stress to share a competition with the golf superstar Tiger Woods.

The winners played a good hand because the U. S. Open, one of the most prestigious golf tournaments of the season, is one of four majors.

I like Tiger Woods, he is a great player but it’s refreshing to have unexpected winners. As the saying goes “nothing is impossible”.

The way Easy Jet projects "nature friendly" aviation

2010-06-14T03:40:00.000-07:00

Currently, we talk a lot about environment, the role of transport and people behaviour in climate change. Despite the fact that I love planes, I am aware of their downsides, especially when it comes to environment. Flight is one of the most polluting forms of transportation, essentially because of noise and air pollution. Despite the decrease of sound energy and fuel consumption, the air traffic keeps growing thus the pollution too.

People debate about wich is more polluting: road or air traffic? Nevermind the answer, both cars and planes are challenged to do better.

Therefore I’m grateful when I see a growing number of companies thinking about environmental issues in their conceptions like Easy Jet. The company is working on eco planes which will launch in 2015. Code-named EcoJet, this unit would be 25% quieter and it would issue up to 50% less CO2 and 75% less NOx than today's most modern aircraft in operation (families 737 and Airbus A320). It’s a good point.

By the way, speaking at the UN’s climate summit in New York, Mr Walsh, the boss of British Airways, said: "International aviation emissions were not included in the Kyoto protocol 12 years ago. Now we have a chance to rectify that omission. Our proposals represent the most environmentally effective and practical means of reducing aviation's carbon impact. They are the best option for the planet and we urge the UN to adopt them."

Is this a communication strategy or a real desire to fight for the environment? The question is in the future commitment of aircraft industry. The increase of air traffic is the challenge for the engineers conceiving large and clean planes for a “nature friendly” aviation.

Good news for the aviation fans who care about ecology, there will be soon The Green Air Show at the museum of Air and Space of Bourget, 18-20 June 2010. This is a great idea to make people aware of the industry’s commitment to environment. It’s a good opportunity to see exhibitions devoted exclusively to technological innovations in aviation: electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells, solar energy, reduction of noise pollution, use of non-polluting paints, sustainable development applied to airports, runways, aircraft villages, lectures and workshops for engineers, researchers and students, educational workshops to explain new technologies to the general public.

Have a good week end!

A. Beladina

Continental unsheath Dreamliner 787

2010-06-02T01:52:00.000-07:00

If there is a plane getting a fair share of the press these days, it's none but the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Some are calling it the iPhone of aviation, because it is the first plane that has been designed exclusively during the 21st century. With around US$10 billion spent on its development by Boeing, this composite material ultra-light fuel-efficient aircraft hopes to revolutionise point-to-point services. In a depressed travel market, the Dreamliner has the edge on fast turn-around routes and manageable size. In other words, thanks to its light weight and its condensed size, the Dreamliner is extremely flexible in terms of endurance and airport regulations.

The Dreamliner is not a low-cost concept. Its interior is voluptuous and designed for comfort. Here are a few novelties brought to the Dreamliner:

- The windows are 65% larger than the wall-holes we have on traditional commercial aircrafts. As Randy Tinseth mentions, VP Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle, the windows are dimmable electronically.
- Larger overhead bins
- Better air-filtration system, lower cabin pressure, quieter cabins
- Reduction of motion-sickness thanks to new wing technology

That's a lot of innovation in one shot!

In terms of business, the Dreamliner is not depreciated either. Today, Continental announced it will be the first airliner to assign the Dreamliner to a commercial route. The D-day is scheduled on Nov. 16, 2011. Continental plans to deploy its first 787 on the 7,400-mile route between Houston Bush Intercontinental and Auckland, New Zealand.

As an outing eye-candy, here are a few pictures I snapped from right and left on the Web to bring it to you on this blog:

Official page of the Boeing Dreamliner 787

André Beladina new official Website - Video

2010-05-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,

I am happy to announce the launch of my new Website, andrebeladina.com.pa. The new Website delivers quality information about who I am, like my education, my passion for aviation, and my project Isla Viveros.

To better illustrate the look and feel of the new Website, I made this little video above that you can watch.

I already have a blog and a few other social networks hanging right and left, but I needed I well-presented, high-standing, visually-pleasing Website to guarantee a good online reputation. This Website tells you everything about André Beladina, from his birthplace to his new homeland, Panama.

Since Panama is a very international destination, I chose to have the Website in three languages: French, English and Spanish. Hopefully, this will make the content accessible to most people who wish to know more about André Beladina.

Best,

André Beladina

On Giving Up One's Citizenship

2010-05-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Samuel Taliaferro published an interesting article on his blog that was written by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr., the Libertarian activist. In this article, Lew Rockwell rants on the implications of giving up one's US citizenship, and argues that it is in the roots of the United States' constitution to have the right to leave to seek greater freedom, since freedom is what the US are all about.

Lew Rockwell writes these words in reaction to the recent findings that show a rise in US citizenship revocation demands from US citizens. If a US citizen wishes to live in another country, he is still expected to declare his revenues in the United States and pay his taxes accordingly. The Government may also request a living-abroad US citizen to do military time for the US Governement, hence the need to give up one's citizenship to un-tether oneself from the US Government:

Even when a person gives up US citizenship, and establishes citizenship with a freer country, the US government can still haunt him with continuing tax obligations and demands for military service.

In Lew Rockwell's instance, US citizens attempt to lose their US citizenship because they have found more satisfying freedom models elsewhere. However, on a broader scale, giving up one's land and permanently migrating to a new more fulfilling one is a topic that appeals to my most inner senses.

I too have decided to cut the cord with France, the country where I was raised and spent a good part of my adulthood. However, when I found Panama, France lost all of its significance. Panama is a paradise land, with breath-taking landscapes and the most heart-warming population. Moreover, I am an entrepreneur, and Panama is a country filled with all sorts of business opportunities.

Unfortunately, breaking up with my former homeland was not a piece of cake. Any unresolved business with the French administration keeps haunting you even though your mind is already on the other side of the globe. Despite the little trouble I went through, I am glad I was French and not American, because I don't think I would have appreciate having a foreign Government following me wherever I go and pretend that my soul (and earnings) belongs to them.

On that level, Lew Rockwell is absolutely right, the US governement went way over the line, and what started as the land of the free became the land of the muzzled! Lord have mercy on the soul of the unscrupulous individuals who benefit from these shameless laws!

Read Lew Rockwell on the Panama Investor Blog.

Continental-United Merge, Customers Approve!

2010-05-07T01:47:00.000-07:00

Sylvain Duford over at the Sylvain's Panama Adventure blog has some crunchy news for all of us commercial flights regulars. With Continental and United merging to form the number 1 commercial flights, inhabitants of Panama who also are members of the Star Alliance will benefit from a much wider selection of destination to choose from:

Given that I have lots of Star Alliance points, this merger is going to make it much easier for us to travel in and out of Panama where Continental has a strong presence. And since Continental is a majority share owner in Panama’s COPA Airlines, that should open lots of doors to all of Latin America!

Most of the time, when we think merger, we think quality downgrade, loss of customer care, and mostly brand confusion. Hiwever, this historical American fusion seems to be the entire opposite. Merging allows to expand each customer's destination choice without the sweat of going through yet another airline company. Obviously, as mentionned above, holders of fidelity cards are probably the most rewarded by this merger.

However, customers are not the only ones benefiting from this new merged mega-company. Here is an excerpt from the Let's Fly Together Website:

Customers and Communities to Benefit from Greater, Easier Access to World’s Most Comprehensive Network; Preserves and Enhances Service to Small Communities

Employees to Benefit from Enhanced Long-Term Career Opportunities and Greater Stability as Part of Stronger Global Competitor

Shareholders to Benefit from Strong Financial Foundation, Expected Net Annual Synergies of $1.0 Billion to $1.2 Billion and Sustainable Long-Term Value

Award-Winning Customer Service Combines With Industry-Leading On-Time Performance

Industry-Leading Frequent Flyer Program Provides More Opportunities to Earn and Redeem Miles Worldwide

Existing Alliance Partnership Provides Platform for Smooth Integration

Name of Airline Will be United with Continental’s Logo and Livery

Well, there is probably some dirt associated with this merger, but it's certainly well-hidden behind this pile of customer goodnes :)

Fly Keen, Fly Green

2010-04-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

After I've literally devoured Yves Galland & Gil Roy's "Révolution aéronautique, le défi de l’environnement", I've decided to share with you my thoughts about the aviation industry.

70% less fuel than 40 years ago. Carbon dioxyde emissions divided by two. It doesn't seem right with the air traffic about to double by 2025. An utopia is what it is. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see that happen, but when you read that Clean Sky would want to decrease the noise and carbon dioxide emissions of planes by 50% before 2020, you can only hope.

Purity. Planes, as well as cars, will reach their goal of being pure. That's what Yves Galland & Gil Roy seem to be thinking, and I totally agree with them.

Should it be their first concern though? That would not be the solution to unravel last year's crash concerning travel and tourism. A gradual recovery is expected, a growth in employment, visitor exports, investment and of course travel and tourism economy. By 2011, everything should be back to "normal", as long as people will love to travel and discover new places.

Surely Aerial transport represents a lot of money for the worldwide economy. But now, more than ever, it has become a need. So when your plane is ready to make its last journey, to the scrap yard, don't even think of buying used parts. Nowadays, illicit trade has taken a huge step forward. Remember, buying a fake bag is not as dangerous as a fake tail rotor.

Let's not try to postpone the inevitable, but to anticipate it. Research is being made to increase the quality of the air, I don't want my passion to prevent my fellow pilots from flying.
What's best for the Earth is what I care about. Hence, what's best for the Earth, is what's best for Panama.

Bienvenidos a Panama

2010-04-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Bienvenidos a Panama - travel and culture
envoyé par AndreBeladina. - Découvrez de nouvelles destinations en vidéo.

I love travelling, especially in Panama. The country of Reggaeton, Seco Herrerano and its Mejorana, Panama is the idealistic place to get away thanks to its beaches, palmtrees, its Capital city, its Panameans and its unrivaled sundowns.

Bocas del Toro, Colón, Chiriquí, Darién, Herrera, Los Santos, Panamá, Veraguas are the composers of Panama. I have seen many things there. It is very surprising to notice the cultural differences which you can discover in an only country. Courses, dances, or even Panamean musics are all different from one land to another. This is due to the number of cultures living there. Indeed, Panama is composed by seven native populations, Kunas, Emberas, Wounans, Nasos ,Bri-Bris and the Guaymi or Ngobe Bugles.

My passion for Panama comes from thoses beaches full of plamtrees, which are perfect for a nap contemplating the landscape. You also have to rely on its hot white sand, its azure-blue seas, like the ones you see on post cards and travel catalogues. It is possible to jump on a small boat to go diving between fishes and cowries. But the excursion has no limit but the magical islands. Magical because once you've set foot on them, it very hard to leave. Inland, it's another world we find. Panama has a very luxurious jungle, vegetation, waterfallsand all its exotic animals. The capital, Panama city, is incredible. Indeed, we can find, multicolor buses, and the Panama carnival is a festival of music, dance and confettis.

To be in the best confort available, Panam hotels are an ideal, with a panoramic view of the town from the swimming pools. Don't forget the Panama Canal, one of the most important historical monuments of the country. The must see is definitely the town by night. Everything is illuminated, it seems like no one is asleep.

André Beladina

Panama Panacea

2010-03-25T03:41:00.001-07:00

A little while ago, I remember taking a young guy out on an airplane ride in the skies of Panama. That guy, Skip Knowles, wrote an article about that time we met. I love this post because it's probably the best piece of content that holds my name on the Web. Here is an excerpt I like:

Circling above the Pearl Islands, pilot Andre' Beladina dipped the wing of the Beechcraft Baron 58 down toward the sea, and the new private-island community he co-founded, Isla Viveros, popped into view: strips of ivory sand wrapping around glimmering beach coves, rock promontories rimmed with sea foam, huge palm trees reaching for the ocean, and the new airstrip emerging from the jungle. That bright white coral sand beach is the best in all the Pearls, a standout section of the 20 miles of waterfront the island has due to its three-pronged shape.

Wow! That sounds like I took those guys an a trip to paradise! I am glad that the persons who come to visit our region liked it so much, because it is the exact reason why I stayed here.

I don't remember if I ever thanked those guys for the really nice article they wrote about me. If not, thanks guys! Come back whenever you want, Isla Viveros is there for you!

Andre Dailymotion Beladina

2010-03-23T06:35:00.001-07:00

Here at Isla Viveros, we have been heavily relying on video to show off the beautiful landscapes that make Panama. Today, I was having fun cruising around Dailymotion. First, I created two groups: The "I am Andre Beladina" group, which compiles some videos I made that have my name in it; and the "Isla Viveros" group, which combines videos from Isla Viveros. If you'd like to contribute some videos to those groups, follow the links and join in!

Dailymotion doesn't just let users create groups, I was also able to build up a few playlists that I will keep on furnishing in the coming months. First, because I like video games, I created the "Panama Gaming" playlist. This is for anyone who likes video games, and would like to share some games screenshots with me (please make it related to Panama). I also created the "Panama Sports" playlists, hoping that I will have more and more time to contribute to it, since there aren't that many sources of panamean sports. Finally, I created the "Panama Canal", because I know there are thousands of videos out there about this beautiful route that takes you from the Far-east to the Far-west, alas not that easy to find all of them.

If you too, you have a passion for Panama, and you like to bundle up videos into smooth-looking playlists, please do share your links in the comments section. I am just tired of having to do long searches before finding the content I am looking for, so I hope that this page will be visible through search engines to help those looking for those sweet Panama videos.

By the way, I forgot to mention, for those who are not used to video-sharing platforms, that Dailymotion is free to use, and it is also free to join the groups I created. It's really about sharing interest in Panama and all it has to offer! Hope you got that from the get-go :)

Panama's Coming Up Roses

2010-03-18T06:54:00.001-07:00

Recently, I read an interesting article anticipating the fact that Panama was becoming the Hong Kong of the Americas, kind of the central historically-controlled-by-Anglosaxons haven where everything transits through. Well this is a very true statement. Today, Panama is the most powerful economy of Central America. Tourism is one of the top three most profitable sectors in this country.

In 2006, the people of Panama voted to remain aggressive in the freight business by opening up larger access for larger boats who still had to go 'round South America to cross the continent. By enabling the access to larger boats, Panama will welcome many more freights through its canal, and the benefits will experience a correlated growth.

Those new changes are generating the need for 40,000 new jobs in the region, am astounding economic boost that could drive the emergence of other related activities. This comes as good news in a country where 40% of the population lives below the level of poverty.

In the long-run, Panama will be rolling on an highway of new opportunities: Create low fiscal areas, duty free resorts, anything that could attract people in a place that is blooming financially. Panama needs to diversify its economy as the freight economy is not the sexiest business ever. I (André Beladina) am working on building places for foreigners to come enjoy the life in Panama around the theme of golf. I simply hope that other folks are like me: loving this country, betting on it, and contributing to make it a top destination on earth.

Blogger Exchange Links, Grow Blog

2010-03-15T08:18:00.001-07:00

Hi,

My name is Andre Beladina and I am looking to exchange links with fellow bloggers who like to talk about anything from planes to golf (and Panama). This blog is fairly new, so I understand if some of you think I do not measure up to your level (because you'd be right). However, I know there are some of you out there who cover similar topics, and too, you wish to leave trails leading to your blog in trafficked places. It's not about partnership, but more about making each other more discoverable to our respective audiences.

Personally, since I started, I write 2 posts per week. I do not have much traffic, so I won't try to go down this route with you. What I have is the ambition to turn this blog into an entertaining source of information about aviation, tourism, golf, and panama. I have a lot of fun writing new stories and measuring their impacts on the Web. Beyond trading links, I hope that getting involved in each other's chances to succeed will be the most motivating factor for you to get in touch with me in the first place:

andrebeladina at gmail dot com

The deal would simply consist of me putting the link to your Website in my blog's sidebar, and for you to put the link to my blog on your Website's sidebar. If only one person does it, it won't really work. But if we gather up as a unified group, and start to open up to each other, I think the outcome will be overwhelming.

I look forward to talking to you!

Andre Beladina

My five favourite golf courses in Asia

2010-03-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Let's go on with my personal selection of the best golf courses in the world.

Here comes a selection of Asian golf courses:

- Mission Hills Phuket (http://www.missionhillsphuket.com/home.htm ): an amazing golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus himself. Exquisite, luxurious and beautiful. Worth seing landscape thanks to the bay of Phuket. Even if the golf course is not very old, it can welcome competitions too.

- Blue Canyon (http://www.bluecanyonclub.com/) : one of the most famous golf courses in the world. Heart-breaking wooded landscapes. Quality of greens without equal. Incredibly beautiful lake !

- Nichigo Resort & Country Club (http://www.nichigoresortcc.com/) : once again, breathtaking landspaces. This golf course is located in the Northern mountains of Thailand just near the Burman frontier. Moreover, this golf represents a good travel idea for people who want to visit Kanchanaburi and its floating market or for those who head to HuaHin.

- Bali Golf (http://www.baligolfandcountryclub.com/) : one of the finest golf courses in Southern Asia. Impressive location, thanks to the presence of the Indian Ocean and of the Gunung Agung vulcano.

- Spring City Golf & Lake Resort (http://www.springcityresort.com/) : located in Kunming (Yunnan), this golf designed by Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Jr. Please Jack, tell us more about this golf course. Proceed : 'We wanted to design a course that complements the area's climate, enabling golfers to enjoy its splendour all year round. Spring City utilises the natural undulations of the terrain, thus maximising the golf strategy with the challenges of side-hill lies and elevated greens and tees. They will also enjoy a course framed by native pines and rock out- croppings highlighted by picturesque views of the mountains and Yang Zong Hai Lake.'

Asia is the perfect continent to play golf, the real place to be, for several reasons. First of all, the climatic conditions are quite good to play comfortably and to take good care of the greens. Unlike the European courses, many Asian golf courses are very close to historical or architectural sites and these geographic situations allow golfers to split their time between practising theire favorite sport and discovering the cultural roots of the country. Moreover, Asian people are fond of golf and many caddies are very wise when it comes to give some advice about the art of golfing.

André Beladina

My five favourite golf courses in America

2010-03-09T09:00:00.001-08:00

This post will focus on the American continent where it is quite easy to find extraordinary golf courses !

- Fairmont Le Château Montebello (http://www.fairmont.com/montebello) : About an hour north of Montreal in the French-speaking province of Quebec lies one of the greatest concentrations of mountain golf courses in North America. Built in 1931, Fairmont Le Château Montebello is located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, midway between Ottawa and Montréal, its spectacular layout is literally carved from the granite slopes of the Canadian Shield. The hotel next door is one of the largest log buildings in the world. There is also an interesting historic manor house on the property.

- Mystic Dunes Golf (http://www.mysticdunesgolf.com/) : I love the name, I love the location and I love the course itself. Groves and wetlands compose the setting. "If you don't believe that this course will bring out every club in the bag and test your nerve, then no course will." - Phil Sokol, The Sports Network

- Cancun Golf Club (http://www.cancungolfclub.com/welcome.html) : a heavenly destination, e.g Cancun, in Yucatan Peninsula. This Mexican golf course offers a complete delight thanks to its tropical climate, the emerald color of the see, pristine white beaches and its coral reefs, which become scarcer and scarcer on Earth. Moreover, playing golf while being watched by ancient Mayas is quite exciting, isn't it? Golf course designed in 1976 by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. For all levels.

- Costa do Sauipe (http://www.costadosauipe.com.br/en/) : this Brazilian Golf course is not far from Salvador do Bahia, one of the most beautiful city in Brazil where you can find almost 1000 churches and take part to huge parties. How paradoxical ! The golf course is a 300-yard driving range for swing practicing and an approximately 956,79 square yards putting green. Very welcoming atmosphere. Various amenities for business meetings are to be mentioned.

- Isla Viveros (http://www.islaviveros.com/amenities.php?pagina=golf) : the fifth rank in my list because it is not finished yet but the first in my heart. Isla Viveros Golf (Panama) will be a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. I do believe it is enough to describe what will be this incredible course all owners will have priority access to. It will be an 18 holes, Highest PGA standards and PAR 72 golf course. Competitions will be of course organized. This Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is set to be one of the most impressive Golf Course in the World. With its tropical vegetation, its natural elevations making it a very challenging golf course. Not only be the play challenging but beautiful due to its 15 out 18 holes with ocean views. Viveros Resort the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Panama, this course is in fact unique in Panama also due to its beautiful views of the Ocean.

I let the master talk :

Nicklaus Introduces Isla Viveros - Andre Beladina
envoyé par AndreBeladina. - Rencontrez plus de personnalités du web.

Andre Beladina

My five favorite golf courses in Europe (France excluded)

2010-03-04T10:11:00.001-08:00

A week ago, I was sharing my favorite golfing courses in France. Let's move on now with European courses:

- Golf Club Kitzbühel- Schwarzsee (http://www.kitzbuehel.com/fr/aktivitaeten/summer/golf.htm) : what a wonderful golf course !!! Just imagine : driving and putting between the Kitzbüheler Horn, the Schwarzee and the Streif. Stop imagining : you are golfing in Golf Club Kitzbühel- Schwarzsee. Four golf courses in one place, tournaments, events and meetings, everything seems to be dertermined by golf. The place to golf when you are in the Alps. If you can be there in June, do not miss the golf festival !

- Salobre Golf & Resort (http://www.cyberpunks.es/grancanariagolf/campos/salobre-golf-and-resort/index_en.php) : a beautiful golf course designed by Ron Kirby, Roland Fauré and Robert Trend Jones in the Canaries Islands. Sunny weather, canyons and views of the mountains and the sea. The desert is just surrounding the golf giving an impression of melting every landscape of the Earth! A golfer of any level is able to get pleasure.

- Golf Kinross (http://www.golfkinross.com/?page=80319) : one of the most elegant golf courses of the United Kingdom. It is a very wide and enjoyable course with great vieuw on the West Lomond Hills which are quite alike with the Scottish Highlands. The greens are very well taken care of. The Golf Kinross proposes a very good stay and play formula ! A great golf course for families and for competitors !

- Gardagolf Country Club (http://www.gardagolf.it) : according to many specialists, this is "one of the best golf courses built over the past 10 years". I think so too because it benefits from a good and sunny weather and thanks to a wonderful landspcape composed of Rocca di Manerba, the Castle of Soiano and the Valtenesi hills.

- Golf & Country Club Bled (http://www.golfbled.com/) : a quite exotic choice among these traditional golfing destinations. I am just in love with Slovenian countryside and with the beautifiul Bled Lake. This golf course is just next to five or six other great golf courses and offers a nice overview of Slovenia's marvels. One of the best golf courses in Central Europa.

Andre Beladina

Flight Simulation Video Games - Abeladina Reviews

2010-03-02T09:30:00.001-08:00

There is something I make pretty obvious on the Andre Beladina's blog: I love planes, and I love to fly! Recently, I found out about the review system on Ciao.fr, and decided to give it a whirl by reviewing a video game I used to play with my children. I used to think this video game was the real deal, a unique way to recreate the emotions of flying through a computer screen.

I wrote a review of Crimson Skies with my pseudo abeladina (my secret handle, don't tell anyone). I wrote this review as genuinely as I could, trying to extract the gist of thi video game's uniqueness from the wide pool of flight simulators. Which is why I focused my review on the anachronisms that build the cornerstone of this video game's originality: Music, plane models, backgrounds, every aspects of the video game is a blend of various bits of time patched together in a very compelling game environment.

The flying experience is greatly affected by this eclectic virtual surrounding, meaning flying through strange land can be more of a thrill than flying over the Pacific for 20 hours. Unfortunately, as a pilot, this game has its down: the piloting functions are limited to just a few moves, the game lacks fluidity, the interface is not very intuitive, and the purpose of the game is somewhat obscure.

While I was on Ciao.fr, I left a few more comments on other flight simulation games, so if you want to check them out:

MS Combat Flight Simulator

Flight Simulator X Edition

Il Etait Une Fois Dans l'Ouest

andre beladina

My five favourite golf courses in France

2010-02-22T04:37:00.001-08:00

I would like to write a few posts about one of my hobbies, that is to say golf. Throughout my travels all over the world, I've known many kinds of players and of golf courses. I do believe that golf and aviation are linked, somehow, because the two sports have the pleasure to discover new places and lanscapes in common.

Thanks to my various journeys, I have made a quite personal ranking of my favorite places and golf courses.

Let's begin by my homeland, France.

My five favourite golf courses in France:

- Golf d'Etretat (http://www.golfetretat.com/fr/home.php): playing my favourite sport on these cliffs, made famous by Arsene Lupin, Maupassant, Monet or Corot, is an absolute delight. Not only the golf course is set on an amazing place, just in front of the sea, but the golf course itself is very well designed. The famous N°10 hole is really amazing. It is worth noticing that this golf is often classified among all best French Golfs by "Golf Européen" magazine.

- Golf de la Chouette (http://www.golfdelachouette.com/) : open during the whole year, not far from Paris. A 18-hole course designed in the magnificent Chateau de la Chouette. Nice landscapes with water obstacles and woods. Very technical and strategical course.

- Golf Terre Blanche (http://www.terre-blanche.com/#/Le-Golf) : amazing golf course located on the French Riviera. Lakes, valleys and waterfalls are the main components of this beautiful course ! Good training techniques and quite rookie-friendly. A really well-thought course.

- Golf de Biarritz "Le Phare" (http://www.golfbiarritz.com/ ): one of the oldest golf courses of France. Within one Century, Biarritz has become a golf legend. The Biarritz Golf Club organizes many international competitions. Fast greens, cautious roughs.

- Golf de Sologne (http://www.golfdesologne.fr/): even if nine on eighteen holes are being restored, the golf de Sologne remains one of my favourite courses in France thanks to its huge superficy and to its "rural" landscapes. A real sensation of peace and calm emanates from this very place.

I have not shared my choices with my friend Jack Nicklaus yet but I'm pretty sure that he will agree about at least two or three of these courses.

Andre Beladina

British Airways Testing Green Fuel

2010-02-18T05:18:00.001-08:00

So is British Airways getting ready to launch an explosive new concept around its aerial fleet? Very much indeed. Tuesday, the airways company announced a partnership with engineering and management company ARCADIS and the UK airline company. Check this out:

When complete, the carbon reclamation & conditioning plant will convert 500 kilotonnes of carbon-based material per year into 16 million gallons of jet fuel. The process offers lifecycle greenhouse gas savings of up to 95% compared to fossil fuel derived kerosene, potentially reducing annual carbon emissions by 145kt. The plant will produce more than double the fuel needed to power all BA flights at London City Airport.

Don't get too excited though, the first delivery is scheduled on 2014. The company beholding this technology is the US-based Solena Group, who is partnering with British Airways to bring us this new green gas for planes. What is not mentioned here is the price this new kerozene will cost. Will it make our plane trips' cost go up?

Anyhoo, this reminds me of Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth: all throughout the movie, the main character (Al Gore) goes right and left, preaching the end of the world, and advocating for greener habits. For half of the movie, the guy stands in airplanes or in cars, flying and driving around the world to tell people not to pollute. Gotta spend money to make money? Maybe, but I am not sure the same logic applies for gas...

Via The Engineer.

Follow Andre Beladina's Blog On Facebook

2010-02-17T03:04:00.001-08:00

Hi friends!

I recently installed the Facebook NetworkedBlogs application. This application is just brilliant: It allows you to connect your blog to your Facebook account, thus alerting all of your friends know when you publish a new blog post.

Since I started to blog about planes, it seems like all I want to do is share my passion with the world. I juust found out that the Web i an awesome place to share your thoughts, and ultimately connect with like-minded individuals who found you through your content because they were looking for you.

I also took a look at the tag aviation in the Twitter directory WeFollow. Unfortunately, I was not pleasantly surprised by the users this service suggested to me. Some of them (maybe you if you found me through Twitter) are really cool, but a few bots cruise around the site, and post-follow adjustments need to be done.

However, if you would like to connect with me through Facebook, just follow the link through this widget. I will follow you back the same way I will on Twitter.

Follow this blog

Best,

Andre Beladina

Kevin Smith Tweets His Weight Out Of The Plane

2010-02-16T08:05:00.001-08:00

Southwest got into the most major Twitter PR mess last week when a customer tweeted repeatedly that the air company would not let him in because of his weight. The customer in question is Kevin smith, a Hollywood producer who's about to release his latest chef d'oeuvre, Copout. You may also know him as "Silent Bob" from Jay & Bob:

It seems like the producer is a bit upset about the situation, which leads him to use inappropriate language to express his furious anger:

Dear Fucktarded PR-Challenged Fatty-Haters at @SouthwestAir: Your "apology" blog is insulting, redacted bullshit. FULL details in two hours

Indeed, in a post called "The not so silent Bob", the Southwest customer relationship team tries to make it up to the Hollywood producer, realizing how bad a fat man could allegedly hurt their brand:

If a Customer cannot comfortably
lower the armrest and infringes on a portion of another seat, a
Customer seated adjacent would be very uncomfortable and a timely exit
from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if
we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement.

Since there was only one seat left on the earlier plane Kevin Smith wanted to catch, the flying crew decided that the guy was too fat for it. Security reasons! And quite frankly, I have to agree with the airline. I love Kevin Smith's performances, both as a director and as an actor. However, when it comes to jeopardizing the security of a whole airplane, I say no. Mr Smith saw in this incident an opportunity to spark a controversy on Twitter about his weight and social discriminations. And since he is on the Twitter suggested list of users, none but 1.5 million people could read his tweets trashing the Southwest brand.

Most Amazing Plane Pics

2010-02-10T01:34:00.001-08:00

This one is from a video game, Ace Combat Zero.

This one is an experimental Aircraft II.

Another experiemental Aircraft. Comment if you know the name. Thank!

Stealth plane, B2 bomber.

The human plane!

The
2005 Edwards airshow B-2.

Funny photoshopped planes. Find more here.

Weird plane! Find weirder ones here.

Myasischev
M-50 "Bounder" supersonic intercontinental nuclear bomber.

On Wordpress.

Andre Beladina: My passion for aviation

2010-02-02T02:55:00.001-08:00

I have developed over the years a genuine passion for aviation. You might find funny for a Lawyer...

Well actually, it all started when I worked for the Chalons Vatry Airport, where I found out more about planes and helicopters.

I decided to study hard in order to get my private pilot’s license which gave me the ability to fly jet planes in the United States. There I earned my ATT professional pilot’s license and a helicopter license as well.

I still maintain a strong interest in this field now that I live in Panama as you will see in my upcoming posts.

Andre Beladina

My first post by Andre Beladina

2010-02-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

My name is Andre Beladina, I am a Frenchman living in Panama.

Over the years I have developed a passion for aviation and especially for jet planes which I learned how to pilot in the US.

I also have a my helicopter license and I pilot as often as I can.

This is the starting of this blog: sharing with you fellow aviation fans information and tips about our passion.

Please do not hesitate to share ideas, links and anything you wish with me in the future. I see this blog as an opportunity to discover new things and make new friends.

Best regards,

Andre Beladina