Formålet med bloggen er å bidra til informasjon om luftfart av alle slag. Også litt om ubåter og forsvarsspørsmål. Nyheter vil du finne her også, en del på engelsk som er det mest brukte luftfartsspråket. Har du selv noe som bør komme ut, så send meg en mail til per.gram@hesbynett.no - Politikk på alle nivåer over hele verden er i kaos. Voldsomme endringer kan finne sted på kort tid, som også kan få innvirkning på forsvarsdisposisjoner. Det må kommenteres.
Planen er at han skal være i Norge, Oslo og et sted nordpå, i totalt to dager. Kunne vært interessant om han ikke bare dro til Svalbard for å se på "kornkammeret" og høre om klimaet, men også en tur til Andøya for å promotere amerikansk industri. Da tenker jeg naturligvis på P-8 Poseidon.
Sarah Kreps: China sought to increase its prominence in the drone export market
Less expensive Chinese versions could increase access to drones in unstable parts of the world, she says
Sarah Kreps is an associate professor of government and adjunct professor of law at Cornell University. She is the author of "Drones: What Everyone Needs to Know." The views expressed are her own.
(CNN)The United States has often been criticized for its use of armed drones. But in recent months, a new country has begun drawing attention. And while it has not used armed drones in combat, its increasing willingness to export the technology to other countries has serious implications for combat in the future.
Earlier this year, Nigeria confirmed using a Chinese-made CH-3 in its fight against Boko Haram, while Iraq appears to have used a CH-4 starting late 2015. In addition, Pakistan is now using a platform suspiciously resembling the CH-3, despite official reports that the drone is indigenously produced. (At the least, this probably would have required considerable collaboration from the Chinese and may have been assembled in Pakistan from Chinese-made components). Meanwhile, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are thought to have bought similar drones from China.
Why has China sought to increase its prominence in the drone export market? The answer is not primarily economic. At about $1 million per Wing Loong drone (compared with $30 million for the Reaper, the U.S. counterpart), it would take a lot of drone sales to make a compelling financial case for China. Instead, the sale of arms is more likely one element in its diplomatic toolkit, giving it an additional way to extend its reach into the Middle East, Latin America and Africa as it builds these security relationships.
In addition, a large arms market can be seen as a symbol of prestige. Much like its space program, which signals China's status as an advanced industrialized country, a global network of drone exports based on its own indigenous military capabilities suggests that China is a force to be reckoned with. This dynamic becomes a positive feedback loop that helps cultivate its defense base -- the more weapons China sells, the more resources it has to invest in research and development, and the more attractive its defense innovations become to potential importers.
Whatever the motivation, the drone sales raise the question of how much of an effect this will have on the international security environment.
In the short term, despite the relatively widespread sale of Chinese drones, the exports are unlikely to be a game changer. Each of the countries that has used some version of Chinese-made drones has used them in a counterinsurgency context, not to start new wars with neighbors. These drones are lower-cost, less capable versions of U.S. drones; they fly low and slow, and are unlikely to be especially valuable against any adversary other than an insurgency that lacks robust air defenses.
But looking ahead -- if the technology improves, and these countries start acquiring next-generation stealth drones -- the calculus could change. Such technology could change these states' war-making calculus and lower the threshold for using force across borders. If this happens, the consequences would be destabilizing, especially in regions where border disputes already mean frosty ties.
Where the increased drone sales are more worrisome, though, is how they contribute to a "cheap but good enough" trend, with China as a major supplier. What that means in practice is some countries that might not have been able to afford certain technologies from Europe, the United States, or Russia -- or that would not have been allowed to purchase them from the Europeans or the United States -- now have access to weapons. The infusion of drones into some of these countries and their disputes could be like throwing gasoline on a fire.
However, China's exports don't affect only its customers -- there are also implications for the United States' own export policies.
As a founding member of the Missile Technology Control Regime, or MTCR, which regulates the international transfer of drones, the United States has tended to have relatively strict export policies when it comes to drones. For example, it has exported armed Reapers only to its close ally, the United Kingdom, and more recently announced that it would arm Italy's Reapers. China, in contrast, is not a member of the MTCR, and recent export patterns suggest that it is willing to flout the types of restrictions that the United States not only helped establish, but has tended to reinforce.
This is not an argument for a race to the bottom in which the United States, China, and Israel (which has its own thriving drone industry) adopt increasingly aggressive export policies. Quite the opposite. And China did last year gesture toward greater restrictions on its drone exports. Yet there has been little evidence to suggest that it is following through when it comes to the types of drones that have increasingly appeared in other states' arsenals.
How should the United States respond? It would be well served trying to co-opt China into international governance on the transfer of armed drones. Upon first blush, the U.S. might be a hypocritical choice to integrate China, given criticism of the United States' own drone policies. But this also makes it exactly the right choice -- it has been the most dominant and influential country when it comes to armed drones.
In the case of drones, the expectation would be that involvement in the MTCR and other relevant arms control institutions could help limit the sale of arms to unsavory parties and control how those recipients use the technology. China did officially apply for MTCR membership in 2004, but was ultimately rebuffed over suspicions that it was providing North Korea with sensitive missile technology. Still, the episode could lend further support to those who have called for a drone-specific international institution rather than the MTCR, which leaves out a number of drone exporters and brings together a wide array of delivery platforms in a way that both dilutes and confuses the focus of each.
Ultimately, however China decides to proceed, developments in recent months have already made one thing clear: U.S. drone use may have made the headlines in the last decade, but much of the action in the next 10 years is likely to reside elsewhere.
Image copyrightAPImage caption The disruptions are believed to be broadcast along the border, where the South has stepped up its patrols
North Korea is using radio waves to jam GPS navigation systems near the border regions, South Korean officials said.
The broadcasts have reportedly affected 110 planes and ships, and can cause mobile phones to malfunction.
The South's unification ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee was quoted by AFP news agency as saying it was an "act of provocation".
Tensions have been high between the two Koreas since the North's fourth nuclear test in January.
The broadcasts appeared to have started a month ago from various locations along the border, but on Thursday the North discharged its largest amount of GPS-jamming signals, according to Yonhap, citing a senior government official.
The South Korean coastguard reported about 70 fishing vessels had been forced to return to port after GPS navigation issues, AFP said. There has been no reported disruption to flights.
The South Korean news agency said that since 2010 the North has been accused of jamming signals at least three other times. It is believed to be using equipment imported from Russia.
Pyongyang has called the allegations "sheer fabrication". Image copyrightAFPImage caption Both Koreas conduct close monitoring and surveillance across the shared border
Analysis: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul
North Korea has jammed global positioning systems in South Korea before when tension between the two countries was high.
Four years ago, pilots on more than 300 commercial flights detected interference with their systems. Planes have back-ups, though, so no disaster happened.
This time, the South Korean government says 58 planes and 52 ships have been affected, again without serious damage so far.
But just the knowledge that GPS may be being interfered with from Pyongyang is still disorientating for ordinary people.
One South Korean told the BBC that the map on his phone suddenly put him far away from his actual position and he wondered if that was because of North Korea's actions.
Since the North's nuclear test in January and subsequent launch of a long-range rocket, the South has stepped up security measures including border patrols and allowing the US to fly fighter jets near the border.
The North in return has threatened "indiscriminate" nuclear strikes on the US and the South.
Pilot hevder han drakk en halvflaske Jägermeister først etter nødlandingen
Den 36 år gamle helikopterpiloten lå alene i fjellsiden med skadet rygg, men fant ikke smertestillende i medisinskapet i flyet. Derimot fant han en flaske Jägermeister kjøpt på Taxfree.
Her i Reisadalen i Nord-Troms nødlandet mannen helikopteret etter en såkalt vortex
Foto: Nordreisa & Kvænangen lensmannskontor
Det forklarte han i Nord-Troms tingrett fredag der han står tiltalt for å ha fløyet helikopter i alkoholpåvirket tilstand.
Lettere skadet i nødlandingen
Mannen var alene i helikopteret og var på vei fra Alta til Kiruna da det i august i fjor måtte nødlande i Reisadalen i Nord-Troms.
Landingen var så hard at helikopteret fikk omfattende skader. Nødpeilesenderen ble også utløst, noe som gjorde at letemannskapene kort tid etter ulykken fant havaristen.
Piloten ble lettere skadet i nødlandingen og ble frakta til sykehuset i Tromsø for behandling. Der oppdaga legene at mannen hadde brudd i ryggvirvelen.
Helikopteret var av typen Eurocopter EC120 og var eid av Kallax Flyg.
2,29 i promille
Statsadvokaten har tatt ut tiltalen mot mannen fordi de mener mannen hadde 2,29 i promille da han fløy helikopteret.
Dette bestrider den 36 år gamle mannen.
Han sier det var først da han havarerte i fjellet at han startet drikkingen.
Så fjellrev
Flygeren forklarte i retten at han forut for ulykken så to fjellrever og at han deretter endret retning på helikopteret for å se på disse revene.
Han forteller at han da kom inn i sin egen virvelvind, såkalt vortex. Da må man senke helikopteret for å komme seg ut av sin egen forbrukte luft forklarte mannen. – Da var jeg allerede i så lav høyde at det var vanskelig å komme ut av turbulensen, sa den tiltalte i retten.
Mannen ble bare lettere skadet etter nødlandingen.
Foto: Politiet
Dempet smerten med Jägermeister
– Sjokket kom umiddelbart etter at jeg traff bakken. Da var det bare å slå av helikopteret fortest mulig, og jeg gikk ut av helikopteret for å sjekke at bensintanken ikke var skadet. Jeg var bare glad jeg overlevde. Jeg lette etter noe smertelindring i førstehjelpsskrinet, men fant ikke noe.
– Derimot fant jeg en flaske Jägermeister som jeg hadde kjøpt på taxfree på Gardermoen for en måned siden. Jeg visste jo ikke når det kunne komme noe hjelp. Kom de om en time eller om 10 timer? Jeg forsøkte da å døyve min egen smerte med en halv flaske Jägermeister. Det hjalp en del, forklarte han. – Hvor var du da du drakk flasken? spurte aktor.
– 50 meter unna helikopteret kanskje. Det er vanskelig å si. Flasken ligger på fjellet ennå. Det er bare å dra opp og se.
– Var du redd for at det skulle bli stilt spørsmål om at du drakk etter ulykken? – For å si det sånn; det er umulig å fly med 2,29 i promille. Det hadde ikke vært mulig. Selv ikke med 1 i promille hadde vært mulig, sa den tiltale.
Mannen er også tiltalt for å ha drukket alkohol etter ulykken. I følge Luftfartsloven er det ulovlig å ha nydt alkohol eller tatt annet berusende eller bedøvende middel de første 6 timene etter å ha gjort tjeneste ombord til tross for at han eller hun forstod eller måtte forstå at det kunne bli innledet politietterforskning vedrørende hans eller hennes forhold i tjenesten.
Denne regelen finnes ikke i Sverige, og den svenske piloten sier han ikke kjente til denne regelen. Også flysjefen i det svenske helikopterselskapet forklarte seg i retten. Han sier også at denne norske regelen om å avstå fra alkohol 6 timer etter en ulykke var ukjent for alle i selskapet.
Han fortalte også at to ansatte i selskapet hadde snakket med flygeren før han tok av fra Alta uten at de hadde merket at mannen var påvirket av alkohol. I tillegg er det også vist til at en sikkerhetsvakt ved Alta lufthavn kjørte piloten ut til helikopteret før han tok av. Heller ikke denne vakten merket at mannen var påvirket av alkohol. Mannens forsvarer, Sven Crogh, sier mannen ikke kan straffes for dette fordi han ikke var kjent med forbudet mot å drikke alkohol 6 timer etter ulykken.
Havarikommisjonen har undersøkt ulykken
Statens havarikommisjon har gjort en begrenset undersøkelse etter ulykken og har konkludert følgende:
«Den 15. august 2015 skulle helikopteret flys fra Alta til Kiruna. Det var visuelle flyforhold og sørøstlig vind. Da helikopteret nærmet seg Reisadalen utførte flygeren en høyresving, og da helikopteret kom til en nordvestlig kurs tapte det høyde selv om fartøysjef trakk i kollektivspaken. Helikopteret sank vertikalt, landet hardt og ble stående på understellet. Helikopteret fikk omfattende skader. Flygeren fikk skader som medførte sykehusinnleggelse.»
AAR's airlift division has begun search and rescue (SAR) and support helicopter services for the U.K. Ministry of Defence in the Falkland Islands. The company together with British International Helicopters and Air Rescue Systems is supporting the British Forces South Atlantic Islands to provide all-weather SAR, helicopter emergency services, rescue hoist operations and passenger and cargo transfers.
AAR was awarded the contract worth $275 million in January 2015, after which the company sources sourced twoAgustaWestlandAW189s — the first Civil Aviation Authority-approved AW189s to operate in the SAR role. Those were accepted in November 2015.
Norwegian Air Shuttle har signert avtale med alle regionale helseforetak i Norge. Avtalen innebærer at Norwegian er førstevalg ved pasientreiser på 13 av de viktigste innenriksrutene i Norge.
Avtalen trer i kraft 1. april og gjelder for fire år. Helseforetakene flyr innenlands i Norge for om lag 350 millioner kroner årlig, opplyses det i Norwegian-meldingen torsdag.
Norwegian er førstevalg på følgende ruter: Oslo - Bergen, Oslo - Ålesund, Oslo - Molde, Oslo - Haugesund, Stavanger - Bergen, Bergen - Trondheim, Oslo - Kristiansand - Oslo - Alta, Oslo - Bodø, Trondheim - Tromsø, Oslo - Kirkenes, Oslo - Bardufoss og Oslo - Svalbard.
-Vi er veldig godt fornøyd med at Helseforetakene har valgt Norwegian for et betydelig antall pasient- og tjenestereiser, ikke minst på en viktig rute som Oslo - Bergen. Vi tar dette som et tegn på at de verdsetter et sikkert kvalitetsprodukt til en lav pris, sier salgsdirektør i Norwegian Lars Sande i en kommentar.
Eierdirektør i Helse Nord, Hilde Rolandsen, sier at gode betingelser har stor betydning.
-Lavest mulig reisekostnader og stor fleksibilitet er svært viktig både for våre pasientreiser og våre tjenestereiser, sier Rolandsen
Bond Offshore Helicopters has been awarded a three-year contract by Premier Oil to provide offshore crew transport in the North Sea. The contract, which will begin this month, calls for Bond to operate out of its Aberdeen, Scotland, facility and serve areas including Premier's new Solan field.
Image copyright AP 
Image copyright AFP 
