Aircraft | Boeing 787-9 (JA885A) Flight | NH841 Route | HND TO SIN Class | Premium Economy Class 2-3-2 Configuration, 14 Seats. Seat 16K. Recently, my company organised a marketing event at our Tokyo office, and it was decided to send myself and 2 other colleagues up to Japan for a fast 4 day work trip. After comparing prices, miles accrual, and timing of flights, we chose to fly with All Nippon Airways' (ANA) Economy Class. We arrived in Japan on Thursday afternoon, and by Monday it was time to return home to Singapore. For the return leg of the trip, I decided to fork out about S$260 to upgrade to Premium Economy class. I have never flown on All Nippon Airway’s Premium Economy class before, hence it was a nice self indulgence to end off a very rushed 4 day work trip to Japan. Flight boarding at Haneda Airport was timely, and doors were closed on time as we prepare for push back. The one thing I love about Japan is how orderly and timely things are in terms of procedures and service. My flight today is onboard ANA’s Boeing 787-9, Reg: JA885A, a 6 year old B787-9 in ANA’s fleet. This aircraft has a 3 class configuration, with 40 in Business, 14 in Premium Economy and 192 in Economy class, giving a total of 246 pax capacity. The Cabin Let’s start with the Premium Economy cabin, which is not very big in this particular 787-9 configuration. With a total of 14 Premium economy seats, this Premium Economy Cabin is one of the smallest I have flown on. Decked with dark blue carpets and seat upholstery, the cabin offers a nice ambience representative of ANA’s brand image. As with all 787s with Boeing’s Sky Interior, the cabin lightings are all LEDs, with different colours used during boarding, flight and de-boarding. Also, ANA's Boarding music was played and added to the overall ambience of flying with the airline. Being seated next to the large engines might worry some passengers due to the noise, but this is not the case with the Dreamliner. The 787 is indeed, a quieter comparison to other aircraft in the skies. THE Seats For the flight to Singapore, I selected seat 16K on the right side of the aircraft. ANA’s Premium Eco product is quite comfortable, offering good seat pitch of 38-inches and width of 19.3-inches. It is visually similar to EVA Air’s current Premium Economy product on their 777s, with universal power port & USB port charging and personal reading light. In Premium Economy, we are given a blanket, a soft comfy pillow, a pair of slippers, and offered Face Masks, eye mask, ear plugs as additional creature comforts for the flight. Head phones are also provided, kept neatly in a plastic covering inside the small upper right seat pocket. The Inflight Entertainment System is intuitive, with a very responsive touch screen system, though a bit on the small side at only 11-inches. The Airline’s database on international movies is quite well rounded, fill with many popular Hollywood New Releases, Hits, and Japanese Productions as well. Inflight Duty Free Shopping Can be done via the IFE system as well, along with an inflight map, E-books and ANA Original Content available for passengers. Sadly, there are no games in their IFE system, so kids would have to make do with cartoons and colouring books to pass the time. The seat controls and IFE controller are located on the sides of the middle arm rest of the seat. This makes it difficult to access the controls when the tray table is out. The controller unit is removable though, so remember to remove it before you fold out the tray table. The tray table is stowed in the armrest, and is easily pulled out from its kept position. When open, the 2-fold design I can get quite wobbly, especially when typing on a laptop like I am doing so now. Yes, this is being written in flight. Ok, meal time has arrived, so let’s see how the food is onboard ANA’s Premium Economy flight. Inflight Meal (Lunch) Lunch was served promptly not long after take off. For this flight, 2 options were available: Omelette Rice with Eel or Omelette Rice with beef stew. To choose our desired meal, the flight attendant showed us a menu with English translations, as most Japanese might not be too fluent in other foreign languages. All we had to do is point at the set we'd like and done. The meal itself is quite delightful, with a good selection of appetisers and entrees. The Omelette Rice was tasty, and perfectly balanced in flavour. The rice was not overly soggy, nor was it too dry. Though no salt and peppers were provided, I felt they weren’t necessary as it might spoil the flavours anyway. The Crab Meat and Macaroni Salad was interesting, I didn’t finish it as I’m not a big fan of cream, but I did finish off the crab meat toppings. The bread was cold though, which might be ok for some, but I prefer the bread served on Singapore Airlines’ flights. The meal came with a bottle of water, and an additional drink, beer in my case. And to end off, we were given a small tub of Haagen Das Ice Cream for desert. After lunch, we were given another packet of rice crackers and a drink. Before landing, a simple snack and tea was served, with Cream bun & Green Tea as the only offering. One point I would like to mention is with regards to ANA's main course packaging. The airline has also opted for a more sustainable option for their main course , it it looks simple but elegant. The material used felt solid, and not cheap in anyway. While there are still some uses of plastic for the appetisers and side dishes, it is a good first step into a more sustainable aviation industry. Crew Service ANA’s service has always been one of the best in the world. And this flight does not fall short of my personal expectations. The crew are attentive, and friendly, with a welcoming demeanour that truly represents the spirit of Japan. Every request is met with a warm smile and a small bow, adding to an incredible inflight experience. Conclusions My last flight with ANA was back in 2016, and after 7 years, even after COVID19, the airline is still able to maintain excellent service and provide such attention to detail for passengers to enjoy. The cabin crew were awesome, meals were delicious, and lots of programs to help the time pass faster on the IFE. Though ANA is considered pricier compared to its rival airline, and the seat design in PE is simpler and less extravagant as well, I find it more comfortable, spacious and allows me to enjoy my flight more. So, if I were to fly to Japan again, ANA would be on my top choice of airlines to fly with. P/S: Our Holiday trip in December is an exemption as my travel party voted on. “Cheapest goes”. Sorry ANA. Next Year :)

Recently, there have been much talk about which camera brands is the best for spotting, and today, I shall stir the pot of discussion by throwing in my camera gear - the Olympus OM-D series. This humble Japanese brand is not one of the more common gears we have seen in planespotting, with the likes of Nikon, Sony and Canon taking the dominant place. However, I feel that this simple and versatile gear offers a lot more to the table than meets the eye. So let's take a look at the camera I have been using since day 1 of my journey as a aviation spotter. A Beginner's Camera As an Olympus user, I have used my trusty OM-D EM10 Mark I for the last 8 years, having gotten my lens as a gift. In fact this camera has seen a lot of action and rough moments even before I began planespotting in 2020, from getting rain soaked in Barcelona, to enduring the thrall of activities in a university orientation camp (including an unfortunate incident when someone threw a balloon filled with flour at me - and I spent an entire day picking out flour specs from the lens), to getting irradiated by the scorching afternoon sun in a graduation photoshoot. Of course back then, I was no camera pro (and I'm still not), so the camera was rather under utilised as I shot it mostly in JPEG and Auto mode. But even then, some of the shots did turn out stunning! The EM10 series (from Mark I to the current Mark IV) is a reliable mirrorless camera that is lightweight and very user friendly, so it’s a very good stepping tool for those who are just starting out in photography, and by extension, a good camera to start off for early spotters looking to get decent shots. During my early months of spotting, when I had yet to understand light angles, approach directions or the existence of RAW files, the EM10 managed to grab some pretty stunning shots. As I grew more experienced, and with some advice from fellow spotters, I shifted to shooting in raw format, and began using photo-editing programs like Lightroom and Photoshop to enhance my images. Aside from the body, the lens have been an instrumental tool in developing my portfolio as an aviation spotter. In the next section, I will be sharing about what lens I use and for what purpose. Lens Kit For me, I use a set of three lens for various purposes. Do note that one major perk of Olympus lens is that the OM-D series has a x2 magnifier, meaning your focal lengths of all the lenses are effectively doubled. For starters, I use the 14-42mm M.ZUIKO macro lens for wide angle shots, which is especially useful for shooting at Terminal 1 Viewing Mall or or underbelly shots of aircraft passing directly above at Changi Beach. Additionally, I employ this lens to capture stunning panoramic shots, utilised fits wide-angle properties to its fullest, such as this shot taken at the Singapore Air Show. I also use this lens to great effect for aircraft diecast model shots. For this I use full manual setting, and tuning the aperture to its maximum to grab as much detail, while decreasing the shutter to 1/2.5 sec to get decent amounts of light for the shot. The 15-150mm lens was my go-to lens for spotting all the way since it’s early days till Jun 2022. With the x2 magnifier, it has an effective focal length of 300mm, giving it a very versatile capability of capturing aircraft at the viewing mall at gates D34 and C15 outwards, while capturing great angles of aircraft coming in from Changi Beach, Changi Business Park and East Coast Park. This beauty had also seen action at the Singapore Air Show, taking hundreds of spectacular aircraft shots from static displays to the flight displays. However it’s limit range means that fighter aircraft shots are greatly restricted. The 75-300 mm lens is the newest addition to my lens kit, and many thanks to my sponsor for financing half the cost of the lens, otherwise I wouldn’t have even bothered to purchase it. This lens has opened up a new spectrum of shots, such as captures from the carparks at Terminals 2 and 4, and stunning 3/4 angle shots at more shallow angles from Changi Beach. However it has restricted usage at Changi Business Park due to its close proximity to aircraft in flight, and at the Viewing Mall for the same reason. Nevertheless, the 75-300mm lens has found itself to be an integral part of my spotting kit, and it is especially useful when capturing long distance shots at overseas airports, like that from my recent trip to Zurich. Trade-offs One big drawback for the EM10 series (and the Olympus cameras in general) is that they have a rather small sensor, so nightspotting and night-panning can be challenge. Nevertheless, with the help of a tripod, and some cover, I am able to get some stunning night orb shots at Terminal 1 Viewing Mall. Personal thoughts Some folks may ask, which camera is better? Some may say Nikon, some would contest Canon, other would say Sony or many others. To put forward a quote from a movie that maybe avgeeks watch: “It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot”. Likewise, the camera is often tied to the skill of the photographer and his creativity in his editing. Therefore, no camera is better than another, but it truly depends what purpose it was designed for. And as a photographer, we need to harness the best out of our cameras, no matter the model, make or brand, and with the help of Lightroom and/or Photoshop, to turn a shot into something spectacular.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is one of the busiest airports in the world, and for aviation lovers, one of the best airports to view and photograph airplanes. One of its most iconic spots for aviation enthusiasts was the old Sky Deck at Terminal 2 Public side, which gave amazing views for both arrival and departures. Due to expansion plans for HKIA, the old Sky Deck at Terminal 2 was closed in 2021 permanently, depriving us of a convenient spotting location in Hong Kong. All that has changed slightly, with the launch of HKIA’s iconic Sky Bridge in November last year. Sky Bridge is a record setting airside bridge that connects Terminal 1 to the Satellite Concourse, and its the world’s longest airside bridge which allows aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A380 to pass under. It is also large enough to fit an observation deck and a small cafe into the bridge itself. The view from Sky Bridge is simply breathtaking, with sections of glass flooring offering views of the airport and airplanes unlike anything from around the world, unless you are hovering above in a helicopter. On my recent trip to Hong Kong, I managed to check out Sky Bridge & Sky Deck for a whole afternoon, and must admit, I was blown away by the view it offers. Here are five tips from my own experiences when shooting at Sky Bridge and the new Sky Deck. 1)To get there… To get to Sky Bridge, you’ll need to be at Terminal 1 transit side, so plan ahead on your outbound departure flight to set some time to visit the location. The entrance to Sky Bridge is nestled between gates 12 and 24, so it is quite easy to find. Go up 2 flights of escalators and your would reach the bridge itself. The Sky Deck is located at the far end of the Bridge, near the escalator leading to the Satellite Concourse side. 2) Once you go black… Shooting from Sky Bridge / Sky Deck means you will be shooting through tinted glass. It is reflections galore from up there. While the view is nice, reflections could spoil your shot if not managed properly. So, black paper, black jackets or a lens skirt is most useful when shooting from up there. 3) Wider the better? Yes, I would suggest a wide angle lens for large aircraft passing under the bridge. A 16-35mm or even a 24-70mm lens on a full frame set up would offer versatility when shooting different scenes from Sky Bridge / Sky Deck. 4) Find the right spot This tip is actually a two pointer, so bear with me. Most of the glass panels were dirty due to the near by construction of the new terminal buildings, so there were plenty of stains. It is still possible to shoot through but try to find a panel with lesser stains, or at least weaker stains so it won’t affect your image. For the overhead shots, take note that even if you align yourself to the taxiway markers, not all planes will be centred exactly to that line. So adjust yourself accordingly. 5) It’s always about the Light Here comes the tricky part. Light direction is good for most parts of the morning and noon from the Sky Bridge itself. When it hits late afternoon, it will get backlit as the Sky Bridge faces west, meaning directly towards the sun. This could offer some unique backlit golden hour shots to try, aka Top Gun vibes. For Sky Deck, it faces 3 directions, so you have options when it comes to light conditions throughout the day. In Summary Overall, Hong Kong International Airport’s new Sky Bridge is definitely a must visit for aviation enthusiasts, or even for travellers wanting to see something spectacular. It is not everyday you get to stand over a large aircraft passing under you. While the only restriction is that you need to be at airside to access the location, it is not a big hassle for overseas aviation lovers since most airlines can allow early check-in and bag drops at HKIA. So on your next visit to Hong Kong, be sure to check out the world’s longest airside bridge, it sure is an icon that sets HKIA apart from its competition.

After months of speculation between the Airbus A220-300 and a potential purchase of Embraer aircraft, the low cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, Scoot, has finally broken silence and announced that they have signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the aircraft lessor Azzora to introduce 9 brand new Embraer E190-E2 to their fleet of aircraft, first of which to be delivered in late 2024. Scoot will be the first Singapore carrier to operate the E190-E2, marking a significant milestone for Embraer. This news might come as a surprise to many given that Singapore Airlines Group has rarely deviated from its long-standing tradition of purchasing only Airbus or Boeing aircraft, with the exception of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 that Singapore Airlines operated from 1978 to 1983. To understand how this historic moment came to be, lets take a look at what Scoot has planned with the introduction of the E190-E2. Possibly Tapping Into Low-Density Markets? Scoot operates a vast network of flights across Southeast, South and East Asia, with flights to popular destinations like Denpasar, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Mumbai, Cochi, Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Using their fleet of A320ceos, A320neos, A321neos and Boeing 787-8 and -9s, Scoot has comfortably filled most of their flights to profitable capacity. However, Singapore Airlines Group have long since wanted to tap into non-metropolitan destinations like Kuantan and Koh Samui, with restrictions on aircraft size, purchasing aircraft like the E190-E2 will provide a way in for Scoot to re-enter this lucrative market. One of the possible key destinations that many travellers can look forward to is the re-instatement of the Singapore-Koh Samui route, which was previously operated by Singapore's Silkair. Currently, Scoot plans to operate the 112 seat configured E190-E2 in short to medium haul routes of up to 5 hours, complementing their current fleet of aircraft. Comparing with Similar Aircraft Types To see how the Embraer E190-E2 compares against the Airbus A320neo and the A220-300, here's a table to visualize the seating capacities and the range for the three aircraft: *Capacity figures based on standard 1-class configuration It must be reminded that size is not everything; while the E190-E2 is a smaller aircraft than the A320neo, and the A220-300, her smaller size allows her to easily suit smaller market destinations like Koh Samui, thereby reducing the risk of an under-filled aircraft for such destinations. And with her smaller airframe and overall weight, she could easily fly to airports that typically cannot support larger aircraft operations. While her range is markedly lower than the other competing aircraft in Scoot's fleet, and the A220-300, the E190-E2's range does place her within comfortable distance of many non-metropolitan destinations in Scoot's radar, thereby cementing the option to go for the Embraer instead of the A220-300. While undoubedly many Airbus fans might be disappointed that the A220-300 might not be heading to Singapore's skies soon, the entry of Embraer into the Singapore aviation industry is definitely a milestone for this Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, and this might open the doors for other Embraer aircraft to enter the commercial aviation market here in Southeast Asia.

By Bryan Wong & Cornelius Kwok After a 2 year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic that had been sweeping the globe, the Royal Thai Air Force's Children's Day Open House was back in full force. Instead of the Airshow taking place at Don Muang Air Force base, the open house was moved over to Kamphaeng Saen Aviation School. Nonetheless, the event featured a variety of aircraft on both aerial and static displays. Despite the aviation school being located about 2 hours away from Bangkok via car, the open house still managed to drum up a huge crowd. Static Display The Royal Thai Air Force TAI T-50TH was one of the show's main attractions this year. We were able to get up close and personal with the aircraft as she taxied into the hangar following her aerial display. The Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 Golden Eagle was developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace, arms, and defense manufacturer. The T-50 first flew in 2005, and it has many variants, including the T-50, advanced jet trainer, TA-50, lead in fighter trainer, and FA-50, light combat aircraft. The T-50 is powered by a single powerful General Electric F404 afterburning turbofan engine capable of producing up to 78.7kN of thrust and capable of flying at speeds of up to Mach 1.5. KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle The Royal Thai Air Force's Saab JAS 39 Gripen would be another highlight of this year's static display. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine fighter produced by the Swedish aerospace defense company Saab AB. The canard wing configuration would be one of the Gripen's main features, providing additional lift and stability when flying. The Gripen has a powerful General Electric GE F414G engine that can produce up to 97.9kN of thrust and can fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.8. The Gripen employs advanced electronic warfare with spherical coverage and the most recent AESA technology, as well as Artificial Intelligence technology to aid the pilot's decision-making process and provide critical assistance in the midst of a complex mission. Saab JAS 39C Gripen Along with the KAI T-50TH and Saab JAS 39 Gripen, the Royal Thai Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16A Fighting Falcon, Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker, and Dornier Alpha Jet A are on static display. Lockheed Martin F-16A Fighting Falcon Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker Dornier Alpha Jet A Northrop F-5Th Super Tiger With the arrival of the Royal Thai Air Force's Commander-in-Chief, we were also given the opportunity to see the Royal Thai Air Force's Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk and Lockheed C-130H Hercules in action. Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk Lockheed C-130H Hercules Finally, the Royal Thai Air Force training aircraft were also on display, which included several cutting-edge general aviation aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-9, Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, and PAC CT-4E Airtrainer. Beechcraft T-6 Texan II Pilatus PC-9 PAC CT-4E The Aerial display First up were the Diamond DA-42, the Pacific Aerospace CT-4E, and the Pilatus PC-9 solo displays, the 3 trainer aircraft of the Royal Thai Airforce. Diamond DA-42 PAC CT-4E Pilatus PC-9 Right after the trainer aircraft had finished their aerial display, we were buzzed by an F-16BM from the 403rd Fighter Squadron based out of Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base. Lockheed Martin F-16BM Fighting Falcon Once the F-16BM had exited show center, a formation of 3 Fairchild AU-23 Peacemakers with smoke in the colours of the Thai flag entered show center. Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker Up next was the combined F-16 and T-50 display. As part of the opening maneuver, both the F-16BMs and the T-50 made several orbits in front of the crowd. After this maneuver, the trio performed 3 simulated bombing runs with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit helping to simulate the explosions. KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle Lockheed Martin F-16BM Fighting Falcon Once the F-16BMs and the T-50 had wrapped up their tactical demonstration, the Eurocopter EC-725 from the 203rd Helicopter Squadron swooped in for its search and rescue demonstration. Eurocopter EC-725 Last but not least we have a JAS-39C Gripen solo display from the 701st Fighter Squadron based out of Surat Thani Airbase. SAAB JAS-39C Gripen With the Gripen closing off the aerial display, we made our way back to Bangkok and ended off an exciting day at the Royal Thai Air Force's Children's Day Open House. While the sudden change in venue did add to the hassle, it was definitely worth the additional travel. Hopefully, next year's event would see the return of the RTAF A340-500 and other transport aircraft from the 602 Royal Flight Squadron based out of Don Muang. Thank you all for reading and we hope you enjoyed our little showcase of the Royal Thai Air Force's Children's Day Open House 2023! Cheers!

NASA has selected Boeing [NYSE: BA] and its industry team to lead the development and flight testing of a full-scale Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) demonstrator airplane. The technologies demonstrated and tested as part of the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) program will inform future designs and could lead to breakthrough aerodynamics and fuel efficiency gains. When combined with expected advancements in propulsion systems, materials and systems architecture, a single-aisle airplane with a TTBW configuration could reduce fuel consumption and emissions up to 30% relative to today's most efficient single-aisle airplanes, depending on the mission. The SFD program aims to advance the civil aviation industry's commitment to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as well as the goals set forth in the White House's U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan. "The SFD program has the potential to make a major contribution toward a sustainable future," said Greg Hyslop, Boeing chief engineer and executive vice president of Engineering, Test & Technology. "It represents an opportunity to design, build and fly a full-scale experimental plane, while solving novel technical problems." Ultrathin wings braced by struts with larger spans and higher-aspect ratios could eventually accommodate advanced propulsion systems that are limited by a lack of underwing space in today's low-wing airplane configurations. For the demonstrator vehicle, Boeing will use elements from existing vehicles and integrate them with all-new components. NASA's funding through the SFD Space Act Agreement totals $425 million. The SFD program will also leverage up to $725 million in funding by Boeing and its industry partners to shape the demonstrator program and meet the resource needs required. Separately, Boeing's previous internal investments for recent phases of sustainable aviation research total $110 million. The TTBW airframe concept is the result of more than a decade of development supported by NASA, Boeing and industry investments. Under previous NASA programs including the agency's Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research program, Boeing conducted extensive wind tunnel testing and digital modeling to advance the design of the TTBW. Early conceptual studies started under NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation program.

Airline | Scoot Flight | TR468 Route | Singapore – Kuala Lumpur Gate | B9 Aircraft | Boeing 787-9 Registration | 9V-OJG Class of Travel | Economy Class Seat Number | 13K This is not only my first flight on Scoot, Singapore Airlines' low-cost subsidiary, but also my first flight on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. When it came time to book my tickets, I had a plethora of options ranging from low-cost airlines like AirAsia to full-service carriers like Singapore Airlines, but I eventually settled on Scoot because it was one of the more affordable options. Flying with Scoot Checking in took an eternity. I was met with an uncomfortably long line. I'm not sure why, but I'm guessing the Scoot document checks take forever. However, when it was my turn, we were allowed in with a simple flip of our passports. If you check in at Terminal 1 and happen to pass by the Scoot check-in counter at a certain time, you will notice the endlessly long queue for Scoot check-in compared to other airlines. Scoot could have also done a better job of managing the queue. Perhaps they could have opened an extra lane for Singapore passports, but I still don't understand how Scoot manages to take so much longer than Singapore Airlines or Jetstar Asia. Nonetheless, we checked in after 45 minutes of waiting and queuing, and then breezed through immigration and straight to our boarding gate. Taking me to Kuala Lumpur is a 4 year old Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as 9V-OJG. Boarding was a shambles, with a long line and, because it was a full flight, the aerobridge that connects to door L2 was jammed, so I was allowed to board through door L1 and walk through ScootPlus (Scoot's Business Class). Seeing those seats makes me regret not spending the extra money for a more spacious ScootPlus seat. I got what I paid for because I was flying on a low-cost carrier. The seat was adequate - average legroom and width, and the seats appear to be adequate for short-haul flights. Because the flight to Kuala Lumpur was only 40 minutes long, I'm not sure if I'd sit there for longer flights. Also, there is no in-flight entertainment, so download your Netflix movies and shows ahead of time. Scoot Economy Cabin on their Boeing 787s does have In-Seat charging points, but it is not free, so be prepared to pay a small fee to access the power outlet. Moreover, Scoot seats does come with one very annoying feature; The controls for the reading light and flight attendant call button. Scoot has decided to place it near the top of the arm rest, near where your palm or wrist would sit, hence once in a while, we will have passengers pressing the flight attendant call button accidentally. Even I did it unknowingly once on the flight. I’m grateful that my seat wasn't as badly damaged as seen on some of the photos circulating online and from other passengers, in which some of their seat armrests were taped up to prevent them from falling apart. Because it was only a 40-minute flight to Kuala Lumpur, I didn't book any meal service because the food options didn't seem very interesting or appetizing, not to mention expensive. A simple Nasi Lemak meal costs S$12, which is more than double the price I paid on Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia. Other food and drink sold onboard are also not cheap; for example, a cup of noodle costs S$6 and a cuppa costs S$4. In terms of service, it appears that the cabin crew spent more time in the galley than in the main cabin, but the crew was very friendly and greeted me with a smile when I boarded and disembarked the aircraft, and even showed me the way to my seat. I'm not sure why I receive better service on low-cost carriers than on some full-service carriers. My first Boeing 787 Dreamliner experience The first impression was a letdown. I expected to see the cabin lit up by those beautiful RGB lights, as seen in some photos or flight reviews, or at the very least, a more modern cabin, but the orangey tones and dark blue seats make the cabin feel very dated. Regardless, Scoot's Boeing 787 Dreamliner is outfitted with Boeing's sky interior, and one of the reasons I like Boeing's sky interior is the overhead bins, and how the new LED lights and overhead bin designs make the cabin feel more spacious. Furthermore, the Dreamliner's extra-large windows make it impossible to feel claustrophobic. On the subject of windows, the Dreamliner's are quite large, measuring 27cm in width and 46cm in height, and the coolest feature of the Dreamliner is its dimmable windows. During the flight, I definitely enjoy fiddling with the windows. One could say I am "suaku," but this was my first time using the dimmable windows, and it was just cool not to have to pull down the window shades when the sun got too hot. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is extremely quiet in terms of performance and ambience. I could barely hear the engine start up and takeoff spool. In addition, having flown to Kuala Lumpur four times, this flight on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was the smoothest and had the least amount of turbulence. Overall experience I can’t believe I am saying this, but this flight ranks among my favourites. A very smooth and quiet flight, and perhaps if Scoot had refurbished the cabin to make it look and feel better, it would have been a perfect flight. Nonetheless, it was a really enjoyable flight on the Dreamliner and I would definitely fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner again. Inflight Service | 7/10 Inflight Entertainment | - Meal Service | - Seat | 7/10 Aircraft Cleanliness | 7/10

Following on the success of our weekly “10 Questions With” segment, our team at APP have started up a new Monthly Spotter Feature on our website and Instagram profile, showcasing aviation enthusiasts based in Singapore and abroad. The concept and motivation behind this project is to bring the community closer together, and to shine a light on the community we coexist in with hopes of raising awareness with regards to our hobby and to provide a chance for all spotters to be seen both locally & internationally. In our first foray into the international aviation enthusiast community, we reached out to a lovely couple who both found their love and passion in aviation and in each other through plane-spotting. Kicking off our first official article of 2023, our first featured spotters are Guillaume and Ine from Belgium, both seasoned spotters and had the opportunity to globetrot to capture some amazing aircraft shots. Guillaume and Ine primarily post their shots on Instagram (@belgianspotter and @belgian_spottergirl), so do check out their accounts and lend them your support! Self Introduction Hello, you are...? Guillaume: I'm Guillaume, 21 years old, and I work a full-time job at a transport company near Brussels Airport. Ine: I'm Ine, also 21, and I'm a student at Ghent University College majoring in business/SME-management. Both of us are based in Belgium, and we frequently spot at Brussels Airport (BRU/EBBR) Share some fun facts about yourself! Ine: I have my CCA (EASA cabin crew attestation) and B737 conversion so I can work as a cabin crew member. There’s an IKEA near the airport so I sometimes convince Guim to go there… Guillaume: I sometimes go to Ikea near the airport as Ine convinces me to do so. How did you two meet? Ine: It was back in 2018, I discovered his planespotting account on Instagram and asked a questions about an A380 on there since I didn’t know a single thing about aviation. We started chatting and went on a date together eventually. We were friends until 2022 and now we’re a couple. When did you begin spotting Ine: August 16, 2020 Guillaume: April 22nd, 2017 What motivates you to spot? What keeps you interested in planespotting? Ine: I actually lost motivation for a while because of personal reasons, and it’s still hard for me to go to the airport sometimes, but the passion is too big to just give up. Sometimes I lose interest in the traffic at Brussels Airport, so then we visit some other airports such as AMS, FRA, CGN or LUX. It’s always nice to see some other planes and airlines. Guillaume: I was always fascinated about flight and airplanes, as we travelled a lot back when I was a kid. Gear Talk What gear (camera + lens) do you use Ine: Nikon D3500 with 18-55mm lens and 70-300 lens Guillaume: Nikon D7100 with Tamrom 150-600mm, Nikon 70-300mm and 18-105mm What photo editing tools do you use, which is your favourite? Ine: Lightroom and Photoshop, I like Lightroom more because Photoshop is more difficult. It takes some time to find your own editing style. If someone comments on your edits (in a proactive way), try to accept the advice to get better. If someone talks bad about your edits for being too creative or ‘technically’ incorrect, ignore them. To me, photography is an art and not a science. Guillaume: Lightroom CC classic and photoshop. Editing photos is all about personal preference and personal taste, you are in control of what you edit, do what you want, but it doesn’t hurt to get tips from professionals, or watch youtube videos on how to improve your editing skills Love for Airplanes What is your favourite aircraft? Ine: Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380, tough choice Guillaume: Boeing 747 and MD-11 What is your favourite airline? Ine: Emirates, but for variety in aircraft it’s British Airways Guillaume: Hainan airlines and Brussels Airlines for service, United and KLM for fleet and livery What is your favourite livery? Ine: Brussels Airlines ‘Amare’ in Tommorowland Livery Guillaume: Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 in retro livery, Cargolux Boeing 747-400F in retro livery, Emirates A380 in Dubai 2020 livery Airport and spotting location Ine: airside of course, but if I have to choose probably AMS Polderbaan take-off Guillaume: airside, of next to an active runway, or a spot to see taxiing aircraft; ZRH and AMS for spots, LHR for traffic What is your most interesting or insane experience you have while spotting? Ine: Guim and I were spotting at AMS in Nov 2021 while we were waiting for the Emirates A380 inBlue expo dots livery. When it arrived, we noticed it was not the dots livery, but the FULL BLUE BRAND NEW EXPO LIVERY. That sure was a pleasant surprise. Guillaume: same as Ine but also the last MD-11 takeoff, the AMS trip right before the first lockdown and the 2AM spotting session for a Boeing 747SP Which shot are you most proud of? Ine: Qatar B788 arriving at 25R at BRU during golden hour Guillaume: Airforce One take-off/landing, and the last MD-11 face to face To Round Off... What tips would you give to aspiring spotters? Ine: If you feel like your pictures aren’t nice, just keep on going. Every spotter has felt like quitting at one point in their career, and that’s ok. Also, don’t forget to sometimes put your camera away and just watch the airplanes take off/landing. We often forget how big and overwhelming those planes can be. Guillaume: like Ine says, never give-up, even if you get bad comments about your photos, don‘t listen, if you love your photos and edits that‘s what counts, never turn down good criticism, never turn down people who give you tips, listen to them, maybe they will help you out one day, they sure helped me out when I started. Most of all: have fun while spotting with your friends, those are the best moments of being a spotter.

As the year draws to a close, many organisations around the world are busy closing their financial books and wrapping up projects; for us here at Plane Portrait Aviation Media, we too would like to take a moment to look back at 2022 and reflect at how Singapore aviation has changed, and how the team has evolved over the year. Singapore Airshow 2022 Without a doubt, the greatest highlight of the year was the bi-annual Singapore Airshow held at the Changi Exhibition Center. since COVID-19 began nearly 2 years ago, the airshow was the first large scale event hosted in Singapore. While many health precautions were implemented, the event was a rounding success, and undoubtedly, signaled Singapore's transition towards her reopening. The airshow opened with much fanfare, with more than 2 dozen aircraft slated for static or aerial displays, with much interest in the Boeing 777X, making her first debut in Asia, as well as the F-35 Lightning IIB. Additionally, the team was granted an exclusive opportunity by Boeing to visit the Boeing 777X on the ground during the airshow. For more details of airshow, check out the array of articles the team had developed over the course of the event: Boeing's 777X At The Singapore Airshow 2022 (Part 1) Boeing's 777X At The Singapore Airshow 2022 (Part 2) Airbus At The Singapore Airshow: Showcasing The Best Of European Commerical Aviation Airbus At The Singapore Airshow: A Look At The Atlas A Look At Cebu Pacifico's "NEO" A330 Singapore Airshow 2022: Aerial Displays Livestreamming for Public Viewing Airbus to Showcase it's Latest Prodicts and sustainable Aerospace Ambition at the Singapore Airshow 2022 Singapore Airshow 2022: Spotlighting Sustainability and Catalyse Recovery for Aviation Industry Singapore Airshow 2022 Opens for Optimism for Recover of Aerospace and Defence Industry Hydrogen Hub Future in Singapore with Airbus Singapore Airlines Finalizes Airbus A350F Order Reopening - from VTLs to Winter Schedules At the beginning of the year, the full reopening of Singapore remained uncertain, with majority of travel being restricted to the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) on routes like Germany, Australia and South Korea. However, as the months past, more and more countries were added to the list, and soon by March, many countries, including Singapore had removed most of their travel restrictions, which of course paved the way for many of us here at APP to go on long awaited vacations. With the loosening of travel restrictions, airlines like Qantas and Garuda Indonesia began ramping up arrivals to Singapore, while low cost carriers like AirAsia and JejuAir began to reactivate their networks to Singapore, and Air New Zealand began to initiate regular services from Auckland. At the same time locally, Singapore Airlines and Scoot began to deactivate more of their fleet, with SQ's fleet of active A380s being fully utilised for routes to London, Sydney, Mumbai and the fifth freedom flight to New York via Frankfurt. Additionally, more airlines opted to initiate their routes to Singapore, like Air Premia, Aircalin and Zipair. With the onset of the winter travel season, many airlines further increased the number of flights to Singapore, with the airport handling as much as 50 landings and takeoffs per hour or higher. This of course meant that some landings are spaced out as close as one minute apart, making go-around moments increasingly common. Additionally, airlines that normally operated during the night, also made daylight appearances in the daylight hours, like Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. Supersizing and Specials With travel booming across the world, and Changi Airport once again resuming its role as a major travel hub, many airlines have upsized their selection of aircraft coming to Singapore. Once example is Emirates, moving their usual after Boeing 777-300ERs to the morning slot, and upsizing their afternoon flights to the massive Airbus A380-800s, and a number of their special "Expo" livery aircraft graced the skies over Singapore. Another airline to upsize their Singapore-bound flights is Qantas. After initially resuming their A330-300 and A330-200 flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, they added their signature Sydney-Singapore-London route, utilising their A380-800s after reactivating them from storage. Likewise for the German airline Lufthansa, the winter schedule gave us an aircraft many of us have been waiting for: the Boeing 747-8i. And undoubtedly, the greatest highlight of it all was the first arrival of the Queen in retro livery: D-ABYT. Similarly, Air New Zealand moved from their Dreamliners to the Boeing 777s, and like all the upsizing of aircraft, it came with a special - the famed "All Blacks" 777-300ER. After much anticipation, 2022 also brought us one of the most famed of all the retro liveries: The Boeing 777-300ER A7-BAC from Qatar Airways, in which many plane spotters flocked to Changi Beach or the Terminal 1 Viewing Mall to catch sight of the much sought after aircraft. More closer to home, our local low-cost carrier Scoot unveiled a beautiful new special livery on their Dreamliner 9V-OJJ in collaboration with Pokemon, the "Pikachu Jet" livery. Military Movements The French Air & Space Force touched down in Singapore on the 14th of September 2022. This stop was part of their multi-country deployment called Mission PEGASE. Aircraft that were involved in this deployment include 2 Airbus A330 MRTT, 3 Dassault Rafales an Airbus A400m. The stopover lasted from the 14th of September to the 16th of September. The deployment was poised to bolster the French's presence and diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region. The German Airforce also visited Singapore this year on the 15th of August as part of Rapid Pacific 2022. The deployment consisted of 6 Eurofighter, 4 A400M and 3 A330 MRTT. Going Abroad - A Travel Summary With the reopening, many of us finally got to travel out of the country, after effectively being stuck in Singapore for 2 years. Some of us got to travel for work, while most of us got to travel for our honeymoons, vacations or a chance to visit their hometown. Do check out our individual trip reports across the different airlines in the links below: Qatar Airways Trip Review (Switzerland) - Gavin AirAsia Trip Review (Malaysia) - Cornelius Singapore Airlines Trip Review (Thailand) - Cornelius Swiss/Lufthansa Trip Review (Inter-Europe) - Sebastian Developments in the Team This year, we took on two new members to our APP Family - Sebastian & Jun You. Both are passionate aviation enthusiasts with real world experiences in the industry, along with an equally generous amounts of aviation photos taken over the years. It is our pleasure to welcome them both into our team, as friends and fellow team mates. New Insights, New Horizons For those who have been following the site for a past few years, you may have noticed that in 2022, shortly after the airshow, we launched a new article series called "The People In Aviation". With many of our viewers and a sizable number of plane spotters in Singapore having a keen interest in joining the aviation industry, we hope that this article series will give our readers an insight to the lives and journeys of people in various professions in the aviation industry, ranging from pilots, flight attendants (check it out in the links below), and eventually we hope to reach out to ground crews, air traffic controllers and service staff in the coming year. Additionally, we branched off to feature our community of aviation enthusiasts, where we began a monthly spotter feature article, beginning in Singapore, and next year hoping to reach out to spotters from across the world. Additionally, the team is also looking to interview aircraft model collectors for a collectors' feature in 2023. Pilots' feature: The People In Aviation - Born To Fly Flight attendants' feature: The People In Aviation - The Faces of the Airline 2023 promises to be an interesting year for us, with many planned articles lined up for the coming weeks ahead. With the dynamism and creativity of the team, we hope to continue to be the premier site for local and regional aviation news in Singapore, and to be a cornerstone of unity for the Singapore aviation community in the coming years.

Following on the success of our weekly “10 Questions With” segment, our team at APP have started up a new Monthly Spotter Feature on our website and Instagram profile, showcasing aviation enthusiasts based in Singapore and abroad. The concept and motivation behind this project is to bring the community closer together, and to shine a light on the community we coexist in with hopes of raising awareness with regards to our hobby and to provide a chance for all spotters to be seen both locally & internationally. Our last Featured Spotter for 2022 is 15 year old Cayden Ng. We had the pleasure to meet Cayden last year and wanted to do a feature spot to showcase his fantastic works. Cayden showcases his aviation photos mainly on Instagram (@charliespacenovember), so do check out his profile as well! Self Introduction Hello, you are..? Hello! I am Cayden, a 15 year old aviation photographer in the works. Share some fun facts about yourself! When it comes to aviation photography, or photography in general, I try to prioritise quality over quantity. Countless times I would find myself editing a photo close to completion only to give up on it in the end just because I feel like it isn’t as refined as I imagined it to be. Though it may seem dumb, this is how I manage to push out content that I deem worthy of posting on Instagram, which is exactly why the number of likes on my post doesn’t really affect me. As long as I put out content that I take pride in, all is fine. When did you begin spotting? I first began spotting on the 9th of August 2021. Earlier that year, a friend of mine in school introduced me to the world of aviation. From then on, I had taken a keen interest into planes, especially our air force’s fighter jets at the time. With National Day coming around, I decided to borrow my dad’s old DSLR, and it’s kit lens, to give photographing the F15SG formation flyby a shot, and man was it an experience. Shortly after, my father drove me to a street near the runway of the airbase on a whim. I still can’t get the roars of the F15’s engines out of my head from when they flew directly over me that day. That was what kickstarted my planespotting journey. What is your motivation you behind spotting? What keeps you interested in plane spotting? Well I use the photos I take of the planes as a platform to express my creativity through photo editing. So I don’t really mind if I miss any specials or what not. Gear Talk What gear (camera + lens) do you use? Okay, on to the important stuff. As of now, I use my trusty mirrorless Canon EOS R6, along with my RF 100-500mm telephoto lens for plane-spotting. Though it may not be the best in the megapixel department, I find the smaller file sizes from the 20 MP sensor much more convenient to edit and store. What photo editing tools do you use, which is your favourite? As for editing softwares, I use the basics: Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Denoise, and if I’m feeling a little creative, ibis paint x (on my phone). Personally, I spend most of my time editing on Adobe Photoshop. Being able to accurately mask out an aircraft using photoshop’s lasso tool has been super useful to me. Other than that, I feel like photoshop gives me the opportunity to perfectly put out the content I’d imagined in my head. Love for Airplanes What is your favourite: Aircraft : Airbus’ lovely A350-1000 Airline: Our local Singapore Airlines Livery: Lufthansa’s new livery Airport and spotting location: Changi International Airport Which are some of your favourite shots ? To Round Of... What tips would you give to aspiring spotters? Do whatever you want, as long as it’s legal. No need to make a fuss out of spotting, its a hobby that’s meant to be enjoyed, not one that should be toxic and discouraging towards its members.

It was a honeymoon long overdue; after being married for almost a year, I was finally able to plan for an overseas trip with my wife to one of the most beautiful countries in Europe: Switzerland. For the trip we opted for a special arrangement: flying economy from Singapore to Zurich, and on business class from Zurich back home, after all, as my wife had to endure the burnout from covid-19 as a nurse at a children’s hospital, I felt it was only right to give my wife a little treat and to celebrate the end of our honeymoon. Our plan for the honeymoon put us on the journey across some of the most scenic destinations in Western Europe: after landing in Zurich, we would take a trip to Munich and stay for 4 days, visiting local attractions like Neuschwanstein Castle and taking a day trip to Salzburg, Austria. After that, we would travel back to Zurich and spend the next 8 days of our holiday there, taking day trips out to Zermatt, Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Cost Due to that our trip was hastily put together at the last minute, and with post-Covid demand surging in Singapore, ticket prices on Singapore Airlines were unfortunately sky-high even for economy class (in excess of $3,000 per person in economy). Hence we opted to go for another airline with a good travel and layover time and with a reputation that can rival that of Singapore Airlines: Qatar Airways. Oddly at the time, the cost of an economy-business hybrid ticket was only $4,300 per person, which was slightly higher than that of SQ’s economy class ticket, making it quite a sweet deal for us. Purchasing of the tickets was seamless and straightforward, and the site was easy to navigate. However, at the time, due to the dynamic situation of COVID, we had to do a lot of background checks on the existing COVID-19 restrictions in Qatar, Switzerland and Germany. At Changi Airport Terminal 1, Boarding and Takeoff Opting for a 2am red-eye to Doha, we arrived at Changi Airport at 10.30pm, where the queue at the check-in counter for Qatar Airways at Terminal 1 was already spilling over to the adjacent counter; the need for extensive validation of vaccination requirements made the check-in process considerably slower. Nevertheless, after about 30 minutes queuing, we checked in our luggage and went through immigration into the transit area. Unfortunately, with most of the shops at Changi Airport closed due to still-suppressed passenger volumes, there was not much to do other than wait, and I decided to indulge in a short session of night-photography of a Korean Air Dreamliner parked at gate D34. Finally, boarding commenced at 1.20am, with the equipment being used a 2 year old Airbus A350-1000, (A7-ANS). Boarding was relatively smooth, with embarking taking place in an orderly fashion. Onboard the aircraft, the flight attendants with their iconic burgundy uniforms ushered us to our seats 18E and F, as the iconic melody of Qatar Airways’ theme played overhead. Normally I would have opted for window seats, but given that it was in the dead of night, with little options to spot anything, I decided on selecting the center aisle, a decision that I would regret at the end of the flight. Despite being the red-eye flight, the A350-1000 was filled almost to capacity, with nearly every seat being occupied. Soon, boarding concluded and we pushed back from the gate, as the in-flight entertainment system began to play the flight safety video courtesy of various football clubs (AS Roma, FC Bayern Munich and FIFA) to commemorate the upcoming FIFA World Cup being hosted by Qatar. While the safety video was rather long by most airline standards, we were given a long taxi route to Runway 02L. Of course, as an aviation geek, the in-flight camera provided an interesting (abeit dark) vantage point of the long taxi to the threshold. Before long however, her twin Rolls Royce Trent XWB-97 engines were powering the A350-1000 down the runway and into the skies, a feeling I have not felt for nearly 3 years ever since my last trip in 2019. Economy class on the A35K Seating-wise, it was relatively spacious despite it being economy seating. The cabin was lit by warm tones of indigo and burgundy, and the noise of the Trent XWB-97 turbofans powering away just a few meters away was largely dimmed out, thanks to Airbus’ trademark soundproofing and acoustics. The in-flight entertainment was very modern and futuristic, with significant thought going into the ergonomics of passenger utilization of the system. As our flight took off at roughly 2 am Singapore time, there were no immediate in-flight meals to be served in economy class, so I opted for a nap before breakfast service, though it was a slight challenge as there was a very young flier on-board, so point to note to always have a set of noise canceling ear plugs or headsets for such occasions! Breakfast meal was simple but comforting - a warm mutton curry served with flatbreads, a fruit salad and a cup of granola with yogurt. Not soon after the breakfast trays were cleared then the sun began to rise over the Persian Gulf as we began our descent into Doha. It was then I regretted sitting in the center aisle seat, as the landing in Doha was in broad daylight, despite it being about 5am in the morning. Nevertheless, I filmed the entire landing experience as the crew buttered that landing on Runway 34R at Hamad International Airport. In Hamad’s transit terminal Upon disembarking, my wife and I took a tour of Hamad’s transit terminal. Its interiors were vast and spacious, with monorails running the length of the vast terminals to get passengers to different points at the airport. Despite it still being the early hours of the morning, the terminal was already packed with passengers, with many of the cafes having queues of people for their morning dose of caffeine or breakfast. With 3 hours to kill, we decided to queue for some lattes, given that the in-flight breakfast was rather substantial. But with no available seating in the cafe, we sat near a partially exposed window overlooking the airport apron. For plane spotters, Hamad International Airport is not the most ideal of locations due to many obstructed windows at the general areas outside the individual boarding/disembarking gates. But through the limited windows of the terminal, one can catch glimpses of numerous Qatari aircraft parked at their gates. At about 7.30am, we made our way to the boarding gate (), where one of Qatar Airways’s rare albino livery Boeing 777s, A7-BOA sat parked. After a slight delay in boarding, we crossed the sky bridge into the aircraft, and we were directed to seats 41A and 41B, and of course, I selected the window seat on the starboard side of the aircraft, where I had an endless view of Qatari aircraft taxiing or taking off. Soon, the aircraft’s GE90 engines roared to life and powered the aircraft down the runway, into the skies. Economy class on the Boeing 777 Unlike the A350 we had flown in earlier that day, the cabin product aboard the Boeing 777 was somewhat lackluster compared to its Airbus counterpart. While comfort was still there, it’s in-flight entertainment system was significantly more dated, offering significantly less options compared to those on the Airbus A350. The seating too felt it had going through significant amount of usage, and it’s air conditioning and ventilation left some amount to be desired, as at the window seat, it became significantly warm as the mid-afternoon sun was began heating up the interior wall panels. Nevertheless, the flight was still relatively comfortable for the 5 hour flight to Zurich. Midway through the flight, lunch was served. Feeling a little peckish from the red-eye the day before, I opted to go for a beef stew with mashed potatoes, simple before definitely a hearty dish for a sleepless flight to Zurich, as there was an unfortunate shouting match between two disgruntled passengers the over-reclination of a seat, which prompted some intervention from the cabin crew. We made our way across the deserts of the Middle-East, crossing over Central Europe and eventually we were descending over Austrian airspace. The descent was smooth, with very clear weather throughout, offering picturesque views of the Alps and the Swiss countryside. Soon, we touched down at Zurich Airport, ending our marathon trip from Singapore to Zurich. As the aircraft parked at the gate, I had a chance opportunity to snap an aircraft rarely seen here in Singapore: an Edelweiss Airbus A340-300, rounding up the trip from the Little Red Dot to Switzerland. While this was a honeymoon trip, I did snag some opportunities to spot at Munich and Zurich Airport. Check out my other article here: The Springleaf Aviator's Spotting Adventure Amenities at Zurich Airport Have bought my first ever business class ticket for the return trip back home, I was definitely excited to experience business class for the first time. We arrived at Zurich Airport relatively early, partly because I had to sign my job acceptance offer at my new job, and draft my resignation letter to my previous company. With nearly 3 hours extra to kill before checking in, I decided to had to Observation Deck B to do some plane spotting , and boy did this location not disappoint, but I shall save the details for my other article. After checking in, we headed to Terminal E, which is reserved for international flights, and is only accessible via the airport train. But before that, we grew our already large hoard of Lindt and Laderach chocolates at the main terminal before hopping on the airport train. Upon reaching Terminal E, we decided to visit the business class lounge at Zurich Airport. There are several of them, but for those flying Qatar Airways, you are eligible to enter the Aspire Lounge, which is open to all passengers (free for business class and above). Unfortunately a lot of the lounges are reserved for Swiss or Star Alliance partners. The Aspire Lounge is located on the second level of terminal E, and offers a panoramic view of the eastern apron of Terminal E, where several wide body aircraft were parked. Given that we arrived near the middle of the lunch crowd, the lounge was relatively busy. Me and my wife managed to get some seats, before proceeding to help ourselves to the generous buffet spread. The meal was sumptuous and filling, but we decided not to indulge ourselves too much as we were expecting a really heavy dinner in Qatar Airways Business Class Qsuite. Soon the call to board was announced for Qatar Flight 96 to Doha, and we slowly made our way down to the boarding gate, but not before snagging an opportunity to head to the observation Deck E to snap an Emirates A380 painted in her 50th Anniversary colours taking off. Business Class on the Boeing 777 Unfortunately due to the ongoing covid restrictions in Qatar, we had to once again don our masks as we entered the air bridge to the Boeing 777-3000ER, funnily enough, was one alphabet down the registration from our previous flight: A7-BOB. This time, we were kindly ushered by the flight attendants into the business class cabin, to our seats 16 and 17K. Upon reaching my seat, I was almost immediately served with a complimentary glass of fine champagne, alongside with the menu for the flight to Doha. As we waited for our clearance for pushback, I took the chance to explore Qatar Airways’ business class perks. Firstly, their amenity kit was truly top notch, with an array of facial creams, lotions and sprays, courtesy of Diptyue Paris, as well as ear plugs, an eye mask and a complimentary box of Läderach chocolates. All in all, the amenities kit was an excellent companion to the entire travel experience. As we were departing in the late afternoon, I had selected the window seats to watch the daylight departure out of Zurich, a decision I never regretted as the views were fantastic, and managed to film a short reel of our takeoff roll down runway 28. As the aircraft powered into the skies above Switzerland, I confirmed my dinner order with the air stewardess. As an aperitif, I got myself a glass of aperol spritz. Not long after, my first course was served: a sumptuous bowl of cream of mushroom soup, alongside with bread and croutons, a perfect beginning for a long flight at 35,000 feet. Next up, a delicious appetizer of flatbread with classic Arabian dips (hummus, moutabel and tabouleh) was served. Following that, veal cheek with herb jus, which was simply divine, and served with a side of potato mash, carrots and asparagus. And finally, a decadent chocolate mousse and a glass of port wine to finish off the 4-course meal on a sweet note, though, I should probably remind myself not to over indulge on alcohol on my next business class flight. The business class seating on board the Boeing 777 was very spacious , with the Qatar Airways being one of the few airlines in the world to offer full flatbed options in their business class seats, which is an amazing perk for those looking to get some shuteye. However, one minor issue was that the bed tapers under the entertainment system, which somewhat restricts the amount of feet movement when in the fully flat position. But otherwise, the seat was comfortable and given that I had a little too much to drink, I found myself dozing off straight away. After dozing off for pretty much the whole flight, I was woken by the pilot’s announcement that we were approaching Doha with a 45 minute delay, no particular thanks to an air traffic controller’s strike in Germany that delayed a lot of flights out of Zurich. As we descended out of the darkness towards the bright lights of Doha, the flight was bumped by occasional turbulence, though our landing was a little rough (see the video below). Business Class Amenities at Doha’s Hamad International As a result of the compounding delays, it seemed like our flight missed our gate time slot, and we had to disembark on the airport apron, where a bus carried us into the international terminal. With numerous delayed flights jamming the airport at Doha, we had to go through an additional security screening, to find most of the terminal crowded with passengers despite it being 2.30am in the morning. We slowly made our way to one of Doha’s business class lounges - the Al Mourjan Business Lounge. The Al Mourjan Lounge was a sprawling open space with a bar, a buffet section, and hundreds of upholstered seats catered to the general traveler as well as those traveling for business. The washrooms were not spared the fine details and service, complete with bathrooms and towels that were changed out regularly by an army of cleaners and service staff. In its Center a long water feature adds the relaxing sound of trickling water to give a sense of comfort and hospitality. Unfortunately, a side-effect of the compounded delays was that the business class lounge was extremely crowded, with me and my wife only being able to find a seat after 15 minutes of searching. Furthermore, most of the buffet meals had run out, leaving only a few scraps of food for those who had just arrived. After an hour of lounging, where I had some time to do some editing, we slowly made our way through the terminal towards our flight back to Singapore. At the airport, we were notified that our aircraft back to Singapore had been swapped from a Boeing 777-300ER, to the Airbus A350-900, A7-ALZ, this time, bearing the “One World Alliance” special livery. On checking our new seating number, I was mildly disappointed that I was moved away from the previously selected window seat to an aisle seat, but on the flip side, I would be seating with my wife on the “couple’s suite” in the Qatar Airways’ iconic Qsuite. We were guided by the flight attendants to our seats 4D and 4G. Soon we pushed back from the gate, and soon, in the still darkness of night, the aircraft was powering down Runway 34R, and took off for our long trek across the Indian Ocean back to Singapore. Qsuite on the Airbus A359 The Qsuite is Qatar Airways’ flagship business class product, and in my opinion, one of the best business class seats offered. The pod-styled suites are adorned in layers of burgundy and deep purple tones, giving the setup a luxurious feel, with cushions and silk/wool blankets provided, as well as a set of pajamas for the long flight. Its entertainment system was updated and modern, much like the one we enjoyed on the flight from Singapore to Doha, with hundreds of movies available on demand for the customer’s viewing. Probably the most iconic feature of the Qsuite was its fully reclinable seat into a bed, with ample space from head to toe. Paired with the luxurious pillows, blankets and the comfortable sleepwear provided, I quickly fell into a deep sleep , and wound up sleeping through nearly 5 hours of the flight (which I regretted as I suffered a severe jetlag for days after). The seat itself also maximized the amount of storage space available, with a small storage area for phones, books and your passport, as well as a shoe cabinet. There is even a charging point for electronic devices, including laptops (not that it was much use to me since I slept through most of the flight). For those seated in the middle section, the two suites are separated by a retractable divider that allows couples to enjoy the company of each other, ideal for a honeymooning couple like us. As the aircraft was crossing the Indian Ocean, I decided to help myself to a nice Qatari breakfast of beef koftas served with a bean stew and other Arabic sides dishes, a rich and hearty meal after a long night. Soon, it was bright and sunny as we made our descent into Singapore, trekking across Tuas, Harbourfront and Downtown, circling around Changi, to line up for Runway 20R. This aircraft, much like the other A350s of Qatar’s fleet, is equipped with in flight cameras. From the bird’s eye view from the camera mounted on the tail, the forests of Johor slipped away from view, and the waterfront of Changi Beach appeared on the horizon. In full view of many spotters down at Changi Beach waiting for Aircalin’s A330-900neo’s arrival that day, my flight soared over Changi Beach and made a smooth butter landing on Rumway 20R, concluding my long honeymoon, and my first ever experience riding Qatar Airways. Afterthoughts Being named as the World’s Best Airline in 2022, Qatar Airways certainly lives up to its name, especially in their more recent cabin products, providing the best of Qatari hospitality. The Qsuite was definitely a major highlight of the trip, and provided a level of in-flight luxuary that I highly doubt I can come back from. While the business class experience at Doha Airport was a slight letdown, undoubtedly, Qatar and Qatar Airways has provided a great travel experience for myself and my wife, and if we should ever decide to travel again, odds are that Qatar Airways will be a good candidate for the long haul flights! While my review of the Business class lounge at Doha was quite critical, in fairness, it was during a time when many European airports were plagued by delays and strikes, resulting in many delayed flight clogging hubs like Doha. So if you happen to be in Business Class flying or transiting through Doha, do get the lounge a try, as for all you know, your experience might be much better than mine! About the Writer: Gavin graduated from Nanyang Technological University in 2019 with a honours degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and a 2nd Major in Food Science and Technology. He now works in GSK, a major pharmaceutical company in Singapore as a process engineer, where he supports the research and development of production of new medicines. As a COVID-spotter, Gavin began planespotting in July 2020 using his trusty Olympus EM10 camera. Over the course of the many months of spotting, he has honed his photography and editing skills, drawing inspiration from many other seasoned spotters. In September 2021, Gavin joined the APP team as a writer, capturing aviation news and developments, from Starlux’s inaugural arrival in Singapore, to the 2022 Singapore Airshow.

As someone who had been spotting in Singapore ever since the start of the pandemic, travelling overseas offered a unique opportunity to try my hand at plane spotting at overseas airports for the first time. Disclaimer: this should not be taken as a hard-and-fast guide to plane spotting at Zurich, Munich and Doha. Do refer to spotting guide websites for a more accurate and detailed guide on spotting locations at these airports! Spotting at Zurich Airport Zurich Airport offers some pretty fantastic views for plane spotter and aviation enthusiasts alike. A particular spot I visited outside of the airport grounds was the viewing point near the end of Runway 14 along Im Hell Road. The location offers a brilliant view in the morning arrivals for Runway 14, and an unobstructed view of the touchdown zone. For this location, lens up to 600m or a 300mm with a magnifier will suffice. At its closest point, 120mm will allow for the full body length capture without parts of the aircraft being cropped out of frame. This location has a large (free) carpark, and there is food/cafe stand with a portable bathroom. However, the cafe seems to be open seasonally, so do bring some food with you if you plan to spot the whole morning. Another location that I passed was another developed spotting point at the foot of Runway 14 along Bülachstrasse, complete with shelters, a parking lot, two cafes and toilets, as well as a plaque that shows the aircraft and airlines that visit Zurich frequently. While I did not personally spot this location, the angle favors front, belly and rear-end shots, which can make for some rather unique and interesting angles. At the airport itself, the main viewing platform at Terminal B is accessible to the general public (though non-travellers are subjected to a 5 Swiss Francs entry free). Open from 8am till 8pm, all visitors are subjected to a security check similar to the check in security, before you’re allowed to enter the view platform, which offers and amazing panoramic view of Runways 16/34 and 10/28, as well as the main aprons at Terminal B, the maintenance hangar and the Southern parking area. This location is extremely ideal for watching afternoon takeoffs from Runway 16 and 28 (see photos below), though 28 will be subjected to a lot of heat haze from all the APUs on the ground. For this location, having a range of camera lenses, or having a lens kit with a good spread of focal lengths would be great as some of the takeoff rolls will require lenses with longer focal length, while taxi shots often necessitate the use of wide angle lenses. Spotting at Doha Airport Due to the layout at Doha Airport, spotting from within the terminals is extremely challenging, not to mention that there are no viewing galleries or open air platforms to spot from. However that being said, if you happen to get a window seat facing the apron, you may be blessed with some decent taxi action at Doha. For instance, I had good shots of aircraft bearing the FIFA World Cup sticker (before they became mainstream), as well as the albino Qatar Boeing 777 as she prepared for her takeoff roll. And of course, if you’re lucky, you might just be able to snap the special liveries like the FIFA World Cup livery or the retro livery. Spotting at Munich Unfortunately, due to the tight schedule I had in Munich, I was only able to squeeze an hour of spotting on my last day at Munich, and unfortunately, it happened to be in the evening, when traffic was winding down for the day. Nevertheless, I did manage to snap some airport action from the viewing platform in the terminal. This location is accessible to the public and easy to get to from the main train station that services Munich Airport. However, a major drawback to this location is the presence of glass panels that tends of cast reflections that can be hard to mitigate without a lens skirt. For those of you who are familiar with Changi Airport Terminal 3’s Viewing Gallery, the reflections will be somewhat similar. Afterthoughts Spotting in Europe definitely was an interesting experience, with spotting in Zurich’s viewing platform being a major highlight of the experience. While Munich Airport was a slight letdown, I’m sure that there are much better spotting locations to capture aircraft from. About the Writer: Gavin graduated from Nanyang Technological University in 2019 with a honours degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and a 2nd Major in Food Science and Technology. He now works in GSK, a major pharmaceutical company in Singapore as a process engineer, where he supports the research and development of production of new medicines. As a COVID-spotter, Gavin began planespotting in July 2020 using his trusty Olympus EM10 camera. Over the course of the many months of spotting, he has honed his photography and editing skills, drawing inspiration from many other seasoned spotters. In September 2021, Gavin joined the APP team as a writer, capturing aviation news and developments, from Starlux’s inaugural arrival in Singapore, to the 2022 Singapore Airshow.