Planetalking’s Blog

I am sure we have all been there – you have a slight problem with your PC or Mac and it seems to take hours, if not days, to sort the little problem out. In the end all you had to do was tick a box or reset something but the simple fix is never simple to find.

Now I am lucky enough to know a few intelligentpeople who I would have thought could do better with computers but intelligent and common sense do not always go together hand in hand.

The calmest of people can so easily be wound up by a computer issue and this was oh so apparent yesterday when a good friend of mine could not get his printer to work.

He is not one for too many gadgets, has never been a friend of computers yet at work he relies on them to do his job correctly. Not only does he rely upon them but he has to know how to use them. I forgot to mention his job, he drives a Boeing 747.

So yesterday I had a call from this friend of mine who was trying to get his printer to work. It was no ordinary printer but a wireless version, an option I would not have thought this particular person would have bought.

This  particular model seemed to provoke an almost instant attack of torrents syndrome as I held the receiver to my ear. It was easy for me to have a little chuckle as I tried to help him out:

“paper?” “check”

“power? “check”

and so it went on.. in the end I thought this particular peripheral was going to depart right through the window as I listened to the banging, crashing and verbal abuse that was continuing down the phone line.

In the end this particular jumbo pilot called an end to my “assistance” as he needed to re-evaluate things. within hours an email arrived to confirm he had managed to print off something so all was well.

…….something his passengers I am sure will be happy about today as they fly off to warmer climates.

The last thing you need is a grumpy pilot who can’t work a computer!

If you are interested in the latest aviation news then why not take a look at www.PlaneTalking.com

The website covers all the latest airline, commercial and travel news along with military and general aviation. We are also expanding our features pages with destination and travel ideas including China, Europe, America and South Africa. We will also be adding an article on windsurfing and kite surfing in Egypt at the fantastic resort of Ras Sudr.

For all those interested in talking about anything and everything to do with flying we have a new forum www.AvGassing.com online. Here you can post your stories, photos, events or questions relating to anything about aviation and travel. We have also added a section for all air ambulance charities in the United Kingdom. There are also airline specific categories for those interested in or work for them.

For all those that register on the website they can create their own albums and upload their own photographs for all to see.

All the latest aircraft news and views are also featured including Boeing, Airbus, Bell, Westland and Eurocopter. There will be details on specific aircraft like the A380, A340, 777, 747 right down to the smallest Piper and Cessna aircraft.

There will be specific pages on learning to fly fixed wing and rotary aircraft and how to follow a career in flying. There will be updated pages on how to get a PPL ( private pilots licence ) for a helicopter or single engine aircraft. There will be information on what to do after this including twin engine, turbine, night and instrument ratings. There will also be information on how to get the best out of your licence. If you have any tips, stories, advice or questions about flying, travel and aviation careers please do let us know.

To compliment these pages the website also has a range of jobs that are available for air traffic control, cabin crew, flight crew, pilots, engineers, maintenance engineers, ground crew, sales, marketing, management and corporate. In fact we will publish any job vacancy for any position that is travel, aviation or leisure related.

For those people that may have a fear of flying  there will be specific pages on how to help overcome this phobia including information on courses to take.

With the use of the website and forum we hope to build an on-line community interested in everything to do with flying and travel. If you have any information, ideas, articles, pictures or would like specific forum categories then just let us know.

Thank you for your time.

So you need to know someone who knows someone famous, be unable to pronounce words and letters correctly, have been on a soap, sung on a record, slept with a footballer, had plastic surgery or just want to advertise frozen food.

What is it that makes someone want to spend a few weeks in Australia just to maybe go from “z” list to maybe “y” list celebrity?

I guess they want fame and fortune and have spent their lives failing. Once they have tasted that little bit of fame they can’t earn a crust in the normal way.

At least the tv can be turned off!

So in the UK today we get a reduction of VAT for 13 months. But is the 2.55 going to make any difference to the situation?

The cost of re-labelling everything is going to be a pain fo rany retail outlet. Not just the financial cost but all the time it is going to take but then it may keep people in a job for an extra day of so.

But no change in fuel costs as although VAT has dropped the normal fuel tax has just been increased. Thanks Darling! And with exchange rates all over the place, especially the dollar to pound rate, will there be any increase in air travel? I doubt it.

Take a loook at flight prices to the USA. The basic economy flight to New York by a UK carrier  for a week in November is £100 or less – sometimes as low as £47. The taxes,  fees, charges & surcharges amount to £237.30.

It wasn’t long ago that these extras where around £60. Now fuel prices have gone up and there is a pound or two for security tax but wouldn’t it be a good idea for the Government to reduce this tax to help the travel industry and business?

I’d best put my cards on the table and say that I am looking to book a flight in the not too distant future and would appreciate any drop in prices!

Anyway I would appreciate any comments for or against this, maybe we could even get a petition going!!

Hello from PlaneTalking.com - the news, features and job website for anyone interested in travel and aviation.