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Tag: SQ

  • Singapore Airlines Launches Biofuel-Powered Lights

    Singapore Airlines Launches Biofuel-Powered Lights

    Flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched its first flight powered by sustainable biofuels, the airline said in a joint press release with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Wednesday (May 3).

    Flight SQ31 departed San Francisco on Monday at 11.21am (Tuesday, 2.21am, Singapore time) and arrived in Singapore on Tuesday at 7.10pm (Singapore time) with 206 passengers on board.

    It is the first of 12 “green package” flights the airline is operating over a three-month period on its nonstop San Francisco-Singapore route. The flights are the first in the world to combine the use of biofuels, optimised flights operations and fuel-efficient aircraft, SIA said.

    The flights will be powered by a combination of hydro-processed esters and fatty acids, a sustainable biofuel produced from used cooking oils, and conventional jet fuel. The biofuel, produced by AltAir Fuels, will be supplied and delivered to San Francisco by SkyNRG in collaboration with North American Fuel Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Aviation Oil (Singapore), and EPIC Fuels.

    The International Air Transport Association has said that sustainable biofuel is a promising technological solution which will reduce the airline industry’s carbon emissions. It has been certified safe for use in commercial aviation since 2011, and has been used by airlines such as Lufthansa, Finnair, Jetstar and KLM.

    All 12 flights will use the Airbus A350-900, SIA’s most fuel-efficient aircraft. CAAS will facilitate the use of optimised flight operations and air traffic management best practices, which reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions for the flights.

    The initiative supports efforts under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015 to encourage businesses to reduce their resource and environmental impact. The flights will also raise awareness of sustainable biofuels for aviation and provide the industry with insight on the economics, logistical requirements and performance of biofuels, SIA said.

    “Singapore Airlines’ fleet is already among the most modern and fuel-efficient in the world. We now want to push ourselves further and are embarking on this initiative to help promote the use of sustainable biofuel in an operationally and commercially viable manner. This is in line with our long-term commitment to further reduce carbon emissions while improving the efficiency of our operations,” said the airline’s CEO Goh Choon Phong.

     

    Rilek1Corner

    Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/

  • SIA Refutes Netizen’s Claims On MC Rules

    SIA Refutes Netizen’s Claims On MC Rules

    When the death of Singapore Airlines air stewardess, Vanessa Yeap, 38, was reported, tributes began pouring in for her.

    She was found dead in a San Francisco hotel room on Feb 1 (Singapore time) by her colleagues after she failed to turn up at the lobby for the return flight to Singapore.

    She was reportedly ill two days before the incident.

    The cause of death is still under investigation by the authorities there.

    A Facebook user, Philip Lim, on Thursday claimed SIA crew avoid taking sick leave even when ill because it would affect their chances of a promotion.

    He also claimed SIA rewards its flight crew if they maintain an MC-free year.

    He did not reply to queries from The New Paper yesterday.

    SIA refuted his claims.

    An SIA spokesman told TNP yesterday that there is no reward for maintaining an MC-free record.

    She said an MC-free record is a reflection of personal pride and an indication of an employee who manages his health well.

    TNP spoke to two air stewardesses who said there are two categories of medical certificates – casual and non-casual.

    Both of them declined to be named.

    They said when a cabin crew member takes an MC because of a flu or minor ailments such as stomach ache and fever, it is considered a casual MC.

    One of them, who has been with the company for several years, said when they take a casual MC, it can affect their promotion prospects and renewal of contract.

    FEAR

    She claimed she has not taken a casual MC for the past eight years for fear it would affect her record.

    She said: “It prevents people from abusing MCs, but if you’re sick it is a whole different thing.

    “It is easy to spread the flu especially when you are in an enclosed area and the air doesn’t circulate.”

    They said more serious conditions, such as conjunctivitis or torn muscles, are considered non-casual MCs and they will not be penalised for taking them.

    The SIA spokesman added: “Crew members who are given medical leave are encouraged to rest and recuperate at home.

    “Operating with an MC is a disciplinary lapse.

    “Crew members are granted up to 28 days of paid medical leave and six months of paid hospitalisation (non-casual) leave due to chronic or prolonged illness.

    “Crew members diagnosed with tuberculosis or cancer are given additional paid leave.”

    Mr Lim had also claimed points are deducted from crew members’ annual service performance for every MC they take.

    In response to this, the spokesman said: “As with all other businesses, employee productivity and attendance at work is important for a successful airline operation.

    “Although crew attendance is a component in the performance management process, we would like to emphasise that crew performance is nonetheless still measured across many other factors.”

    The second air stewardess said the MC practice should be reviewed.

    She said: “We face issues such as jet lag, adjusting to different temperatures and meal times that could potentially affect our health.

    “A flu can lead to severe consequences. So can that be considered casual?”

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Former SIA Steward: SIA’s Reward System For MC Unfair And Puts Undue Pressure On Sick Staff

    Former SIA Steward: SIA’s Reward System For MC Unfair And Puts Undue Pressure On Sick Staff

    Open note to all my friends and ex-colleagues in SIA:

    I have seen several postings on social media recently, regarding the unfortunate fate of a cabin crew. Most of these postings have mentioned that this crew went for flight despite being unwell, maybe for fear of getting an MC, therefore highlighting the flaws of the medical system of SIA. I DO NOT know the actual facts, but I know 1 thing for certain, the medical ‘rewarding’ system of the company is severely flawed.

    Most of my friends would have known why I left the company. Don’t get me wrong. I was ready to fly for life. I was fully committed. Let me explain something first. If u take MC, u get points deducted, therefore bringing down any opportunities for u to b eligible for an interview for promotion. I was scared. I wanted to be promoted. I took needles to my ass when I was sick, and I went for flight still. I thought I was doing the right thing.

    A few weeks before I resigned, I had an accident. Because I was not to be hospitalized, my Ward Leader who acted on behalf of the company, said this was to be casual MC, that my chances for getting promoted would be hurt, that he can’t help coz it’s company’s POLICY.

    I pleaded my case. I said I had a ZERO discipline record. I said my batch mates were due for an LS interview. I said i really want to fly and work for the company. I said so many things until I felt exhausted. Finally, I said thank you, and left the office. I walked out to the main road, flagged a cab and went home. Opened the front door, sat down in front of the computer, started typing my resignation letter, and all this time I was shaking. Not with sadness, but full of anger towards an organization that I dedicated a good part of my life to. N the next best thing happened….. I clicked SEND. Turned off the com, and just slumped on the couch, wondering wtf I just did. But I knew I did the right thing. Somehow I knew it was the right thing to do.

    Friends, kakis, buddies and acquaintances from SIA, to those who r still flying. I do not know what is the reason as to y u r still with the company. But I know that u r just doing what is best for urself n ur family. Keep doing what u love pls. Be it the lifestyle, the money, the stability, etc. Just b happy pls. But but but….. don’t push urself to fly when u r not well. Ppl back home think about U all the time. Money can earn another day, in another way. Ok?

    To SIA, pls review ur medical ‘rewarding’ system. Reward someone who worked hard, who is loyal. But not because the human is only working hard coz he/she is afraid to lose out on promotion opportunities. That’s not right. That is not right at all.

    ‘Be a man. Do the right thing’ – Russell Peters

     

    Source: Aaron Tan

  • SQ368 Passenger: Lucky To Escape Blazing Inferno, Thankful Didn’t Burn Alive

    SQ368 Passenger: Lucky To Escape Blazing Inferno, Thankful Didn’t Burn Alive

    I just escaped death!!!!

    Our Singapore Airline plane was leaking oil 3 hours flying off and the plane had to turned back. After reaching Changi Airport, as the plane was landing, the engine burst into flames!!!! Huge fire was burning! See video!

    It was a heart wrenching 5 mins! Waiting for the fire engine and fire fighters to put out the fire! They shot foam and water into the fire and eventually it was put out! We were so close to death!! I am still in the plane with all passengers. But I think we are safe for now….they will be evacuating us soon.

     

     

    I thank God I am alive! I going home to hug my kids…. Europe Sale has to wait for a while.

    Sorry everyone!

    Bee Yee (shocked..)

     

    Source: premiummall.sg

  • SQ Girl Shows Why SIA Is The Only Way To Fly

    SQ Girl Shows Why SIA Is The Only Way To Fly

    *Updated: The kind lady is none other than Kren Choong Shi Qi !

    Through a 12 hour flight from Singapore to Frankfurt, I made a friend. ?

    Draga is a 92 year old lady who grew up in Slovenia and moved to Australia with her husband in the 70’s. Ever since her husband passed on 5 years ago, she makes an annual pilgrimage to Slovenia to hang out with her sister for a couple of months.

    Traveling alone at that age can be tough and while she is helped by the ground staff armed with a wheelchair, her entire ride on the plane can be quite challenging.

    Unable to figure out any technology, she sits there without any movies or entertainment to pass time. Even to the point of being unable to turn on the light when she needed it desperately to inject insulin into herself or to prick her finger when checking her glucose level.

    I befriended her when she needed help with unlocking the tray as the clip was a little stuck. Saw her rummaging through her bag to figure out the glucose count machine in the dark and that reminded me of a time when my late grandfather asked me to sit down on a bench with a strange old uncle at K-Mart who was about to inject his stomach with insulin.

    With Draga, she reached a point in the flight where I noticed her visibly shaking. Concerned, I asked if she was alright. She mentioned that she had accidentally shot too much insulin and because of that, her blood sugar had dropped to a level where it could get dangerous.

    Trying to give her as much diabetes-appropriate food to slowly bring up her sugar levels, a Singapore Airlines stewardess, Karen Choong, came by telling us to switch off the overhead lights and instead use the lights located by the tv screen. When I explained that we were trying to get Draga’s sugar levels up, Karen suggested eating an apple. Draga could not bite into the hard apple and I was touched when Karen excused herself to grab a pair of gloves and a knife to cut the apple into bite sized pieces.

    On her knees in her SQ kebaya, she patiently assisted Draga even wanting to feed Draga. Draga shyly declined and was appreciative of Karen’s kind gesture.

    Draga was happy that at least the crew cared for her well being. Caught by surprise by Karen’s care and concern for her, she felt embarrassed as she did not want to be seen as a liability to the crew. They had other passengers to care for and Draga didn’t want to take up any more of their time, especially Karen’s.

    Knowing that I was helping Draga too, Karen came by my seat to tell me quietly that if I noticed Draga’s health deteriorating, please call for her immediately. She took note of our seats and I assumed it was to alert her to rush over if our call button lighted up.

    Flying with other airlines in the past, I’m not so sure if other crews would have gone to such lengths to ensure the comfort of their passengers.

    Karen did not have to do what she did. Yet, she took it upon herself to monitor Draga once in a while to see if there was anything else she could provide to make Draga’s flight experience a better one.

    If anyone could share and tag Karen Choong who is seen in this picture, I would appreciate it. She has acted out of such kindness without expecting anything in return. She, at least, deserves to read about how her actions have affected Draga’s life and mine too. ??

    Thank you

     

    Source: Shazy Tan