BANNED in CHINA: North Korea's Scary Soviet-Era Fleet has Nowhere to Go

Reaganite Republican ^ | 26 January 2013 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

By enacting a safety ban -as the EU has- on Air Koryo's 

Soviet jalopies, China has effectively left the Norks 

with only two planes capable of international routes...

Save for a couple newer Russian Tu-204 aircraft, the DPRK's Air Koryo -infamous for the world's worst booking site and the only one-star airline in existence- boasts a fleet comprised of creaking USSR-era aircraft (IL-62, Tu-134, Tu-154), planes that have all been banned in the European Union due to failed Air Koryo ground inspections, ancient design, noise- and the North Korean's contempt for international safety standards in general.

Until now, the workhorse Tu-154 -which even Aeroflot retired in 2009- has been primarily operating for the Norks' flag carrier between China and Pyongyang, with additional seasonal flights to Malaysia, Russia, and a couple other destinations.

So this new Chinese government ban marks the end of an era: service to Beijing will continue on the newer Russian Tu-204s, but the Tupolevs will likely continue to operate within the DPRK, and a few foreign routes. Looks like they might have to scrape up the dosh for some new planes... not that new Boeings would do them any better, mind you.

They play marching music upon takeoff and landing too... seriously

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NK News   BusinessInsider   Air Koryo   Wikipedia   JetPhotos.net   CNN   ChicagoTribune

[Reaganite Republican]

*** PING ***

Any who’d like to be added to the RR ping-list, pls FReepmail me at ‘Reaganite Republican’ -TIA

[count-your-change]

One NK Airline official explained that getting off the ground was the most difficult part of flying since coming down was easy.

[Joe Boucher]

So ya gots to wonder if Russia or China send in a jet will the norks keep it and refuse to send it back like they do trains???

[muir_redwoods]

I’m obviously pretty ignorant about such things but what’s in it for any country to have anything to do with NoKo? They have nothing much to export, don’t import much, don’t have a convertible currency and are monstrous to deal with.

[Reaganite Republican]

To me the point is that they are spending BILLION$ on missiles and nuclear devices they last week specifically stated were intended at the United States... and they can’t even keep the national flag carrier flying

Got plenty to do with you imho

[Reaganite Republican]

The Norks impounded foreign trains?

[lurk]

Two weeks in the North Korean countryside ought to be required for every US university freshman.

[JoeProBono]

[BobL]

I’d laugh at that article, until I remember that we will soon be going through what NK is going through, given our debt. In their case, they were a (relatively) advanced and highly industrialized country, but then the cheap oil from the Soviet Union / Russia stopped, and the lights started to flicker, and then they went out for good, and then the people starved. Sure, Communism didn’t help, but they depended on cheap imports, did not have a strategic reserve (or at least a large enough one), and were powerless to respond once they were cut off.

It’s only a matter of time before China gets tired of giving away their wealth to us, and does the same. They don’t give us oil, but they do give us the spark plugs and circuit cards that make our tractors run. Once that flow stops, our machines, slowly, stop too.

[Leisler]

Have our bureaucrats tired of their welfare state?

[Psalm 73]

On the other hand - (relatively) Free-Market capitalism of South Korea gives us Asiana - one of the finest airlines in the world (the service was spectacular).

[Flick Lives]

On the other hand - (relatively) Free-Market capitalism of South Korea gives us Asiana - one of the finest airlines in the world (the service was spectacular).

Korea is a real-life scientific experiment in government systems. One people, one country, two different political systems. One works. One doesn't. ...but still liberals keep pushing the communist agenda convinced it will be different this time.

[QT3.14]

One NK Airline official explained that getting off the ground was the most difficult part of flying since coming down was easy.

Reminds me of this:

Flying is the Second Greatest Thrill To Man. Landing is the First!!

[Ax]

I’ve flown on some pretty shaky airlines: Red Sea Airlines, Royal Air Swazi, Air Botswana. Even if I were being chased by a flock of giant spiders and that NORK airline was my only way out, I’d have to consider making my stand rather than board the NORK aircraft.

[hinckley buzzard]

what’s in it for any country to have anything to do with NoKo?

Opportunity for some corrupt officials to get some bribes.

[Reaganite Republican]

Funny you say that, just read today China’s thinking of cutting the NORKS off first... like, now:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/01/25/26-Jan-13-World-View-China-threatens-to-cut-off-aid-to-North-Korea?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Reaganite Republican]

Ha ha, I saw this pic

From what I read it’s an Air Koryo Tu-154 too, just like the Chinese and EU banned

[Reaganite Republican]

You bet, same as the DDR vs West Germany, couldn’t be clearer

[Mr. Jeeves]

I shot these TU-154s when leaving Beijing last July. Stark contrast between the gleaming, modern international terminal, the brand new Boeing and Airbus planes used by the Chinese domestic carriers, and these two junkers. Although from the descriptions I've read, Air Koryo is still better than many African or Latin American airlines - the flight attendants are pretty, the food is somewhat palatable, and they operate (sort of) on time.

But I suppose if they had a domestic flight crash every day, we would never hear about it...