8 Escape.com.au
Flying facts
Straighten up and fly right if there’s an impact you don’t go flying all over the place. If we tell you to remove your tie, dentures and spectacles, then it’s serious.’’ Stow your tray table, seat backs upright. ‘‘It’s a drag I know, but there are two reasons. One, to give you clear access if you have to move quickly and, two, to remove hazards in the event of a sudden stop. Also, if your chair is reclined, you could slide under your belt.’’ Lifejackets are under your seat. ‘‘Seriously, make sure you know where it is and how to put it on – and whatever you do, don’t inflate it until after you exit the aircraft. Remember
Roderick Eime ALL the rules and procedures about flying on planes can make the journey a real drag. Buckle this, stow that, turn that off. Are all these regulations just to intimidate passengers and make aircrew feel important? Paul (not his real name) flew as cabin crew with a major Australian carrier for more than a decade. I asked him about some of the rigmarole that most of us ignore. Brace. ‘‘Always good for a giggle, but if things get messy, you should know how to do it properly. The idea is to get you sitting as far forward as possible so
E AL
IL Red Centre to A Kangaroo Island R
S
$
Fr
per person
EX
2089
per person
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961.’’ (Scores of passengers drowned when the cockpit filled with water and they couldn’t swim out.) Greg is a captain with a major Asian airline, with 15,000 hours’ total flying time, and has held a commercial pilot’s licence for 30 years. What’s the secret to a silky smooth landing? ‘‘The best landings are really
Kakadu Spendour $
Fr
2995
per person
Ayres Rock - Alice - Adelaide Fr $1890pp pensioner twin 7 nights. All inclusive of...
Ultimate Rail Holiday Fr $2089pp pensioner twin 10 nights. All inclusive of...
Top End, Rail n River From $2995pppensioner twin 11 nights. All inclusive of...
• Ayres Rock to Alice springs coach tour incl. 2 nts at Ayres Rock with sunset BBQ & star talk • Olgas with sunset drinks & finger food • 1 nt in Alice Springs with highlight tour • 1 nt aboard The Ghan fm Alice Springs to Adel. with FREE Gold upgrade • 3 nts superior accom. in Adelaide’s Stamford Plaza • Full day exploring Kangaroo Island, Australia’s finest nature based tour • Half day Adel. highlights tour Travel 1 Apr - 30 Jun fm $1890 Jul - 30 Aug fm $2038
• 4 nights 5 star in Darwin. • FREE day tours Litchfield waterfalls, Kakadu safari • FREE half day Darwin tour • The Ghan FREE upgrade to Gold rail travel to Adelaide incl. all meals • 2 night Murray River cruise incl. all meals & tours • Or 2 day Kangaroo Island tour • FREE Adelaide city tour • 2 nights 5 star, Stamford Plaza Adelaide Travel now to 30 Apr $2089 1 May - 30 May $2339 1 Jun - 31 Aug $2498
• 4 nights Mantra Pandanas • FREE Litchfield day tour • FREE Darwin half day tour • 2 Days / 1 night Kakadu tour • The Ghan Darwin to Adelaide with FREE upgrade to Gold service • 2 nights Murray River cruise includes River view cabin, all meals and tours or 2 day Kangaroo Island tour • 2 nights Adelaide 5 Star Stamford Plaza • Barossa Valley & Hahndorf Tour Travel now - 31 August
call the travel centre
Proudly South Australian since 1982
in the hands of the pilot and 99 per cent of landings are done that way – good and bad. The best landings are when all the ducks are lined up (approach speed, no crosswind, glide slope etc) and you just nail it.’’ And the rough ones? ‘‘Well, you’ll expect me to say this, but it’s most likely a computer system mistake where the ‘autoland’ feature has not
11 Nights
red centre stop over Fr $845
$
1890
N TE
4 Day
10 Nights
7Nights Fr
D
DE
The Ghan 5 Star Sale
BRACE YOURSELF: Airline safety procedures have a purpose.
properly selected the flare point for any number of reasons. If there’s a bad crosswind, storm or it’s gusty, a pilot will want to get the plane down ASAP and that can be indelicate.’’ Ray (not his real name) is a senior certifying engineer with 20 years’ experience and signs off the big Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Turn off your mobile phone. ‘‘That’s a myth, but most airlines, I reckon, keep mobile phones off for passenger comfort and it’s still against the law in most places. Thankfully, most phones won’t work at altitude anyway.’’ (Airlines are trialling in-flight equipment and ‘picocells’ – mini mobile phone towers inside the aircraft that communicate with land or satellite systems.) Where is the safest section of a plane? ‘‘Most survivors seem to be in the back.’’ True. Despite claims by many authorities suggesting no ‘‘safe zone’’ existed, Popular Mechanics magazine analysed 20 accidents in the US and found passengers sitting rear of the wing had a noticeably improved survival rate.
1300 854 897 holidays@proud.com.au
Conditions Apply: Limited availability and subject change and seasonal surcharges. From prices are based on Pensioner pricing, per person twin share. FREE Gold service Upgrade aboard both the Indian Pacific & The Ghan is applicable when paying for Red Sleeper Service. Sales period ends 31 March 2010 travel period ends 31st August 2010. TTA204866. PA0383
MANAGE YOUR NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION ONLINE If you are a current subscriber of The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, you can now manage your subscription online at couriermail.com.au/subscriber at a time that is convenient to you. This handy new website will allow you to update your details, suspend your newspaper while you are away on holidays, upgrade your subscription, and more. Applies to subscribers who pay their account directly to The Courier-Mail l The Sunday Mail. Subscriberadvantage rewards do not apply to subscribers paying their account directly to their newsagent and/or are not 7-day sunscribers
To become a
member visit couriermail.com.au/subscriber
Where to go, where to stay Travel regions Cooktown Tropical North Qld Cairns
CALOUNDRA Apts ææææ Kings Beach Dec/Jan vac htd pool, spa, great location, value. ph 5438 0600 www.kingsbayapartments.com
COOLUM HOLIDAYS
Hinchinbrook Is. Townsville Whitsundays Outback Qld
Last minute December January Accommodation Available minimum 3nt stay Check out the website www.coolumholidays.com.au or www.coolum.com.au
HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL BUDGETS
ADVERTISE NOW CAIRNS 4 Star Quality Inn Rainbow Southside. 7 nights $400. Available till February (07) 4033 7722
Sunshine Coast Brisbane Gold Coast
Pay the convenient way The Courier-Mail Classifieds accept these cards -
Page 8
THE SUNDAY MAIL, ESCAPE
132 202 www.news.com.au
phone our consultants
1300 303 423
PHONE TODAY ON 132 202 The Courier-Mail Classifieds Our trained Staff are waiting to help you with your advertising.
MOOLOOLABA Absolute beachfront, luxury 2 & 3 bedroom apartments. Phone 5444 0240 www.beachcomberonthespit.com
CAPRICORN AREA Please note that this classification includes advertisements for ROCKHAMPTON, YEPPOON and surrounding areas.
December 27, 2009
Coolangatta - Rainbow Bay Kirra - Bilinga - Tweed From Beachfront Resorts to Comfortable Units Close to beach, shops, restaurants and clubs. Free colour brochure and price list. Ph: 07 5536 2000 www.coolangattarealty.com.au
HOLIDAY SEASON
Northern NSW This map indicates classification regions for travel section
FOR THE COMING SUMMER
AWARD WINNING Luxury accommodation, absolute ocean front. Phone: 1800 075 061 CHARTER YACHTS AUSTRALIA Whitsundays - skipper yourself. Phone Tollfree 1800 639 520 Website: www.cya.com.au
Central Qld Hervey Bay & Burnett Sunshine Coast Hinterland Darling Downs/Granite Belt Gold Coast Hinterland
GLASS HOUSE a/c, sep sleepout, share fac, $240pw 0407 732 279
Where to go
Where to stay
ABSOLUTE BEACHFRONT - Surfers Paradise units 2 brm fully s.c., heated pool, secure parking. (07) 5538 1623 fax (07) 5538 5022 www.angleseacourt.com.au BROADBEACH 1+2 br. self /cont Aparts. Ocean views. Close to Convention Centre, Restaurants, Casino + Pacific Fair. Ph (07) 5538 2777 www.hihobeach.com.au
ALTERATION TO DEADLINE Due to the Christmas Day and Boxing Day public holidays, the deadline for Travel and Holidays ads publishing on Sunday 27th December will be 4pm Monday 21st.
MANILA RETURN $838 inc taxes Jetset Kenmore 1300 734 653 MEDICAL + DENTAL Holidays Jetset Kenmore 1300 734 653
HAMILTON ISLAND fully self contained. 2/3brms 2/3bath beach front/buggy. Phone 4946 8833 www.hamorent.com.au HAMILTON ISLAND 2 bed 2 bath, FSC, A-C apartment, buggy, BBQ, seaviews. 02 9774 4330 www.hamilton-island-escape.com TANGALOOMA B’front, villa, fully s/c, sleeps 8 Ph 0403 378 959
ABLE TO ESCAPE Relaxing on the beautiful Tweed River 5524 3222 TWEED RIVER Boyds Bay Houseboats Free info pack 1800 468 732
Where to go Where to stay
thesundaymail.com.au