Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Rabbies Rampant in Iloilo Philippines

The province and city of Iloilo emerged as having the most of rabies cases in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Health regional field office here. 

DOH Regional Director Ariel Valencia said that as of last March 11, there are 28 positive rabies cases registered in the region with Iloilo City posting 11 positive cases of rabies from dog bites. The city also emerges as Number 1 with positive rabies cases in the entire Visayas area. 

The same period showed 1 positive case in Aklan, 2 in Antique, 1 in Capiz, 10 in the province of Iloilo and 3 in Bacolod City, Valencia said. 

DOH reported that 14 deaths due to animal bite and human rabies cases and 19,707 animal bites were registered in 2009, 14 deaths in 2008, 15 in 2007 and 20 in 2006 in the region. 

The province of Iloilo has nine deaths and 9,013 animal bite cases, Aklan with 1 death, 1 death in Capiz and 3 deaths in Negros Occidental. 

Valencia said the Department of Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Agriculture and the City Health Office jointly conducted a media launching for the "Rabies-Free Visayas Islands" Tuesday at the Grand Hotel in Iloilo City. 

The affair was also attended by agriculture regional executive director Larry Nacionales, NRPCP coordinator Dr. Victor Atienza, city health officer Dr. Urminico Baronda, city veterinarian Tomas Forteza, district city health officials and DOH regional officials. 

Dr. Raffy Deray, program medical coordinator of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP) said the project, funded from the BMGF of some million, will cover three countries namely, Tanzania, South Africa and the Philippines.

How to Hitch a Charter Plane Flight

It is now possible to charter, rent or lease an aircraft for less than ever 
before and it has also become easier.

Why charter an aircraft?
Here are some good reasons:

The increased security and hassle of commercial airline boarding.

There are fewer airlines around.

Fewer airlines are flying to fewer cities

Because of economy restraints there are fewer seats for more passengers.

It is now easier to charter, lease or rent a plane because there are  more companies entering the aircraft leasing business.

Also, a new generation of small jets is being produced as we speak, the so-called air taxis seating between 4 to 6 passengers for a total airplane cost of as low as 1 million dollars.



These small jets are being produced in a so-called cookie-cutter design, 100 at a time and are also being purchased 100 at a time.

Real Air Taxis will soon be on their way into major cities," says London based AVCEN. Avcen is to bring its innovative Jetpod aircraft design off the drawing board and into proof-of-concept build and flight trials. 
The Jetpod is a unique, lightweight, Very Quiet Short Take-Off and Landing (VQSTOL), 6-seat, twin-jet powered aircraft. 
The Jetpod cruises at 350 mph and uses an unbelievable 410 feet of landing space. This is achieved through a combination of horizontal and vertical thrust management as developed by Avcen. 
No runways are required so you can take off from a private parking lot or your neighbor's driveway.
There are similar small jets being manufactured in the US as well.

Aircraft Charter companies provide the following 4 functions in a variety of innovative ways:

Renting (sometimes selling) aircraft for private use, performing aircraft maintenance, providing fuel, and aircraft management. 


The best way of finding an aircraft charter company is on line.
You can also contact an aircraft charter broker who will sort of act as your airplane travel agent.

They will  handle all of your flight arrangements, including price comparisons, they will determine the correct aircraft for your trip,they will  locate the correct charter company, make sure insurance is in place, and obtain copies of FAA flight certificates.

There are also aircraft charter auctions available on the Web.

Using a unique online auction, your trip itinerary is instantly sent to a network of pre-approved jet operators who are invited to bid on your trip. This increases competition and ultimately drives the price down. You can view this bidding action live, online. 
Fleet Membership allows you to buy occupied flight time in your preferred category of business jet in blocks of whatever flight hours you want with guaranteed availability. You enjoy the freedom and convenience of business jet travel without the costs or commitment of aircraft ownership.

One Ways and Empty Leg Flights When a one way aircraft charter  flight is booked, many times the aircraft has to return to it's original airport. In a case like this, the plane will be flying empty. This is known as an empty leg. Because the aircraft charter  operators like to make money if possible, they offer these empty legs for much less than a typical charter would cost.

Flying in a Private Jet has become a Status Symbol.

One of the perks most valued to CEO's and lawmakers today is to have the use of a Private Jet.
This is another reason why the Charter Aircraft business is at present growing at an astonishing rate which will increase even more as the air taxis costing one million dollars or so will enter service.