First, we read the news that a team of students from Brazil won top honors, including more than $40,000 in prize money, for an air-powered baggage handling idea borrowed from air hockey tables.
Everyone knows that air hockey relies on a cushion of air to move the puck. Team Levar from the University of Sao Paulo took that concept and spread it over the surface of aircraft cargo compartments.
Airbus Fly Your Ideas is a biennial competition which challenges students worldwide to develop ideas for a more sustainable aviation industry.
There’s an excellent video here that discusses the winners and the larger issue to bring “disruptive” ideas to aviation.
Second, we spotted this video last night on one of our typical surfs across the Internet. The video depicts one of the most hapless ramp agents we’ve seen loading cargo into an aircraft. As one astute viewer mentions in the comments: “34 throws, 88 boxes thrown, 48 landed successfully.”
While it’s easy to label this as the "worst," who really knows what’s going on here? This is China’s Guangzhou Airport and it’s obviously a hot, sweaty day. Too many hours without a break?
What do you think is happening here?
