Mai Krap

I have dilligently searched for, and have been rejected at every turn, in my search for finding out how much it should cost to build a tile block wall around some property.

I remember seeing it somewhere on this forum but I just can't find it.

Can somebody help with either a link or some first hand information about costs? The property is located some 80 kilometers from Udon Thani.

Thanks for any help.

Everybody seems obessed wioth amazingly ugly concrete cased walls. Monks are particularly environmentally unsound.

Why not plant a hedge which would be more in keeping with the countryside.

Old Munks and old Thais are smarter than most, A hundered years ago the walls were to help keep out tigers and things, that was also the reason you see high and dry houses up on stilts, the tigers are pretty much long gone now but traditions carry on. They are pretty helpful at keeping snakes at bay to by having activity inside the walled area and providing a better snake environment outside of it. A couple months ago I had a snake come right through my front gate, he decided not to stay and weve not seen another inside the wall. I would not want to live in a home with no wall for many reasons.

As far as wall building the first thing to do is get yourself a concrete mixer for 15 to 20 thousand baht, you can sell it after the project. Hand mixing concrete for structural things like wall supports is a bad deal, having a good mix of concrete will add years to the life of the wall. My suggestion is to hire local concrete workers and supervise the project yourself, there are loads of experienced brick layers around and others who have gone off to work in concrete in Bangkok and would like a few weeks local work. I realize this is not for everyone but if you have any do it yourself skills its amazing the things you can get done here.

Just yesterday I was over looking at a new home being constructed, The work was ok but the price was over the top. As we were talking the project manager showed up driving a new fancy truck yet all the workers didnt even have a motorcycle between them. This was a typical set up for one guy who over charges and then under pays the actual workers making a hefty proffit for himself. If you can cut out that glorified supervisor who usually just sits around anyway you can save money and get a better job done in the end most of the time.

For those who are not do it yourself types I reccomend buying a place thats already finished just the way you want it, Dont bother with the headache of construction unless you like a little adventure.

Kind of...

Depends on what the coroner's (or equivalent) verdict was - a verdict of accidental death would involve no culpability on the Danish kiddy's part. Even if recklessness was a consideration leading to a manslaughter judgment, the kiddy is still a minor...

But then again, you live by the rules of the country you holiday in - them's the breaks...

Denotes a fundamental misunderstanding of law. A ruling of accidental death simply means no criminal culpability. People are held culpable for accidents every day in most every country. The amount 1.7 million baht is a substantial award in Thailand, and therefore reasonable under the circumstances.

Aha! Methinks I smell a yank! Wrong use of the word 'denotes'; gets 'most' confused with 'nearly'; and holds an unshakeable belief that the US legal system is correct in comparison to the rest of the world, rather than vice-versa Don't you people sue companies for not putting 'Warning: Hot Coffee' signs on cups of coffee and 'Warning: May Contain Nuts' on packets of nuts?

You are mistaken. Accidents are the subject of damage awards in most nations. Are you foolish enough to argue that because someone injured somebody else by accident (here the negligent conduct of operating a jet ski where people are also swimming), there can be no responsibility because it was accidental. Accident and fault (culpability) are not mutually exclusive. For example, when a doctor injures a patient during the course of a procedure it would be accidental (unless you would also argue that a doctor would injure his patient intentionally). Notwithstanding the doctor will generally be held liable for the injuries caused by his negligent conduct. If the patient dies as a result of the doctors error, a coroner's inquest may, as you argue, find that the death was accidental (the result of negligence). The doctor would still face damages for the injury caused. Similarly, auto v. pedestrian accidents happen all the time with the driver of he vehicle being found culpable for the pedestrian's injuries. If you want to argue the point, your original statement should have referenced a finding that the swimmer (as opposed to the jet ski driver) had been found at fault by a coroner's verdict. At least, you would have an argument for lack of culpability on the part of the driver under that circumstance (it would be similar to a child running into traffic in a manner in which the driver could not avoid the accident and thus was not responsible for its aftermath).

As for the term "denotes" the usage was correct. Denote(s) means "to signify directly or literally" and describes the relation between the word and the thing it conventionally names. Here it applies to your claim that the "coroner's verdict" would result in "no culpability."

BTW my rebuke of your comments has nothing to do with the US legal system. The result is the same in most first world countries (and many second and third world countries, as well). Indeed, very few countries offer an "it was accidental" escape liability card.

when a proffesional makes a mistake while in the process of exicuting his her proffession whether intentional or not and injiury or death occures they will always be responsible, they are proffessionally trained to execute said profession competantly, there is a certain expectation.........there are exceptions obviously where the recipient is aware of certain risks and a disclaimer is signed, if a dentist pulls a tooth and you die afterwards well I don't think you'd have expected that, if a patient dies during open heart surgery and was informed of the risks beforehand well that speaks for itself, but if the doctor sneezed during the proceedure and cut a main artery causeing death then that is neglegent

When two individuals decide to engage in a dangerous recreation sport which neither are proffessional then it is deemed they have both decided to accept the risks, the grey area here is deciding whether said individuals after an accident occurs where acting beyond what would be determined as acceptable, in this case either party could have been acting carelessly or both, outcome to be determined by evidence from witnesses etc, it is wrong to say the 15 year old was at fault just because he survived, we don't know all the details but it could have been the chinese guy made an error and caused the collision, in that senario why should there be compensation payed, if you drive a car down a street and another driver looses control and collides with your car then dies..............should you be responsible for damages ?

I don't think so..........sorry if I have missrepresented your post

"should you be responsible for damages? " The answer is no if you are Thai, but if you are a Farang the answer ia going to be YES everytime.

My wifes son 19 died 2 weeks ago when a pickup pulled out in front of him and he slamed into the pickup with his motor bike. The driver failed to show up this week for the hearing and the police don't seem to be too concerned. Said they will try to contact him?? I bet if it was a farang driving the pickup he would have been in jail until the hearing.

Sorry to hear of your wifes sons death, your situation is one that happens everday here, a tragic and unfortunate loss of life. As far as I know there is no such thing as defensive driving in the Thai thinking when behind the wheel. Until recently there were so few cars on the roads it was pure statistics and chance that kept thing relativly safe. Now the roads are so full with more and more cars and trucks coming online for the first time that the odds are higher than ever that passsing blind or just forgeting to look before you pull out onto the highway will cause a high speed and deadly accident.

Again Im sorry for the loss of your wifes son, It sickens me to think of all the blood Ive seen on the road here including the death of a small child. It sickens me to realize there is no end in how many deaths I will see here from bad driving. It angers me to know that nothing and I mean not a damm thing is under works to truly make a difference in road safty in Thailand.

New Bangkok Airport Nears Completion Despite Setbacks, Corruption

By Scott Bobb

Bangkok

22 August 2005

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Bobb Suvarnabhumi airport construction 210 eng 05

Construction at Suvarnabhumi airport

Thailand is in the final stages of building a new international airport which, when completed, will be one of the largest in the world. The Thai government is counting on the facility to make the kingdom the aviation hub of the region. But the project has been beset by construction problems and reports of corruption.

Trucks and tractors toil under heavy monsoon skies around a structure of steel ribs and glass, which is rising on a field of concrete surrounded by rice paddies and fishponds.

Bangkok's new airport, due to be completed September, is called Suvarnabhumi, which means "golden land." However, the decades-old project has proven to be a public relations minefield. Engineers have battled construction difficulties and opposition leaders charge that costs for the $5 billion facility have been inflated by corruption.

Suvarnabhumi airport

One report alleges there was a 40 percent mark-up on a $65 million contract for baggage-scanning machines. Another alleges irregularities in the allocation of the airport parking concession. Government officials have denied both allegations.

The president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University Professor Tortrakul Yomnak, says construction companies in the kingdom traditionally have paid government officials to obtain contracts. But he says these payments, usually about five percent of the total deal, have risen in recent years.

"I feel that the percentage of the commission, we call that commission, is getting higher and higher. I think it's four or five times more [than]in the past," he said.

Construction problems have also challenged engineers. The site lies on swampland

Bobb Suvarnabhumi airport runway 150 eng 22aug05

Suvarnabhumi airport runway

more than one meter below sea level. As a result, a three-meter dike and two large pumping stations were built to prevent flooding. Engineers also had to drain the construction site, which took several years and lowered the ground level by a further 1.5 meters.

Newspapers recently reported that the sinking ground had caused large cracks in the already finished runways.

Professor Tortrakul says a team from the Engineering Institute found that a 100-meter-long crack has emerged, but he says this is on the edge of the runway and does not pose a threat to the operation.

"There is what we call the differential sediment between the taxiway and the runway," he said. "So actually we need more time for the taxiway to sink, about 40 to 50 centimeters more."

The new airport, which was first planned decades ago, lies on 35 square kilometers of land east of the Thai capital.

It will replace Bangkok's 60 year-old Don Muang airport, located a few kilometers from downtown, which was originally a military airport with one runway. Don Muang has been expanded to the point that it handled 38-million passengers last year. But the construction chief of the new airport, John Murray, says over the sound of building machinery that the old airport has no room left to grow.

John Murray

John Murray, construction chief

"That airport has reached its capacity because the runways are too close together and the airport can't operate them simultaneously," explained Mr. Murray.

When the new airport opens next year, its two runways, four kilometers long and two kilometers apart, will allow simultaneous take-offs and landings every 45 seconds.

The seven-story terminal, one of the largest in the world, will cover the equivalent of one hundred football fields and will be able to handle 45 million passengers a year, or 9,000 per hour, through its 360 check-in counters. It will be able to berth simultaneously 120 airplanes, including five of the world's largest passenger plane, the new double-decker Airbus 380.

The airport will also boast the world's tallest airport control tower, 132 meters or 44 stories high. Its catering facilities will be able to prepare 65,000 passenger meals a day. And for transiting passengers, it will house scores of restaurants and snack bars, a 600-room hotel and a shopping mall of duty free stores.

Experts say a major challenge for any new airport is providing understandable signs for passengers. Officials plan to test the new airport by hiring college students to find their way unattended from the terminal entrance to the boarding gates.

John Murray, the construction chief, says the new airport is a major part of the Thai government's goal of making the kingdom the premier aviation hub in the region.

"They [the government] want to make this a showpiece," he added. "It wants it to be number one in the world in security, attractive to use, easy to use."

The Thai government has staked its reputation on Bangkok's new airport. And despite the difficulties, most experts believe the facility will provide an attractive, modern gateway to the region.

But to compete with other airports in the region, they say, the new facility will have to quickly process large numbers of passengers and their luggage, while satisfying the rigorous security requirements of today's air travel.

I found this photo on the net... No source and no date (but it looks like The Nation, this week, I remember the title "safety in the balance").

These are nice "cracks" ! I mean it's more like runways within the runway.

Those are not cracks, they are part of the high tech drainage system

Scoop journalist vindicated

He stood by his story and paid for it with his job, but runway-cracks reporter remains philosophical about events

Just two weeks after new reports of runway cracks at the multibillion-baht Suvarnabhumi Airport hit the headlines, Sermsuk Kasitipradit feels increasingly like a man vindicated.

His telephone is ringing off the hook with calls from local and international reporters and old acquaintances give him nods of approval.

Sermsuk was right all along.

This coming Wednesday, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand has asked him to address members about problems at the airport and his ordeal of being sacked by the Bangkok Post two years ago for running an expose of the runway-construction crisis.

"The management of the Bangkok Post must be thinking hard about what will happen now," the 50-year-old former chief reporter at Thailand's oldest English-language newspaper said.

Sermsuk was dismissed on August 29, 2005 after writing an August 6 front-page story telling of cracking on the new airport's western runway.

Citing unnamed sources, he reported that US aviation experts hired by then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra recommended reconstruction to repair large cracks in the runway.

That was swiftly followed by indignation from Thaksin, who lashed out, calling the report "seriously damaging to the country".

The newspaper bowed to prime-ministerial pressure and agreed to retract the allegations and apologise. Its retraction stated that while there were small cracks on the shoulders of the runway, its source wrongly claimed experts believed the runway needed reconstruction.

The Post launched an internal investigation, and Sermsuk and colleague Chadin Thepaval, the news editor at the time, were found to have acted negligently in publishing the story.

Sermsuk refused to accept the finding and was fired.

He tried in vain to get his source to confirm his comments and go on the record. The source is a businessman whose brother is close to some in Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai. He has inside knowledge of goings on at Suvarnabhumi.

"After the story was printed Thaksin became upset and accused us of intentionally trying to undermine the government's credibility.

"My source disappeared. I knew something was wrong. It was a nightmare," Sermsuk recalls.

"The Bangkok Post chose to fire me. After 22 years [working for the paper] that's how I was treated."

Sermsuk insists he was a victim of political pressure, claiming his critical views of Thaksin expressed in his former "Inside Politics" opinion-editorial-page column had made him a marked man.

The airport story was a convenient excuse for the paper to boot him out, he claims.

The management came under intense pressure to get rid of him, and two editors were "transferred" in circumstances Sermsuk and critics believe to have been "politically motivated".

Sermsuk still considers Thaksin's record of news-media intimidation far worse than the present military government's.

"What [the junta] did was what juntas do. It's normal. It has tried to counter the power [of Thaksin]. It needs time to put its house in order. But if [censorship] affects the public interest then we must clash [with the junta]. Public interest must come first."

"A Time magazine reporter asked me why the Post did not defend me. I told him it was politics, that there were more things behind the move. I believe to this day that politics were behind my sacking," he says.

He adds the action tarnished the Post's reputation.

Sermsuk has taken the newspaper to the Labour Court for alleged unfair dismissal and is seeking compensation and reinstatement.

A ruling will not be delivered until at least July, and the reporter often suffers bouts of self doubt. But, he reminds himself, those who know him understand him.

There is still bitterness about the lack of responsibility assumed by then editor David Armstrong, now the newspaper's chief executive.

Sermsuk insists Armstrong was at the editorial meeting when the story was discussed. He claims Armstrong did not protest against running the article. But when the time came to shoulder responsibility, it was passed to him and Chadin.

"The owners of the paper lack journalistic courage, and that's why I have ended up like this," said Sermsuk, who for the past two months has been working as a news editor for Issara News Centre, which covers the separatist conflict in the deep South.

"I want to urge [Armstrong] to reconsider whether he should take any responsibility."

Sermsuk has no regrets about his story, because it was in the public interest. "I simply did my duty."

"The Bangkok Post may be startled by the news [about the cracks], but I hope Armstrong will give me a call. If he wants a reconciliation, my conditions include reinstating Chadin, now working for the United Nations.

"He still breaths journalism every day," Sermsuk said.

The Nation contacted Armstrong, but he declined comment.

"I'm happy with my work at the moment," Sermsuk said, adding his son studied at the prestigious Saint Gabriel's College close to his current workplace. Things are convenient.

And what about the airport?

"I have heard from my military sources that the situation is worse than is being reported.

"If corruption is behind it, then construction will have been shoddy. The worst-case scenario is that the airport may have to be shut down if fatal accidents are to be avoided."

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Story at The Nation

These cameras are not designed to cope the the OP's objectives,

which is close up shots of birds.

I beleive the OLY SP-550 Ultra Zoom 500mm digital for under 500 bucks would do quite nicely for a typical bird watcher. If the OP had the money and a prior knowledge of photography they would already be well aware of Pro type gear which is not what was asked for.

Police investigations and events (South not included):

1 school burned = nothing

2 school burned = nothing

3 school burned = nothing

4 school burned = nothing

5 school burned = nothing

6 school burned = nothing

7 school burned = nothing

8 school burned = nothing

9 school burned = nothing

10 school burned = nothing

11 school burned = nothing

12 school burned = nothing

13 school burned = nothing

14 school burned = nothing

15 school burned = nothing

16 school burned = nothing

17 school burned = nothing

18 school burned = nothing

19 school burned = nothing

20 school burned = nothing

21 Bomb at Prem's residence = nothing

22 Bomb at Khunying Prnthip's office = nothing

23 Bomb at Chamlong's "compund" = nothing

24 Bomb at Thaksin residence = still nothing

25 New Year's eve bombings = nothing

26 tourist attacked with machette, police tried to tell her that she imagined the episode. = nothing

27 last cop who pulled me over for nothing = got nothing (I took off)

28 murder case in the proximity of Shin = nothing

29 Thaksin protesters attacked @ Central World plaza = police did nothing

30 Thaksin's son pushed and shoved when appeared for testimony = police did nothing

31 motorcycle taxi drivers sieged Sonthi L.'s office = nothing

32 Kamnan Poh on the run = nothing

33 Democrat rally interrupted and members attacked in Chiang Mai = nothing

34 PAD leaders attacked at Udon Thani University = nothing

35 Nation local news editor attacked in Chiang Mai = nothing

Does anyone see a pattern here?

This story has been a damm outrage from the start! Just for starters there has been no evidence submited that it was even the Danish kids fault, It might very well of been equal fault by both parties involved. Granted the loss of life is horrible but I see it about every day in Thailand. I will not be forgeting the poor old Danish lady I met whos husband was ran over by a Policeman driving a truck to fast who was never even tested for drink driving. This guy was trying to go out for dinner and knocked into a coma for a week then air evacuated out, who knows if he died or what after he was gone but I can tell you this, she was presented the bill and paid before her exit.

Yea its a damm outrage because people die here everyday and nothing happens, and for damm sure no money changes hands. Im aware of many deaths here Thai on Thai and I have never heard of one situation where anyone with money was forced to pay more than 40,000 TB over any death. What are the standards concerning these matters? Who is deciding how much a life is worth? Who has to play by rules and who gets to make them up as they go?

The biggest problem of all for Thailand is the impression that this boy was held hostage untill a ransom was paid. This will be played out over and over by the Nordic Media and is not the kind of thing thats reversable. I dont see it stopping Danish backpackers from coming but some of the VIP types with kids who actually watch the news and check places out before they go to them on holiday may very well decide not to come because of this single incident.

If this keeps Danes or any other nationality from letting their 15 yearolds on Jetskis then great!!

You seem to be mad that some Thais don't get treated the same as this Danish family, yes if true that is too bad but that doesn't mean this family should not have to pay some compensation.

compensation for deaths and injuries is common here and in other asian countries.

the insurance might have considered jet skiing a "dangerous sport" and probably had an exclusion clause.

in an advanced society , the local authorities would look at this accident have some kind of enquiry and impose some restrictions on jet ski operators , an age limit on users , ( this kid was 15 and probably had never used one before) and mark out special areas for jet skiing or for jet ski free swimming , thereby making things safer for the tourists.

have such measures been implemented in cha am ?

why is all this about money, it was an accident its about a young boy being killed by a jetski. Its a sad story but nobody is to blame. No money should be paid. Jet ski companies should have more control about where they allow customers to go...its the fault of beach zoning

Why is this about money? Because the Chinese family has lost money. The chinese man who was killed no doubt was an income earner and had many years left to earn money to provide for his family, now that is gone. They are greatly affected the Danish family is not. So it is quite reasonable IF their 15 year old son was the cause they have to pay. 1.7 million baht is quite reasonable. The kid is 3 years from being a legal man, so he is not a young boy. Is the jet ski company at fault also? Yes, but the parents clearly let their kid ride the jet ski.

As usual you miss the entire point, Mahuts die from elephants but is anyone suggesting Thais stop riding elepahants? Jet skis are dangerous but they are not going away and people will always continue to use them. Your idea that this crazy and outrageous treatment of one family will stop others from riding jet skis reveals much. Maybe you can write the Thai goverment and ask that motorcycles, trucks, and buses be banned and outlawed since they are the cause of so many deaths here?

Or maybe more focus could be put on using them as they were intended, safely and within reasonable limitations. How about making jet ski rentals teach classes and have insurance to cover such things. A better start would be to actually force all tourist boats to provide life jackets instead of taking pictures of them on one boat and then moving the life jackets to another boat to take more pictures to pass inspections. Also banning fake motorcycle helmets could help save many lives.

This story has been a damm outrage from the start! Just for starters there has been no evidence submited that it was even the Danish kids fault, It might very well of been equal fault by both parties involved. Granted the loss of life is horrible but I see it about every day in Thailand. I will not be forgeting the poor old Danish lady I met whos husband was ran over by a Policeman driving a truck to fast who was never even tested for drink driving. This guy was trying to go out for dinner and knocked into a coma for a week then air evacuated out, who knows if he died or what after he was gone but I can tell you this, she was presented the bill and paid before her exit.

Yea its a damm outrage because people die here everyday and nothing happens, and for damm sure no money changes hands. Im aware of many deaths here Thai on Thai and I have never heard of one situation where anyone with money was forced to pay more than 40,000 TB over any death. What are the standards concerning these matters? Who is deciding how much a life is worth? Who has to play by rules and who gets to make them up as they go?

Another big question raised is safty? While this situation took place on water almost all farang related accidents take place on the roads, mostly rental motorcycles. Was the Danish kid given any kind of safty instruction in order to rent the jet ski? If he was given instructions did he clearly break the rules he was given which caused the accident? If thats the case and I highly doubt it why was it not mentioned anywhere?

The biggest problem of all for Thailand is the impression that this boy was held hostage untill a ransom was paid. This will be played out over and over by the Nordic Media and is not the kind of thing thats reversable. I dont see it stopping Danish backpackers from coming but some of the VIP types with kids who actually watch the news and check places out before they go to them on holiday may very well decide not to come because of this single incident.

In the end I believe this was done to kiss the black hole that is the Chinese Media since the last thing anyone wants to do is reduce the inflow of the package tourist from China which represents real money. At the end of this story the Danes are a small fish in Thailands tourist industry and they were publicly humiliated for being the smaller fish. The situation has brought to the surface a few things that will without doubt be swept under the rug again as soon as possible.

This was just announced a few hours ago and is set to go on sale in February. With 18 times zoom it will put the lense at 500mm which is really getting out there for a smallish travel camera. As for birding without going for a Pro SLR camera this is a pretty amazing set up. It will be interesting to see the test results and some sample pictures from one. Olympus has some great new cameras, Thier new SLRs look pretty good according to what Im hearing, The Four Thirds lense mount is picking up steam and Leica has just released a new lense for the system.

Olympus Unveils 18x Optical Zoom SP-550 UZ

Olympus trumps its 12x rivals with an 18x ultra-zoom camera

The battle in the ultra-zoom digital camera market just got a bit more interesting with the announcement of Olympus' new SD-550 UZ. While competing large-zoom cameras "make do" with just 12x optical zoom, the SD-550 UZ features 18x optical zoom.

The 18x wide zoom lens provides the 35mm equivalent of 28-504mm and makes use of Dual Image Stabilization.

The camera features a 7.1MP imager and has the ability to capture pictures at a burst rate of 15 frames per second. The camera can also capture 30FPS video at 320x240 or 640x480. And as expected from consumer digital cameras these days, a large 2.5" LCD screen (230,000 pixels) is provided to framing and image playback.

Other features include a Super Macro mode, 23 scene modes, BrightCapture Technology for use in low-light situations and internal memory for storing a few images in a pinch. Unlike most consumer cameras out there, the Olympus SD-550 UZ features a proprietary xD slot for memory cards. xD cards are usually a bit more expensive than Secure Digital cards more commonly used in this sector.

On the other hand, Olympus made the smart move to allow the camera to accept four AA batteries for power. This gives users the ability to take advantage of relatively inexpensive rechargeable AA batteries or alkaline batteries in emergency situations. It sure beats having to pay for a spare proprietary battery pack.

The 12.9 ounce (without battery) Olympus SD-550 UZ will be available in February with an estimated MSRP of $500.

Cracks in the main runway could be repaired without shutting it down because they had occurred at the head of the runway, allowing jets enough space to land if work was underway, he said.

Foreign object debris (FOD) at airports can cause damage that costs airlines, airports, and airport tenants millions of dollars every year. FOD is any object that does not belong in or near airplanes and, as a result, can injure airport or airline personnel and damage airplanes. A FOD-prevention program of training, facility inspection, maintenance, and coordination between all affected parties can minimize FOD and its effects.

Foreign object debris (FOD) at airports includes any object found in an inappropriate location that -- as a result of being in that location -- can damage equipment or injure airplane or airport personnel. The resulting damage is estimated to cost the aerospace industry $4 billion a year. Airports, airlines, and airport tenants can reduce this cost by taking steps to prevent airport FOD.FOD includes a wide range of material, including loose hardware, pavement fragments, catering supplies, building materials, rocks, sand, pieces of luggage, and even wildlife. FOD is found at terminal gates, cargo aprons, taxiways, runways, and run-up pads. It causes damage through direct contact with airplanes, such as by cutting airplane tires or being ingested into engines, or as a result of being thrown by jet blast and damaging airplanes or injuring people.

FOD AND MAINTENANCE COSTS

The effect of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) on maintenance costs can be significant. For example, the cost to repair a FOD-damaged engine can easily exceed $1 million. FOD can also incur extensive indirect costs, including:

* Flight delays and cancellations, leading to a loss of customers.

* Schedule disruptions caused by the need to reposition airplanes and crews.

* Potential liability because of injury.

* Additional work for airline management and staff.

The cost of repairing FOD damage to an engine can easily exceed 20 percent of its original purchase price.

Purchase cost of MD-11 engine--------------------------$8-10 million

Purchase cost of MD-80 engine--------------------------$3-4 million

MD-11 engine overhaul to correct FOD damage--------$500,000-1.6 million

MD-80 engine overhaul to correct FOD damage-------$250,000-1.0 million

MD-11 fan blades (per set*)-----------------------------$25,000

MD-80 fan blades (per set*)------------------------------$7,000

*Fan blades are balanced and replaced as a set.

SOURCES OF FOD

Foreign object debris (FOD) comes from many sources. The most common are:

* Airport infrastructure.

* Normal airplane operations.

* Personal belongings.

Airport infrastructure. The deterioration, maintenance, and construction of the airport infrastructure can contribute to FOD. For example, pieces of concrete can break loose from holes in pavement or from fatigue corner cracks, and building materials can fall from construction vehicles or be blown from gate areas onto airplane maneuvering areas. Broken pieces of pavement can collect at the edge of the gate area and be carried onto the airplane maneuvering area by the tires of vehicular ground support equipment (GSE). Service roads that cross taxiways should be monitored closely to prevent the vehicles using these roads from moving FOD onto the taxiways.

How many times have we seen a new road built and within weeks it starts to fall apart? What has not been put into play is the new super jumbo jets that will go online in the next couple years. Does anyone know what the weight differences will be? Both the Air Bus and Boeing are going to add considerable amounts of stress compared to the current aircraft. What will happen if these new aircraft cannot land there? Will they be restricted to Singapore or possibly have to compensate and provide for passengers to be commuted from Utapo?

Boeing Dreamlifter Delivers First Assemblies for 787 Dreamliner

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 16, 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] yesterday delivered the first major assemblies for the all-new 787 Dreamliner to its partner Global Aeronautica in Charleston, S.C., completing the first-ever delivery cycle using the Dreamlifter, a specially modified 747-400.

"The Dreamlifter proved beyond a doubt that it is the right transportation solution for the lean, global production system we are using to build the 787," said Scott Strode, vice president of Airplane Development and Production for the 787 program. "We can now do in hours what used to take weeks. This is good news for us, our partners and ultimately, our airline customers."

The load consisted of section 43, a forward fuselage section made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and section 11/45, the center wheel well and center wing tank made by KHI and Fuji Heavy Industries and joined at FHI. The Dreamlifter left Nagoya, Japan, on Friday. It successfully performed some required flight testing in Seattle over the weekend, and headed to Charleston late Sunday. The parts were unloaded yesterday.

"The arrival of our first 787 shipment from Japan is an important milestone," said Randy Smith, chief operating officer of Global Aeronautica, LLC. "Our employees are ready to start work on the first Dreamliner and are honored to be a part of Boeing's worldwide team that's delivering on its promise to bring the most technologically advanced aircraft to customers in 2008."

It just goes down as more evidence the new rule was not well thought out. The lines do seem to be getting longer but in reality they are just bogging down the system with more hassle. Most of us have barcodes in our passports that could be scaned, helll walmart has been doing it for 20 years. My wifes Thai passport even has a microchip in the damm thing and we have guys hand counting and adding up things with a pencil while we waste our lives away standing in line.

Its true some have left, whats getting overlooked is many of the guys who have the correct paperwork and visa's now started off on multiple 30 day tourist visas. For me its more of a hassle than anything else.

For guys with money to live here the 30 day visa was a security blanket, now that security is gone. All its done is to bring instability and instability tightens pocket books. Anyone that wants to can just go hang out in Malaysia for 90 days then come back to Thailand. This just means that 90 days worth of money could have been spent here and not there. I believe it will be good for Malaysia and other countries because guys who would not have considered going there will end up there because of the new rules, they might even like it better. Like one guy was saying before, It sure is nice to just walk down the sidewalk in Kuala Lumpur, its impossible in Bangkok.

I have moments of frustration here in Thailand and leaving for 90 days would be a nice break but I still love the place and the people, I dont see that changing no matter what happens.

Now that pandoras box has been opened who knows what is next? The guys who were living here for years in simplicity seem to be selling out and moving on. I was just told today of another man under 50 who is leaving and he has been a instituton in one area of Thailand for more tnan 5 years. Its all rather a silly way to handle things as many countries offer Americans 90 days on arrival and many other advantages.

The day Castro goes and they offer unrestricted flights back and forth from Miami to Havana it will also cancel a few flights to Thailand. A year ago I would not consider living anywhere else, This year I have a new set of maps and new bookmarks on my browser to see whats out there.

Evidence pointing to JI links is limited, but there are still at least five reasons to be suspicious. First and foremost, JI approached both the GMIP and Jemaah Salafi in 1999-2000 and invited them to a series of three meetings known as the Rabitatul Mujahideen, but it is unknown how deep or strong a relationship was forged. Hambali, JI's operational chief and a senior member of al-Qaeda, was of course captured in Thailand, along with his two lieutenants, Zubair Mohamad and Bashir bin Lap (Lillie) who were charged with perpetrating a major terrorist attack in Bangkok. Lillie was arrested along with a local Thai mujahid, Awang Ibrahim. Secondly, a Singaporean JI member, Arifin bin Ali, was captured in Thailand where he was allegedly plotting to hijack an Aeroflot jetliner to crash it into Singapore. Thirdly, several southern Thai militants were arrested in conjunction with a JI cell in Cambodia that was implicated in laundering money for al-Qaeda through the Om Al Qura Foundation. Fourthly, one of JI's leaders and a key planner of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) was given refuge by Thailand's leading Wahhabi cleric, Ismail Lutfi. Moreover other JI members have sought refuge in southern Thailand. Fifthly, two Indonesians were killed in the April 2004 siege at the Krue Se mosque and an Indonesian employee of the charity Medical Emergency Relief Charity (MER-C), which was implicated in JI and support of JI-linked paramilitaries in the Malukus and Poso, Indonesia, was arrested and deported. Likewise, a Syrian is now wanted by the Thai authorities in connection with the Hat Yai bombings. There is also greater concern that Bangladesh's HuJI and the Rohinga Solidarity Organization are actively supporting the militants.

I believe we have met before? Were you not the guy giving the sales pitch at the Amway convention?

like your comment

it goes well with my bottle of wine

sour but fruity

What are you drinking? The Thai version of Boones Farm or MD 2020?

Evidence pointing to JI links is limited, but there are still at least five reasons to be suspicious. First and foremost, JI approached both the GMIP and Jemaah Salafi in 1999-2000 and invited them to a series of three meetings known as the Rabitatul Mujahideen, but it is unknown how deep or strong a relationship was forged. Hambali, JI's operational chief and a senior member of al-Qaeda, was of course captured in Thailand, along with his two lieutenants, Zubair Mohamad and Bashir bin Lap (Lillie) who were charged with perpetrating a major terrorist attack in Bangkok. Lillie was arrested along with a local Thai mujahid, Awang Ibrahim. Secondly, a Singaporean JI member, Arifin bin Ali, was captured in Thailand where he was allegedly plotting to hijack an Aeroflot jetliner to crash it into Singapore. Thirdly, several southern Thai militants were arrested in conjunction with a JI cell in Cambodia that was implicated in laundering money for al-Qaeda through the Om Al Qura Foundation. Fourthly, one of JI's leaders and a key planner of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) was given refuge by Thailand's leading Wahhabi cleric, Ismail Lutfi. Moreover other JI members have sought refuge in southern Thailand. Fifthly, two Indonesians were killed in the April 2004 siege at the Krue Se mosque and an Indonesian employee of the charity Medical Emergency Relief Charity (MER-C), which was implicated in JI and support of JI-linked paramilitaries in the Malukus and Poso, Indonesia, was arrested and deported. Likewise, a Syrian is now wanted by the Thai authorities in connection with the Hat Yai bombings. There is also greater concern that Bangladesh's HuJI and the Rohinga Solidarity Organization are actively supporting the militants.

I believe we have met before? Were you not the guy giving the sales pitch at the Amway convention?

Brazil

PULO tries to maintain a moderate political appearance to present the kinder-gentler side. They would never admit to the bombing because it's not part of their agenda. But like all terrorist organizations they have a militant side which may very well be JI or their own equivalent which they distance themselves from politically, but plot and scheme together in the same local mosque.

This is all part of the Islamist MO. How many groups was Arafat a member of before PLO? All you do is make up a new name, kill a bunch of people, then the MSM eats it up and announces a previously unknown terrorist organization named "The Brothers and Uncles of Mohammed's Holy Blah Blah Blah claimed responsibility for the explosion." The real perpetrators get carte blanche while Joe six-pack swallows it whole and everything starts all over again tomorrow.

It's called low intensity war fare, or nickle-and-dime them to death, then hit them big time when they're weak and their moral is low.

We only have our selves to blame unless we wake up!

your statement rings a bell in my brain for sure.

they certainly hit when morale was low

whats so amazing is how this has slipped through the population hardly un-noticed. wow what a brainwashing job the media and thai authorities have done!

Maybe you guys can get together and pass some laws forcing all the Muslims in Thailand to wear yellow crescents sewn to their clothes (Including all the terrorist evil Saudis at MBK eating at Mcdonalds with their kids) so they are more easily indentifiable?

While your at it you can read George Bush bedtime stories to your kids with his chicken little "The sky is falling, blame it on Muslims" mentality and busy yourselves with distant big bad wolf hunting while the cute little foxes raid the hen houses in broad daylight.

This was a very telling week for the war on terror as 30 Americans died in one day after four years of driving around in circles in the desert chasing guys armed with small arms and IED's while back in the real world the Chinese shot down a sattelite for all the world to see.

US military power seen at risk by China's satellite-busting ability

by P. Parameswaran 1 hour, 19 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - China's new satellite-killing capability threatens US military supremacy in Asia, especially Washington's ability to swiftly come to Taiwan's defense, American experts say.

The United States is Taiwan's security guarantor against any possible Chinese invasion. But the recent successful test of a Chinese satellite destruction missile raises the prospect of Beijing scuttling America's critical satellite network in a possible war.

"The prospect of losing a good chunk of our satellite coverage, our satellite network in space in a Taiwan combat scenario really does change the equation for American planners on how we approach the defense of Taiwan should it need it," John Tkacik, a former State Department expert on China, told AFP.

Taiwan has several satellites up in orbit now, including two imaging ones used for intelligence and surveillance purposes.

If the Chinese pursued the satellites during hostilities, it could cause Washington to have second thoughts about getting involved.

"If especially the United States felt that its satellites were equally vulnerable, it's a disturbing new development," said Tkacik, the former chief of China analysis in the State Department's bureau of intelligence and research.

US officials revealed last week that China had destroyed one of its own orbiting weather satellites earlier this month using a ballistic missile, making it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to shoot down an object in space.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed the test on Tuesday and said it had already notified Washington.

He insisted however that China never has, "and will never, participate in any form of space arms race."

The successful test -- the first such intercept in more than 20 years -- means China can theoretically shoot down spy satellites or other orbiters operated by other nations, sparking fears of a space-based arms race.

"There has been long a desire on China's part to try to have weapons to shoot down or at least interfere with American satellites which America depends upon in order to meet its defense commitment in Asia," said former senior

Pentagon official Dan Blumenthal.

"So it very much puts in the minds of American planners, policy makers how to overcome this now more costly commitment," he said.

Blumenthal said Taiwan will be a "central" issue of the China's satellite-killing capability because the most likely flashpoint between Washington and Beijing is over Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province.

Amid the active competition in space, "the United States is going to be taking countermeasures to protect its satellite constellations," he said.

Stratfor, an American security and intelligence think-tank, said Beijing's first attempts to control space would not be an effort to match US capabilities but "rather to become master of its own domain above East Asia.

"Facing the major competitor in all of space, China will tailor its offensive space capability specifically toward countering US dominance -- at least in part," it said.

Japan and other challengers to Beijing's regional hegemony, however, will not be far behind, Stratfor added.

The United States has a military alliance with Japan, which harbors US troops mostly in Okinawa, strategically close to the Taiwan Strait.

Since the Persian

Gulf War about 20 years ago, Washington has been saying that the strategic center of American military and naval power is its space networks.

"The way that the United States communicates, transmits data, gets a picture of the battle space, gathers 90 percent of its intelligence, is through its space networks. And without that we are blinded, we are made deaf and dumb, and you simply couldn't function," Tkacik said.

He said space networks were particularly crucial to defending Taiwan and Japan.

"If it was just a local conflict and we are suddenly blinded, I think we could handle that. But in a large area like Okinawa, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, I think it would be very difficult to communicate between ships and (from) aircraft to ships to find out where the enemy is," he said.

The US Defense Department says China is spending two to three times more on its military than the 35 billion dollars a year it has acknowledged.

A department report last year concluded that while Taiwan appears to be the near-term focus of China's military spending, the build-up poses a potential threat to the United States over the longer term.

China has consistently maintained that its military build-up is for defensive purposes only, while claiming that it has no history of invading other countries.

Agreed!

This is a typical example of posters who like the sound of their own voice not reading the original post.

Their reaction is 'grrr, spindoctoring'

But if you read the piece, it is clearly downbeat and has a broadly pessimistic angle

how can you say that ???

" the market fundamentals remain strong, " - bull****t - no they dont !

"The property market is likely to grow, at a slower pace this year- It is expected the demand will remain intact since the market has strong fundamentals " you tell me where the market has strong fundamentals - it is total crap I wish they had the honesty to once to

describe the outlook for the market as it truly is.

Anyone who has ever gone to the banks here to see the large qauntity of overrated property they have for sale and the prices they ask know the market is total BS! There are some great and valuable properties here but then take a drive around and get a good look at all the empty and half completed structures, the half assed half completed neigborhood projects and all the first class VIP homes boarded up and overgrown then tell me how great the property market is.

You can call it <deleted>, ballsacs, keeqwai or whatever you want but people here tend to overprice land and structures and just sit on them. In my own family I was recently offered a Rai of land for 300,000 baht for my wife and I turned it down flatly as it was overpriced and then learned the aunt later sold for 70,000 but would not sale to my wife for that price??? The old loosing face thing I guess. Many deals go down like this, big signs, big prices, then secret cheep deals behind closed doors only to have bigger signs and bigger prices posted in public.

The bottem line is field workers have no money to buy, Farangs for the most part can not be bothered to buy, and Toxin has flown the coop with the petty cash. I realize idiots (ATMs) arrive every hour by plane but at what point will more folks start to withdraw funds and less folks continue to deposit them at a loss? I truly believe that time has arrived, for me I planned to start construction on a new home for my wife this year but have now put that plan far onto the back burner, other spending plans have also been put on hold. Until recently I would spend a week in Bangkok every month staying at hotels and eating out and that to is being replaced by trips to other countries so I will be spending my money elswhere, Im sure Im not the only one.

What in the world are you guys on about now? Of course you will get screwed in Cambodia if your some silly tourist, same same Thailand! In general I have had less problems in Cambodia than Thailand in the past, This because its a smaller country, easier to navigate. What it is not is the kind of place that any smuck can show up to and thrive without doing his homework.

The main concerns are the hospitals and clinics, In this regaurd Thailand is far superior. As far as a Visa, finding staff for a small business, or living in a nice house with staff, Cambodia easily surpasses Thailand. Cambodians are very hard working and motivated people, they are making a hard fought comeback.

Whos kidding who around here? The guys I know with houses and condos worth real money now (Bought in 90s) were the same guys who were buying everything they could get in stocks 4 years ago. These are the very same guys who last year on the first gatherings of crowds sold every single stock and bailed out while the ship was still steaming forward. Some even sold property holdings and ones who would be buying more condos with their cash from the stock sales just bought up whatever was a sure thing for export, exported it, sold, and banked the booty in the Caribbean right along beside the cash from our number one pirate in exile.

In old Vegas the money went by suitcase to Kansas City and Chicago, Since 97 the smart Thai money has gone by suitcase first class to the Bahammas, sometimes whole plane loads of suit cases at a time. Things never looked better for Thailand 3 months after the Tsunami, everything was holding together even through that. Then one man and his insistence on keeping his hand in the cookie jar even when the average Joe Noi could see it in plain view has detoothed the tiger we all knew and loved.

In late 2005 I was having to call friends on holliday to warn them to beware of political protests downtown because it could get nasty and some folks are just now seeing possible problems?

What are the Las Vegas odds this whole damm airport will be unusable in 5 years? Im feeling lucky!

The place changed owners about a year ago, and it's renovated. Great place with imported steaks if you are hungry.

Number 1 has changed hands multiple times, Geoff basicly got screwed out of the place by a couple helpful drama seeking tourists but for a time he ran it well and served a few famous sunday dinners. Ive heard the newest owners have made a good go of it and good for them, It would be worth checking out.

Unless there has been a dramatic change the beer bar in the basement of Sofitel had the best beer and live music in town. There is always a new trendy bar within a few hundred meters of the Sofitel so no worries. Club 172 was great and set up as upper scale drink place for those who wanted a nice place to hang out and listen to DJ music, I havent been there in some time. It would be worth taking a look at and is across the street from Sofitel on the left.

I have not bothered with any restraunt in KK since Hendrik left, He had the best damm food that KK has ever seen and most likely ever will. I no longer live around there so now when Im in town I go straight to the McDonalds, it's the only one Isarn.