Gulf Air Aircraft Saluted Formula 1 Teams and Spectators. Bahrain Grand Prix

Yahoo! India Finance

Local News Stock Tips Forex Market Commentary Tech Stocks International Results AGMs Analysis IPO's

Monday April 4, 06:19 PM

Gulf Air Aircraft Saluted Formula 1 Teams and Spectators. Bahrain Grand Prix

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Monday, April 04, 2005 -- (Business Wire India) -- In the high pressure build up to the start of this year's Gulf Air Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday 3 April, attention, for a short while, focused on the sky rather than the tarmac.

Following the highly popular fly past of a Gulf Air Airbus A330 at the 2004 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, the teams and spectators were saluted with a spectacular, low-level fly past by two Gulf Air aircraft this year.

At 14:00 local time, an Airbus A330 and an Airbus A340 in Gulf Air's striking livery approached flying at a height of 500 feet above the circuit.

The A330, piloted by Captain Hameed Ali - who is also Vice President Operations - at Gulf Air and Captain Ghassan Al Salem, and the A340 piloted by Captains Adel Al Ansari and Yagoob Al Salem, passed just to the east of the main straight at the remarkably slow - but safe - speed of 150 knots (compared to average 500 knots at altitude). Also on board was Captain Manin Saeed, who co-ordinated the sequence with the Bahrain Defence Force and Bahrain Civil Aviation. Running in together in trail they had individual passes before heading back to Muharraq, thereby signalling the start of the final countdown to the start of the second Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

“Last year the roar that went up from the crowd at the sight of the single aircraft flying over the circuit by an Airbus pilot was almost as loud as when the race started,” said Captain Hameed Ali. “This year we were doubly excited, as this time our own pilots - all Gulf nationals - were at the controls for this unique close formation fly past, which at very slow speed, maximized its visual impact...”

About Gulf Air

Gulf Air was founded in 1950. Today, it is owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, Oman and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and is the only truly pan Gulf carrier in the region. The airline's network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 50 cities in 33 countries. The fleet is one of the most modern in the Middle East and comprises 35 aircraft.

The airline is in the last year of a three-year strategic recovery programme, headed by President and Chief Executive, James Hogan. The airline, which is making rapid strides towards regaining profitability by 2005, aims to further evolve by taking its renowned cultural strengths, which have been gained over more than half a century, into a global environment.

The dramatic turnaround in Gulf Air's fortunes has won international recognition. In January 2004, The Centre for Asia Pacific (ASPI.BO, news) Aviation (CAPA) presented the airline with the prestigious Airline Turnaround of the Year Award for 2003. Gulf Air was also the recipient of the 2003 Platinum Award for the Best Airline in the Middle East and North Africa, recognising the airline's commitment to service excellence.

Winner - Middle East and North African Platinum Best Airline Travel Award 2004
Winner - Skytrax Most Improved Airline Award 2004
Winner - Skytrax Best First Class Onboard Food Category 2004
Winner - Skytrax Best Business Class Check-in Category 2004
Official Airline and Sponsor of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2005

Media contact details
John Anderson, General Manager India,
Gulf Air,
+91 (22) 2202 1313,
gfgmindia@hathway.com

Snehhal Chitneni / Shilpika Bordoloi,
IPAN,
+ 91 (22) 2266 1755,
snehhal@ipan.com,shilpika@ipan.com

Email this article to your friend - View most popular

Questions or Comments?