miércoles, 26 de febrero de 2014

JAL Group Monthly Traffic Data-January 2014



1.1 JAL Group International Passenger Traffic Data - FY2013 
Month
Pax
y.o.y(%)
RPK (000's)
y.o.y(%)
ASK (000's)
y.o.y(%)
L/F(%)
APR - 13
578,279
99.8
2,582,823
104.5
3,698,245
104.5
69.8
MAY - 13
587,529
97.1
2,700,281
100.8
3,799,832
103.4
71.1
JUN - 13
615,744
99.5
2,897,529
103.1
3,762,418
103.4
77.0
FY13 1st Q
1,781,552
98.8
8,180,633
102.8
11,260,495
103.7
72.6
JUL - 13
665,919
103.7
3,053,941
106.3
3,942,425
104.7
77.5
AUG - 13
729,552
104.4
3,294,846
106.8
4,024,572
105.5
81.9
SEP - 13
670,652
105.7
3,078,587
104.9
3,862,382
104.6
79.7
FY13 2nd Q
2,066,123
104.6
9,427,374
106.0
11,829,380
104.9
79.7
OCT - 13
662,860
109.8
3,100,857
107.9
3,945,888
105.9
78.6
NOV - 13
639,341
105.1
2,946,294
104.6
3,831,835
104.5
76.8
DEC - 13
636,987
101.4
2,902,255
100.5
3,974,503
102.8
73.0
FY13 3rd Q
1,939,188
105.4
8,949,406
104.3
11,752,226
104.4
76.2
JAN - 14
648,203
104.6
2,926,202
104.1
3,939,589
101.9
74.3
FEB - 14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MAR - 14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY13 4th Q
648,203
104.6
2,926,202
104.1
3,939,589
101.9
74.3
TOTAL
6,435,066
103.2
29,483,615
104.4
38,781,689
104.1
76.0
1.2 Monthly International Passenger Route Traffic Data - January 2014 
Route
Pax
y.o.y(%)
RPK (000's)
y.o.y(%)
ASK (000's)
y.o.y(%)
L/F(%)
FY12
L/F(%)
Transpacific
150,660
106.7
1,142,334
106.7
1,443,961
103.3
79.1
76.6
Europe
53,492
106.6
494,659
104.3
688,053
103.0
71.9
71.0
S.E.A
243,733
101.3
875,378
99.0
1,223,185
100.2
71.6
72.4
Oceania
13,458
99.7
103,547
99.6
126,020
101.4
82.2
83.6
Guam
14,374
103.2
37,265
103.1
44,394
101.6
83.9
82.7
Korea
67,883
87.5
77,735
89.9
107,218
92.4
72.5
74.5
China
104,484
126.4
195,137
126.5
306,597
104.0
63.6
52.3
Total
648,203
104.6
2,926,202
104.1
3,939,589
101.9
74.3
72.7
2. JAL Group Total Domestic Passenger Traffic - FY2013 
Month
Pax
y.o.y(%)
RPK (000's)
y.o.y(%)
ASK (000's)
y.o.y(%)
L/F(%)
APR - 13
2,309,460
101.8
  1,760,896
100.6
3,074,956
102.8
57.3
MAY - 13
2,572,177
104.5
1,922,732
103.1
3,206,977
102.5
60.0
JUN - 13
2,478,817
104.0
1,847,686
102.2
3,162,660
106.2
58.4
FY13 1st Q
7,360,454
103.5
5,531,314
102.0
9,444,591
103.8
58.6
JUL - 13
2,573,440
101.0
1,958,816
100.3
3,291,001
101.7
59.5
AUG - 13
3,044,459
105.2
2,355,496
105.2
3,405,330
103.5
69.2
SEP - 13
2,805,945
105.1
2,154,331
103.9
3,088,625
101.4
69.8
FY13 2nd Q
8,423,844
103.8
6,468,642
103.3
9,784,955
102.2
66.1
OCT - 13
2,811,597
101.7
2,142,406
100.2
3,116,361
99.7
68.7
NOV - 13
2,754,192
104.0
2,066,175
103.4
2,984,015
103.1
69.2
DEC - 13
2,491,599
108.0
1,886,464
107.5
3,083,924
102.8
61.2
FY13 3rd Q
8,057,388
104.4
6,095,045
103.5
9,184,300
101.8
66.4
JAN - 14 
2,390,997
108.2
1,835,887
107.6
3,054,048
103.2
60.1
FEB - 14 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MAR - 14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY13 4th Q
2,390,997
108.2
1,835,887
107.6
3,054,048
103.2
60.1
TOTAL
26,232,683
104.3
19,930,891
103.3
31,467,896
102.7
63.3
3. JAL Group Cargo Traffic Data - FY2013 
Month
International
Domestic
Cargo
Mail
Cargo
Mail
Ton
y.o.y(%)
Ton
y.o.y(%)
Ton
y.o.y(%)
Ton
y.o.y
(%)
APR - 13
20,773
100.9
2,384
111.3
31,751
101.4
2,278
104.7
MAY - 13
20,917
105.5
2,438
116.4
31,461
102.1
2,380
111.0
JUN - 13
21,698
103.9
2,285
120.7
30,806
102.5
2,410
102.6
FY13 1st Q
63,388
103.4
7,108
115.9
94,018
101.9
7,068
105.9
JUL - 13
22,675
107.8
2,254
115.6
36,171
101.0
2,227
109.1
AUG - 13
22,864
115.6
2,374
121.4
32,171
94.0
2,043
99.0
SEP - 13
22,723
107.7
2,529
124.5
33,406
100.3
2,130
104.5
FY13 2nd Q
68,262
110.3
7,156
120.5
104,390
101.0
6,519
106.1
OCT - 13
24,349
112.6
2,871
130.6
35,153
104.9
2,499
109.3
NOV - 13
24,012
110.2
2,814
123.3
33,113
106.7
2,411
105.5
DEC - 13
22,827
107.1
4,047
118.4
35,107
91.1
2,207
78.1
FY13 3rd Q
71,188
110.0
9,732
123.2
103,373
100.3
7,117
96.2
JAN - 14
21,834
111.4
2,733
122.6
26,997
104.1
2,305
104.4
FEB - 14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MAR - 14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY13 4th Q
21,834
111.4
2,733
122.6
26,997
104.1
2,305
104.4
TOTAL
224,671
108.3
26,729
120.3
334,526
103.1
23,796
106.1

 

FAA



FAA Proposes $90,000 Civil Penalty Against Red Eagle Aviation
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $90,000 civil penalty against Red Eagle Aviation of Kalispell, Mont., for allegedly operating a Bell 206 helicopter when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.
The FAA alleges Red Eagle operated the helicopter on numerous flights, including at least 80 revenue flights, between May 2011 and May 2013, when the company had not performed required, periodic overhauls of its tail rotor hub and main rotor mast assemblies. The company's alleged failure to perform these overhauls within the time period specified by the manufacturer meant the helicopter was not in an airworthy condition.
Red Eagle Aviation has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA's enforcement letter to respond to the agency. 



sábado, 22 de febrero de 2014


                                            
FAA Issues Final Rule to Improve Helicopter Safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today 
issued a final rule that requires helicopter operators, including air ambulances, to have 
stricter flight rules and procedures, improved communications, training, and additional 
on-board safety equipment. The rule represents the most significant improvements to 
helicopter safety in decades and responds to government's and industry's concern 
over continued risk in helicopter operations.

"This is a landmark rule for helicopter safety," said Transportation Secretary 
Anthony Foxx. "These improvements will better prepare pilots and better equip 
helicopters, ensuring a higher level of safety for passengers and crew."

All U.S. helicopter operators, including air ambulances, are required to use stricter 
flying procedures in bad weather. This will provide a greater margin of safety by 
reducing the probability of collisions with terrain, obstacles or other aircraft.

Within 60 days, all operators will be required to use enhanced procedures for flying 
in challenging weather, at night, and when landing in remote locations. Within 
three years, helicopter air ambulances must use the latest on-board technology 
and equipment to avoid terrain and obstacles, and within four years, they must be 
equipped with flight data monitoring systems.

"This rule is a significant advancement in helicopter safety," said FAA Administrator 
Michael Huerta. "This rule will help reduce risk and help pilots make good safety 
decisions through the use of better training, procedures, and equipment."

Under the new rule, all Part 135 helicopter operators are required to:
  • Equip their helicopters with radio altimeters.
  • Have occupants wear life preservers and equip helicopters with a 406 MHz 
  • Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) when a helicopter is operated beyond 
  • power-off glide distance from the shore.
  • Use higher weather minimums when identifying an alternate airport in a flight plan.
  • Require that pilots are tested to handle flat-light, whiteout, and brownout 
  • conditions and demonstrate competency in recovery from an inadvertent 
  • encounter with instrument meteorological conditions.

In addition, under the new rule, all air ambulance operators are required to:
  • Equip with Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS).
  • Equip with a flight data monitoring system within four years.
  • Establish operations control centers if they are certificate holders with 10 
  • or more helicopter air ambulances.
  • Institute pre-flight risk-analysis programs.
  • Ensure their pilots in command hold an instrument rating.
  • Ensure pilots identify and document the highest obstacle along the planned 
  • route before departure.
  • Comply with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) weather minimums, Instrument 
  • Flight Rules (IFR) operations at airports/heliports without weather reporting,
  •  procedures for VFR approaches, and VFR flight planning.
  • Conduct the flight using Part 135 weather requirements and flight crew 
  • time limitation and rest requirements when medical personnel are on board.
  • Conduct safety briefings or training for medical personnel.

Since August 2004, the FAA has promoted initiatives to reduce risk for 
helicopter air ambulance operations). While accidents did decline in the years 
following that effort, 2008 proved to be the deadliest year on record with five 
accidents that claimed 21 lives. The FAA examined helicopter air 
ambulance accidents from 1991 through 2010 and determined 62 accidents 
that claimed 125 lives could have been mitigated by today's rule. While 
developing the rule, the FAA considered 20 commercial helicopter accidents
from 1991 through 2010 (excluding air ambulances) that resulted in 39 
fatalities. From 2011 through 2013, there were seven air ambulance accidents
resulting in 19 fatalities and seven commercial helicopter accidents that claimed
20 lives. 

The estimated cost of the final rule in present value for the air ambulance industry
 is $224 million with a total benefit of $347 million over 10 years. The cost for 
other commercial operators is $19 million with a total benefit of $83 million over
 10 years. There is no cost for any operators to use new Class G airspace 
weather minimums for visual flying but the benefit is $147 million over 10 years.

The rule responds to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and 
National Transportation Safety Board recommendations.




NUEVOS PILOTOS DE IBERIA Y PELUQUERAS


Los nuevos pilotos que sean contratados por Iberia tendrán un salario bruto anual igual que el que cobran las peluqueras de TV3.

Los nuevos comandantes que entren en la compañía aérea Iberia cobrarán cerca de 35.000 euros brutos al año, según fuentes del sindicato SEPLA, la misma cantidad que perciben las peluqueras de la Televisión de Catalunya (TVC), según el cuadro de retribuciones salariales de los trabajadores de la Corporación de Medios Audiovisuaes (CCMA).

Concretamente, según este convenio laboral -con datos de finales de 2012-, las peluqueras que trabajan en TV3 cobran un salario de 34.848,44 euros.

El jefe de la sección sindical de SEPLA en Iberia, Justo Peral, afirma que "los pilotos de Iberia serán los más baratos", asegurando que un comandante de nueva contratación -que será segundo de cabina- de esta compañía "cobrará la mitad que uno de Easyjet", apuntando que en la aerolínea británica de low cost el sueldo de los pilotos está alrededor de los 82.000 euros al año.

LOS PILOTOS ESPAÑOLES QUE EJERCEN EN EL EXTRANJERO VALORAN MEJOR A SUS COMPAÑÍAS

Los pilotos españoles no confían en sus compañías aéreas y consideran que las instituciones públicas no cumplen de forma adecuada con sus funciones de supervisión de las operaciones aéreas y defensa de los derechos de los pasajeros. Son los datos que se desprenden del Aerobarómetro 2013, un estudio realizado por el Colegio de Pilotos de la Aviación Comercial (COPAC), entre los más de 6.000 colegiados.

El estudio, realizado por tercer año consecutivo, muestra la percepción negativa de los pilotos hacia sus compañías, la Autoridad aeronáutica y otras instituciones, así como la falta de perspectiva en el sector. El deterior profesional, la debilidad de la industria nacional  el desempleo son los principales problemas del sector para los pilotos.

De acuerdo con los resultados, el COPAC considera prioritario establecer el clima de confianza entre profesionales, compañías e instituciones para reflotar un sector fuertemente castigado por la crísis y con gran importancia económica para el país. El Aerobarómetro pone de manifiesto que los pilotos volando fuera de nuestras fronteras otorgan mayores puntuaciones a aerolíneas e instituciones de los países donde ejercen.

viernes, 14 de febrero de 2014



IAG - IBERIA Y EL SEPLA LLEGAN A UN ACUERDO

International Airlines Group (IAG) informa que Iberia ha alcanzado un principio de acuerdo con el SEPLA (Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas), para introducir cambios estructurales permanentes y mejorar la viabilidad de la aerolínea.

Las claves más importantes del acuerdo son :

<    -Mejora sustancial de la producción de Iberia.
<    -Los sueldos permanecerán congelados hasta 2015. Después los  incrementos salariales estarán sujetos a la rentabilidad de la  compañía.
<  -El Acuerdo de Mediación fijó una reducción salarial del 14%  para el colectivo de pilotos y un recorte de un 4% adicional  ligado al acuerdo de productividad.
<    -Facilitar el crecimiento de Iberia e Iberia Express.

El presidente ejecutivo de Iberia, Luis Gallego, señaló: “Quiero agradecer el esfuerzo realizado por SEPLA y el equipo directivo de Iberia que han trabajado juntos para alcanzar este pacto que marca un hito en la historia de la compañía. Este acuerdo reduce la estructura de costes de Iberia y establece los cimientos para el crecimiento de la aerolínea. Una Iberia fuerte y rentable supone la protección de empleos a largo plazo y el impulso del turismo, un sector clave para la recuperación económica de España y del aeropuerto de Barajas”.

Este principio de acuerdo está sujeto a la aprobación de la asamblea general de SEPLA.

Fuente: IBERIA

jueves, 13 de febrero de 2014

75 ANIVERSARIO DEL BOEING STRATOLINER



75th ANNIVERSARY


The Stratoliner the world's first pressurized commercial airplane, was bom in the 1930s, during a time of rapid evolution in the science and technology of flight, beginning with dramatic advancements in aircraft structures. Wood and fabric gave way to metal monoplanes replaced biplanes and, before the decade was out, another great innovation would revolutionize flight-cabin pressurization.






Singapore Air Show 2014


Singapore Air Show


Vídeo: Cortesía de AIRBUS

miércoles, 12 de febrero de 2014

AirbusDirect@Singapore Airshow: Spotlighting the A380 and Asia





Airbus Day 2 Singapore Airshow broadcast offers insight on Amadeo's firm order to 20 A380s, along with the potential of this 21st century flagship jetliner to capture growth in the Asian air transport sector in addition.

Vídeo : Cortesía de AIRBUS

Singapore Air Show 2014, Airbus and SIA


AIRBUS AND SIA


Vídeo : Cortesía de SINGAPORE AIR SHOW

Singapore Air Show 2014 Airbus annoucement - Amedeo firms up order for 2...


SINGAPORE AIRSHOW'S DAY 2


Vídeo : Cortesía de AIRBUS

martes, 11 de febrero de 2014

Singapore Airshow 2014




Singapore Airshow's


SINGAPORE AIRSHOW'S 2014




Singapore Airshow's Airbus press

SINGAPORE AIRSHOW'S OPENING


Airbus takes centre stage at the Singapore Airshow's opening


It was a red carpet day for Aiebus, with the A350 XWB at the centre of attention durin the Singapore Airshow's official inauguration and in the air for its first-ever air show flight presentation.

lunes, 10 de febrero de 2014

AEROPUERTO DE JEREZ


CERTIFICACIÓN DE LA AGENCIA ESTATAL DE SEGURIDAD AÉREA

El Aeropuerto de Jerez acaba de obtener la certificación de la Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA), que acredita el cumplimiento de la normativa recomendada y auspiciada por la Organización de Aviación Civil Internacional (OACI).

La consecución de este documento, con el que culmina un proceso que ha requerido más de tres años de trabajo, avala la amplitud de la infraestructura y su personal para gestionar operaciones de transporte aéreo de conformidad con las normas técnicas de diseño y operación de aeródromos de uso público.

La certificación implica mejoras en seguridad operacional y el cumplimiento de estándares técnicos internacionales.

Working at Emirates | Emirates


WORKING AT EMIRATES


Vídeo : Cortesía de EMIRATES

ATERRIZAR EN LOS AEROPUERTOS VASCOS


ATERRIZAR EN FORONDA ES MÁS SENCILLO QUE EN HONDARRIBIA


Cuando la cizalladura colapsa el aeropuerto de Bilbao, los expertos prefieren, como aeropuerto alternativo a Foronda y no a Hondarribia.

El aeropuerto de alavés  tiene una pista larguísima y cómoda.


 La llegada a Foronda por la llanada es tranquila y sencilla por lo que es la mejor elección. Es un pedazo de aeropuerto, sus infraestructuras y elementos de apoyo para los pilotos son de primer orden.

Más complicadas son las salidas y llegadas del aeródromo guipuzcoano de Hondarribia. La pista es más corta y las ayudas para la aproximación son
limitadas.

Además, en Hondarribia, las condiciones meteorológicas se asemejan bastante a las de Bilbao; puede haber lluvia persistente, viento, nieblas, etc.

jueves, 6 de febrero de 2014

The Emirates A380 and Barcelona


Barcelona y Emirates


Vídeo : Cortesía de EMIRATES

El A330 "Miami" de IBERIA


Hoy despegó de Madrid rumbo al aeropuerto internacional de Miami-Dade el sexto Airbus A330 de Iberia, recién incorporado a su flota y bautizado con el nombre de Miami



Vídeo : Cortesía de IBERIA

miércoles, 5 de febrero de 2014

RV: FAA Press Release Update


    

FAA Clears Path for Installation of Angle of Attack Indicators in Small Aircraft
Measure Could Improve Safety in Thousands of Aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today took an important step to help improve safety in small aircraft by simplifying design approval requirements for a cockpit instrument called an angle of attack (AOA) indicator.  AOA devices, common on military and large civil aircraft, can be added to small planes to supplement airspeed indicators and stall warning systems, alerting pilots of a low airspeed condition before a dangerous aerodynamic stall occurs, especially during takeoff and landing.

"Safety is our top priority, and with today's announcement we are improving safety by streamlining regulations and cutting red tape – a win-win situation," said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

An "angle of attack" is the angle between a plane's wing and the oncoming air. If the angle of attack becomes too great, the wing can stall and lose lift. If a pilot fails to recognize and correct the situation, a stall could lead to loss of control of the aircraft and an abrupt loss of altitude. Stalls can happen during any phase of flight, but they are critical when planes are near the ground and have less room to recover, such as during landing and takeoff.

AOA indicators may help prevent loss of control in small aircraft because they provide a more reliable indication of airflow over the wing. Although they have been available for some time, the effort and cost associated with gaining installation approval has limited their use in general aviation. The streamlined requirements are expected to lead to greater use of the devices and increased safety in general aviation.

"We have eliminated major barriers so pilots can add another valuable cockpit aid for safety," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "These indicators provide precise information to the pilot, and could help many avoid needless accidents."

Under the new policy, manufacturers must build the AOA indicator system according to standards from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ATSM) and apply for FAA approval for the design via a letter certifying that the equipment meets ATSM standards and was produced under required quality systems. The FAA's Chicago Aircraft Certification Office will process all applications to ensure consistent interpretation of the policy.

The FAA believes this streamlined policy may serve as a prototype for production approval and installation of other add-on aircraft systems in the future.



A350 XWB visits Qatar Airways in Doha




Cortesía de : AIRBUS

lunes, 3 de febrero de 2014

Cloud Bands Over the Western Sahara Desert, Mauritania




This photograph of cloud bands over southern Mauritania was taken from the International Space Station with an oblique angle such that the cloud shadows are a prominent part of the view. Beneath the clouds, the plateau of dark sedimentary rocks appears as a ragged, near-vertical escarpment (image top right). Isolated remnants of the plateau appear as dark mesas (flat-topped hills) across the top and near the center of the image. The escarpment is about 250 meters high, with a field of orange-colored dunes at the base (image upper right). Prevailing winds in this part of the Sahara Desert blow from the northeast. (Note that north is to the right.) The wavy dunes are aligned transverse (roughly right angles) to these winds. The sand that makes the dunes is blown in from a zone immediately upwind (just out of the bottom of the image), where dry river beds and dry lakes provide large quantities of mobile sand. This pattern is typical in the western Sahara Desert, where plateau surfaces are mostly dune free and dune fields are located in the surrounding lowlands. Larger rivers deposit sandy sediment on the few occasions when they flow, sometimes only once in decades. Astronaut photograph ISS038-E-26862 was acquired on Jan. 8, 2014, with a Nikon D3S digital camera using a 180 millimeter lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by the Expedition 38 crew. It has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed.

Image Credit: NASA Caption: M. Justin Wilkinson, Jacobs at NASA-JSC

FAA Press Release Update



The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that India has been assigned a Category 2 rating under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, based on a recent reassessment of the country's civil aviation authority.  This signifies that India's civil aviation safety oversight regime does not currently comply with the international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); however, the United States will continue to work with India's Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) to identify the remaining steps necessary to regain Category 1 status for India. With a Category 2 rating, India's carriers can continue existing service to the United States, but will not be allowed to establish new service to the United States.  
India achieved a Category 1 rating, signifying compliance with ICAO standards, in August 1997.  A December 2012 ICAO audit identified deficiencies in the ICAO-set global standards for oversight of aviation safety by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).  Subsequently, the FAA began a reassessment of India's compliance with ICAO standards under the FAA's IASA program, which monitors adherence to international safety standards and practices.  The FAA has consulted extensively with the DCGA and other relevant Indian government ministries during its evaluation, including consultations in India in September and early December, and meetings this week in Delhi.  
"U.S. and Indian aviation officials have developed an important working relationship as our countries work to meet the challenges of ensuring international aviation safety. The FAA is available to work with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to help India regain its Category 1 rating," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. 
The Government of India has made significant progress towards addressing issues identified during the September 2013 IASA assessment. On January 20, the Government of India took further steps to resolve outstanding issues when the Indian Cabinet approved the hiring of 75 additional full-time inspectors.  The United States Government commends the Indian government for taking these important actions, and looks forward to continued progress by Indian authorities to comply with internationally mandated aviation safety oversight standards.  
Additional Background on the FAA's IASA Program:
As part of the FAA's IASA program, the agency assesses on a uniform basis the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or have applied to operate to the United States and makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.
A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures.
Countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations' technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

Round and Round



Just as Saturn's famous hexagonal shaped jet stream encircles the planet's north pole, the rings encircle the planet, as seen from Cassini's position high above. Around and around everything goes! This view looks toward the sunlit side of the rings from about 43 degrees above the ringplane. The image was taken with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on Nov. 23, 2013 using a spectral filter that preferentially admits wavelengths of near-infrared light centered at 752 nanometers. The view was obtained at a distance of approximately 1.6 million miles (2.5 million kilometers) from Saturn and at a Sun-Saturn-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 97 degrees. Image scale is 93 miles (150 kilometers) per pixel. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo. For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission, visit: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov and http://www.nasa.gov/cassini.