Missing Rescue Helicopter Salvaged: Remains of 2 People Recovered

remains of helicopter fuselage recovered from ocean bed

April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment helicopter crash, Orchid-Island, salvage, search and rescue

A helicopter that went missing 2 months ago was finally recovered from the seabed today, April 12. The remains of two out of 6 passengers and crew were found in the fuselage. The Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk, belonging to the National Airborne Services Corps, was on an emergency medical evac mission when it lost radio contact, and disappeared from radar screens at around 11:50pm, Monday evening, February 5, shortly after taking off from Orchid Island. Three flight crew, an emergency

Travel and Tourism

April 10, 2018April 10, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cruise ship, Norwegian Jewel, Port of Kaohsiung

The cruise ship Norwegian Jewel berthed at the Port of Kaohsiung this morning, bringing 2,248 mostly European and American travelers to visit southern Taiwan. Around 1,000 of the visitors boarded buses to visit sights in Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. Others traveled independently around the port city. The passengers boarded the ship at Yokohama Japan, and visited Naha, Ishigaki-jima, and the Port of Keelung, before arriving in Kaohsiung. The ship will depart Kaohsiung for Hong Kong at 6:00pm this evening. Norwegian

Aviation Travel and Tourism

April 2, 2018April 2, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Japan, Mandarin Airlines, Taichung

Mandarin Airlines announced today that daily flights from Taichung International Airport to Tokyo’s Narita Airport will be launched June 14. The new route means that residents in central Taiwan will not have to travel to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport for flights to Tokyo. The Taichung-Tokyo flight AE266 will take off daily at 7:30am Taiwan time and reach Tokyo at 12:00 noon Japan time: a flying time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. The return flight will depart Tokyo Narita at

Business and Economy

March 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Taiwan Travel Act, USA-Taiwan

The US Senate passed the Taiwan Travel Act (HR535 Taiwan Travel Act) with no objections Wednesday, February 28. The legislation only needs President Donald Trump’s signature to become law. [See previous article: US Congress Passes Taiwan Travel Act.] The bill says it should be U.S. policy to allow officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese counterparts and permit high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the United States. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry thanked the United States for the

Aviation Travel and Tourism

February 22, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Air New Zealand, direct flights, Taoyuan International Airport

Air New Zealand said it will fly up to 5 times per week direct between Auckland and Taipei Taoyuan International Airport starting in November 2018. The 11 hour flight NZ77 will depart Auckland at 10:35am and arrive in Taiwan at 4:50pm local time. Flight NZ78 will depart Taipei at 6:30pm, arriving in Auckland at 10:20am the following day. The route will be flown by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Air New Zealand briefly flew direct to Taipei in the winter of

Business and Economy

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment industrial-accident, refinery fire, Taoyuan

Residents in Taoyuan City were rudely awoken by a massive explosion at the CPC oil refinery at around 6:40 am this morning, January 29. Following the explosion, a fire engulfed the desulfurization unit. According to media reports, the explosion was heard as far as 10 kilometers away. The fire bureau dispatched 93 personnel, 37 fire appliances, and 3 ambulances to the scene of the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. According to preliminary reports, the explosion and fire occurred

Aviation

January 6, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment forced landing, Taitung, ultralight aircraft

Two occupants of an ultralight aircraft declined medical treatment after making a forced landing on a beach near Chenggong Township in Taitung County this afternoon, December 6. The plane broke into several pieces after landing. Taitung County Fire Services Center received the first report of the incident at 15:33 pm. A member of the public reported that an airplane had lost power and made a forced landing on the beach, and that two pilots had disembarked from the wrecked aircraft.

Travel and Tourism

December 30, 2017December 30, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment traffic

Some sections of the National Freeway saw speeds reduced to stop and go, while a rockfall on the Suhua Highway saw traffic back up more than 10 kilometers as motorists hit the road for the New Year long weekend. Taiwan High Speed Rail and Taiwan Railways were also strained as passengers crammed onto trains. On National Freeway 1, traffic traveled at 20-40 kph earlier in the morning, but by noon between Tucheng and Longtan, speeds had reduced to a snail-pace

Travel and Tourism

December 11, 2017December 11, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drink-driving, drunk-driver, Keelung, tour-bus

The driver of a tour bus was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Keelung yesterday. It was the second Sunday in a row to see a tour bus driver arrested for the offence, and is the second offence for the same driver this year. Mr Wang, 55, was driving a family tour group consisting of 30 passengers back to Taichung after an overnight trip to Ilan County, Sunday, December 10. After being pulled over by police while

Travel and Tourism

December 4, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drink-driving, tour-bus

[Picture: Taipei City Police Department Nangang Branch] The driver of a tour bus carrying a group of tourists from South Korea was arrested yesterday after an alcohol breath test showed a reading of (BrAC) 0.32 mg/l (a little over 0.06% BAC). Shortly after 10:00am yesterday in Nangang District, New Taipei City, a sharp-eyed police officer on a routine patrol spotted the driver and became suspicious of his red flushed face. The officer stopped the bus and questioned the driver. During

Business and Economy

Missing Rescue Helicopter Salvaged: Remains of 2 People Recovered

Norwegian Jewel brings 2,248 Visitors to Kaohsiung

Fly Direct Taichung to Tokyo Daily from June

US Senate Passes Taiwan Travel Act

Air New Zealand To Fly Direct Auckland to Taipei from November

Explosion and Fire at Oil Refinery

Ultralight Plane Breaks up After Emergency Beach Landing in Taitung

Roads and Public Transport Congested on First Day of Long Weekend

Another Tour Bus Driver Arrested for DUI

Tour Bus Driver Arrested for Drink Driving