Latest news with #PatrickPleul
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
When To See Weird ‘Space Clouds' Glow After Sunset — And What They Are
Noctilucent clouds are reflected in a puddle in Sieversdorf, Germany, 5 July 2016. (Photo by Patrick ... More Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images) If you're in the northern hemisphere and it's been a clear day, look at the northeastern night sky before bed. You may see something astonishingly beautiful — noctilucent ("night shining") clouds. These high-altitude clouds, formed in the coldest place in Earth's atmosphere at the edge of space, result from dust left by "shooting stars." Here's everything you need to know about the beginning of the noctilucent cloud season — and when and where to see them. Noctilucent clouds are Earth's highest clouds. They form between Earth and space, about 47–53 miles (76 to 85 kilometers) above the ground in the mesosphere. Noctilucent clouds can only be seen at twilight, shining after sunset, but they are never guaranteed. Visible as vast, wispy electric blue structures, they glow surprisingly brightly as blueish or silvery streaks in the twilight sky. They do so because, during the observation season, the sun is never far beneath the horizon, so it can illuminate the clouds for some time after it appears to have set, as seen from the Earth's surface. You don't need any special equipment to see noctilucent clouds. A superb and extensive 'grand display' of noctilucent clouds at dawn on July 16, 2022. (Photo by: ... More Alan Dyer/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Noctilucent clouds are only seen in very limited times of day and times of year, depending on your location. The farther from the equator you are, the more likely you are to see them. They're typically seen from late May to August in the Northern Hemisphere and from November to February in the Southern Hemisphere. The timing means they effectively replace the possibility of aurora, but are sometimes confused with them. Noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere, a layer of Earth's atmosphere about 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. According to NASA, summer in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere is when the mesosphere is most humid, with water vapor rising from lower altitudes. Water vapor is one of the three essential ingredients for noctilucent clouds. Noctilucent clouds are thin, wispy clouds hovering at the edge of space. Noctilucent clouds are seeded by microscopic debris from disintegrating meteors and micro-meteors — "shooting stars!" When you see a shooting star streak across the sky, it's doing so in the mesosphere, where the friction of it hitting gases causes energy to be released as photons. As it disintegrates, it leaves a dust of sodium and iron atoms that settle upon tiny ice crystals that form in the -120°C (-184°F) temperatures. That also makes noctilucent clouds Earth's coldest clouds. Mix water vapor with meteoric dust and very cold temperatures, and the result can be noctilucent clouds. The sodium and iron atoms in the mesosphere are highly reflective. Enormous telescopes fire lasers at this part of the Earth's atmosphere to align their optics and correct for any turbulence. It also means that the metal-coated ice grains in noctilucent clouds reflect radar and, in theory, a lot of light. However, what you see when you look at noctilucent clouds is not the collective brightness of all the metal-coated ice grains but ripples within them reflecting as one, according to researchers at Caltech. An 1886 sketch by William Ascroft, documenting the meteorological effects of the eruption of ... More Krakatoa. (Photo) Noctilucent clouds are not an ancient sky sight. They were first observed in 1885, across the world, in the wake of the eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883 — one of the most significant volcanic events ever recorded — which sent up a massive plume of ash into Earth's atmosphere. During the 20th century, they were seen more regularly between 40 and 50 degrees north latitude. NASA's Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) mission has been studying them since 2007 to determine if the mesosphere is changing and how that's linked to Earth's climate and/or the solar cycle. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Local Germany
22-05-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
How do salaries in Germany compare to the rest of Europe?
For anyone thinking about moving to Europe for work and weighing their options, Germany's not a bad bet – salaries here are, on average, on the higher side. But that's not to say that workers in the Bundesrepublik earn the most in Europe. Here's a look at the average income in Germany and how it compares. Compared to other European Union (EU) countries, German salaries are quite a bit higher on average. According to Eurostat data, full-time workers in Germany earn an average of €50,998 annually (as of the latest available data for the year 2023). That corresponds to a monthly salary of about €4,250. That's a good €13,000 more than the average salary across the EU, which was approximately €37,863 – or €3,155 monthly. Which European countries have higher salaries than Germany? Ranked among the other EU countries, Germany has the 6th highest salaries. It's outdone by Luxembourg (€81,064), Denmark (€67,604), Ireland (€58,679), Belgium (€57,989), and Austria (€54,508). Looking at non-EU European countries, Germany is also outdone by Switzerland, Norway and the Netherlands, according to OECD data. OECD calculates different salary totals to Eurostat, but countries are ranked in roughly the same order as Eurostat when Germany is compared to elsewhere in Europe. Salaries in Germany do trend higher than those in the UK, according to OECD data, which puts Germany's salary at around €65,700 compared to the UK's €51,000 when the figures from 2023 are converted to euros at the current exchange rate. Which European countries have lower salaries than Germany? Accordingly, full-time workers in every other European country earn less than those in Germany on average. Workers in Finland aren't far behind, earning €48,391 on average annually, or about €4,033 monthly. Sweden has an average annual salary of €44,619, or €3,718 monthly. READ ALSO: Record number of foreigners quit Sweden to move to Germany Advertisement And in France, which has a lower average retirement age than Germany, the average salary for full time workers is €42,662, or €3,155 monthly. Italy and Spain – which are Europe's next largest economies in terms of GDP (after Germany and France) – have significantly lower salaries on average. In Italy, the average annual salary is €32,749 and in Spain it's €32,587, both of which come to just over €2,700 monthly. The starkest salary difference between Germany and its neighbours is seen in comparison to Poland, where the average annual salary in 2023 was just over €18,000, or about €1,500 monthly. View from a high-rise building to the city center of Frankfurt Oder, the German city on the border to Poland. Behind it is the Polish town of Slubice. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Patrick Pleul How well can you live on an average salary in Germany? Average salary figures give some insight into where workers tend to earn more or less, but what really matters for most people is what you can afford on that salary. According to a recent analysis by Focus magazine , a gross yearly salary of €35,704 is enough to afford a comfortable life in Germany – with a comfortable life here meaning affording a single apartment and the average expenses in terms of private consumption. But in Germany cost-of-living expenses vary immensely from region to region, so while €35,000 may easily cover a comfortable life in smaller cities like Bielefeld and Kassel, you'll have a harder time making ends meet in the bigger cities at that income level. The same analysis suggests around €45,000 is needed for a comparable quality of life in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and Düsseldorf, and approximately €53,800 to live at that level in Munich. READ ALSO: How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Germany? Munich vs Berlin - What's considered a good salary for foreign workers? Advertisement It's also worth noting that in Germany your net income ( Nettolohn ) will be significantly lower than your gross salary ( Bruttolohn ). According to this tax calculator for Berlin residents , if you are earning €50,000 you'll pay 36 percent in taxes – to be left with €31,976. Paying more than a third of your income in taxes may come as a shock to newcomers to Germany, especially to those coming from countries with lower income tax rates such as the US. But for the price of that tax you have your health care, pension, and other social benefits mostly taken care of – a deal that many German residents come to appreciate. READ ALSO: Five ways working in Germany is better than employment in the US
Local Germany
15-05-2025
- General
- Local Germany
What is a German 'Kleingarten' and how do I get one?
Allotments, known as Kleingärten or Schrebergärten, have been a feature of life in Germany since the mid-nineteenth century. Current estimates suggest there are more than a million individual allotments in the country, generally in cities and built-up areas where it's harder for residents to get out into the countryside. Going well beyond a simple vegetable patch, a German Kleingarten tends to be a fairly spacious plot of land, complete with a well-equipped hut containing a kitchen and bathroom, as well as space for trees, picnic tables and even a trampoline or paddling pool. And people in Germany love them! After all, who wouldn't want a bolthole away from the hustle and bustle or everyday life – a place to make new friends, grow your own vegetables, or relax with a cold beer on a warm summer's day? Though there may be some oddballs who wouldn't, for most people, owning a Kleingarten is a bucket-list item while living in a city in Germany. READ ALSO: 5 ways living in Germany changes you as a person Here's how to get your hands on one – and what you can expect when you finally take possession of your very own slice of paradise. Applying for a Kleingarten Typically, individual allotments are part of larger 'garden colonies' ( Gartenkolonien ), which are run by an association or society ( Kleingartenverein ), which manages the plots and waiting lists. Many of them have websites with contact details and application forms, but it's usually a good idea to try and reach someone on the telephone first, to get an idea of what's available and how the application process works. Advertisement How long will I have to wait for an allotment? It all depends on where you are. In big cities like Berlin, Hamburg, or Munich, the waiting lists run into years or even decades, falling to just a couple of months in smaller towns or rural areas. Occasionally, it can pay to check platforms like eBay Kleinanzeigen for available plots in your area – although this usually means the vendor is looking for a premium above and beyond the association's official valuation. READ ALSO: How to get a Kleingarten in Germany How much will I have to pay? Allotments are nearly always owned collectively by the association. New tenants will be invited to lease their allotment for an annual fee, but to buy any existing structure on the plot (as well as the plants) for an upfront sum, which can be anywhere between €1,000 and €10,000. In Berlin, for example, the average price for an existing hut is approximately €4,000, but can stretch into low double digits. Annual running costs generally range between €300 and €700. The entrance to a Kleingarten in Strausberg, Brandenburg. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Patrick Pleul What can you expect once you take possession of your allotment? Peace, quiet – and order? The rising level of demand for allotments gives a good indication of the degree to which they're cherished in Germany, largely for the green spaces they provide and the sense of community they inspire, as well as for the sheer joy of gardening. They are rarely in the middle of nowhere, however, and – as with all things German – they are governed by rules. The Bundeskleingartengesetz , or Federal Allotment Garden Act (yes, really) sets out, in extraordinary detail, everything which is and isn't permitted in your garden. That includes, for example, how much of your plot should be dedicated to "useful" crops like fruit and vegetables, how large your on-site hut should be, how deep you can dig a new pond and how high your hedges can grow. READ ALSO: Is it legal to grow cannabis in a German allotment garden? Many allotment garden associations have fixed rules about keeping animals, so you should find out in advance whether you are allowed to keep chickens or rabbits or if you are allowed to bring your domestic pets to the garden. Advertisement Of course, you'll also be subject to Ruhezeit rules while socialising on your Kleingarten , dictating how much noise you're allowed to make and when. As a general rule of thumb, this means no rowdy gatherings after 10pm at night or causing a racket with a chainsaw or sputtering lawnmower at lunchtimes and on Sundays. In short… Allotments offer numerous benefits. For city dwellers, in particular, they offer a good-sized garden close to home and the chance to grow your own fruit and veg. At the same time, they function as clubs. If you're looking for an opportunity to do some serious gardening and play an active and collegial role in a community of like-minded souls, then an allotment could be just your thing. But if you're looking for a place where you can get away from people (and rules), you might want to look a bit further afield.
Forbes
27-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
The Accelerating State Of AI Health In Hospitals And Homes
18 July 2024, Brandenburg, Cottbus: A live interaction between a simulated patient (Doris Härtel) ... More and a robot can be seen at a press event at the Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus. A pilot study is currently being carried out at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) to investigate the effects of the interaction modalities of a social robot (Pepper) on the engagement and perception of test subjects in typical care situations. Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images) The adoption of AI tools to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare is accelerating. The impact is felt in multiple domains: from developing a drug or treatment to deploying it, assisting with managing patients' health in clinical settings, and putting AI in the hands of consumers. Here is a roundup of recent growth indicators of AI in healthcare. In the first quarter of 2025, we saw a marked acceleration in AI health investments. CB Insights reports that AI startups raised $3.2 billion, or 60% of all digital health funding, up from 41% in the first quarter of 2024. 'Top-funded segments included AI-derived small molecule drug discovery and clinical documentation tools, underscoring the shift toward targeted, high-impact applications,' says CBI. AI startups secured 8 of the 11 mega-rounds (deals over $100 million), 'signaling where investors expect outsized returns.' A recent study by Yijin Hardware found 11,228 healthcare-specific active AI startups worldwide. Based on the extensive investment in these startups, the number of industry-specific AI startups, interest in AI technologies reflected through Google search volume, and top uses for AI technologies in the industry, the study declared healthcare as 'the most AI-driven industry in 2025.' I wrote before about the significant segment of the more than 11,000 AI health startups, those that are involved with drug and treatment development. For example, Nucleai, working with pharmaceutical companies to improve the process of oncology drug development, and OncoHost, a developer of a proteomic analysis tool that guides decision-making in the choice of first-line treatment for cancer patients. Ofer Sharon, CEO of OncoHost, wrote recently that 'in 2025, we stand on the cusp of a new era where AI technologies… are not only enhancing drug discovery and diagnostics but also driving broader innovations that improve patient outcomes via personalized approach to complex disease management.' Here, I focus on recent examples of AI's impact on healthcare providers' work and on consumers' management of their health and well-being. According to CBI, investors are particularly excited about AI managing the workflow in hospitals and clinics. Half of the 6 new digital health unicorns minted in the first quarter of 2025 (more unicorns than in all of last year) are focused on this area. This is a crucial area for improving physicians' and patients' well-being. I will write more in the future about how AI is easing the administrative burden associated with navigating the complex rules and cumbersome processes typical of the healthcare sector. Here, I focus on a handful of indicators of AI's current and potential involvement with efficient healthcare management and patient diagnosis and treatment decisions. At Sheba Medical Center in Israel, dozens of patients in a pilot in the emergency department interact with an AI medical agent. The agent automatically compiles comprehensive health summaries for doctors, recommends imaging and laboratory tests, and provides clinical decision support—saving time, reducing paperwork, improving diagnostic accuracy, and enhancing the patient experience. This allows doctors to manage multiple patients simultaneously and prioritize those in critical condition. AI-based stroke detection system analyzes CT scans in real time to identify critical conditions such as strokes, aneurysms, and pulmonary embolisms. It is used in more than 1,700 hospitals in the U.S. and Europe. In Q1 2025, released a new version, demonstrating improved accuracy and faster detection times. This system saves lives by enabling hospitals to initiate treatment protocols more rapidly. India's Apollo Hospitals, one of the largest hospital networks in the country, set aside 3.5% of its digital spend on AI over the past two years. This year, it plans to increase it 'to free up two to three hours of time daily for doctors and nurses with AI interventions." These include analysis of patients' electronic medical records to suggest diagnoses, tests, and treatment. In addition, AI helps transcribe doctors' observations, generate faster discharge summaries, and create daily schedules out of nurses' notes. Keiju General Hospital in Japan uses AI discharge summary tools developed by Ubie, a local startup. These tools reduce nurses' time on these tasks by 42.5% and decrease their psychological burden by 27.2%. In a recent trial at Kyushu University Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Japan, summarizing and standardizing referral letters led to a 54% increase in efficiency for doctors preparing admission summaries. Mercy Health's AI program reduced nurse charting time by 34 minutes per shift, from 167 to 133 minutes, addressing a key pain point. The health system's ambient AI pilot, now nearly three years old, has proven critical in streamlining workflows while maintaining care quality. At the ViVE Digital Health conference in February, Dr. John Halamka, president of the Mayo Clinic Platform, highlighted the growing use of ambient listening tools. Health systems are using these tools to document patient visits, allowing doctors to have natural conversations with patients rather than typing notes on a computer. These AI tools also provide summaries of the patient encounter, enabling clinicians to save time and energy. Mayo Clinic uses an inpatient ambient nursing solution in Arizona and Florida that does '100% of the nursing charting without the nurse having to touch a keyboard.' AI is also becoming involved in assisting physicians with complex treatment decisions. For example, the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands is developing an AI tool to help physicians accelerate the identification of personalized cancer treatments by combining vast public medical data and de-identified patient data. Based on its analysis, the tool rapidly generates summaries of treatment options and the relevant medical sources. The National Institutes of Health released on April 3 a study that found that an artificial intelligence screening tool was as effective as health care providers in identifying hospitalized adults at risk for opioid use disorder and referring them to inpatient addiction specialists. Compared to patients who received consultations with providers, patients screened by AI had 47% lower odds of hospital readmission within 30 days after their initial discharge, saving nearly $109,000 in care costs. Over the last decade, numerous studies have compared the accuracy of AI-based medical diagnosis to that of medical experts in different specialties. Increasingly, we learn about hospitals moving to deploy such AI-based diagnostic models. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center announced in early April a collaboration with to deploy the FDA-cleared chest X-ray AI solution qXR-LN, which will support earlier identification of lung cancers. The solution will act as a second read, to be compared to the radiologists' read of patient chest X-rays for any suspicious lung nodules. Lunit's advanced mammography system, which leverages AI to detect breast cancer, can now detect breast cancer up to six years earlier than traditional methods, significantly improving early intervention and treatment outcomes. Google's DeepMind division recently released an updated version of their AI model, which has shown improved accuracy in detecting subtle signs of breast cancer that human radiologists might miss. According to a new study by startup K Health and researchers at Cedars-Sinai and Tel Aviv University, AI's medical decisions can sometimes be better than those of human doctors. The study found that K Health's AI chatbot, which makes recommendations and diagnoses based on the patient's medical records and conversations with the patient, matched the doctor's decisions in two-thirds of cases and offered better-quality care in the remaining one-third. 58% of Americans used virtual care in the past year. Healthcare organizations that implement AI-enabled telehealth report substantial improvements across multiple metrics. About 75% of facilities note enhanced disease treatment effectiveness, while 80% experience reduced staff burnout rates. AI systems process medical images 30 times faster than conventional methods without sacrificing accuracy. Cleveland Clinic reports a 94% accuracy rate for its AI virtual triage system. 53% of consumers own at least one wearable, and 54% track at least one health metric digitally. In February, Google Health received clearance from the FDA for its Loss of Pulse Detection feature on the Pixel Watch 3. This first-of-its-kind feature can detect a loss of pulse (when the heart stops beating from an event like primary cardiac arrest, respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose, or poisoning) and automatically call emergency services. And more to come… Samsung and Stanford Medicine announced a joint research initiative to enhance the Galaxy Watch's sleep apnea detection feature and create new AI-enabled innovations for proactive care. Apple announced its planned Health+ app, which includes an AI-enabled health coach that shares personalized health insights derived from wearable device data. In addition to investors, startups, and healthcare providers, the acceleration of AI health adoption has reached the federal government. As of October 2024, the FDA approved 1,000 AI-enabled medical devices. It approved just six in 2015, 160 in 2022, and 223 in 2023.
Forbes
21-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Norse Atlantic Airlines Offers Premium Seats For Low Fares
A Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft taxis at Los Angeles International Airport ... More after arriving from Paris on May 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Have you heard of Norse Atlantic Airways? Hundreds of thousands of budget travelers to Europe—and to the U.S. from Europe—are becoming familiar with the Norwegian international airline. And judging by the packed premium cabin on my flight from LAX to Rome on April 18, the airline has added large numbers of value-oriented Premium Class flyers are as well. Norse Atlantic is the latest entry in the low-cost, long-haul sweepstakes. From Laker to Tower Air to Norwegian Airlines, many contenders have tried to make the model work. Beloved Norwegian now competes only in Europe using Boeing 737s; its once globe-spanning Dreamliners are long gone. Still, the power of price appears to be driving Norse numbers. For example, my wife and I recently flew Norse Atlantic from LAX to Rome non-stop on April 18. We return from Paris to LAX on Norse May 9, also non-stop. Cost of the two one-way premium tickets was just under $1500 for each of us, or about $3000 for both. We were each allowed a personal item, one carry-on up to 33 lbs., and 2 standard pieces of luggage up to 50 lbs. We also got two meals, included wine an Ud beer and nice big wide premium leather seats with a 43-inch seat pitch for stretch-out comfort and lots of legroom. Is Norse on to something by offering premium seating for less? After all, giant competitor United just announced a 9.2% increase in premium cabin revenue, including 7.6% growth in premium economy. View into the Premium seating section of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner of the airline Norse Atlantic ... More Airways. The airline Norse Atlantic Airways launches its first flight from BER Airport to New York (JFK) on August 17. (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images) What are comparable costs on other airlines? A recent Expedia search found a Norse LAX-Rome nonstop with Premium Flexstra seating. It departed LAX on May 3 and returned from Rome on May 13. Total round trip price was$1575 per passenger. The only other airline offering non-stop flights from Los Angeles to Rome (a 12-hour, 6640-mile jaunt) was ITA. An ITA LAX-Rome-LAX premium economy Full Flex roundtrip ticket was a staggering $6,972.81 p for one traveler. A less-flexible premium economy ticket was $3,167.91 roundtrip. Before doing the May LAX-Rome-LAX search, I tried several round-trip comparisons in June. Premium seating on Norse was already sold out on the dates I tried. Comparisons with other airlines offering one-stop flights on the LAX-Rome route also showed higher prices along with longer travel times of 16 hours or more. Unlike LAX to Rome non-stop or the upcoming LAX to Athens, Paris to LAX is a fairly popular non-stop route. For our May 9 return date, we found premium seating for $715 on Norse, versus premium economy seating on Air Tahiti Nui for $1,586, on Delta for $3,510, Virgin Atlantic $3,510, and Air France $3,537. The tickets we bought were slightly more expensive Norse Premium Flexstra seat, the most expensive option. Norse offers Premium Light, Premium Classic and Premium Flexstra, which includes seat selection (we got a window and aisle next to one another) premium boarding, and priority check in. Most important, these seats were both changeable and refundable. This came in handy when our plans changed and we flew on different dates. Norse currently flies from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, and Miam to Oslo, London, Paris, Berlin and Rome. A non-stop from Los Angeles to Athens is starting in June. Cape Town and Bangkok are destinations reachable from Europe. View into the economy class seating of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner of the airline Norse Atlantic ... More Airways. Norse Atlantic Airways launches its first flight from BER Airport to New York (JFK) on August 17, 2022. (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images) In March, Norse Atlantic Airways says it recorded a load factor of 95%, meaning that its fleet of 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners took off with just a tiny handful of empty seats. The airline says this equals its highest load factor ever achieved. The gain represents a 13% increase from 82% in the same month the year previous. Norse operated 374 flights and transported 108,710 passengers in March. Some 73% of flights departed within 15 minutes of their scheduled time. Will Norse Atlantic be able to sustain this, along with the pricing? As Simple Flying recently put it, 'As always, loads only tell one part of the story, and lower revenue per passenger is probably the main reason for the increase' in passenger loads. As the publication notes, since the airline's debut in June 2022, it has cut 12 US routes and stopped flying to five US airports. On the other hand, until recently Norse Atlantic had not shown up on Expedia. Originally dreaming of business class seats, my wife did our original price comparisons on Skyscanner. Others who are doing the same are attracted by Norse Atlantic's low price. And with the summer season approaching and U.S. airlines in a slump, (a recent rating of the top 25 world airlines did not include a single American carrier) the time is ripe for a low cost contender. Some people are already well aware of Norse Atlantic, despite the company's somewhat mysterious profile. Numerous queries to the company's public relations group went unanswered. On-board, the 'About Us' section of the passenger video screen that delivered movies, TV shows, and flight information was blank. Still, the passenger in front of us in the Premium section was apparently a Norse frequent flyer. We heard her loudly declare, 'I would never fly any other airline, unless I got rich.' Our Premium seats were extremely comfortable and had adjustable foot/leg rests, making it easy for most passengers to sleep for hours. The 43' pitch seats also have plenty of legroom. Although it's clearly a leisure, rather than a business, airline, I found it much easier to work than in economy class. Just put a laptop on your hide-away tray table or on your leg and type away. You can watch a movie on the fold-out video screen, or use your device to play a game , or do anything that doesn't require Wi-Fi. 17 August 2022, Brandenburg, Schönefeld: Björn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, sits in ... More the cockpit of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner ahead of the inaugural flight from the capital's BER Airport to New York (JFK). (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images) My laptop's wireless detected no network connection. Unless I missed something, flyers will be taking an involuntary 12-hour vacation from internet connection, streaming and social media. Still, as a 787 Dreamliner, the two-aisle aircraft is roomer, the overhead compartments are larger, and the food and beverage selection greater than that on single-aisle, narrow-body jets. Above all the bathrooms are much bigger than on wash-one-hand at a time 737MAX aircraft. Our take-off was delayed for about 15 minutes for an unspecified issue, but despite a little turbulence, the flight was smooth and fast. It occasionally hit over 600 mph. On bord, the Norse flight attendants were pleasant and service was frequent. I wouldn't call the food choices—chicken or beef—particularly inspired, but they were edible, although served in Styrofoam containers. Similarly, the movie and tv selection weren't the freshest. I love Parker Posey, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugne Levy and the late Fred Willard in Best in Show, but the movie is now 25 years old. I did take the chance to catch up on WESTWORLD. No, not the abruptly cancelled HBO series but the original 1973 movie with Richard Benjamin, James Brolin and Yul Brynner as the implacable black-clad cowboy killer robot. Will offering premium as well as economy seats at a low price make or break Norse Aviation this summer? If they can continue to deliver the value that both upscale and budget travelers seek at a reasonable cost, they have a shot at making the low-cost, long-haul model actually work. Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner taking off from Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
