Senators Propose Raising US Commercial Pilots Mandatory Retirement Age

A group of seven U.S. senators on Tuesday proposed legislation to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65, in a bid to address airline industry staffing issues. (www.reuters.com) More...

Slovakia donates 13 MiG-29 Aircraft to Ukraine

Slovakia has recently completed the transfer of 13 MiG-29 aircraft in which they have no use for. They are currently out of service, however Ukraine has what it takes to get them airworthy again amidst the war with Russia. (www.theguardian.com) More...

Qantas Pilots Report Radio Interference and GPS Jamming From Chinese Warships

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Qantas pilots reported repeating radio interference and GPS jamming from Chinese military units in the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. Qantas said there were no safety concerns and has instructed its pilots to keep flying on their routes despite the breach. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

A second close call at Hollywood Burbank

The second close call in 30 days. This city has been fighting to close this airport because housing and businesses are bumping up against the airport perimeter. It doesn't leave the pilots much wiggle room if an emergency happens, and it's a relatively short runway to boot. (www.nbclosangeles.com) More...

Pilot from another airline sets in to help incapacitated pilot

Good stuff that the public doesn't hear about much. (www.nbcnews.com) More...

Vote on Biden's Pick to Run FAA Delayed

The fate of President Joe Biden's pick to run the Federal Aviation Administration is in doubt. The Senate Commerce Committee indefinitely postponed a scheduled vote on Denver International Airport CEO Phillip Washington, whose nomination has languished since Biden announced his choice July 2022. Major concerns were raised about the nominee's aviation industry experience. (www.usnews.com) More...

Economy Passengers Could Soon Lie Down On Airplanes—Meet The Airline That's Doing It First

Economy flights practically guarantee a stiff neck, a child kicking the back of your seat and competition with your seatmate to claim the middle seat's armrests. One airline wants to cure to these traveling ailments: Air New Zealand recently announced the world's first lie-flat "pods" for economy class airplanes, set to debut in 2024. The concept, called "Skynest," has been in research and development for five years and will likely feature two rows of three stacked… (www.cnbc.com) More...

Japan Airlines Places an Order for 21 Boeing 737 MAX Jets

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — Boeing has emerged victorious in Japan, securing an order from the country's national carrier for 21 of its 737 MAX aircraft. The order comes as a surprise, as initial reports suggested that rival Airbus was the frontrunner. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Lufthansa Airbus A380s to Re-Enter Service From June 1, 2023

Lufthansa has finally announced firm dates for the reintroduction of its Airbus A380 aircraft. (www.gatechecked.com) More...

Flight problems, not turbulence, found in death of former White House official

The flight that left a former White House official dead earlier this month was marked by a series of missteps, alerts and system issues before the plane lurched violently in the sky, according to a preliminary report Friday from the National Transportation Safety Board. (link to NTSB report in story) (www.washingtonpost.com) More...

8 Hours Plus: The World’s 5 Longest Boeing 737 MAX Flights This Summer

Long-haul narrowbody flights have always been controversial. Many argue that they're less comfortable than widebodies, although new technology plays a vital role in making cabins feel more spacious. A narrowbody flight has a far lower trip cost than that operated by a widebody. However, it has a higher seat-mile cost and higher cost per seat, but offset by fewer seats to fill. This balance partly depends on the extent of premium passengers and/or a lack of competition, but helping to… (www.msn.com) More...

The World's 4 Most Challenging Airports for Pilots

Aviation is safer than ever these days, but some airports are so extreme that they cause even the most skilled pilots to become uneasy. This article will break down some of the world's most extreme airports. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary Reveals Talks Restarted with Boeing for New Aircraft Order

DUBLIN, IRELAND — In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Michael O'Leary, the Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair, expressed his optimism about the potential for a significant new aircraft order for the Irish budget carrier. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Why Look At Planes

Plane spotting in Los Angeles and the people who do it. (www.nytimes.com) More...

Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Here’s why you can’t.

Picture this: You are on a flight when you learn that the pilots have fallen ill and can no longer fly the plane. A voice comes over the public address system, asking for a volunteer to help land the aircraft. You have no experience, but you have seen “Airplane!” and “Snakes on a Plane.” Maybe you’ve frittered away hours on Microsoft’s Flight Simulator. You throw off your seat belt and march toward the cockpit, your cape rustling behind you. Hold on, hero. You might want to return to your seat… (www.seattletimes.com) More...

Pentagon probes lapse in Boeing security credentials for Air Force One - WSJ

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is scrutinizing why Boeing Co employees worked on current and future Air Force One planes without the security credentials required for the highly classified jets, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. Pentagon officials and Boeing have also been examining for how long the workers lacked current security credentials, the report said, citing an official and a person familiar with the matter. The report said the security lapse involved about 250 Boeing… (www.msn.com) More...

United Airlines reveals first eVTOL passenger route starting in 2025

In 2025, United Airlines will fly an air taxi service between the downtown Vertiport Chicago and O'Hare International Airport, using electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft it is purchasing from Archer Aviation. The Archer Midnight eVTOL aircraft will complete the route in about 10 minutes; according to local resident and Ars Managing Editor Eric Bangeman, that journey by car can take over an hour due to road construction. "Both Archer and United are committed to decarbonizing… (arstechnica.com) More...

Boeing Argues Against 737 MAX Crash Victim Suffering Claims

Four years on from the last MAX crash, Boeing continues to fend off lawsuits from those affected. (simpleflying.com) More...

Mid Air collision injures two at Falcon Field, Mesa Arizona

Two aircraft collided mid air, destroying a warbird (www.fox10phoenix.com) More...

Air taxis are coming to Chicago

Air mobility startup Archer Aviation and United Airlines are working to bring air taxi service to Chicago, the companies announced Thursday. The planned service will run between O'Hare International Airport (a vital United hub) and Vertiport Chicago, a helicopter facility about three miles west of the city's South Loop. Details: The plan is for United passengers to be able to hop aboard an Archer eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft for a 10-minute cruise to… (www.msn.com) More...

Pentagon wants upgraded Pratt & Whitney F135 engines for fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters by 2030

The United States Department of Defense wants an upgraded F135 engine for the F-35 Lightning II fighter jets by the end of this decade. This was announced by a representative of the Joint Program Office F-35 (JPO). (gagadget.com) More...

Air Safety in Perspective

New in Ask the Pilot: A spate of incidents puts airline safety in the spotlight. Here's some perspective. (askthepilot.com) More...

After donating 13 MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine, the United States has offered Slovakia 12 helicopters

Slovakia has been offered 12 United States helicopters after giving 13 of their used MiG-29 Aircraft to Ukraine. (For more information on the transfer to Ukraine, visit: https://flightaware.com/squawks/view/1/unset/user/92254/Slovakia_donates_13_MiG_29_Aircraft_to_Ukraine ) (news.yahoo.com) More...

FedEx to transfer LA airport maintenance to Indianapolis

The Flying Tigers originally operated a maintenance hangar that FedEx acquired and will soon shutter at LAX. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

Runway crack forces Spanish airport closure for third time in two years

Vigo Airport (VGO), in the north-western region of Galicia, had to close down unexpectedly on March 20, 2023, after a crack was reportedly detected on the runway around 7pm local time. The total closure of the airport affected at least five flights, three arrivals and two departures, operated by three different airlines (Vueling, Iberia and Air Europa) and connecting the Galician airport to Barcelona and Madrid. (www.aerotime.aero) More...

Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 Rolls Out In IndiGo Colors

This week, Turkish Technic unveiled the second Boeing 777 headed to budget carrier IndiGo under a wet lease agreement inked with Turkish Airlines. Notably, this aircraft has been in the paint shop, and has rolled out wearing IndiGo's blue-and-white livery, the first time the low-cost carrier has placed its colors on a widebody aircraft. Let's find out more. Second 777 joining Late last year, IndiGo announced plans to wet lease two Boeing 777s from Turkish Airlines to boost capacity on… (www.msn.com) More...

Icelandair To Fly Year-Round To Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Icelandair began nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Reykjavik-Keflavik Airport in Iceland in May of last year. The airline stopped the service during the winter months and only flew seasonally. However, starting this upcoming May, Icelandair will start nonstop service year-round from Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina to Reykjavik in Iceland. (www.msn.com) More...

Delta Air Lines Launches Propel Flight Academy

Delta Air Lines, through its Propel Pilot Career Path Program, is launching a new pilot academy that will train the carrier’s next generation of aviators and address the pilot shortage in the country. On Tuesday, Delta and Skyborne Airline Academy announced they are opening their doors to their first class of students in June and are accepting applications from interested candidates. The next generation of aviators Delta Air Lines, in partnership with Skyborne Airline Academy, is launching the… (www.msn.com) More...

Delta Releases Holiday Schedule to Caribbean, Latin America

For travelers looking to get a head-start on booking holiday season travel, your list of warm-weather options for just got a bit longer. Delta recently announced an increase in its flight capacity to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for the 2023 holiday season. The 20% increase in available seats will make it the largest Latin America holiday schedule the airline has ever offered. At the peak, the airline will be offering 25,000 daily outbound seats to 44 different destinations across… (www.msn.com) More...

Why Is Air India Starting A 120km Mumbai-Pune Flight?

After Mumbai, Pune is the second-largest city in the state of Maharashtra. By road, the two cities are separated by 150 km and a drive of about three hours. Currently, there are no scheduled flights between Mumbai and Pune, and Air India’s booking site shows a block time of one hour. So, why is Air India starting this short route? Let’s find out. (www.msn.com) More...

ATI pilots seek federal mediation on stalled contract

Air Transport International is one of several companies that fly cargo for Amazon Air. The pilots' union is frustrated after 1,000 days of talks. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

Fleet Analysis: Ryanair Group before the next Boeing 737 Max order

Ryanair just announced it restarted talks with Boeing for a new large order for the 737-10 Max or for the smaller 737-8 Max 200 jets. Let’s take a look at the airline’s fleet of 500+ jets, consisting mainly of 737s, operated by Ryanair, Malta Air, Lauda Europe and Buzz. (www.airguide.info) More...

Lufthansa moves cargo chief von Boxberg to run Brussels Airlines

Lufthansa is shuffling executives to run Brussels Airlines. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

How Turbulence From An Airbus A380 Once Caused A Private Jet To Roll In Mid-Air

Recent stories have seen the danger of turbulence thrust back into the public eye, such as incidents involving a Condor Airbus A330neo that saw 20 passengers injured due to turbulence. However, did you know that a private jet once rolled in mid-air due to turbulence from a passing Airbus A380? This is how the events unfolded. The aircraft were heading in opposite directions The incident occurred just over six years ago, on January 7th, 2017. The private jet that would later get caught up in an… (www.msn.com) More...

South Korea's Air Premia Reveals Boeing 787-9 Flights To Frankfurt

South Korea's Air Premia has announced Seoul to Frankfurt. Launching in June, it comes a week after Newark was revealed. They are regular scheduled services. According to AeroRoutes but not yet confirmed elsewhere, Air Premia has also added a weekly Seoul-Oslo charter service, about which little is currently known. (www.msn.com) More...

Vietnam Airlines Flight Attendants Arrested After Returning From Paris With Drugs

Vietnamese officials arrested four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants in Ho Chi Minh City after a flight home from Paris with drugs in their bags. Smuggling three drugs Yesterday at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Vietnamese customs officials detected drugs in the bags of four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants. The items were discovered during a routine security clearance check. According to Radio Free Asia, the four flight attendants carried 112 tubes of toothpaste with 18.5 pounds… (www.msn.com) More...

JetSMART Cancels MOU To Acquire Ultra Air

The low-cost airline from Santiago, Chile, JetSMART, has canceled its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would have led to the purchase of Ultra Air. Ultra Air is a separate low-cost airline that is headquartered in Antioquia, Colombia. Instead of purchasing Ultra Air, JetSMART will instead be looking to certify as an aircraft operator in Colombia. The initial intent JetSMART initially planned to purchase Ultra Air, which has been struggling financially recently, in order to establish routes… (www.msn.com) More...

Emirates Receives Ghanaian Presidential Honour For Distinguished Service

Emirates has been awarded the Presidential Honor for Distinguished Service at the Ghana National Honor Awards 2023 at the Accra International Conference Center. The airline has received the honorary award from President Nana Akufo-Addo for its distinguished service and role in providing medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and generous support to Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. The national awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made immense contributions in sectors such as… (www.msn.com) More...

American Airlines Eyes Growth In India With Partnership Expansion

American Airlines has partnered with dnata to be its General Sales Agent (GSA) in India. The carrier currently flies daily between New York JFK and Delhi but has other planned or hinted at other routes, including serving Bangalore and Mumbai. American inked a codeshare agreement with budget giant IndiGo last year to grow its reach in the country too. New GSA American has selected Dubai-based dnata as its sales agent, GSA, in India today. The GSA is in charge of selling tickets in a certain… (www.msn.com) More...

Air India Will Absorb All Vistara Employees Following The Merger

A significant part of the Air India-Vistara merger involves the integration of the employees of the two carriers. The shift will likely affect Vistara employees more, who will see their company dissolve and move to a new airline. Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan has said that all Vistara employees will be absorbed in Air India, and there will be ample opportunities to explore in the new company. The big shift All of the 5,000+ employees of Vistara will find roles in Air India following the merger of the… (www.msn.com) More...

Cathay Pacific in Talks to Expand Fleet with up to 50 Airbus Planes

HONG KONG — Sources who spoke to Bloomberg anonymously have revealed that Cathay Pacific is currently in discussions with aircraft lessors to acquire up to 50 Airbus A320neo airliners as the Hong Kong-based carrier seeks to expand its fleet following the easing of Covid-related restrictions. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

FAA And EASA Are Closer After Difficult Discussions

We were faced with five major tragedies: [the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the Germanwings crash, the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war]. (aviationweek.com) More...

Piper Malibu Mirage crashes on takeoff from KSGJ

Pilot, passenger and dog were injured in the crash in a wooded area after takeoff from Rwy 24 at Northeast Florida Regional. (www.news4jax.com) More...

Technical issues at Lufthansa cause delays in Frankfurt

Lufthansa's operations were disrupted Sunday at Frankfurt airport because of technical problems, German news agency dpa reported. Check-in systems on the airline's website and at the counter, as well as boarding, were affected at Germany's biggest airport, a Lufthansa spokeswoman told dpa. Some flights were delayed or would have to be canceled because of the problems. Check-in was still possible using cellphone browsers on smartphones or tablets, and the Lufthansa app. (www.msn.com) More...

Ryanair Aircraft Evacuated In Palermo Due To Bomb Scare

A Ryanair flight from Milan was met with police on the ground of the Sicilian airport. (simpleflying.com) More...

Pilot safe after landing malfunction at Idaho Falls airport

IDAHO FALLS – A pilot is safe after a hairy landing situation at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport Sunday morning. It happened at 11:28 a.m., according to city spokesman Eric Grossarth. The pilot of a single-engine Beech Bonanza airplane reportedly experienced a gear malfunction and landed on the runway. (www.eastidahonews.com) More...

Air India To Temporarily Reduce US Flights Amid Crew Shortage

Ashortage of qualified crew has forced Air India to reduce weekly flights to the US. The airline deploys a fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft to the US and has been looking for more qualified pilots over the last few months to meet operational demands, especially with new 777s joining its fleet and more to come shortly. Several of Air India’s US flights have been affected due to crew shortages in the recent past, and now the airline wants to cut some flights until the problem is resolved. Air India to… (www.msn.com) More...

Southwest Airlines Expects Reduction in Boeing Aircraft Deliveries in 2023

DALLAS, TEXAS — Following discussions with Boeing and ongoing supply chain issues, the largest American low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has revised its expectations for the number of aircraft deliveries in 2023, reducing it from 100 to around 90 copies. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Former RAF Scampton set to become refugee detention centre

The Home Office has outlined plans for the former Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Scampton to become a detention centre for thousands of refugees as the government seeks to get a grip on the growing migrant crisis. (ukaviation.news) More...

Fleet Analysis: Lufthansa Group airlines

Lufthansa Group announced last week it will launch its latest airline, City Airlines. The airline will focus on short and medium-haul routes, expanding the European route network, and plans to operate with an Airbus fleet. Will Lufthansa use its existing fleet for City Airlines, or use incoming jets, or combine it with Lufthansa CityLine fleet? (www.airguide.info) More...