Thousands attend families day event at Airbus Broughton

Around 11,000 attendees enjoyed factory tours of A320, A330 and A350, as well as visiting the Beluga and Beluga line station. (www.leaderlive.co.uk) More...

Alaska Airlines pilot recalls terrifying moment door plug blew off aircraft

An Alaska Airlines pilot has recalled the moment the door plug blew off her aircraft back in January, explaining that she “didn’t know that there was a hole in the airplane until we landed.” (www.msn.com) More...

Air Canada agrees to new contract with pilots, avoids strike

Late negotiating resulted in a tentative contract for Air Canada pilots. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

US FAA Head to Testify Before Senate Panel on Boeing Oversight

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration will testify on Sept. 25 before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on the planemaker's oversight of Boeing, a committee aide told Reuters. (money.usnews.com) More...

FAA and NTSB investigate near-collision between Alaska and Southwest Airlines planes

FAA and NTSB investigate near-collision between Alaska and Southwest Airlines planes on Nashville runway (www.aviation24.be) More...

Boeing strike shuts down production

Blue-collar workers from Boeing walked picket lines in the Pacific Northwest instead of building airplanes on Friday after they overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have raised their wages by 25% over four years. (www.nwaonline.com) More...

NBA looking to acquire 13 VIP A321 NEOS?

The US National Basketball Association (NBA) is working on leasing 13 customised VIP Airbus A321neo aircraft to transport teams between games in future seasons. SMBC Aviation Capital, the Irish aircraft lessor, is expected to lease the aircraft to the NBA. Delta Airlines, which historically has run most NBA flights and charters, is expected to operate the aircraft. Comlux has been awarded the contract to complete the VIP interiors at its Indianapolis facility. Spokespeople for Airbus, SMBC and… (www.corporatejetinvestor.com) More...

In the cockpit of the Malawi Airlines Boeing 737

Malawi Airlines Boeing 737-700 cockpit to Zambia & Zimbabwe (www.youtube.com) More...

Passenger ordered to pay more than $5,000 in fuel costs after flight diverted due to bad behavior

Aproblematic airline passenger has been hit with an unusual form of punishment – he has to pay back the airline for the cost of fuel. According to the Australian Federal Police, a then-32-year-old man from Western Australia was disruptive on a flight headed from Perth to Sydney. As a result, the plane had to turn around and go back to Perth, which meant that the pilot was forced to dump some fuel to land. Now, the passenger has been ordered to pay $8,630 AUD ($5,806 USD) back to the airline to… (www.msn.com) More...

Unruly passenger threatens to 'kill everybody' and choke flight attendant on Frontier flight

A California man on a Frontier Airlines flight was arrested on Wednesday after attempting to strangle a flight attendant and threatening to kill everybody. The unruly passenger ultimately caused the flight to be diverted, according to officials. Charles Angela Salva, 30, of Fremont, California, was a passenger on Flight 3581 departing from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana to San Francisco International Airport on Monday, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central… (www.msn.com) More...

Air Canada labor dispute puts supply chains at risk

Negotiations with pilots on a new contract are at a standstill. Air Canada wants the government to step in. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

NTSB Announces New Safety Alert on Aircraft Deicing Procedures

The NTSB has issued a safety alert regarding the adverse effects of icing on aircraft performance. As winter approaches, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued Safety Alert SA-097 reminding pilots about the dangers of flying in icing conditions—namely the adverse effects of airframe and propeller icing on aircraft performance. (airguide.info) More...

Southwest Airlines Mandates Extra Pilot Training After Safety Incidents

Southwest Airlines is implementing a new mandate requiring all of its nearly 11,000 pilots to undergo additional training following a series of recent safety incidents. This comprehensive, day-long training will commence in November and extend into 2025. (airguide.info) More...

Alaska Airlines flight blows out tires while aborting takeoff to avoid tarmac collision with Southwest plane

Two planes narrowly avoided a disaster on the tarmac at Nashville International Airport Thursday morning, according to authorities. (nypost.com) More...

WestJet adopts new business model for freighter aircraft

WestJet is trying to salvage its freighter business by switching to long-term dedicated service agreements with large customers. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

American Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract

The agreement adds over $4 billion in pay increases and benefits. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

China’s CDB Leasing Orders 80 Airbus A320neo Aircraft

China Development Bank Financial Leasing (CDB) has announced a substantial order for 80 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The deal, revealed on September 11, 2024, includes deliveries scheduled between 2030 and 2032. This significant acquisition, also involving CDB’s subsidiary Aviation Lease Finance (DAC), aims to modernize CDB’s fleet by integrating next-generation, fuel-efficient jets. (airguide.info) More...

Frankfurt Takeoff in Cockpit Mongolian B767-300ER

We took a ride on the Classic Boeing from FRA to Mongolia and here is the takeoff from Frankfurt (www.youtube.com) More...

Sun Country Loses Its Only Essential Air Service Contract

The airline lost the $6.5 million contract to regional carrier SkyWest. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

Europe Struggles With Aviation Fuel Taxation Policy

Euronews reported this week it has received a leaked document that shows Hungary is proposing delaying taxes on airline and maritime fuel until mid-century. Currently, diesel, gasoline and electricity used for rail and road vehicles is “heavily taxed,” according to Euronews. But airlines and marine vessels, from fishing boats to cruise ships, pay no fuel taxes. The policy is seen as a means of stimulating air travel, but environmentalists find the measure counter to Europe’s commitment to green… (www.avweb.com) More...

Vertical Completes First Phase of VX4 eVTOL Flight Testing

Vertical Aerospace has completed the first phase of piloted flight testing with its new full-scale prototype of the VX4 eVTOL aircraft. The UK company reported on September 12 that it has now made 20 flights from its flight test center at Cotswold Airport, covering 70 individual test points. The first phase of a flight test program started in July, and Vertical hopes it will lead to UK type certification in 2026. In piloted tethered flights and ground test runs, the company evaluated various… (www.ainonline.com) More...

Iran Air To Be Banned From Flying To Europe.

Iran's national airline is facing an impending ban from various European countries over concerns related to the country's conduct with Russia. Today, we will analyze what this means for Iran Air, Iranians, and competitor airlines. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

The Day of the Cockroach

Today in Ask the Pilot: The Day of the Cockroach. September 11th, Then and Now (askthepilot.com) More...

Israeli broker pleads guilty to using Miami as hub for shipping aircraft parts to Russia

When Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, the United States slapped sanctions on Moscow. An Israeli businessman ignored them and got into trouble with the feds in South Florida. On Monday, Gal Haimovich admitted in Miami federal court that he played a central role in an international scheme to ship aircraft parts and electronic equipment from U.S. manufacturers to sanctioned Russian airline companies. Haimovich billed his co-conspirators more than $2 million for arranging the illicit… (www.miamiherald.com) More...

Unruly Airplane Behavior Down 75% Within The US

It took some time getting there, but air travel has returned to some semblance of normalcy. Admittedly, the aviation landscape is different from what we were accustomed to in 2019 and prior, but the relaxation of rules have certainly made traveling a bit more comfortable. (www.gatechecked.com) More...

Airbus Beluga XL Makes Emergency Landing at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport after Heathrow Visit

An Airbus Beluga XL made an emergency landing at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) on September 10th. The Beluga declared an emergency while flying over the Netherlands and landed 20 minutes later. At the time of writing, the unique cargo jet is still on the ground at AMS. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Chinese Nationals Found Hiding in Airport Bathroom to Avoid Deportation

Two Chinese immigrants were found hiding in airport restrooms in Ireland. See what was left behind in one of the restrooms and what the stowaways could be facing. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Drunk British Airways Pilot Assults 3 Crew Members During Layover; Suspended from Airline

British Airways (BA) first officer faces suspension following accusations of drunken assaults on three female crew members in Johannesburg. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

String of Safety Incidents Prompt Additional Southwest Pilot Training

The airline is requiring that all of its nearly 11,000 pilots attend a new day-long training course. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

Reflections on 9/11: Washington Dulles Airport Managers Share Personal Stories of Tragic Day

They all had direct and immediate involvement in American Airlines flight 77. Their compelling stories of tenacity and teamwork give us a firsthand perspective into the tragic day. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

Air Canada Boeing 777-200LR Cockpit Flight Toronto to Hong Kong (Polar Route)

Air Canada Boeing 777-200LR Cockpit Flight Toronto to Hong Kong (Polar Route) (www.youtube.com) More...

The U.S. Military's Covert Acquisition of MiG-29s: A Strategic Masterstroke

During the latter years of the Cold War, the U.S. military conducted a very surreptitious operation involving the purchase of 21 Soviet-manufactured MiG-29 fighter jets from Moldova. The basis behind this was to prevent the advanced planes from getting into the possession of Iran, an event that would seriously destabilize the Middle East region. (www.msn.com) More...

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary tells air traffic control chief to quit to ‘allow someone competent’ to take charge after London flight chaos

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has taken a fresh swipe at his apparent nemesis after a weekend of delays at one of the U.K.’s busiest airports, calling for the man he sees as responsible to step down and “allow someone competent” to take his place. London Gatwick Airport was beset with air traffic control issues over the weekend owing to staff shortages at its contractor Nats. Some 57 flights were canceled from the airport, while another 240 were delayed on Sunday. (fortune.com) More...

Wizz Air CEO says passengers will ‘suffer the pain’ of 8-hour flights as budget airline introduces long-haul routes

Budget airline Wizz Air, routinely ranked as the worst airline in Europe, is betting its customers will “suffer the pain” of grueling long-haul budget flights as it introduced a new Airbus fleet capable of eight-hour journeys. Speaking as it unveiled a new set of Airbus A321 XLR light-body aircraft, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi was confident passengers would snap up low-cost seats on flights capable of record distances for the airline. (fortune.com) More...

Delta, Endeavor planes collide on tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration says a Delta Airbus A350 and an Endeavor Bombardier CRJ900 jet clipped each other Tuesday morning on the tarmac at an Atlanta airport. The FAA said in a statement to Fox News Digital that "while Delta Air Lines Flight 295 was taxiing for departure at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, its wingtip struck the tail of Endeavor Air Flight 5526." "The Delta Airbus A350 was headed to Tokyo. The Endeavor Bombardier CRJ900 was headed to… (www.foxnews.com) More...

Delta A350 Tears Off Tail Section Of Delta Connection CRJ-900 In Atlanta

On Tuesday September 10, a Delta Airbus A350 came into contact with a Delta Connection CRJ-900 in Atlanta, completely tearing the tail section of the smaller regional jet at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (www.gatechecked.com) More...

Boeing 787-9 Cockpit Quito to Guayaquil with Air Europa

Boeing 787-9 Cockpit Quito to Guayaquil with Air Europa (www.youtube.com) More...

Airhart Startup Planning Semi-Autonomous Light Aircraft

Nikita Ermoshkin, a former SpaceX engineer and now co-founder and CEO/CTO of Airhart, has developed a whole new approach to entry-level flying that uses software and hardware to control some, but not all, aspects of flight. With fly-by-wire connections to the control surfaces like ailerons, rudders, and elevators, as well as throttle, the software won’t allow you to over- or under-adjust anything. (www.autoweek.com) More...

The $100M Lawsuit For Ownership Of An Antonov 124

In February 2022, an Antonov 124 landed at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. That aircraft never left and has been sitting at the airport for over two years now. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Free Carry-on Bags for All Passengers on Jetblue Airlines Flights

In a strategic move to stay competitive with other popular airlines, JetBlue announced a free carry-on bag policy for basic economy passengers over the summer. The new policy was enacted on September 6 and will apply indefinitely for all flights. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Boeing delays suppliers' 737 MAX output goal by 6 months

Boeing has been struggling to recover production of its top single-aisle passenger plane due to additional safety and regulatory checks since a door panel dramatically flew off a 737 MAX jet in midair in January. (finance.yahoo.com) More...

Passenger Died on Cathay Pacific Flight from Hong Kong to Mumbai

The airline expressed deep sorrow over the passenger's death and conveyed condolences to his family. (aviationa2z.com) More...

US Navy replaces retiring F/A-18 Hornets with ‘retired’ F-16 fighter jets

The US Navy’s Tactical Support Wing (TSW), headquartered at Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth, has recently welcomed an F-16 Fighting Falcon to its fleet. It marks a significant upgrade for the Navy Reserve’s first F-16 squadron, Fighter Squadron Composite (VFC)-13, based in Fallon, Nevada. According to the Navy, this acquisition aims to modernize the Navy’s adversary squadrons, enhancing their ability to train active-duty forces against current and evolving threats.… (www.msn.com) More...

Unusual-looking 'Beluga plane' lands at London Heathrow airport

The Airbus Beluga, named after the whale that the aircraft resembles, made its way to the London airport from Toulouse to deliver spare parts for a damaged Airbus plane. (news.sky.com) More...

Allegiant Takes Delivery of Its First Boeing 737 MAX

The ultra-low-cost carrier's first 737 MAX jet arrived several months behind schedule. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

American Adds Nearly 500 New Aircraft Maintenance Jobs

The airline is expanding its heavy maintenance operations in Charlotte, Tulsa, and Pittsburgh. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

Indonesian plane carrying 42 passengers including governor's wife skids 1.2km off runway

A plane carrying dozens of passengers, including a governor's wife, crashed after skidding off a 1.2km runway in Indonesia. The Trigana Air Atr-42 aircraft had been taking off from an airport on Yapen island in the Papua region of the Southeast Asian nation, and was due to head to the region's capital Jayapura on Monday morning, local time. But moments into the planned take off, the aircraft skidded off the runway. The plane had been carrying 42 passengers, including the wife of Acting… (www.mirror.co.uk) More...

To avoid strike, Boeing promises 25% pay hike—and to build next jet in Seattle

Boeing is hoping to avoid a strike Friday with a tentative deal reached Sunday with the Machinists union representing 33,000 of its West Coast employees fighting for better wages and working conditions. If Boeing employees agree to the deal in a vote Thursday, their new contract will provide the "largest-ever general wage increase" in the company's history, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Stephanie Pope said in a press release. (arstechnica.com) More...

14 Hours Of Bird Screeches On Qatar Airways Business Class Flight

When you buy a business class ticket, you probably expect nice service, delicious food, and an overall comfortable experience. While this should certainly be guaranteed, a Qatar Airways flight from Miami to Doha seemed to have issues delivering this promise. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Air Canada could begin suspending flights next weekend as strike deadline nears

Air Canada is finalizing plans to suspend most of its operations, likely beginning Sunday, as talks with the pilot union near an impasse over "inflexible" wage demands, the country's largest airline said on Monday. The airline and its low-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge are preparing to gradually suspend flights over three days, potentially starting as early as Sept. 15. The carriers operate nearly 670 flights daily. Unless an agreement is reached, the carrier or the union are… (www.cbc.ca) More...