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...

Working Iowa: Coe College to start aviation program

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - A new aviation management program in Cedar Rapids is set to take flight next fall. Aviation jobs are in great demand, with around 16,800 openings on average each year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s a need Coe College plans to help fill by offering a new concentration on aviation management through its business administration major. ”A student completing the program along with the flight certification would be a commercially certified pilot… (www.kcrg.com) More...

Qantas adds freighter capacity to meet rising transport demand in Asia

The Qantas cargo division is modernizing and growing its freighter fleet. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

United Faces Federal Discrimination Lawsuit

The EEOC files lawsuit against the airline alleging supervisor called employee racial slur. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

JetBlue Begins Subsidized Air Service

The new route is one of the most expensive within the federal government's Essential Air Service (EAS) program. (airlinegeeks.com) More...

Air Belgium Faces Imminent Bankruptcy After Sichuan Airlines Pulls Out Of Potential Investment

Air Belgium has two weeks to secure a new investor to solve financial problems. A deal with Sichuan Airlines fell through, while an unknown investor remains. The potential investor wants government support, which is reluctant given financial struggles for multiple years. Air Belgium has just two weeks left to figure out a solution or that could be the end of the line. According to local media reports, the carrier is coming to the end of its bankruptcy protection program which it has benefitted… (simpleflying.com) More...

Goodbye: Delta Air Lines Retires Boeing 767-300ER That Lost Emergency Slide Over New York

Delta Air Lines bid farewell to one of its Boeing 767-300ERs last month. After more than 30 years of service, this particular aircraft made a name for itself when one of its emergency slides flew off earlier this year. The plane was subsequently repaired, and several flights were performed safely after the incident. However, Delta has now decided on its fate as it sits on the ground in San Bernardino, California. (simpleflying.com) More...

EasyJet Pilots Will Fly Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350s

EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic have partnered in a pilot exchange program, which will see some EasyJet pilots join Virgin Atlantic to experience a long haul, wide body flying secondment. (onemileatatime.com) More...

Boeing’s Bad Year Is About To Get Worse

The embattled plane maker may be heading for a damaging strike with its biggest union, which wants a rich new contract – and a bigger say in how the company is run. (www.forbes.com) More...

Boeing Starliner’s Future Is Unclear, Even After Safe Landing

Boeing’s troubled spacecraft has finally come home, but the two NASA astronauts who traveled in it to the International Space Station in June remain in orbit. (uk.news.yahoo.com) More...

Iraq orders 12 Airbus helicopters

Airbus Helicopters has been awarded a contract for 12 H225M multi-role helicopters by the Republic of Iraq. (dcnewsroom.blogspot.com) More...

Beijing to New York in 2 Hours? China's Hypersonic Plane Could be Flying as Soon as 2035

China is planning to build a full-size prototype for a hypersonic jet. See where the project is going and how this new plane might stack up to the Concorde. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Wizz Air unveils first Airbus A321XLR route

The ultra-low-cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air has unveiled details about the carrier’s first Airbus A321XLR route at a special event in Italy. (www.aerotime.aero) More...

Six injured as Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 hit by turbulence approaching Taiwan

A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Istanbul to Taipei in Taiwan encountered severe turbulence shortly before it landed at Taipei. Although the aircraft, a Boeing 777, landed four passengers and two crew members were reportedly injured (www.aerotime.aero) More...

After 72 Years, United Airlines Just Made a Bittersweet Announcement. It All Ends This Month

This is a story about United Airlines, the march of time, and maybe a bit of nostalgia. We need context. Our story begins in 1952, when Pan Am, the big U.S. airline of that era, introduced the world's first airline-published inflight magazine. The idea was a hit, and almost every other airline copied it. A few years later, there were many different airline magazine titles around the world, sometimes running hundreds of pages per issue. Passengers devoured them, even as they also developed a… (www.inc.com) More...

Junkers’ comeback: How a luggage magnate brought back a legendary aviation brand

Visitors to the Sun’n Fun 2024 Aerospace Expo, which took place in April 2024 in Lakeland, Florida, came across an aircraft that looked like straight of the 1920s. The aircraft in question certainly looked the part, but it didn’t come out of a museum or some heritage flight formation, nor had it traveled through time. It was, in fact, a newly built plane. The Junkers A50 Heritage has, in fact, been designed to recreate, to the smallest detail, the look and feel of the aircraft of that era,… (www.aerotime.aero) More...

FAA Proposes Checks Of Pilot Seats On Boeing 767 Planes

The FAA is proposing inspections of Boeing 767 pilot seats to prevent unexpected movement. (simpleflying.com) More...

A Day in the LAM Q-400 Cockpit across Mozambique

A Day in the LAM Dash 8 Q-400 Cockpit across Mozambique (www.youtube.com) More...

How Starlink and Others are Going to Supercharge Airplane Wi-Fi

The WSJ tested out @SpaceX's Starlink Wifi on an Airplane and was blown away: "It was like working from home, but home is an airplane seat. Google Docs, slack web browsing, Spotify, it all kept up the whole time and there were no dropped connections." (www.youtube.com) More...

DOT Launches Probe Into Four Major U.S. Airlines' Frequent Flyer Programs

Frequent flyer programs are great ways for airlines to build customer trust and loyalty. If you're a frequent traveler on U.S. domestic flights, you might be annoyingly familiar with the constant credit card and mileage program pitches on each flight. (aeroxplorer.com) More...