Airplane Theft Foiled

Airplane thief foiled by high-tech anti-theft device (tie-down chain). (latimesblogs.latimes.com) More...

Pilot in Asiana 214 "very concerned about attempting visual approach"

Lee Kang Kuk, a 46-year-old pilot who was landing the big jet for his first time at San Francisco, "stated it was very difficult to perform a visual approach with a heavy airplane." (www.wral.com) More...

FAA says pilots can guide whooping cranes

Fortunately, it looks like the FAA has pulled through on this one. (www.wral.com) More...

Bárðarbunga Volcano erupts, resulting in airspace restrictions

The Icelandic Met Office says a small subglacial eruption started today beneath the Dyngjujokull outlet glacier, near the Bardarbunga caldera. Scientists aboard a surveillance airplane above the glacier see no signs of an eruption yet. All flight traffic has however been banned near the volcano. (www.ruv.is) More...

Emirates orders 50 Boeing 777-300ERs, with 20 additional options.

The order, with a value of $18 billion, makes this the single largest commercial airplane order in Boeing's history by dollar value. It also makes 2011 the best-selling year for the 777 program, surpassing the previous record of 154 orders set in 2005. With the Emirates order, the 2011 net order book for the 777 currently stands at 182. The options for 20 additional airplanes is valued at $8 billion. (www.prnewswire.com) More...

Confirmed - Small fissure eruption on Holuhraun lava field in Iceland (local impact only)

"Lava is flowing from the fissure in several places, lava fountains are thought to be small and explosive activity is minimal." "The eruption is presently not thought to constitute immediate danger. The Civil Protection Agency has however extended road restrictions around the area, anticipating an increased flow of traffic because of the eruption." (www.ruv.is) More...