Aerotime

JANUARY 31, 2025

TAAG Angola Airlines is celebrating the arrival of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, complete with a special new livery and an unusual logo. The Boeing widebody is the first of four Dreamliners that are due to arrive, with an additional 787-9 and two larger 787-10s set to join the TAAG Angola fleet in the near future. According to the airline, the Boeing B787-9 features a rebranded livery which embodies Angola’s heritage, with the visibility of the Palanca displayed on the aircraft’s

Airline 270

Airline Airlines Tail Airplanes 270

AV Web

JANUARY 31, 2025

Responders in Philadelphia PA are on the scene of what a plane crash that impacted Roosevelt Mall that has erupted a fire across several street blocks. The FAA has confirmed that it was a Lear 55 that had just taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport on its way to Branson, Missouri on a medical flight. FAA reported two people on board. 6ABC in Philly is reporting multiple casualties, and reports are the impact (captured by doorbell cams) has ignited underground gas lines.

Jet 129

Jet 129

Aerotime

JANUARY 31, 2025

Kenya Airways is celebrating two significant developments, having signed a new codeshare agreement with Air India and achieved approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASO) to perform maintenance services on European-registered aircraft. In an extension of an existing interline partnership between Kenya Airways and Air India , the two carriers have confirmed that their new partnership is to go much further.

Airline 236

Airline Airlines 236

Cranky Flier

JANUARY 31, 2025

American Flight 5342 Crashes with Helicopter on Approach at DCA American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-700 with tail number N709PS, operated by American’s wholly-owned subsidiary PSA Airlines had a mid-air collision with a United States Army Sikorsky VH-60M Black Hawk just before 9 p.m. Wednesday night while the CRJ was on approach to Runway 33 at Washington/DCA.

Approach 130

Approach Runway Pilot Tail 130

Aerotime

JANUARY 31, 2025

Authorities will start a joint investigation early next week into the Air Busan A321 that burst into flames at Busan Gimhae International Airport (PUS), Yonhap News Agency has reported. Officials from South Koreas Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) have announced that the investigation will begin on February 3, 2025, while the aircraft remains on the tarmac at the airport. “It was determined that the probe could be safely carried out without removing the fuel after cond

Tarmac 228

Tarmac Tail 228

Airline Geeks

JANUARY 31, 2025

American began nonstop service between Wichita and Reagan National in January 2024. Flights operate once daily between the two cities.

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Aerotime

JANUARY 31, 2025

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has recorded its busiest ever year to seal ten years of dominance at the top, according to the Airports Council International (ACI). On January 30, 2025, Dubai Airport posted annual figures of 92.3 million guests in 2024, surpassing its previous all-time high of 89.1 million in 2018. Last year saw 200,000 more passengers use Dubai Airport than had been expected, with December 2024 emerging as the busiest month with 8.2 million guests.

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One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 31, 2025

Its common for airlines to offer some sort of status challenge or status match program, in order to lure frequent flyers who are loyal to competing airlines, but are considering a switch. In the United States, most major airlines offer some sort of a status match challenge opportunity, including Alaska , American , Delta , JetBlue , and United. In this post, I want to take a look at the program offered by Southwest Airlines.

Airline 111

Airline Airlines 111

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

MAFFS, or Modular Aerial Fire Fighting Systems , transforms a military transport into an aerial firefighter. In an interview with Simple Flying, David Sarnoff, the Executive Director for the MAFFS program, kindly made time to explain how the MAFFS magic happens. As some may be aware, MAFFS-equipped C-130 Hercules are becoming the rough equivalent of the calvary fighting wildfires in the care of multiple United States Air Force Air National Guard units such as the recent wildfires that laid siege

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114

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 31, 2025

A few years ago, Marriott Bonvoy eliminated award charts and hotel categories, and switched to dynamic award pricing. While award pricing can vary, Marriott does still have a secret award chart, and I want to take an updated look at that, in light of the recent devaluation that we saw. Marriott Bonvoy hotel categories & award costs Seal The Deal Travels covers how Marriott Bonvoy still assigns hotels categories when it comes to points redemptions, and theres a minimum and maximum range of aw

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Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

Three airlines will add flights to Tennessee's Memphis International Airport (MEM) this spring. Spirit Airlines will add two flights to Florida, while Delta Air Lines will add a link to Austin. Southwest Airlines will also begin an intra-Tennessee route to Nashville.

Airline 121

Airline Airlines 121

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 31, 2025

Plans have been revealed for Delta Air Lines to launch another route to the South Pacific, which is a region in which the carrier has historically been pretty weak (thanks to @xJonNYC for flagging this). Delta will start flying to Melbourne, Australia As of December 2025, Delta will offer a new flight between Los Angeles (LAX) and Melbourne (MEL). The 7,921-mile journey will operate three times weekly, with the following schedule: Los Angeles to Melbourne departing 9:25PM arriving 8:15AM (+2 day

Airline 104

Airline Airlines 104

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

As a consequence of one of the US Armys 12th Aviation Battalion UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashing into an American Eagle Bombardier CRJ-700 on American Airlines Flight 5342. The 12th Aviation Battalion UH-60 was on a training flight and using night vision goggles before the deadly collision they at best contributed to.

Airline 114

Airline Airlines 114

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 31, 2025

World of Hyatts Milestone Rewards program offers perks for every 10 elite qualifying nights that members earn in a calendar year, all the way from 10 nights to 150 nights. The Milestone Rewards perk that has historically been the least valuable is club access awards. However, thanks to these certificates now being transferable, theyre certainly more useful than in the past.

Threshold 101

Threshold 101

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) has banned most helicopter routes near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) indefinitely following a fatal midair collision Wednesday night between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. All 67 passengers on board died in the crash, which plunged both planes into the Potomac River, making it the worst aviation accident to strike the United States since 2001.

Airline 116

Airline Airlines 116

Airline Geeks

JANUARY 31, 2025

The airline began service to Brisbane last month, which is a seasonal flight. Its Los Angeles to Sydney route is served year-round.

Airline 111

Airline Airlines 111

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

the Airbus A220 has been having a pretty rough time staying out of the hangar and in the air where it belongs. Yes, we can be grateful that it has thus far managed to avoid the same levels of bad publicity and disaster as the Boeing 737 MAX, but A220 operators around the world are most definitely experiencing challenges with the type.

Hangar 111

Hangar 111

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 31, 2025

In October 2024, British Airways cut catering in premium cabins on many of its long haul flights, claiming it was due to customer feedback (but of course!). Well, the airline is now fully rolling back these negative changes, which is good news for travelers. How British Airways modified inflight meal service To start, lets cover the basics of the changes that British Airways rolled out in October 2024, for long haul flights, including in business class: British Airways introduced brunch on more

Airline 91

Airline Airlines 91

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

Eric Schmidt is one of the world's most famous entrepreneurs and businessmen. Schmidt was born in Falls Church, Virginia, on April 27, 1955. His father, Wilson Schmidt, was a professor of international economics at both Virginia Tech University and Johns Hopkins University, and also worked for the United States Treasury Department during the Nixon Administration.

Jet 106

Jet 106

Airline Geeks

JANUARY 31, 2025

IATA reports that global air travel demand in 2024 reached new heights, with international traffic seeing a strong 13.6% rise.

Airline 81

Airline Airlines 81

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

Over four decades have passed since the first Boeing 767 variant entered commercial service. While over 700 aircraft are in service with multiple operators, most carry freight. For obvious reasons, fewer than 190 aircraft continue to carry passengers.

Airline 114

Airline Airlines 114

Ask the Pilot

JANUARY 31, 2025

February 1, 2025 “Perhaps a boring 2025 is what we should hope for,” I wrote back on January 21. A week later, a Blackhawk military helicopter collided with a PSA Airlines regional jet maneuvering to land at Reagan National Airport. Both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River, killing 67 people. Not a good way to begin the year. As I understand it, the crew of the helicopter told air traffic control it had the regional jet in sight, and was asked to “maintain visual separation

Air Traffic Control 77

Air Traffic Control Transponder Jet Pilot 77

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

Over forty years ago, traveling by helicopter over New York City was certainly not unusual and, indeed, the luxurious and famous airline Pan Am (Pan American World Airways) would encourage it. They offered low fares and complimentary tickets for their First Class and Clipper Class customers. There were highlights and tragedies to follow, but what was on offer?

Airline 93

Airline Airlines 93

Airline Geeks

JANUARY 31, 2025

In stark contrast to the blue and green shades painted on most of its fleet, Horizon Airs retrojet bears its bold original livery.

Airline 76

Airline Airlines 76

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

New video clips have emerged showing the moment that American Airlines flight 5342, operated by a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 under the American Eagle brand, collided with a US Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk on Wednesday. The deadly incident two days ago resulted in both aircraft coming down in Washington DC's Potomac River, with cranes having been deployed to aid recovery efforts.

Airline 100

Airline Airlines 100

AV Web

JANUARY 31, 2025

The Los Angeles Times is reporting a drone operator whose aircraft damaged the wing of water bomber working the Palisades fire in Los Angeles last month has offered to pay a five figure repair bill and do 150 hours of community to avoid jail for the mishap. Peter Tripp Akemann, 56, of Culver City, offered to plead guilty to unsafe operation of an uncrewed aircraft according to prosecutors.

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Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

In the world of commercial aviation, there are few things as slim as profit margins. On average, carrier profit margins are less than 5%, meaning that any minute change in their operating costs can have a major impact on airline bottom lines. As a result, airlines will extensively innovate their operating models to streamline costs as much as possible, especially when it comes to reducing the amount of fuel that they consume, as it is their largest individual expense.

Airplanes 93

Airplanes Airline Airlines 93

Airline Geeks

JANUARY 31, 2025

Despite Wednesday's mid-air collision and previous calls to not add flights at the airport, Reagan National is gearing up for one of its busiest years to date.

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67

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

By most accounts, owner/operators have a favorable impression of the Saab 2000. Unfortunately, the plane had a very limited production run from 1992 to 1999, making only 63 aircraft.

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93

Aviation News

JANUARY 31, 2025

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 29, 2025 Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), started its first-ever ground runs on a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter equipped with two GE Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE). During this test, the T901 engine demonstrated its capabilities through a series of rigorous procedures.

General Aviation 62

General Aviation 62

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

Designers and crew like to give their aircraft nicknamesvery often, the nickname that sticks is from an attribute of the aircraft (such as its shape). The A-10 Thunderbolt got its "Warthog" nickname on account of being ugly. Often, aircraft get given multiple nicknames , and some United States Air Force aircraft in service may become better known by a different nickname at the end of their long service lives, with early nicknames largely forgotten.

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Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 31, 2025

In parts of the U.S. where snow falls, pilots frequently have to decide whether or not to go flying, after accumulation stops and the skies clear. It’s only a little snow, the hardy aviators will say, looks like we can handle it. The problem is, there’s snow, and then there’s Snow. What we could handle last time may not match today’s conditions.

Runway 63

Runway Airplanes Crosswind Drag 63

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 was a successful 20th-century family of narrowbody twinjets, with almost 1,200 units produced from 1979 to 1999. Affectionately known by many as the 'Mad Dog,' these aircraft were notable for their five-abreast seating configuration and rear-mounted engines, which set them apart from many of their contemporary narrowbody twinjets.

Airline 91

Airline Airlines 91

Airline Geeks

JANUARY 31, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting helicopter flights around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following the deadly collision.

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61

Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA ) has chosen not to extend the Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIB) for Israel and Iran, citing ceasefire agreements and reduction of tensions in the region.

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90

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 31, 2025

Chase and IHG have three co-branded credit cards currently open to new applicants. Theres often confusion about who is eligible for these cards (based on which cards you currently have), so in this post, I want to cover the basics of what you need to know to get approved for these cards. Chase IHG Rewards credit card basics To start, lets cover the annual fees and welcome bonuses available on the three IHG credit cards issued by Chase that are currently open to new applicants: Through March 19,

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Simple Flying

JANUARY 31, 2025

Of the many private aircraft that have made a significant impact on the market in recent years, the Pilatus PC-12 is undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy. This single-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Stans, Switzerland, has been on the market since 1991 and has become one of the best-selling high-performance utility aircraft of the last fifty years, despite heavy competition from American and European players.

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