Fri.Aug 23, 2024

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Future of aviation: batteries and biofuels pave the path to decarbonization

Aerotime

AeroTime is excited to welcome Michael Barnard as our columnist. Michael spends his time projecting scenarios for decarbonization 40-80 years into the future, and assisting executives, Boards and investors to pick wisely today. Whether it’s refueling aviation, grid storage, vehicle-to-grid, or hydrogen demand, his work is based on fundamentals of physics, economics and human nature, and informed by the decarbonization requirements and innovations of multiple domains.

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I Made A Big Mistake: Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Attempted To Shut Down Engines Mid-Flight Speaks Out

Simple Flying

A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of recklessly endangering other passengers after attempting to cut off the engine of a San Francisco-bound regional flight is speaking up about the experience and importance of mental health for pilots.

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Decision over Boeing Starliner’s return now imminent following frank discussions

Aerotime

A decision over the fate of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and its crew, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, now appears to be imminent. NASA has confirmed that the picture will become much clearer on August 24, 2024. In an update on August 22, 2024, NASA explained that engineering and spaceflight specialists from Boeing and the space agency were continuing to analyze data, ahead of a decision “this week on the path forward for the Starliner spacecraft’s return from the International Space Station”

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Why Ryanair's CEO Isn't Interested In Taking ITA/Lufthansa Merger Slots

Simple Flying

41% of Italian carrier ITA Airways is currently in the process of being bought by the Lufthansa Group. The deal was given a conditional green light by EU regulators earlier this year, and one of the conditions was that Lufthansa would have to give up a number of short-haul slots to rival airlines.

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Air Canada strikes increasingly likely after 5,400 pilots back industrial action  

Aerotime

In the latest development in their efforts to reach a new contractual agreement over pay, scheduling and retirement, disgruntled Air Canada pilots have overwhelmingly backed strike action. In a recent union vote, 98% of Air Canada pilots authorized the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) to call a strike, although negotiations will continue in the short term.

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Why I Prefer The Airbus A350 To The Boeing 787

One Mile at a Time

As we see airlines continue to retire four engine planes, it’s pretty clear that the future of long haul aviation involves planes with two engines. In that sense, the two planes that are really revolutionizing long haul air travel are the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 (maybe the Boeing 777X will also eventually do that, but it’s not yet certified ). What makes these planes so incredible is their fuel efficiency, range capabilities, low operating costs, and relatively low capacity (at least compared

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Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand re-establish trans-Tasman codeshare agreement

Aerotime

Virgin Australia has announced that it has re-established a partnership with Air New Zealand via a trans-Tasman codeshare agreement. The two airlines previously had a codeshare alliance that began in October 2010 and ended in October 2018. Under the renewed agreement, Virgin Australia customers will be able to book Air New Zealand flights directly into Auckland Airport (AKL), Wellington International Airport (WLG), and Christchurch Airport (CHC), complementing Virgin Australia’s services to Quee

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Saudi Arabia signs deal with firms to build new King Salman International Airport 

Aerotime

Plans for the development of Riyadh’s future King Salman International Airport are proceeding apace. King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC), the subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) tasked with the massive airport project, announced on August 20, 2024, that it had signed contracts with four major contractors in the fields of design, engineering, construction and air traffic management.

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Why Does The B-52 Need 8 Engines?

Simple Flying

Today, all commercial passenger airliners have only two engines (the B-747 and Airbus A380 are out of production), so why does the B-52 Stratofortress not have four, not six, but eight engines? While there are many examples of six-engine aircraft (including those from WW2 times) , there are few examples of military aircraft with eight jet engines. With the B-52Hs about to be upgraded to the B-52J, the B-52 will continue to be the backbone of the US strategic bomber fleet and will continue to be

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Archer closes $230 million round from United, Stellantis and other investors

Aerotime

US advanced air mobility developer Archer Aviation has announced the closing of a $230 Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) funding round that is set to strengthen the capitalization of the company as its Midnight eVTOL approaches certification stage. Of the $230 million, $220 million has already been confirmed and the remaining $10 million is awaiting the approval of Stellantis shareholders, which is expected to happen later this year.

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Ryanair & easyJet Had Most Delayed Flights in Summer 2024: Mallorca Routes Worst

Simple Flying

Ryanair and easyJet have experienced the most flight delays from and to the United Kingdom this summer, according to EUclaim findings. The flight disruptions were attributed to multiple challenges, including air traffic control restrictions and IT issues. EUclaim focused on flights that experienced delays of at least three hours.

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Battle of the business class seats: new business class products launched in 2024

Aerotime

If one factor is leading the trend of commercial flights in 2024, it’s business class travel. Within its ‘ 2024 Global Business Travel Forecast’ report, corporate travel management platform Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) found that airline passengers in the Asia-Pacific are paying more than usual for business class seats, given the increase in demand for leisure travel after years of restricted mobility due to the pandemic.

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Air Astana And Japan Airlines Codeshare New Almaty-Tokyo Service

Simple Flying

Sometimes, a new airline partnership makes such good sense that you wonder why it is not already happening. Yesterday, that feeling returned when Air Astana and Japan Airlines announced a codeshare agreement allowing both airlines to place their respective codes on a new Kazakhstan-to-Japan service and domestic flights.

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Air Senegal Ends New York Flights, Pulls Out Of United States

One Mile at a Time

Air Senegal will be ending its route to the United States, which it launched a few years back, as reported by AeroRoutes. I can’t say I’m surprised, and if anything, I’m amazed it lasted this long. Air Senegal cuts Dakar to New York route As of September 19, 2024, Air Senegal will be discontinuing its 3,830-mile route between Dakar (DSS) and New York (JFK).

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How, When & Why Is North American Seaplane Operator Harbour Air Transitioning To An All-Electric Fleet?

Simple Flying

Only a couple of years ago, Harbour Air completed its first all-electric point-to-point test flight. For this flight, a De Havilland Beaver was retrofitted with an electric engine.

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My 6 Favorite Commercial Airplanes, From Regional Jets To Jumbo Jets

One Mile at a Time

Us avgeeks can often have pretty strong aircraft preferences. Sometimes our picks are rational (like based on a plane’s capabilities, passenger comfort, etc.), while other times we just like the way a plane looks or sounds. In this post I thought it would be fun to share my favorite aircraft, and then I’d love to hear what planes OMAAT readers like most.

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Alaska & Hawaiian Airlines Overlapping Routes Would Result In 2-To-1 Reduction In Supply

Simple Flying

Theres still some haze over the proposed merger of Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines, as several reports are now examining the slight change in the language of Alaskas official statement regarding the clearance of the DOJ review period.

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FAA Updates Silly “No Smoking” Sign Airplane Rule

One Mile at a Time

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just published an update to a very outdated rule, which actually had some implications for an airline recently, as flagged by PYOK. Aircraft “no smoking” signs no longer need to turn off Regulators have very strict guidelines that they require airlines to follow, and that’s for good reason — it contributes to how safe aviation is.

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Recently Approved: What Does London City's Expansion Mean For The Airport & The Surrounding Area?

Simple Flying

Earlier this week, the Newham Council approved London City Airports (LCA) bid to increase passenger numbers from 6.5 million to 9 million annually by 2031. Despite the opportunity for expansion, the new rulings kept the yearly limit of 111,000 flights at LCA.

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Planes of Fame Air Museum Receives A Beechcraft Staggerwing

Vintage Aviation News

Last week, the Planes of Fame Air Museum of Chino, California welcomed the donation of a new airplane that flew into Chino Airport on August 13. The aircraft in question is a Beechcraft D17S Staggerwing, widely considered to be one of the most attractive airplanes by aviation enthusiasts. With its top wings slanted back from the bottom wings (hence the origin for its name), retractable landing gear and plush interior, the Staggerwing was seen as the last word in luxury aircraft for its time, bei

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Frontier Airlines Enters Sale-Leaseback Deal For 15 Airbus A320neos With BOC Aviation

Simple Flying

American Low-Cost Carrier Frontier Airlines has entered into a sale and leaseback agreement with BOC Aviation. The agreement will cover 15 of the airline's Airbus A320 neo aircraft, which are due to be delivered between 2025 and 2026. This move will enable the airline to strengthen its liquidity while expanding its network and operations.

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Should Southwest Airlines Charge For Checked Bags?

One Mile at a Time

Southwest Airlines is currently completely reevaluating its business model, as the airline isn’t performing as well financially as it used to. While executives have insisted that two free checked bags are here to stay, is that actually sensible? I wanted to unpack that a bit… Southwest is undergoing major changes It’s an interesting time at Southwest.

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Plenty Of Options: All The Priority Pass Lounges At Washington Dulles Airport

Simple Flying

Priority Pass is a worldwide airport lounge and restaurant program. One of the largest programs worldwide, Priority Pass has 1,600+ airport lounges and experiences. Typically, most people gain access to the program via credit cards, but it can also be paid for on its own.

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Virgin Australia & Air New Zealand Launch One-Sided Partnership

One Mile at a Time

It’s common for airlines to have partnerships of all kinds with one another, ranging from interline agreements, to codeshare agreements, to joint ventures. Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have just rolled out a partnership , and what makes it unique is that it’s one-sided. Virgin Australia partners on Air New Zealand flights Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand will be launching a codeshare agreement on trans-Tasman routes, between Australia and New Zealand.

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US Airports Witness A Boost In New Tech

Simple Flying

From contactless technology such as face and iris recognition to automated security screening and even people movers, airports across the US are adopting the latest tech. The US government is also awarding grants to airports in the country for maintenance, repair, and upgrade, and together with the involvement of airport operators, many are now seeing a boost in tech use.

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Southwest Airlines Entertains Idea of Paid Checked Bags

Flyertalk

Bloomberg reports the airline is starting to poll frequent flyers about their feelings on charging for checked bags on the most discounted tickets. Survey Asked About Charging for Bags on “Wanna Get Away” Fares According to the survey seen by Bloomberg, the airline asked both Rapid Rewards members and other consumers about hypothetical situations involving checked baggage fees.

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Largest Customer: Analyzing Air China's Top 5 COMAC ARJ21 Routes By Available Seat Miles

Simple Flying

ARJ21, China's domestic product, has carried more than ten million passengers till date. The ARJ21 is China's Airbus A220 equivalent. Around two years ago, COMAC (the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) delivered its ARJ21 to its first foreign customer.

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How to scan aviation manuals into your favorite EFB app

iPad Pilot News

How to scan aviation manuals into your favorite EFB app iPad Pilot News It’s common for pilots to go completely paperless in the cockpit, which requires scanning some paper documents first. Fortunately, Apple includes some hidden capabilities in the Notes app, including a powerful scanner utility. This can scan any physical document or receipt and save or share it using the traditional iOS methods.

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A Closer Look At The Two Gulfstream G550s That Starbucks Operates

Simple Flying

Starbucks has two Gulfstream G550, according to JetSpy , and they made the headlines this week, when it was revealed that the new CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol, would travel to the office by private jet as part of his contract. He would be a hybrid employee, working from his home in Newport Beach, California and flying to the office in Seattle, Washington (a distance of over 1,000 miles) for three days every week.

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Friday photo: upside down smiles over Arkansas

Air Facts

Friday photo: upside down smiles over Arkansas Air Facts Journal The view: Upside down smiles over Arkansas The pilot: Serrhel Adams The airplane: GameComposites GB1 The mission: Taking my granddaughter on her first aerobatic flight. The memory: I was looking forward to this for a few months. With full parental consent, and a long discussion with my granddaughter, Maddie, of expectations, we got to go for our first aerobatic ride together.

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What Private Aircraft Did Grumman Develop?

Simple Flying

The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation was a US-based military and civilian aircraft manufacturer. The company was founded in 1929 by Leroy Grumman and merged with Northrop Corporation in 1994 to form Northrop Grumman. During World War II, the company manufactured several naval fighters which became some of the most successful fighters of the Second World War.

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WASP Legacy Ride Rolls Into The National WASP WWII Museum on September 28

Vintage Aviation News

PRESS RELEASE Iowa veteran and avid cyclist Larry Ritland continues to take on physical challenges while raising awareness of important veteran groups and individuals. Ritland, a Vietnam Veteran and 42-year member of the American Legion, will cycle a route from Iowa to Texas this September in honor of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Ritland will arrive at the National WASP WWII Museum at 5 pm on Saturday, September 28 flanked by local cyclists who will join him for the last leg of the trip.

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5 Famous Female Military Pilots Who Made History & Broke Records

Simple Flying

Raymonde de Laroche was the woman who opened up a world of possibilities for women in aviation as she was the first female to get a pilot's license. She inspired a generation of female pilots such as Amelia Earhart , often called "The Face of Female Aviation.

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Delta COO of 15 Months to Leave Airline

Airline Geeks

After 15 months of working as chief operating officer at Delta Airlines, Michael Spanos is leaving the company on August 31.

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Serving The Speedway: Which Airlines Are Operating Flights To Daytona Beach This Year?

Simple Flying

Daytona, with its amazing beaches, attracts thousands of people each year. There are some large airports in Florida , such as the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Aiport and Miami International Airport(MIA). In 2022, MIA saw over 50 million passengers.

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Delta chief operating officer Mike Spanos to depart

Airline Economics

Delta Air Lines chief operating officer and executive vice president Mike Spanos is departing from the company, it said in a filing. The departure is effective as of August 31, 2024. No replacement has been announced to date. Spanos joined the airline only in June last year. He brought with him no aviation experience.

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Exploring the Piper PA-28 Cherokee and Other Single Engine Piston Aircraft

Simple Flying

The Piper Aircraft designed and developed the Piper PA-28 Cherokee light private/utility aircraft in the late 1950s. Designed for personal transport, flight training, and air taxi use, the PA-28 Cherokee took to the skies for the first time in January 1960. The first PA-28 received its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification in 1960 and entered service the same year.

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