Thu.Sep 12, 2024

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Riyadh Air to operate first non-commercial flight towards certification 

Aerotime

Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air is due to operate its first non-commercial flight on September 12, 2024, from Riyadh to Jeddah as part of the airline’s program of test flights required to obtain its Air Operators Certificate (AOC). Once its AOC is awarded by the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the carrier will be permitted to commence commercial passenger and cargo services using its planned fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, as first revealed in an announcem

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Southwest Tries to End Elliott Threat By Sacrificing Gary Kelly

Cranky Flier

Southwest hasn’t broken under the weight of its activist investor, Elliott, but it has now bent. It appears that the airline is making a calculated move to save itself from being unable to control its own destiny with a human sacrifice. Whether this will work or not is unclear, but it should at least buy the airline time. Southwest says it is doing a “ comprehensive board refreshment ,” which, I believe, in Herb Kelleher’s day would mean somebody ran out to the store to g

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Airbus BelugaXL forced to make emergency landing in Amsterdam 

Aerotime

One of Airbus’ fleet of six BelugaXL transporter planes was forced to make an emergency diversion and land in Amsterdam after its crew reported a technical issue while en route from France to Germany on September 10, 2024. The aircraft, registered F-GXLI and operated by in-house subsidiary Airbus Transport International, had departed from Saint-Nazaire Airport (SNR) in eastern France where the company has a manufacturing facility.

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Air France And KLM's Flying Blue Nabs 'World's Best Airline Reward Program' Title

Simple Flying

A new survey that measured the value of more than 60 frequent flyer programs worldwide named Air France , KLM , and Transavia's loyalty program Flying Blue as the world's best airline rewards program.

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Heart Aerospace unveils Heart X1 full-scale hybrid-electric demonstrator

Aerotime

Heart Aerospace has revealed its first full-scale demonstrator aircraft for the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane. The demonstrator, named Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), is a 30-seat airplane with a 32-meter wingspan built at Heart’s facilities in Gothenburg. It will be used for ground-based testing initially, focusing on operations such as charging, taxiing, and turnaround procedures.

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Less Than 1 Hour: SWISS Plans Domestic Airbus A340 & Boeing 777 Flights In October

Simple Flying

The Swiss flag carrier occasionally deploys its widebodies from its Zurich hub to Geneva. It last did so in August 2024, when the A340-300 was flown. SWISS's latest schedule update shows it will use the aging but characterful A340-300 and the Boeing 777-300ER on the 125 nautical mile (231 km) domestic hop in October. Separately, the carrier sometimes operates its twin-aisles internationally within Europe: it flew the A330-300 to Malaga in August.

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easyJet to close Toulouse base and plans other operational changes in France 

Aerotime

Low-cost carrier easyJet has taken many by surprise in announcing that it will close its operating base at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) in Southwest France. The announcement comes as the carrier plans other changes to its French route network citing sluggish post-COVID recovery and the prevailing economic situation in France and across Europe for its change of strategy in the country.

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Qantas focuses on Perth for further international and cargo development 

Aerotime

Qantas will be developing its operation at Perth International Airport (PER) in Western Australia as the carrier looks to open up new passenger markets and build its cargo network, according to the airline’s Head of International and Cargo division. Speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific 2024 being held in Brisbane between September 11 to 13, 2024, Cam Wallace told attendees that the Australian national carrier sees Perth as offering an ideal facility to develop into the ai

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Over 3 Million People Booked United Airlines Flights With Miles This Summer

Simple Flying

The CEO of United Airlines confirmed this week that over three million people redeemed their frequent flyer miles on flights this summer. Already one of the largest airline loyalty programs in the world, United's MileagePlus was just named as the most valuable for US flyers in an independent study.

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Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse to open at LAX complete with British designer twists

Aerotime

Virgin Atlantic is set to launch its newest international Clubhouse at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with the project scheduled to be completed by the start of 2025. The exclusive Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse will be accessible to passengers travelling in the upper class or those that hold Gold Club membership, plus one guest flying with the airline.

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Emirates Confirms It Will Take Delivery Of 1st Airbus A350 In October

Simple Flying

Emirates is set to receive its first Airbus A350 in October 2024, having postponed the aircrafts entry into service due to delivery delays. The Dubai-based carrier had initially planned to start flying the Airbus twinjet as early as September 2024.

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Vertical Aerospace completes first phase of VX4 piloted flight tests

Aerotime

Vertical Aerospace has reached a significant milestone in its journey toward commercial electric flight. The company’s VX4 eVTOL aircraft successfully completed the first phase of its piloted flight test program at the Vertical Flight Test Centre. The VX4 prototype undertook 20 piloted test sorties in this phase, covering 70 test points. These included tethered flight simulations and ground tests designed to verify the aircraft’s safety under various operational conditions.

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Edinburgh Airport Safely Rehomes Swarm Of Bees After 'Unauthorized Landing'

Simple Flying

Edinburgh Airport management will relocate a swarm of bees found at the airport's parking lot earlier this month. To ensure a safe transfer and further testing to see if the bees were carrying any disease, the airport management has called on an expert with apiary facilities to help re-homing the swarm.

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Doubling up Down Under – Turkish Airlines to start Sydney flights   

Aerotime

Turkish Airlines has revealed plans to commence flights between Istanbul and Sydney by the end of 2024. The carrier will operate one-stop flights between the Turkish city and Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith International Airport (SYD) from December 2024 with services operating via Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. However, direct flights are expected to replace these services when the carrier receives its first Airbus A350-1000 in 2026, the airline has said.

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British Airways Lounge Miami Airport Opening 2025

One Mile at a Time

In late 2023, British Airways revealed plans to open its own lounge in Miami. There’s now an update, as the airline has confirmed that this lounge is expected to open in 2025, which is earlier than initially expected. British Airways Lounge coming to Miami Concourse E A British Airways Lounge is expected to open at Miami International Airport (MIA) at some point in 2025.

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LATAM Is Investing $360 Million To Upgrade Boeing 787 Interiors

Simple Flying

LATAM continues to work on its aircraft interiors and has now announced an investment of more than $350 million to refurbish over 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Some of these planes will fly in the domestic Chilean market, whereas others will operate flights out of the greater South American region.

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Turkish Airlines Adds Sydney Flights, Via Kuala Lumpur

One Mile at a Time

Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other airline in the world. Historically, the biggest gap in the carrier’s network has been the South Pacific. Back in March 2024, the airline added its first service to Australia , as it started flying from Istanbul to Melbourne via Singapore. The airline is now adding a second route to Australia… Turkish Airlines launching flights to Sydney, Australia As of December 4, 2024, Turkish Airlines will be launching flights from Istanbul (IST) to Sydn

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Alaska Airlines Pilot Details 737 MAX Door Panel Explosion For The 1st Time

Simple Flying

The Alaska Airlines midair blowout incident in January this year has been dissected and analyzed in great detail by relevant authorities. But one of the pilots who flew the plane and handled the emergency situation recently spoke about it for the first time. In an interview, she detailed the initial chaos when the door plug detached and everything that followed next.

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A Pilot, a Passion, a Calling

Inspire

By Sharon Puschmann, EAA 1382843 Pilots come in all shapes and sizes with different motivations, drives, and desires. Some are inspired by family members, military ambitions, or dreams of becoming an airline pilot. Our 2023 Ray scholar, Josiah Harding, EAA 1481653, opened our eyes to something more. The Ray Aviation Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship […] The post A Pilot, a Passion, a Calling first appeared on Hangar Flying.

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Heart Aerospace Unveils ES-30 HX-1 Demonstrator

Simple Flying

Computer renders and model planes are stock in trade for new aircraft proponents, but having a full-scale demonstrator sitting on an airport apron shows that real progress is being made. This week, Swedish hybrid-electric innovator Heart Aerospace rolled out its first ES-30 demonstrator, designated as Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), built almost entirely in-house at its Gothenburg facility.

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NTSB Issues Deicing Safety Alert

AV Web

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. SA-097 emphasizes “as little as 1/4 -inch of wing-leading edge ice accumulation can increase the stall speed by 25 to 40 knots and cause sudden departure from controlled flight.

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The US Air Force Needs More Trainee Pilots Who Don't Want To Fly Fighters Or Bombers

Simple Flying

Pilot shortages have forced a major change of policy at the United States Air Force (USAF). Under the changes, graduates who have trained to operate fighters or bombers will be tracked into flying other non-combat aircraft, such as lifters, refuelers or trainers, to fill the gaps.

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American Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract

Airline Geeks

Association of Professional Flight Attendants members voted on Thursday to ratify the union’s tentative agreement with American Airlines.

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Riyadh Air Operates First Non-Commercial Flights With Saudia 787 For AOC Approval

Simple Flying

Saudi Arabia's new airline, Riyadh Air, completed its first few non-commercial flights today, using a Dreamliner aircraft from fellow airline Saudia. These flights are part of the carrier's roadway to gaining its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the nation's Civil Aviation Authority.

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Light Aircraft Association Rally 2024

Vintage Aviation News

By Nigel Hitchman It was a great start at a “new” venue for the Light Aircraft Association Rally in Leicester, England on August 29 to September 1, 2024, with 550 visiting aircraft, mostly homebuilts and vintage aircraft making this Europe’s largest fly-in of the year (which the LAA Rally generally has been and Aero Friedrichshafen the biggest trade show).

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Examined: The Average Age Of Retired Aircraft & What Happens After They're Withdrawn

Simple Flying

The lifetimes of commercial aircraft (as well as military planes and private jets) are often marked by constant flying, with planes in the skies around the clock completing missions for their respective operators. However, usually after over a decade in the skies, it is finally time for planes to touch back down one last time, and they will naturally enter into the next stage of their life.

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Etihad Boosts Paris Flights, As Air France Cuts Abu Dhabi

One Mile at a Time

In late 2023, Etihad and Air France-KLM expanded their partnership , which included Air France launching flights to Abu Dhabi. Air France recently revealed it would cut its Abu Dhabi route , just a year after it launched. There’s now an interesting update, as Etihad is increasing service in the market. Etihad introduces double daily Paris flights Etihad has announced that it will introduce double daily flights to Paris as of January 15, 2025, just over two months after Air France discontinues it

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What Are The World's Most Expensive Jet Engines?

Simple Flying

How much do jet engines cost ? The engine is a very large share of the overall cost of purchasing the aircraft - and then a large share of the maintenance cost of the aircraft over its lifetime. While the cost for a Cessna piston engine can cost as little as $40,000, the cost of the latest GE9X is around $40 million (the price of jet engines for larger business jets is normally between $1.5 and $3.5 million).

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New Plane “Out To Win” on Geneseo’s Turf

Vintage Aviation News

The United States’ frenetic entrance into World War II led to many logistical challenges. In regards to the US Army Air Corps (USAAC), a serious and immediate need existed for aircraft to train prospective combat pilots in. The US production ramp-up was in progress, but it would take some time for the required war supplies to be available for use. However, one American entrepreneur was already ahead of the game.

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Electrifying Regional Aviation: Everything You Need To Know About Heart Aerospace & Its ES-30 Aircraft

Simple Flying

As the aviation industry intensifies its quest for sustainability, Swedish aerospace startup Heart Aerospace has emerged as a leader in hybrid-electric aircraft development. With its ES-30 aircraft, Heart Aerospace is aiming to revolutionize regional aviation by introducing a hybrid-electric solution that drastically reduces emissions, improves cost efficiency, and revitalizes short-haul air travel.

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KC-10 Now On Display at The National Museum of the Air Force

Vintage Aviation News

The McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender has officially joined the Air Park at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force! This advanced tanker and cargo aircraft arrived from Travis Air Force Base, California, on April 15, 2024. Designed for aerial refueling, the KC-10A plays a vital role in extending the range of U.S. and coalition forces, utilizing either a hose-and-drogue system or a highly advanced aerial refueling boom.

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The First Cessna Citation? A Look At The Cessna Citation I

Simple Flying

The Cessna 500 or Citation I is a small light business jet and at the very basis of the top-selling Cessna Citation family. It was a challenge of its time and although successful and sturdy, it was often ridiculed for its lack of speed in comparison to other aircraft at the time. A popular little private jet, the aircraft is still in use today. Let's take a further look at the Cessna Citation I.

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Experience B-17G ‘Sally B’ and RAF Avro Lancaster Soaring Together During IWM Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show

Vintage Aviation News

At the upcoming IWM Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show , aviation enthusiasts will witness a rare and unforgettable sight: the iconic B-17G *Sally B* flying in formation with the RAF’s Avro Lancaster. These two legendary heavy bombers, among the last airworthy examples of their kind, represent the powerful Allied forces of the Second World War. B-17G ‘Sally B’ has flown on the air show circuit for over forty years!

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All To The USA: Where Air India Flies Its Ex-Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-200LRs

Simple Flying

Air India has five former Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-200LRs, each retaining the Delta hard product, including Delta One business class. The five aircraft have 288 seats, distinguishing them from the Star Alliance member's other 200LRs , which only have 238 seats. This is very helpful in determining where they flyand where they previously flew.

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AOPA seeks to limit aircraft tracking for airport fees

AOPA

The use of aircraft tracking data to create virtual tollbooths on airport runways was never the intent of aircraft awareness technology required on airplanes to enhance safety for pilots and assist air traffic controllers.

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Turkish Adds Airbus A350 Istanbul To Sydney Flights Via Kuala Lumpur

Simple Flying

It took more than two years of heavy negotiations to create the conditions Turkish Airlines wanted to launch flights from Istanbul to Australia, with the airline wanting certainty around operating daily nonstop flights to both Melbourne and Sydney. The significant hurdles included air rights between Turkey and Australia, ultra-long-haul aircraft technology and fifth-freedom rights if an Asian stopover was required.

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Volunteer Spotlight — Craig Olson

Inspire

This piece originally ran in the August 2024 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. Craig Olson, EAA 116636, is the chairman of the Emergency Aircraft Repair team at AirVenture, a team dedicated to helping aircraft owners with minor repairs while in Oshkosh. EAR got its start in 1962 when EAA Chapter 75 members suggested to […] The post Volunteer Spotlight — Craig Olson first appeared on Hangar Flying.

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