Aviation heavyweights flock to U.S. grassroots air jamboree to fill pilot shortage

The wings of a Boeing 737 MAX airliner swept over green fields populated by colorful small planes, lending a rare corporate touch to the world's largest grassroots air show this past week. EAA AirVenture brought together more than half a million aviation enthusiasts and thousands of vintage or homebuilt aircraft and aerobatic showstoppers to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for a celebration dubbed the Woodstock of aviation. For one week, the annual summer event becomes the world's busiest airspace… (www.yahoo.com) More...

Boeing Sees Chinese Max Certification by Year-end

Boeing expects China’s civil aviation authority to certify the 737 Max for return to service in that country by the end of the year, an eventuality that will allow its plan to increase production rates from 16 to 31 in early 2022. Although the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s approval by year-end remains an assumption, Boeing CEO David Calhoun reported during the company’s second-quarter earnings call on Wednesday that he feels confident in the projection given the feedback he has… (www.ainonline.com) More...

Frankfurt Airport opens a multi-media Visitor Center

Frankfurt Airport's new visitor center is now open where FlightAware's data powers the 'The Globe' which "is said to be the most technologically sophisticated exhibit, its interactive LCD wall designed to visualise all active flights around the world in real time." (airport-world.com) More...

JetBlue ready to launch low-cost New York to London flights

Alow-cost airline service with a brand new business class cabin, flying London to New York? As Frank Sinatra might have said: if you can make it there, in the teeth of a global pandemic when the US bars British citizens and advises its own to stay put … well, you can make it anywhere. (www.theguardian.com) More...

Amazon’s ATR Cargo Planes – What We Know So Far

eCommerce giant Amazon is continuing to expand its air division with the acquisition of ATR72 freighters. While the operator’s Boeing 767s are used for longer distances, its growing fleet of ATR72s will naturally be used for shorter routes, connecting small towns. Let’s take a look at the latest developments for this part of the Amazon fleet. (simpleflying.com) More...

Air India Plans To Keep Its Boeing 747 Fleet

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic last year prompted several airlines to prematurely retire their remaining Boeing 747s. However, this has not been the case everywhere. Indeed, Air India is set to retain its last four jumbos for the time being. This comes after a recent statement from the country’s Minister of State for Civil Aviation regarding the 747s. According to reports in the Indian media, the country’s flag carrier Air India is set to buck industry trends by keeping its remaining… (simpleflying.com) More...

Startup Norse Atlantic Airways Signs For 6 Boeing 787s From BOC

Norse Atlantic Airways will take six Boeing 787 Dreamliners on lease from BOC Aviation. In a statement released today, it was announced that the Norwegian startup will receive these units in the third quarter of this year. (simpleflying.com) More...

Seawind Saga: Pilot who crashed in Lake Michigan had 7 crashes in 7 days

Dennis Collier, a licensed Traverse City pilot, paid $110,000 for the 2010 Seawind on a Saturday, ended up in the drink a week later, and on the way crashed — by his own account — seven times, in seven days in four states. (www.record-eagle.com) More...

Student Pilot Loses Engine During Solo Flight And Nails The Emergency Landing

On May 22, Brian Parsley departed Concord, North Carolina in a 1968 Cessna 150J for a “solo long cross-country” flight. At about 2,200 feet above sea level and nine miles from his home airport’s runway, the engine of the Cessna sputtered to a stop. With only 1,500 feet of altitude to work with, there was no chance of making it to the airport, so he took it in for an emergency landing. (jalopnik.com) More...

Electric Aircraft And The Boeing 787: Hawaiian Airlines On Its Fleet

Hawaiian Airlines has a fleet of 69 aircraft. Comprised of both jet aircraft and turboprops, the carrier is Hawaii’s hometown airline and flies the longest scheduled nonstop domestic route in the world and has a heavy inter-island schedule. On the airline’s second-quarter earnings call this past week, the carrier’s executives were asked about plans for its future fleet. Here is what they had to say on various topics. (simpleflying.com) More...

Airbus Is Using A350 Lighting To Help Passengers Social Distance

On each flight, there are passengers that are always eager to get up and make their way for the exit after the plane arrives at the gate and the seatbelt sign is turned off. However, amid the pandemic, airlines have a responsibility to avoid this rush. Therefore, Airbus is assisting operators with safe disembarking with the use of lighting. (simpleflying.com) More...

Emirates Adds Just 1 New A380 Destination For August

July saw Emirates adding a modest number of destinations to its recovering Airbus A380 network. Unfortunately, the recovery has less oomph in August, with only one new scheduled Airbus A380 destination joining the pack. The airline also has a one-off Airbus A380 flight planned for next week. (simpleflying.com) More...

Etihad Expands IATA Travel Pass To Seven International Destinations

Following positive trial feedback, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has expanded its IATA Travel Pass on flights from Abu Dhabi to seven international destinations. In a statement released on July 28, 2021, the Gulf State carrier says that it has implemented digital solutions to help simplify travel during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (simpleflying.com) More...

Unifor reaches tentative deal with Bombardier but strike continues with De Havilland

Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Bombardier Aviation at its Downsview plant in north Toronto. The union says locals 112 and 673 reached an agreement days after it launched a strike against the business jet manufacturer and De Havilland, which make Dash 8 turboprops at the facility. (ca.finance.yahoo.com) More...