WestJet to launch a new dedicated cargo service with 737-800 Boeing Converted Freights (BCF)

CALGARY, ALBERTA — Canada's second-largest carrier WestJet today announced that it is launching a new dedicated cargo service, using 737-800 Boeing Converted Freights (BCF), as dedicated aircraft, to fulfill the increasing air cargo transportation demand in Canada. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

FAA Defends SpaceX To Congress

SpaceX has found a perhaps unexpected ally in its quest to democratize space—the FAA, according to CNBC. FAA associate administrator for commercial space operations Wayne Monteith launched a spirited defense of the company he had criticized a few months before in front of a congressional committee last week. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had Monteith on the carpet to discuss the exploding (pun intended) commercial space industry and SpaceX naturally came up. Rep. Peter… (www.avweb.com) More...

Russia Fires Warning Shots at British Warship in Black Sea

Russia used bombs and gunfire in “warning shots” againA Su-24 aircraft dropped four bombs in waters near the Royal Navy destroyer H.M.S.st a British Navy destroyer in the Black Sea, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said Wednesday. (www.msn.com) More...

B-52 bombers traverse Arctic in 27-hour Europe-to-Pacific mission

Air Force B-52H bombers returned to the United States from a European deployment by way of a 12,000-mile mission through the Arctic and Pacific late last week, the Air Force said in a news release Monday. (www.stripes.com) More...

Navy Wings’ Hawker Sea Fury T.20 VX281 Declared a Write-Off

As we noted earlier this month in our update on the Navy Wings Collection, the organization was assessing the future of their Hawker Sea Fury T.20 VX281, which was involved in a serious forced landing following engine failure near their home base at Yeovilton, England on April 28th, 2021. Thankfully, neither aircrew were seriously injured in the accident, with the naval fighter absorbing the brunt of the trauma, however Navy Wings report in their latest newsletter that their insurance… (warbirdsnews.com) More...

The Story Of TWA’s Boeing 747SPs

Trans World Airlines, known in short as TWA, had a rich history that lasted for more than seven decades. Between 1930 and 2001, the carrier operated a wide variety of aircraft from several different manufacturers. Boeing was one of the most common of these, and TWA flew multiple different variants of its iconic 747 family. Among these were three examples of the short-fuselage 747SP. Let’s take a look at the story of these aircraft. (simpleflying.com) More...

Longtime Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly Stepping Down in 2022

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly will step down from the helm of the Dallas-based carrier next year, the company announced Wednesday morning. (www.nbcdfw.com) More...

American Airlines Shouldn’t Have Been Bailed Out

Widespread worker shortages are making their presence felt across the American economy, and some air travelers are feeling the brunt of that. On the latest Pivot podcast, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss the case of American Airlines, which, despite a federal bailout, finds itself in a similar situation as many other businesses. (nymag.com) More...

Icelandair Is Coming To Baltimore Using A Boeing 737 MAX

There is some very good news for passengers flying out of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Maryland. Starting in 2022, Icelandair will fly a Boeing 737 MAX 8 to the airport from its hub at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavík, Iceland. This new service comes as BWI sees travelers return and flexes its muscles as a major airport in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. metro area (simpleflying.com) More...

The Air Force's Next Fighter Will Be A 'Multirole' Aircraft

The Air Force's next-gen fighter will primarily be an air-to-air weapon, but will also have a limited air-to-ground capability, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown. The fighter might also come in two different variations, including a version that's optimized for the vast expanse of the Indo-Pacific. (www.popularmechanics.com) More...

Amazon Air Set to Add ATR Turboprops to Freighter Fleet

Plotting its logistics growth plan, Amazon Air is set to add a third aircraft type to it’s fast growing freighter fleet (theaircurrent.com) More...

Etihad’s Interesting Boeing 787 Dreamliner Triangle Route To Vienna

Etihad Airways is set to launch a twice-weekly service to Vienna this summer. The flight will start in just under a month, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner serving the route. The route comes as travel restrictions remain in place in both directions. (simpleflying.com) More...

Boeing lobbyist Keating, who helped steer it through MAX crisis, exits abruptly

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) announced on Monday that veteran lobbyist and political strategist Tim Keating, who helped navigate the U.S. planemaker through its worst-ever crisis following fatal 737 MAX crashes, has left the company but gave no reason. (www.reuters.com) More...

Pilot makes an emergancy landing in Nampa, Idaho

engine failure caused a pilot to land in a field near a local airport in Idaho (www.ktvb.com) More...

Silencing Aircraft Engines: New Material Could Reduce Noise To That Of A Hairdryer

If you live near an airport or are a frequent flyer, you may be no stranger to the intense roar of a modern-day aircraft. As the turbines whir into action and force superheated air through the exhaust, sounds as loud as 140 decibels can be heard by nearby onlookers, to the point where noise-reducing earphones are a necessity for visiting airshows to prevent hearing damage. (www.iflscience.com) More...

Delta Enhances Its Codeshare Agreement With Kenya Airways

Nairobi-based Kenya Airways has expanded its codeshare agreement with US carrier Delta Air Lines. By doing this, the Kenyan national flag carrier has extended its offerings in the United States. In addition, Kenya Airways will use John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to connect to other North American destinations. (simpleflying.com) More...

Delta’s most anticipated long-haul route hit a major legal snag

Delta Air Lines won’t be flying to Cape Town after all — and it’s not necessarily by choice. At the height of the pandemic, the Atlanta-based carrier unveiled plans to serve both Johannesburg and Cape Town with a triangle route. The flight would leave Atlanta and fly nonstop to Johannesburg before continuing on to Cape Town and then returning to Atlanta. (thepointsguy.com) More...