Two guys in a R-22 happened to be flying by, grabbed a crashed P-51 RC plane out of some trees and returned it to its rightful owner! (www.youtube.com) More...
A pilot successfully deployed and landed his Cirrus SR22 using the cirrus' emergency chute system. the 76 year-old pilot landed the aircraft in somebody's back garden in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire without injury. (www.bbc.co.uk) More...
Rolls Royce has donated £1 million (US$1,510,000) to help fund the construction of a permanent museum for Concorde G-BOAF, the last Concorde to fly. G-BOAF has been on the apron of Bristol's Filton airfield - now closed to air traffic. The 'Bristol Aero Collection Trust' is currently raising the £13 million needed to construct the museum. As of 1st May 2013. The Bristol Aero Collection Trust has received around £4 million in pledges. (www.bbc.co.uk) More...
Stuart Linklater, a Loganair pilot, will take to the skies flying the Westray - Papa Westray flight for the last time. This flight has a scheduled duration of only 2 minutes and is only 1.7 miles (2.7 KM) long. (www.bbc.co.uk) More...
Today, 09 September 2012, marks the news of one of the industry’s most influential CEOs stepping down from his position as CEO of Virgin Atlantic. Steve Ridgeway started his career with Virgin Atlantic in 1989 when he was appointed Managing Director of the industry’s first automated frequent flyer programme, Virgin Freeway. In 1994, he was appointed Executive Director of Customer Services, and then 4 years later, Managing Director. He had continued his fast track through Virgin’s management, and… (thedesignair.wordpress.com) More...
Here’s a great use of time-lapse photography to show a side of aviation that is rarely seen. This is a procession of jumbo jets (B747, A340, B777) flying into Heathrow airport in London. The view is distorted because of the zoom, but it still looks cool. (www.ubergizmo.com) More...
Sad news, all killed as Sita Air aircraft crashes shortly after take off. Reported that the pilot reported a bird strike before trying to return to Kathmandu (www.bbc.co.uk) More...
An off-duty pilot stepped in to help land a plane being diverted to Dublin Airport after a co-pilot fell ill. The officer had been travelling as a passenger on a Lufthansa 747 flying from Newark to Frankfurt on Monday morning when it is understood the crew member suffered a severe migraine and was incapacitated. (www.herald.ie) More...
KLM Have revealed their new World Business Class cabin to be rolled out from July this year, as designed by Dutch designer Helle Jongerius. (thedesignair.net) More...
Virgin America have just announced the launch of ‘The Loft’, their LAX Lounge which has finally been opened in LAX’s Terminal 3. Their first lounge, not to be confused with Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouses, offers exclusive wifi, cocktails and food menu and views of the airport from the brand new 2nd floor lounge. (thedesignair.net) More...
These images may appear to show toy aeroplanes for children, but in fact they are commercial aircraft caught mid-flight. A photographer braved the roar of jet engines to capture the underside of planes as they came in to land. The stunning pictures show the vehicles' fuselage in pinsharp detail, revealing the extraordinary diversity of the aircraft populating our skies. (www.dailymail.co.uk) More...
Malaysia’s national carrier, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) recently announced that it will include fuel surcharge for its tickets. The surcharged was introduces early this month with MAS adding in the surcharge to tickets issued on or after 1 June, for travel originating from Singapore. (www.expatgomalaysia.com) More...
Hawaiian Airlines seems to be on a mission to be one of the coolest and biggest carriers in the pacific. Hawaiian’s latest endevour, designed to take on the new Island Air means business. Connecting the smaller islands of Molokai and Lanai to the other islands, a new fleet of turboprops will join the Hawaiian family, except under a difusion name ‘Ohana, (meaning family in Hawaiian). (thedesignair.net) More...
A Delta Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N705DN performing flight DL-201 from Johannesburg (South Africa) to Atlanta,GA (USA), was enroute over the Atlantic Ocean when the crew decided to divert to to Ascension Island [FHAW] for a safe landing due to an engine (GE90) problem. A replacement Boeing 777-200 registration N703DN is currently enroute to Ascension Island as flight DAL-9978 and is currently estimated to reach Atlanta with a delay of 27 hours. A passenger reported the crew announced… (www.avherald.com) More...
Following some much rumour-mongering, here is a snapshot, as taken by Russel Hill, of the new AA 777 still at Boeing's plant in Paine Field. As you can see, long gone the days of the polished metal fuselage, and instead, a light grey body and white tail are all that's been started on so far. No doubt with a plane so close to completion, we can expect an announcement soon! (thedesignair.net) More...
The Air Accident Investigation Unit in Ireland has just released the serious incident report regarding the runway incursion at Dublin Airport on the 21st May 2011. The aircraft which infringed active Runway 16 was an Airbus A321-231 registration G-OZBS. G-OZBS was a Monarch flight from Dublin to Tenerife carrying 6 crew and 152 passengers. The aircraft taking off on Runway 16 was a Boeing 737-8AS registration EI-DPT. EI-DPT was a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Vilnius carrying six crew and 145… (fearoflanding.com) More...
Avianca, one of South America’s largest airlines with roughly 70 aircraft and over 90 on order have finally announced their new brand, encompassing both TACA and Avianca’s two separate brands into one unified airline. Gone is the iconic red-topped aircraft of old, and instead a modern new minimalist approach has been taken to the livery (thedesignair.net) More...
Air Pacific has revealed its new branding on their Airbus A330s fleet that will be on its aircraft when it relaunches as Fiji Airways next year. (www.nzherald.co.nz) More...
DesignAir reveals it's Top 10 Airport Lounges 2012, Including lounges for Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Cathay and Qantas. (thedesignair.net) More...
TAM launches brand new cabin product for their 777, enhancing first class and economy products with sleek design and hi-tech advances. Full gallery here (thedesignair.net) More...
Thedesignair announced today it's Top 10 liveries 2013 including Starflyer, O'hana by Hawaiian and island air amongst other pacific rim airlines. (thedesignair.net) More...
BA Announces it's first A380 routes, along with a video of it's interior. The routes are available to book, and commence in October and November this year from London's Heathrow. (thedesignair.net) More...
A light aircraft, believed to be a Piper Cherokee, crashed on the runway at Caernarfon Airport at 11:26 BST today. One dead and two injured. (www.walesonline.co.uk) More...
Based in the tiny town of Kristiansand in southern Norway, FlyNonStop looks to offer direct point to point European services to major European cities, commencing services April 2013 (thedesignair.net) More...
Projects include refurbishment of the Western Pier and redevelopment of the international arrivals hall. Declan Collier, chief executive, said: "With the investment we've announced today and further infrastructure work over the next three years, we can reach our permitted capacity, maintain our high standards and absorb some European air traffic from other airports in the South East that are beginning to feel the strain." work is due to begin in early 2013 (www.bbc.co.uk) More...
Ryanair is a low cost airline based at Dublin (ediw) that have flights around Europe.Ryanair operates the 737 800 series. Yesterday on the news the pilot was on the star into the airport and he was fed up of the ATC so he tuned the radio off. He landed yes landed the plane without permission.That is so dangerous (bbc.co.uk) More...
Boeing and Emirates Airline announced an order for 50 of the twin-aisle 777-300ER (extended range) aircraft, with an option for an additional 20. The deal is the largest single airplane order in Boeing’s history and is valued at $18 billion. Emirates took delivery of its first Boeing 777 in 1996 and has since become the world’s largest operator of 777s, with 94 in its current fleet. Boeing has sold 182 777 aircraft this year, a record for this type. Emirates’ 777-300ERs will carry 365 passengers… (www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com) More...
Aviation Design and Product specialist website, DesignAir, has just revealed it's "Top 10 Cool Airline Brands 2012'. It's comprised, taking into consideration all of the airlines in the world, whittled down to the top 10 by a panel of industry professionals based on the airlines product or service improvements over the past year and including consumer preferences. The list showcases some obvious brands such as Virgin, but smaller airlines such as Porter and Kulula make an appearance too. (thedesignair.wordpress.com) More...
Southwest Airlines ordered 208 Boeing 737 aircraft, including 150 of the new 737 Max, a more fuel efficient version of the venerable 737. The deal is valued at $19 billion and is the first order for the 737 Max and the largest ever sale of commercial aircraft based on list price. (www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com) More...
There's a huge hoo-ha going on on social networking sites about rumours that six dolphins captured in Taiji, Japan were transited through Heathrow today en route to a marine park, possibly in Europe, or Saudi Arabia or...or...? Heathrow denying it, rumoured cargo carrier, Japan Airlines, denied it but then deleted their denial, DEFRA confirmed it. All very intriguing. Does anyone know more? (www.facebook.com) More...
Lufthansa’s pet project ‘Direct 4 U‘ has finally come to fruition, with a launch of the ‘new’ germanwings penned in for July 1st 2013. Germanwings’ old livery, of fake metallic, lurid yellow and deep burgundy is going, and is being replaced with a decent and modern Euro-white livery that seems a lot more considered, inline with the Lufthansa Group brand. (thedesignair.net) More...
BA plan to scrap 7 of their 747s by 2015 and want to replace with airbus a 350 how can they do that. The 747 is BA icon. What will it be next the A350. (www.britishairways.com) More...
Thedesignair announced it's Top Economy classes 2013 with a first place swooped up by Air New Zealand, in part due to it's new Skycouch. Other airlines featured include Oman Air, Virgin Atlantic and Etihad. (thedesignair.net) More...
The New JAL Suite 777-300ER, with only 232 seats, is going to connect the cities of New York and Tokyo with their brand new flagship products, as of May this year. This will complement the service already running between Tokyo and London. (thedesignair.net) More...
Norwegian Air Shuttle's first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is taking tests at Everett, Washington. It is being tested at Boeing's Labs (www.norwegian.com) More...
Royal Brunei have unveiled a brand new look for their aircraft and corporate literature as they redesign the airline for the 21st Century. Soon to be rolled out across the fleet including the 787 this radical new look may well turn heads... (thedesignair.net) More...
The CEOs of American Airlines and US Airways defended their planned merger in front of a Senate anti-trust committee on Tuesday. The hearing of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, carrying the title “The American Airlines/US Airways Merger: Consolidation, Competition, and Consumers,” also heard from consumer advocates who said that the merger could lead to higher fares, a decrease in competition, and fewer regional routes. (www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com) More...
Virgin Atlantic announced today they were going to launch a new uniform for the 7,500 staff that wear the Virgin brand, designed by British designer Dame Vivienne Westwood. The collaboration between the two British brands is a long-term partnership which will see a total re-design of the uniform across all areas. (thedesignair.net) More...
In late 2012 BA stopped using the 737 for certain flights inseted the airbus A 319 -131 replaced it for the time being. The 737 is being used for rather short flights to Dublin . The 737 will be replaced with either an Airbus A 320 or a Boeing 737-800 or one of the ng or max series or an embarder.Ba hope to retire the planes in 2015-2016. I personally think they will use the NG for pilots who fly the 400.Most of the planes an 20-30 years old the youngest one is 19 years old.The 400 series has an… (www.businesstraveller.com) More...
On October 2, the pilots, who belong to an air force with only 350 personnel (down from 850 in 2002, according to the International Institute for Security Studies), flew the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 200 to Saudi Arabia, where they were met with an F-15 escort before landing outside Jizan. (www.theatlantic.com) More...
