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United Airlines to cut 1,100 jobs
United Airlines will be cutting over 1,100 jobs, and grounding over 94 flights. The primary reason is the high price of gasoline, which peaked at $135 a barrel last week. The carrier will cut mainline domestic capacity by 17 to 18 percent in 2009, while also scaling back international capacity by 4 to 5 percent. They will also charge $15 for a passengers first checked bag. United Airlines will be cutting over 1,100 jobs, and grounding over 94 flights. The primary reason is the high price of gasoline, whic... more
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Israeli fighter pilots almost blasted Tony Blair’s jet out of sky
Tony Blair came within moments of being killed when two Israeli fighter aircraft threatened to shoot down a private jet taking him to a Middle East conference in the belief that it might have been staging a terrorist attack.
The warplanes were scrambled to intercept after the jet pilot failed to contact air traffic control. Mr Blair, the international community’s envoy to the Middle East, was flying from the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to attend a major conference on private investment in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.
The Israeli aircraft used to intercept Mr Blair’s plane would have been versions of the F16 or F15, armed with Shafrir and Python air-to-air missiles. Both missiles have proved to be devastatingly effective and versatile.
Air traffic controllers spotted a suspicious aircraft heading into Israeli airspace from the Sinai peninsula on Monday and made several attempts to establish contact. When the pilot failed to respond to their urgent requests, the Israelis scrambled two fighters to intercept what they feared could have been a terrorist attacker.
During the entire incident, Mr Blair — flying with other delegates from the WEF, who were also attending the Bethlehem conference — was not informed of the situation by the pilot.
Israeli forces have been on high alert for threats from the Sinai region since Hamas knocked down a wall on the Egyptian border five months ago and had free access in and out of the besieged Gaza Strip for a week.
Initial investigations into the events indicated a technical malfunction was to blame for the breakdown in communication, the Israeli newspaper Maariv said, adding that new systems had been set up in recent months to identify suspicious aircraft. Tony Blair came within moments of being killed when two Israeli fighter aircraft threatened to shoot down a private jet taking him to ... more -
Blended Wing Body, could this be the plane of the future?
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center and Boeing have expanded flight testing for the X-48B blended wing body (BWB) research aircraft into the second of six planned phases. NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center and Boeing have expanded flight testing for the X-48B blended wing body (BWB) research aircraft i... more
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AINTV.COM - EBACE 2008 – Profile: Learjet 85
AINtv.com's David Lombardo finds out why Bombardier’s Learjet 85 is a stepping stone to the Challenger.
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AINTV.COM - EBACE 2008 – News Briefs
Just into the AIN newsroom in Geneva, announcements from XOJet and Grob Aerospace and new completions house AMAC.
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AINTV.COM - EBACE 2008 – An Insider’s Perspective
A former top salesman gives AINtv's Curt Epstein the inside track on how economic conditions are impacting the business aviation industry. A former top salesman gives AINtv's Curt Epstein the inside track on how economic conditions are impacting the business aviation indus... more
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AINTV.COM - EBACE 2008 - Dassault Model
Call it the "ultimate model airplane". AINtv's Ed Heiland shows you the flight of a mini Dassault Falcon 7X.
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Airline emissions 'far higher than previous estimates'
The aviation industry's failure to curb its soaring carbon emissions could lead to the "worst case scenario" for climate change, as envisaged by the United Nations.
An unpublished study by the world's leading experts has revealed that airlines are pumping 20 per cent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than estimates suggest, with total emissions set to reach between 1.2 billion and 1.5 billion tonnes annually by 2025.
The report, by four government-funded research bodies, is one of the most authoritative estimates of the growth of pollutants produced by the industry. It was presented to a conference. Combining data produced by the leading emissions-modelling laboratories in the US, Britain and France, the study found that the number of people seriously affected by aircraft noise will rise from 24 million in 2000 to 30.3 million by 2025, despite the introduction of quieter jets, and that the amount of nitrogen oxides around airports, produced by aircraft engines, will rise from 2.5 million tonnes in 2000 to 6.1 million tonnes in 2025. The aviation industry's failure to curb its soaring carbon emissions could lead to the "worst case scenario" for climate change, as en... more -
Personal aviation the way of the future?
"When your 100mpg (miles per gallon) car is stuck in traffic and a 100mpg airplane whizzes overhead, you're going to be jealous."
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Aircraft & Birds, Bad combo..
It does not take much for a bird to damage an aircraft.
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Spy caught by anti-aviation group was ‘more Austin Powers than 007’
A spy who infiltrated a direct action anti-aviation group has been exposed after making a series of elementary errors that aroused the suspicions of genuine activists.
Toby Kendall joined Plane Stupid, the group that occupied the roof of the Houses of Parliament last month, after graduating from Oxford last year. He told the activists that his name was “Ken Tobias” and said that he was deeply concerned by the impact of the aviation industry on climate change and that he wanted to help to organise protests.
However his habit of wearing a Palestinian scarf with his Armani jeans and designer shirt made some members question his identity. He was also the only member to turn up early to every meeting but had no friends in the activist community. He took part in protests, dressing as a penguin in one stunt, but always tried to remain in the background.
Plane Stupid began a mole hunt and, after feeding him false information that found its way within two days to the aviation industry, discovered his real name and employer. The activists remembered his supposed Oxford connection and showed a friend there his photograph. He immediately recognised Ken as Toby Kendall, an Oriental Studies student from Wadham College.
"He was always trying to up the ante," said a Plane Stupid activist. "I remember him saying we should block the escalators at the T5 opening and make complete and utter nuisances of ourselves. This appeared in the Standard almost verbatim."
Mr Kendall, 24, works for C2i International, a counter-intelligence company run by former special forces officers. Its website puts “aerospace” at the top of a list of industries for which it works.
BAA, which owns Heathrow, has repeatedly been targeted by Plane Stupid. BAA deny any involvement with C2i or Mr Kendall. Mmm hmmm?..... A spy who infiltrated a direct action anti-aviation group has been exposed after making a series of elementary errors that aroused the... more -
A flying car! Finally!
Weighing in at 60 kilograms (≈130 pounds), this flying car travels up to 80 km/h (≈50 mph) on land, can go airborne at 15 km/h (≈10 mph) reaching a top flying speed of 160 km/h (≈100 mph) at a height of 4000 meters (≈13,000 feet).
How freaking cool is that? Weighing in at 60 kilograms (≈130 pounds), this flying car travels up to 80 km/h (≈50 mph) on land, can go airborne at 15 km/h (≈10 mp... more -
Aviation first: Boeing plane flies on hydrogen, fuel cells
Engineers from across Europe have successfully developed and flown a manned airplane powered by hydrogen and fuel cells — a first in history and a step towards cleaner and more energy-efficient aviation, Boeing announced Thursday.
The breakthrough is "full of promises for a greener future," Boeing Chief Technology Officer John Tracy told reporters at the company's research center in Ocana, Spain, where the aircraft was on display.
Given rising fuel costs and concerns about climate change, the air industry is keen to find ways to cut energy bills and emissions tied to global warming. While hydrogen is still expensive to produce as an energy carrier, it emits no pollutants.
more at the link...
Engineers from across Europe have successfully developed and flown a manned airplane powered by hydrogen and fuel cells — a first in h... more -
Air Trip to John Travolta's house
A bizzare Air trike adventure to a hidden horse country - Ocala, Florida.
With an early morning start we encountered hot air balloons, ate brunch at the Greystone airport surrounded by white tigers and goats and finally saw John Travolta's house with a jumbo jet parked right on the porch. A bizzare Air trike adventure to a hidden horse country - Ocala, Florida. ... more -
Paddle boat-style rotating wing actually flies!
Several international research groups are working on prototype "cyclogyros", a design first proposed more than 100 years ago.
A cyclogyro flies using "cycloidal propellers" – several wings positioned around the edge of a rotating cylindrical framework, a bit like a paddle-wheel. As each wing rotates, its blades move through the air generating lift and thrust.
[NewScientist] Several international research groups are working on prototype "cyclogyros", a design first proposed more than 100 years ago. ... more -
Oshkosh: The Spirit of Aviation
Oshkosh: The Spirit of Aviation is narrated by actor Harrison Ford, an EAA member, pilot, and chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program. It presents an insider's look of people who share the passion for aviation as they participate in "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration." To experience AirVenture Oshkosh on the web, go to www.AirVenture.org Oshkosh: The Spirit of Aviation is narrated by actor Harrison Ford, an EAA member, pilot, and chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program... more
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Pollution three times higher than thought
A leaked UN document suggests that the scale of CO2 emissions are nearly three times higher than previously thought. The report suggests that shipping merchant fleet accounts for more pollution than previously thought. The new data, gathered through working with the shipping companies themselves, suggests that merchant ships contribute 1.12bn tonnes of CO2 per year, compared to just 650million tonnes from the aviation industry who have been under heavy public scrutiny.
Scientists had originally thought that the shipping industry could only be contributing a maximum 400million tonnes of CO2 but these new figures are more than twice that and are expected to rise 30% by 2020. The data all comes from a leaked UN document which found its way into the hands of the Guardian.
A leaked UN document suggests that the scale of CO2 emissions are nearly three times higher than previously thought. The report sugges... more -
So you want to actually SEE a jet crash?
Unbelievable video and still photography of Thunderbirds stunt pilot Chris Strickland as he ejects at the very last moment before his jet fighter impacts with the ground after a too short inverted loop. Unbelievable video and still photography of Thunderbirds stunt pilot Chris Strickland as he ejects at the very last moment before hi... more
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Can you believe? Plastic Airplanes!
I know this video report is a little old news, but I think that this is just as current today as it was when it was first reported.
These new plastic planes cannot bend and contort like the current metal planes can. You have a better chance of survival in a metal plane than you do in a plastic plane. If the plastic plane crashes, it can shatter and leave the passengers vulnerable to broken flying debris and flames.
Check out this report by Dan Rather and see how many of these planes are going to be in service and the fact that the whistle blowers are being ignored. I know this video report is a little old news, but I think that this is just as current today as it was when it was first reported. ... more
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