On autopilot: 'Pilots are losing their basic flying skills,' some fear after Boeing 737 Max crashes

Automation has made planes safer and more efficient, but the crashes of two Boeing 737 Max jets is leading some to wonder if there is a dangerous flip side. While advanced autopilots and computers are now considered an integral part of any modern jetliner, many pilots worry that the systems are detracting from developing and maintaining their own abilities. (www.usatoday.com) المزيد...

Houston graffiti artist Gonzo247 to paint a 1969 Hawker jet

Houston graffiti artist Mario Figueroa Jr., best known as Gonzo247, will start painting a 1969 Hawker jet on Thursday. He's partnering with the 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport to create the the art installation featuring his signature bright and colorful designs with nuggets of Houston history. (www.chron.com) المزيد...

FAA grounds winglet-modified Citations in wake of plane crash that killed LouCity co-founder

Nearly six months after a Cessna Citation jet crashed in Southern Indiana, killing Louisville City FC co-founder Wayne Estopinal and two others, the Federal Aviation Administration says it will ground Cessna planes equipped with a part that may have caused the November tragedy. The FAA is forbidding flights by the planes — also called Textron Aviation Inc. Models 525, 525A and 525B — if they have Tamarack active load alleviation system (ATLAS) winglets installed, according to a directive issued… (www.courier-journal.com) المزيد...

TAP to fly to Banjul, Gambia

TAP will begin flying to Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, on October 26, 2019. TAP will offer three flights per week from Lisbon. This is another example of the national airline strengthening its service to Africa, a market in which TAP has recorded significant growth. The service will use Airbus A320 aircraft, with three flights per week, leaving Lisbon at 20:55 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arriving in Banjul at 00:10 the next day. The flights will then leave Banjul at 01:05 (on… (worldairlinenews.com) المزيد...

Why China is building hundreds of new airports

When China's air industry hits the news, stories are typically centered on passengers going rogue, punching each other, trying to wrestle open emergency doors mid-takeoff or dangerously tossing coins into airplane engines for luck. While alarming and fascinating in equal measure, these headlines conceal another tale -- one of a country undergoing a breakneck expansion into the world of flying as its people take to the sky in rapidly increasing numbers. In the space of barely more than a… (www.msn.com) المزيد...

Young man with down syndrome realizes the dream of becoming a stewardess

With this routine, in addition to falling in love with airplanes, Shantell went more and more to admire the flight attendants and to dream in one day to become a stewardess... (cmsherbert.blogspot.com) المزيد...

BBC article on the 737Max problems--Best Yet

Best article so far on explaining in layman's terms what's happened with the 737Max. Simple language, well written, great graphics, and produced by a non-US news agency. Keeps the bias to a minimum. (www.bbc.co.uk) المزيد...

European Elections 2019: Austrian Airlines declares its commitment to Europe: “Austrian Airlines is also European”

• Austrian Airlines has displayed the EU flag on all aircraft since 1997 • The Austrian flag carrier employs about 7,000 people from 58 nations • The network links Austria to 100 European destinations Shortly before the European elections 2019, Austrian Airlines has declared its clear commitment to Europe. Austrian Airlines CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech puts it this way: “We are Austria’s flag carrier. At the same time, we have been displaying the EU flag on all our aircraft since the year 1997… (worldairlinenews.com) المزيد...