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UK Imposes Quarantine on Most Arrivals from June 8
The UK on Friday introduced requirements for almost everyone arriving in the country from June 8 to be quarantined at a nominated address for 14 days. The rule, which will apply to airline passengers, but also people arriving by train, road, and ship, has been roundly criticized by the country’s air transport lobby, with the Airlines UK saying that it will “effectively kill” international travel to and from the country.
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Spain Will Open To International Tourists From July 1
During a televised address to the nation yesterday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told viewers that Spain would be open to international tourists from July 1. In his speech, the 48-year-old politician said that the tourist sector should start preparing for a summer influx of visitors and that the country’s top-flight soccer league La Liga would resume play in June.
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US Government Claims That China Is Blocking US Airline Flights
The United States government has accused China of blocking US airlines from resuming flights to China. United and Delta both want to restart flights to mainland China from June. However, both carriers have not had success at getting permission to restart the flights. So, on May 22nd, the Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered Chinese airlines to file their flight schedules.
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European Borders Set To Reopen From June – Where Can You Travel
The number of new coronavirus cases across Europe has steadily declined over the last few weeks. Western European countries, which were the worst hit, have announced independent decisions to open borders. At least 17 of the Schengen zone’s 26 nations currently have various travel restrictions in place. Next month onwards, many of these restrictions will begin to relax to allow trade and tourism and a revival of the economy.
LinkCommercial
Mitsubishi Aircraft To Shut Down Washington State Operations
Washington State is set to lose its investment from Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). On Friday 22nd May, the company announced that it would be closing its flight testing centers and HQ in Renton but would keep a small crew to maintain some aircraft. The company plans to consolidate its operations as it confirms it’s cutting the SpaceJet budget in half.
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Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Has Bought A $700m Stake In Boeing
Last week, US regulatory filings showed that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) took a $713.7 million stake in American planemaker Boeing. Hitting a peak value of $440 per share in March 2019, the stock took a hit due to the 737 MAX crisis but then plummeted with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
LinkAirlines
Confusion Reigns as India Readies To Open Domestic Skies
The sudden and unexpected announcement on Thursday to permit Indian domestic airlines to start flying one-third of their summer schedules “in a calibrated manner” from May 25, after a lockdown of two months, created chaos and confusion.
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What Is The Latest On The PIA A320 Crash?
It’s been two days since a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed in Karachi on the cusp of Eid-al-Fitr. The aircraft was carrying 91 passengers and seven crew members, only two of whom survived the tragedy. An inquiry into the incident was immediately launched with a two to three-day window for information. 48 hours on, here’s what we know…
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Which Airline CEOs Have Foregone Salaries Due To The Crisis?
Times are turbulent for airlines right now. Many are in the process of massive layoffs or have asked their staff to take unpaid leave in order to slow the rate of cash burn. Most would agree that ‘good leadership’ is one that leads by example. To that end, here is a list of airline CEOs that are currently working without a salary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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British Airways Converts A Boeing 777 For Freight Use
This week, a British Airways Boeing 777 had flown to London from Cardiff with a stripped-back interior. All of the seats had been removed as the flag carrier of the United Kingdom looks to increase its cargo services. The revamped plane will support efforts to deliver crucial medical equipment amid the global health pandemic.
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KLM To Introduce Voluntary Resignation Scheme From June 1st
KLM has announced that it will introduce a Voluntary Resignation Scheme from next month. The airline is encouraging employees to take advantage of this proposal to avoid forced redundancies in the future. On Wednesday, the carrier said it would rather see its staff leave willingly than make painful decisions about their future.
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airBaltic To Ramp Up European Routes
On Friday, airBaltic announced that it is launching a new route next week from Vilnius to Oslo. As travel restrictions are eased, the airline is also resuming flights from Riga to four European destinations, and from Tallinn to three capital cities.
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PLAY CEO Anticipates A Fall Launch Date
Arnar Már Magnússon, the CEO of PLAY had yesterday announced that the airline is planning to start flights this fall. PLAY is a proposed low-cost carrier based in Reykjavik, Iceland. The airline was initially scheduled to launch services in the winter of 2019. However, due to an unavoidable delay in planning and the spread of coronavirus, the airline hasn’t launched any flights yet.
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Emirates Will Not Retire A Large Number Of Airbus A380s
With Air France most recently announcing the retirement of the A380 from its fleet, aviation enthusiasts are quietly waiting to see which airline will be next to say goodbye to the superjumbo. In reality, only one other airline has confirmed the retirement of some of its A380s – German carrier Lufthansa with seven.
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US DOT Allows Airlines To Drop More Cities From Their Networks
In an order issued May 22nd, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) authorized airlines to remove additional cities from their network while still being in line with obligations tied to government aid. After a few weeks of back-and-forth between the DOT and airlines, the DOT allowed airlines to submit exemption requests for up to five percent of their points of service obligation or five points– whichever is larger. Here are the exemptions.
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United’s Premium-Heavy 767 Configuration Could Be On The Chopping Block
United Airlines has suggested that it could revisit the strategy surrounding some of its Boeing 767 Polaris-fitted jets after the coronavirus. The US air carrier, who retrofitted a select number of its 767s with the new business class offering less than a year ago, is now worried that this package is not fit for a post-COVID-19 world. Demand may fall, and the cost of maintaining the reconfigured aircraft might be too much.
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Silver Airways Adds New Flights To Maine
Florida-based regional carrier Silver Airways is resuming service to Bar Harbor, Maine for an extended summer season. The airline will operate frequent nonstop services between Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) and Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) from Memorial Day weekend through October 14, 2020.
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Moldovan Startup HiSky Plans July 1st Start Date
Moldovan startup HiSky has announced a commencement date of July 1 for all of its new flights. The reason why the Chișinău International Airport (KIV)-based carrier has delayed operations is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Ryanair CEO Blasts Quarantines In Favor Of Face Masks For Passengers
The CEO of Ryanair Michael O’Leary has called this week for the UK Government to adjust its quarantine rules in favor of masks and social distancing. On Thursday, the outspoken boss of the low-cost carrier echoed previous fears among travel operators. O’Leary said that the government’s quarantine was “unimplementable” and lacked a scientific basis.
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Which Airlines Have Retired Aircraft Since The Pandemic Started?
When COVID-19 was finally recognized as a pandemic, most airlines may not have fully realized what it might mean for their fleets. However, as the weeks went by and the seriousness and long-term ramifications of the virus became clear, carriers all over the world have continued to re-evaluate their fleet structures and hasten the retirement timelines of their older and less efficient jets. So which airlines have retired aircraft since the pandemic started?
LinkAirports
The future of airport terminal planning post COVID-19
The impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry has been unprecedented, with ACI recently reporting that air travel is down by 95% from a year ago as a result of the travel ban and lockdowns in many countries.
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New York's HPN Completes Runway Resurfacing
New York City-area business aviation hub Westchester County Airport (HPN) reopened its 6,500-foot Runway 16/34 Thursday after a three-week-long resurfacing project.
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Financial support for airport concessionaires approved by Chicago City Council
The City of Chicago’s Council has announced that it has approved a concessions relief programme, that was introduced in April 2020 by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), to provide financial assistance to concessionaires at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
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Aviation Quote
I wanted to go higher than Rockefeller Center, which was being erected across the street from Saks Fifth Avenue and was going to cut off my view of the sky. . . . Flying got into my soul instantly but the answer as to why must be found somewhere back in the mystic maze of my birth and childhood and the circumstances of my earlier life. Whatever I am is elemental and the beginnings of it all have their roots in Sawdust Road. I might have been born in a hovel, but I determined to travel with the wind and stars.
- Jacqueline Cochran, The Stars at Noon, 1954.
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Trivia
The Buff In Vietnam
1. How many crew members were on a typical bombing flight during missions over Vietnam?
Various
4
6
8
2. How many engines are on a B-52-B?
4
8
6
10
3. How many bombs could a fully loaded B-52-D carry?
112
58
32
108
4. From how many bases did B-52 aircraft fly to drop bombs over Vietnam?
4
1
3
2
5. What B-52 model was the most heavily used during bombing missions over Vietnam?
B-52-D
B-52-G
B-52-A
B-52-F
6. What B-52 model was the most heavily used during bombing missions over Vietnam?
B-52-D
B-52-G
B-52-A
B-52-F
7. How many B-52 aircraft were lost to enemy action during the 'Christmas Bombing' campaign?
15
27
0
6
8. At which U.S. Air Force base were all B-52 crew members trained during the 1960's and 1970's?
Plattsburg AFB New York
Barksdale AFB Louisiana
Castle AFB California
March AFB California
9. In which seat position did the Electronic Warfare Officer sit on a B-52?
Lower deck, left side
Lower deck, right side
Upper deck, right front
Upper deck, left rear
10. What magnetic compass system was the PRIMARY magnetic compass system for the B-52?
J-4 Compass
N-1 Compass
ANG 1 - Astrotracker
NAV 12 Compass system
11. In 1963, just prior to the Vietnam War buildup, the U.S. Air Force had the largest number of B-52 aircraft in its fleet. How many B-52's did the U.S.A.F. possess at that time?
725
1091
650
456
12. The B-52 was produced at two different sites in the U.S. One was at Wichita, Kansas. Where was the other?
Los Angeles
Atlanta
Long Island
Seattle
13. What was the function of the ANALE24 system as it was used on the B-52?
Radio Telecommunications
Bombsite mechanism
Chaff dispenser
Radar navigation set
14. During an actual bomb run, which crew member ( other than the pilot ) sometimes handled steering of the aircraft?
Electronic Warfare Officer
Co-Pilot
Navigator
Radar navigator
15. During the Christmas bombing effort (1972) how many B-52 aircraft were lost to MiG Jet fighters?
0
5
2
7
