NewsIncidents/Accidents
Around 40% of Pakistani pilots hold fake flying licenses: Pak aviation minister
Around 40 per cent of pilots in Pakistan have fake flying licenses, according to Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan. The 40 per cent 'fake' licence holders also include pilots who are not 'active flyers'.
At present, Pakistan has a total of 860 active pilots, which include PIA, Serene Air and Air Blue pilots. However, out of 860 pilots, 262 pilots did not give the exam themselves and asked someone else to sit on their behalf, aviation minister Khan added.
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Human error caused Pakistan plane crash that killed 97, initial report says
A plane crash that killed 97 people in Pakistan last month was caused by human error, according to an initial report.
Pakistan International Airlines flight PK8303 had taken off on time from the eastern city of Lahore on May 22. It was a smooth, uneventful flight until the aircraft began its descent near Karachi, where the plane jolted violently in mid-air before crashing. The incident had only two survivors.
LinkCommercial
Bombardier's Global 5500 Enters Service
The last and smallest of the upgraded variants of Bombardier’s legacy Global family, the $46 million Global 5500, has entered service with a recent delivery to an undisclosed customer, the Canadian airframer announced today. Unveiled alongside the upgraded Global 6500 at EBACE 2018, the Global 5500 received its type certification from Transport Canada, EASA, and FAA last year.
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Why Did Concorde's Nose Extend?
Seventeen years after it flew its last flight, Concorde is still an iconic part of aviation history. Known for its long, slender form, the sleek aircraft looked more like a streamlined rocket than a supersonic jet. Perhaps one of the key characteristic features of the Concorde was its elongated, moveable nose. Let us take a closer look.
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Why Didn't Boeing Build The 777-100?
Have you ever wondered why the first Boeing 777-200 is the -200 and not the -100? After all, the first Boeing 737 was the -100, and the first 747 was the -100. It turns out that the 777-100 was designed by Boeing but never built. This is why.
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FAA Finalizes 737 MAX Engine Coverings Airworthiness Directive
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalized an Airworthiness Directive (AD) on the Boeing 737 MAX. Initially proposed in February, the regulatory agency responded to a Boeing service bulletin relating to inadequate shielding of underlying wiring in the exterior engine panels from electromagnetic effects that could potentially cause dual engine power loss.
LinkAirlines
Lufthansa Saved From Collapse By Disputed Government Aid
Lufthansa is set to avoid bankruptcy by drawing on €9 billion ($10.1 billion) in aid from the German government—€6 billion in fresh capital and a €3 billion state-guaranteed loan—after the group secured formal approval from European Union antitrust regulators and shareholders for the bailout. At an extraordinary general meeting that concluded late on Thursday, 98 percent of voting shareholders approved the move.
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Study: Random Boarding Likely Better for Reducing Virus Exposure
While many airlines have adopted practices such as keeping middle seats open and boarding from back to front in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, preliminary academic research suggests that random boarding may be a better approach to limiting exposure rates.
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Korean start-up Hi Air buys two aircraft from ATR
ATR today announces the sale of two ATR 72-500 aircraft from its asset management portfolio to Hi Air. With this purchase, the South Korean start-up, which began operations in December 2019 will increase its ATR fleet to four.
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Delta Backtracks Saying It Will Ban Passengers Without A Mask
Delta has backtracked on its previous comments regarding mask-wearing. On Tuesday, Simple Flying reported that Delta’s CEO said that passengers would not be removed from flights for not observing the rules on wearing a mask. However, this itself was a backtrack from a previous statement made by the airline.
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British Airways Tells Crew Their Pay Won't Fall By More Than 20%
British Airways has told all members of the cabin crew at London Heathrow that their pay won’t be cut by more than 20% in a letter to staff seen by Simple Flying. The airline is currently in a period of consultation on how to cope with the post-pandemic aviation landscape.
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Lauda Set To Remain In Vienna Operating Ryanair Wet Lease Flights
Ryanair has announced a swathe of new routes from its home at Vienna airport. Surprisingly, many of these will be flown on Lauda aircraft, as the airline has been tasked with supplying capacity to Ryanair on a wet lease basis. This comes as Ryanair’s outspoken boss, Michael O’Leary, continues to take swipes at Lufthansa, the Austrian government and bailouts in general.
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Air Canada's First Refurbished Airbus A330 Takes Flight
Air Canada is celebrating the first flight of its newly refurbished Airbus A330 aircraft. The A330 flew from Montreal to Vancouver on June 24th. In 2018, Air Canada chose to do an interior refit on its A330s. This was in addition to adding more A330s to its fleet to replace its aging Boeing 767 fleet. The final 767 operated its last commercial flight on June 3rd.
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The Surprising Reason Why British Airways Paid Just £1 For Each Concorde
Did you know that, at one point in time, British Airways was able to acquire some of its Concorde for £1 each? Back in 1984, the airline purchased the aircraft program from the UK government and went on to enjoy a brief period of profit before its demise. We take a look at what happened.
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Qatar Removes The Airbus A380 From Schedules For The Next Year
It looks as though A380 lovers shouldn’t expect to fly on the giant of the skies with Qatar Airways any time soon. According to the carrier’s latest schedule filings, the aircraft now won’t take to the skies for at least a year’s time.
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End Of An Era: Qantas To Retire Boeing 747s For Good
It is the end of the road for Qantas’ Boeing 747. The Queen of the Skies has been with the flag carrier of Australia since 1971. However, with much of the airline’s fleet remaining on the ground due to strict travel restrictions, it has decided that it is time to retire the icon.
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Qantas To Send Airbus A380s To California's Mojave Desert
As part of its sweeping three year COVID recovery plan announced today, Qantas has confirmed that the A380 will not fly for the airline until at least 2023. The giant jumbos will be heading to California for the meantime, to be stored in the vast facilities located within the Mojave desert.
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What Will Happen To First Class Once The A380 And 747 Are Gone?
Airlines have long used the A380 and 747 to showcase their flagship first class offerings. The large cabins allow airlines to get creative and make iconic products, such as the Singapore Airlines Suites or Etihad Residence. However, with the A380 and 747 now headed for retirement, what will airlines do with first class? Let’s find out.
LinkAirports
How Long Do I Need To Connect At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport?
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest airport in France and one of the busiest in the world. When you have a connecting flight at CDG, navigating your way through the airport’s three terminals, sub-terminals, and the various levels can be a complicated and time-consuming procedure. So, how long do you need to connect?
LinkMilitary
Boris Force One: New $1m Paintjob Revealed
The new UK VIP transport plane has today finally broken cover. Boris Johnson’s paint job, which cost the taxpayer around $1m, has emerged from a hangar at Cambridge City Airport, to head off to Brize Norton to resume its regular duties, but with a very eye-catching new look.
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Aviation Quote
In the aviation business, you can't something for nothing. But if you aren't careful, you'll get nothing for something.
- Anonymous
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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
