NewsAccidents/Incidents
US Navy admits ships were swarmed by unidentified drones
A US Navy’s top officer confirmed a bizarre incident in which Navy vessels were swarmed by dozens of unidentified drones.
Admiral Michael Gilday, the United States Navy Chief of Naval Operations, was asked about the incident by journalists in a roundtable on April 5, 2021. Gilday said that the involved aircraft remained unidentified and the information was still being analyzed.
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Pakistani airline’s Airbus A330 suffers 2nd in-flight engine shut down
A privately owned Pakistani airline Serene Air Airbus A330 suffered an in-flight engine shut down while en route from Karachi to Islamabad, Pakistan.
The incident occurred on April 5, 2021, when the Airbus A330-200 aircraft, registered as AP-BNE, took off at 12.51 p.m. (UTC) from Jinnah International Airport (KHI) and was performing domestic flight ER-502 to Islamabad International Airport (ISB).
LinkAirlines
Delta Airlines cancelled 100 flights due to pilot shortage
Delta Airlines cancelled about 100 flights on Sunday because of pilot shortages. Delta also opened middle seats on Sunday and Monday to increase passenger capacity.
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United aims 50% of pilot-students to be women and minorities
United Airlines started implementing its ambitious plan to train 5,000 new flight crew by 2030. The Chicago-based American set the new flight crew diversity goal and announced it has started accepting applications.
On April 6, 2021, United Airlines began accepting applications of potential students at its new Phoenix-based pilot training academy. The American air carrier moved forward with its plan to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 expecting that at least 50% of students would be women pilots and people of color.
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JAL early retires its 13 Boeing 777-200s
JAL – Japan Airlines has announced it has early-retired its 13 remaining Boeing 777-200s.
The type was grounded by JAL in February 2021 following the Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engine-incident with United Airlines.
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Allegiant announces a new base at Austin
Allegiant Travel Company today announced plans to establish a base of operations at the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The Las Vegas-based company will invest $75 million to establish the new base in Austin, creating at least 89 high-wage jobs and housIng three Airbus A320 aircraft.
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JetBlue reinvents transatlantic coach service
JetBlue Airways today announced more details of its plan to shake up the transatlantic market, this time unveiling its core experience for travelers who previously flew in other airlines’ “economy” or “coach” offerings. When JetBlue launches flights to London later this year, it will bring a whole new level of service and comfort to customers who want a great experience at a low fare.
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AnadoluJet starts international flights from Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum
With AnadoluJet, now it’s possible to travel from Antalya, Bodrum, and Dalaman to Europe, the Balkans, and many cities of the Middle-East. You can go on a pleasant journey to the Mediterranean and Aegean from the popular cities of Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle-East with AnadoluJet which increases the number of tourism-oriented international flights and will fly from 19 new destinations to Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum with 102 flights in total on weekly basis.
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Air Lease Corporation (ALC) announces delivery of one new Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 to Cayman Airways
Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has announced the delivery of one new Boeing 737-8 aircraft (VP-CIY) on long-term lease to Cayman Airways. This aircraft, featuring LEAP-1B27 engines, is the third new 737-8 to deliver to Cayman Airways from ALC’s order book with Boeing.
LinkAirports
U.S. FAA to award over $627.7 million in funding through its Airport Improvement Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will award more than $627.7 million in funding for airport infrastructure and safety projects through the FY2021 Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
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Heathrow proposes four-tier risk system to kickstart the restart of UK aviation
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has outlined that the success of the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme and advancements in testing technology mean that the restart of international travel and trade can now be safely achieved. As a result, Heathrow believes that the UK government’s Global Travel Taskforce (GTT) should take advantage of this in order to help society to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis and to help to kickstart the UK’s economic recovery.
LinkMilitary
NASA’s Mars helicopter survived its first cold Martian night on its own
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has emerged from its first night on the surface of Mars.
Evening temperatures at Jezero Crater can plunge as low as minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 90 degrees Celsius), which can freeze and crack unprotected electrical components and damage the onboard batteries required for flight.
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Droneception: XQ-58A Valkyrie launches drone from weapons bay
Under the supervision of the US Air Force Research Laboratory, the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie experimental combat drone successfully released its first payload from its internal weapons bay at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The sixth flight test for Kratos’ loyal wingman took place on March 26, 2021, and was declared a success on April 05, 2021.
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China, US deploy carrier groups amid territorial tensions
China’s People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) sent a carrier battle group formed around the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning in the Miyako Strait, between Japan and Taiwan, on April 4, 2021. The group will carry out an exercise to “help build the capacity to protect national sovereignty, security and development interests," according to the Navy.
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Israel reveals Oron, new spy aircraft
Israeli Air Force has presented a new intelligence gathering aircraft focused on long-range surveillance. The first Oron arrived in Israel in March 2021 and was unveiled to the public on April 4, Israeli media reports.
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Russian government approves design of PAK DA stealth bomber
A new Russian stealth bomber design, developed under the codename PAK DA, was finalized and approved by Russian Defense ministry.
“The development of the program is in the phase of detailed design and several prototypes are being built,” an unnamed industry insider is quoted by Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
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Aviation Quote
I don't think JetBlue has a better chance of being profitable than 100 other predecessors with new airplanes, new employees, low fares, all touchy-feely ... all of them are losers. Most of these guys are smoking ragweed.
- Gordon Bethune, Continental Airlines CEO, Time magazine, June 2002.
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