NewsAccidents/Incidents
Learjet suffered runway excursion in Brazil killing the co-pilot
A Learjet 35A suffered a runway excursion and stopped in a grassy area at the Belo Horizonte Pampulha Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
The accident happened at 1:55 p.m. and the airport was closed for landings and take-offs from 1:55 p.m. to 2:29 p.m. The aircraft with registration PR-MLA was performing a test flight.
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ANA Boeing 787 from Paris diverted to Russia after Captain suffered a stroke
An All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner made an emergency landing in Novosibirsk after the pilot became unconscious.
The Boeing 787-8, with registration JA814A, was performing flight NH-216 from Paris to Tokyo Haneda when the captain suffered a stroke, according to Japan’s Transport Ministry.
LinkCommercial
US Department to audit the FAA’s 737 MAX recertification
Following the ungrounding of the Boeing 737 MAX, authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on November 18, 2020, the U.S. Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General announced on April 20, 2021, that it would conduct an audit to review the FAA’s decision towards the recertification of the 737 MAX.
LinkAirlines
Spirit Airlines loses $112.3 million in the first quarter
Spirit Airlines, Inc. today reported first quarter 2021 financial results.
The company ended the first quarter 2021 with $1.9 billion of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, short-term investment securities and liquidity available under the Company’s revolving credit facility
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Southwest Airlines continues its dedication to the environment through sustainable aviation fuel initiatives
Southwest Airlines announced today its ongoing support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop commercially viable and scalable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
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JetBlue plans to add seven new cities and more than triple the size at New York’s LaGuardia Airport by 2022
JetBlue Airways and American Airlines today announced plans for the next phase of their Northeast Alliance – authorized by the U.S. Department of Transportation earlier this year – which is aimed at giving travelers in the northeast new competitive choices.
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American intends to introduce new service from Boston (BOS) to Cincinnati (CVG), St. Louis (STL) and Toronto (YYZ) and New York (JFK) – Delhi
American Airlines and JetBlue are making it easy for customers to return to travel while continuing to deliver on the promise of growth and customer choice as a result of their Northeast Alliance.
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United customers can now schedule COVID-19 tests and be automatically cleared for travel
Since the Travel-Ready Center launched in January, United customers have been able to easily access testing or vaccine requirements needed for travel destinations, upload completed testing results and vaccine records as well as have them verified, all within the United App.
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United Airlines plans to bring back its grounded P&W Boeing 777-200s
United Airlines is planning to bring back into service its 52 grounded Boeing 777-200s sometime in the near future.
The aircraft, powered by the Pratt two Whitney PW4000 engines, were grounded in February after an engine emergency and fire on a flight from Denver to Honolulu as flight UA 328 on February 20, 2021 operated by the pictured Boeing 777-222 N772UA.
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Neos joins the IATA Travel Pass trial, gains tentative approval for routes to the United States
Neos is the first Italian airline to take part in the trial, which already includes other leading international names in the aviation world.
The IATA Travel Pass is a digital health passport, created to facilitate the restart of international flows and return to travel safely.
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Emirates hopes for a ‘grown up’ conversation with Boeing about 777X timeline
On April 21, 2021, Emirates president Sir Tim Clark said that the UAE-based airline hoped to see more “visibility” from Boeing with regards to the Boeing 777X aircraft delivery timeline.
“I would like more visibility when exactly we are going to receive these airplanes and what exactly they are going to be able to do with regards to their performance,” Clark said speaking at the World Aviation Festival virtual event .
LinkMilitary / Space
SpaceX is delaying the launch of the Crew-2 mission due to unfavorable weather conditions
NASA and SpaceX now are targeting 5:49 a.m. EDT Friday, April 23, for the launch of the agency’s Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station due to unfavorable weather conditions along the flight path on Thursday.
Although conditions around the launch site were expected to be favorable for liftoff, mission teams also must consider conditions along the flight path and recovery area in the unlikely event of a launch escape.
Link
Sweden, Finland join NATO air forces for policing exercise
The air forces of several NATO member states were joined by Sweden and Finland for an air policing exercise, called Ramstein Alloy, which will take place around the Baltic Sea.
Between April 20 and 21, 2021, Italy, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania trained with their allies, covering several real-world scenarios faced by personnel deployed in support of the Baltic Air Policing mission.
Link
Greece reportedly mulls order for more Rafale fighter jets
The government of Greece is considering the acquisition of six additional French-made Rafale fighter jets, local media protothema.gr reports.
Greece placed an initial order of 18 Dassault Rafale fighter jets for the Hellenic Air Force in January 2021. The contract included 12 used Rafale jets of the French Air Force and 6 new ones, all to the F3R standard, as well as an array of weapons that include Exocet anti-ship missiles and SCALP cruise missiles.
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Aviation Quote
To venture into space we must be strong-willed and determined. We must be fully committed to its exploration and discovery; space permits no half measures and is unforgiving of mistakes.
- Henry Joy McCracken, LM, November 1997.
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Trivia
Absolute Speed Records
ABSOLUTE WORLD RECORDS
1. What is the highest altitude attained by an air-breathing airplane?
A. 107,850 feet
B. 112,650.65 feet
C. 123,529.65 feet
D. 129,652.65 feet
2. What type of aircraft holds the highest altitude record?
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 25
A. Lockheed SR-71A
B. Mikoyan Gurevich E-266M
C. Lockheed YF-12A
3. When was absolute highest altitude record established and by who?
A. Yevgeny Rotyorkokov 17 APR 67
B. Brian Schul 21 NOV 71
C. Scott Crossfield 25 MAY 65
D. Alexandr Fedotov 31 AUG 77
4. What aircraft holds the absolute distance record for flying un-refueled?
A. Boeing RB-50
B. Boeing 777-240LR
C. Scaled Composites Voyager
D. Scaled Composites M311
5. What is the absolute longest distance flown by an un-refueled aircraft?
A. 12,950 miles
B. 18,657.254 miles
C. 23,386.357 miles
D. 25,767 miles
6. Who is the absolute longest distance record holder for an un-re-fueled aircraft?
A. Steve Fossett
B. Burt Rutan & Jeana Yeager
C. Avery “Tex” Johnson
D. John Fitzpatrick
7. What aircraft holds the absolute speed record over a closed course?
A. Lockheed SR-71A
B. Miyoyan Gurevich E-266M
C. Lockheed YF-12A
D. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-31
8. What is the absolute speed record over a closed course?
A. 2,022.365mph
B. 2,168.778 mph
C. 2,193.27 mph
D. 2,221.33 mph
9. Who is the absolute speed record holder over a closed course?
A. Yuri Gargarin
B. Eldon Joersz
C. Brian Schul
D. Mikhail Krotchrot
