NewsAccidents/Incidents
Computer glitch leads to half of Southwest Airlines flights being delayed
On June 15, 2021, Southwest Airlines (LUV) temporarily halted its flight operations, blaming a system issue that created flight disruptions throughout its network.
“We are in the process of resuming normal operations after a system issue this afternoon that created flight disruptions throughout our network,” the airline wrote in a statement on social media. “We know many Customers still require assistance and are working to address those concerns as quickly as possible.”
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Southwest Boeing 737 forced to divert to Fort Lauderdale due to an unruly couple
A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to divert to Pensacola after a couple onboard started arguing.
The man reportedly slapped his companion with his cell phone, and it eventually started to smoulder and emit smoke. After passengers on board shouted saying “FIRE”, the flight attendants rushed towards the couple.
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American Airlines flight attendant scolds disruptive passengers
An American Airlines flight attendant was seen scolding disruptive passengers who verbally abused the flight attendant after the flight was diverted.
The aircraft was performing a flight from Los Angeles to Charlotte, North Carolina, with two male and three female attendants when it was forced to divert to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport due to bad weather.
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A plane has been found at the bottom of a California lake, potentially solving a 56-year-old mystery
The wreckage of a small airplane was found deep underwater in a California lake as workers were testing surveying equipment, CNN reported.
The wreckage in California’s Folsom Lake could likely be the remains of a plane that crashed in 1965, possibly solving a 56-year-old mystery.
LinkCommercial
The resurrected Ravn Alaska signs LOI for 50 electric STOL airliners
Airflow, Inc., an aerospace company building a next-gen electric Short Takeoff and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft, today announced a letter of intent with Ravn Alaska, the Anchorage-based regional airline, to supply 50 airplanes. This agreement brings Airflow’s total order book, including other customers, to over $200 million for its innovative aircraft that enables operators to greatly expand where they can fly, improve their operating economics, and reduce emissions on a near-term timeline with entry into service planned for 2025.
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Rolls-Royce to invest £80M in electric aircraft energy storage development
Rolls-Royce is planning an £80 million investment over the next decade into the development of energy storage systems (ESS) that will enable electric aircraft to fly over 100 miles (160 kilometers) on a single charge.
“We are developing a portfolio of energy storage solutions to complement our electrical propulsion systems,” commented Rob Watson, Director of Electrical at Rolls-Royce. “This will ensure that we can offer our customers a complete electric propulsion system for their platform, whether that is an eVTOL or a commuter aircraft. It will enable us to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for all-electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems, which is incredibly exciting as these new markets develop and expand.”
LinkAirlines
New British Airways services take off from Belfast to Exeter, Leeds/Bradford, Newquay and Glasgow
British Airways is launching four new domestic routes from Belfast this summer, supporting important business and tourism links between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Over the next few months, the airline will start to operate 18 flights a week between George Best Belfast City Airport and Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Newquay airports. The new routes will run alongside existing British Airways services between Belfast and London City and London Heathrow airports.
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Lumiwings adds its first Boeing 737-700
Lumiwings has added its first Boeing 737-700. The pictured ex-Transavia 737-7K2 now registered as SX-LWC (msn 30659, ex PH-XRD) is also named “Itaca” arrived at Forli Airport on June 14.
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Ryanair announces its 16th Italian base in Turin
Ryanair announced it has opened its 16th Italian base at Turin with two based aircraft and 32 routes connecting Turin, both domestically and internationally, to 13 countries across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
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Air Transat to operate to nearly 50 destinations this winter, adds Miami and Fort Myers
Air Transat has announced its winter 2021-22 flight program.
Starting November 1, the airline will offer flights to nearly 50 destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, the United States and Europe.
This program also features two new destinations in Florida—Miami and Fort Myers, with direct flights from Montreal—in addition to flights already scheduled for Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
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Swoop announces three new destinations – Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater and San Diego
Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), today unveiled plans to add three new U.S. destinations to its network with non-stop flights to San Diego (SAN), St. Petersburg-Clearwater (PIE) and Orlando Sanford (SFB) beginning this winter.
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Icelandic startup Play unveils aircraft livery ahead of summer launch
Icelandic startup and low-cost carrier Play has unveiled its new aircraft livery together with crew uniforms ahead of its operations launch in June 2021.
After halting initial launch preparations due to the events of 2020, the carrier has now revealed the livery of its 192-seater Airbus A321neo. In addition to the one A321neo, two more A321neos are expected to join the airline’s fleet by the end of July 2021.
LinkAirports
Natural gas cogeneration facility now operational at Edmonton Airport
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is continuing its commitment to environmental sustainability by powering up a new natural gas cogeneration facility that will significantly lower carbon emissions and reduce costs.
Construction of the new facility began in 2019 before becoming operational in spring 2021. It provides electricity and heat for airport operations from the same source: the heat from electrical power generation is now captured and used to heat water, which heats the Edmonton Airport terminal.
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Perth Airport commits to new Environment, Social, People and Governance Strategy
Perth Airport (PER) has announced that a rapid expansion in its use of renewable energy will drive its new commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The carbon neutral commitment – which covers the airport’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions – is part of a new Environment, Social, People and Governance (ESPG) Strategy that sets ambitious sustainability targets for the Perth Airport team.
LinkMilitary
Indonesia signs letter of intent to buy 36 Rafale fighters
Indonesia reportedly signed a letter of intent to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.
Since the visit of the Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto to Paris in January 2020, rumors emerged of a potential acquisition of Dassault fighter jets to renew the Indonesian Air Force fleet.
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Aviation Quote
If we die, we want people to accept it. We are in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.
- Astronaut Virgil 'Gus' Grissom. On 27 January 1967, astronauts Grissom, White, and Chaffee died from a flash fire aboard the Apollo 1 spacecraft.
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. What does he mean when a sailplane (glider) pilot returns from a flight and reports having had a sled ride?
2. Runway numbers sometimes have a single-letter suffix. Runways 16R, 16L, and 16C, for example, represent right, left and center runways. What is the meaning of Runway 16T, for example?
3. Why is it important when making an emergency, off-airport landing on unimproved ground in a North American P–51 Mustang to land with the landing gear retracted?
4. When referring to the missions of some Consolidated B–24 Liberators during World War II, what were “Carpetbaggers” and “Joe holes”?
5. By what four names was the Curtiss P–40 known?
6. What was a “Denver go-valve?”
