Cranky Flier

MARCH 4, 2025

But the impact on airlines is not just from those who have lost their jobs or even those who work for the feds. With demand on the ropes, what can airlines do? percent of departing seats for the airline at DCA. Think about the entire DC ecosystem. So, it is doing the next best thing and downgauging to smaller airplanes.

Drag

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

This setup makes the wing less efficient overall, but it can reduce drag, weight, and cost compared to using a separate tail. High aspect ratio wings reduce drag and improve performance during climb or slow flight. On the flipside, a decrease in aspect ratio will result in higher drag. Short, wide wings have a low aspect ratio.

Tail

Northstar VFR

MAY 26, 2025

When deployed, they increase the wings lift and drag, allowing the airplane to fly safely at slower speeds. At the same time, flaps create extra drag, which helps slow the airplane down. By increasing the camber (curvature) of the wing, it produces more liftat the cost of additional drag. Why Do Aircraft Need Flaps?

Camber

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 21, 2025

United Airlines is being sued by two passengers over an incident that occurred on a flight several weeks back, as reported by Live and Lets Fly. My take on this strange United lavatory incident Airlines get sued all the time, though this has to be one of the most bizarre airline lawsuits weve seen in a long while.

Airlines

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 23, 2025

Its not uncommon to see flights overbooked , and in those situations, airlines typically issue denied boarding compensation. They were then handed two vouchers one for $2,000 and one for $1,000, since the airline reportedly cant issue more than $2,000 in vouchers in one go. No hesitation. I wasnt letting anyone else beat me to it.

Drag

Pilot Institute

MARCH 7, 2025

Turbofan engines are commonly found in civilian commercial airline aircraft. Turbofan engines are found in civilian commercial airline aircraft. Modern turbofan engines on commercial airline aircraft can reach a bypass ratio of up to 12:1. Key Takeaways Turbojet engines are commonly found in military fighter jet aircraft.

Thrust

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 23, 2025

United Airlines recently revealed its impressive financial performance for 2024, whereby the company reported record revenue and very healthy profits, with an even more positive outlook for 2025. In the case of Delta, the airline provides profit sharing based on 10% of the first $2.5 of their eligible pay for the year.

Drag

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 1, 2025

Particularly in battle aerodynamics, drag reduction, and structural durability, early aircraft teach engineers today important insights. Setting the benchmark for modern airliners, the Douglas DC-3 (1935) a classic in commercial aviation brought all-metal construction, retractable landing gear, and more efficient airfoil designs.

Drag

One Mile at a Time

MAY 14, 2025

Prior to executives at the airline taking the stage, roughly a dozen flight attendants stormed into the event, walked around in front of the stage holding signs, and screamed. Flight attendants have accused management of dragging their feet in making a fair offer. Specifically, they chanted things like if we dont get it, shut it down.

Drag

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 25, 2025

However, heres another story of a similar situation, as reported by PYOK , where the airline reportedly confirmed that the inflight theft happened. The passenger reported this immediately upon landing, and the airline said it would investigate. I think the airline deserves credit for properly investigating this and taking action.

Drag

Vintage Aviation News

MARCH 2, 2025

The groundbreaking supersonic airliner was the result of a joint effort between Sud Aviation (later Arospatiale) and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). By 1965, construction had begun on six prototypes, and just four years later, the worlds first supersonic airliner achieved liftoff. Concorde 001 first flight in 1969.

Drag

WayMan

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Commercial airliners, private jets, and military aircraft each operate at different altitudes to optimize safety, fuel efficiency, and performance. This range, also known as the stratosphere, is ideal for several reasons: Fuel Efficiency : The thinner air at high altitudes reduces drag, helping aircraft consume less fuel.

Turbulence

One Mile at a Time

MAY 25, 2025

Fortunately there were two military veterans seated nearby, who dragged him away from the exit, and pinned him down, so that he was restrained. Were not worried about terrorism on an airliner in the traditional sense, but there is reason to be concerned with these constant mental health situations.

Drag

Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Lift, drag, and handling correlate well with IAS in the lower atmosphere. For example, an airliner might indicate only 250 knots at 35,000 feet, but its true airspeed could be over 430 knots. This type of wing redirects the shockwaves further aft on the wing, reducing drag. roughly) up to about Mach 5.0. Safety is also a factor.

True Airspeed

Aviation Bussiness News

APRIL 29, 2025

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has become the first airline in the world to operate both passenger and cargo Boeing 777 aircraft equipped with AeroSHARK, a fuel-saving riblet film developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF. ANA has already been operating a Boeing 777 Freighter (JA771F) with the riblet technology since September 2024.

Cargo

Flying Magazine

JULY 3, 2025

This prevents tip vortices—a phenomenon where air leaks around blade tips, causing thrust loss and increased drag. Last year, the company announced a conditional order for 100 aircraft from regional carrier Mesa Airlines. The technology also addresses one of the most significant challenges facing electric air taxis: noise.

Lift

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

From simple mechanical linkages in small aircraft to high-tech fly-by-wire systems in airliners, ailerons have evolved with aviation itself. You might be surprised to learn that tiny four-seater Cessna 172s and 140-passenger Boeing 707 airliners both use simple cables for moving the ailerons and elevators!

Aileron

Aviation Bussiness News

APRIL 4, 2025

Austrian Airlines has completed the installation of AeroSHARK surface technology on four of its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, making them the first in the world to feature this aerodynamic innovation on this aircraft type. Applied to the fuselage and engine nacelles, each aircraft is fitted with approximately 830 sqm of AeroSHARK film.

Drag

Plane and Pilot

APRIL 18, 2025

Years ago, it advertised a DVD titled How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act, one of several in the appropriately named What You Should Know series. It feels more like a video some airline pilot would be made to endure as a punishment for showing up with a sloppy uniform, yet there it was.

Pilot

Air

JUNE 4, 2025

The result is an aircraft that slices through the air more cleanly, reducing drag and, in turn, optimising fuel consumption. Whether it’s the drag-reducing winglets, ultra-efficient engines, or advanced LED lighting , every detail is designed to push aviation forward.

Flight Deck

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 18, 2025

For missions that would entail a tedious drive of several hours via automobile but are too short to be reasonably served by the airlines, a complex, high-performance airplane is virtually unbeatable when it comes to door-to-door travel times. These include a new nose bowl and dorsal fin/tail root fairings from Lasar Speed Mods.

Transponder

Simple Flying

APRIL 29, 2025

United Airlines' mainline fleet is larger than that of any other carrier worldwide. Cirium Diio data shows United's average 757 flight will cover 1,890 nautical miles (3,500 km) between May and December, dragged down by its high-capacity 757-300s, which do not operate long-haul.

Drag

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

But when in October 2024, SWISS became the first to fly a Boeing 777-300ER covered with the new film it was sharks, and specifically their skin, that the airline industry had to thank. This was followed in May 2024, when SWISS announced that it was the first airline to equip an entire fleet of Boeing 777-300ER with the shark skin technology.

Lift

Airline Reporter

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

Qsuite remains a huge favorite among among frequent flyers, and it has helped drive Qatar to the top of many global airline rankings. Preflight fun @ JFK At New York-JFK Qatar Airways operates out of Terminal 8, the home base of its oneworld alliance partner American Airlines. How has Qatar’s flagship product fared since then?

Drag

Vintage Aviation News

MARCH 2, 2025

The groundbreaking supersonic airliner was the result of a joint effort between Sud Aviation (later Arospatiale) and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). By 1965, construction had begun on six prototypes, and just four years later, the worlds first supersonic airliner achieved liftoff. Concorde 001 first flight in 1969.

Drag

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

If you dream of flying small airplanes on weekends or piloting commercial airliners with hundreds of passengers, you need certain pilot licenses to reach your aviation goals. If you want to take your friends and family flying or become an airline pilot, start your aviation journey with this license. Which License(s) Should You Get?

Pilot

Aviation Bussiness News

APRIL 2, 2025

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved year-on-year increases of 9.5% Both African and Latin American airlines saw year-on-year demand increase to 6.7%, with capacity in Africa up 4.0% However, the load factor for North America was 78.9%, +1.4 from the 2024 record. in demand, 8.3% in capacity, and the load factor was 86.7%, +0.9

Drag

One Mile at a Time

MAY 13, 2025

Today, United Airlines unveiled its new Polaris business class , including the new Polaris Studio , which will be installed on newly delivered Boeing 787-9s. The airline held a flashy media event in Brooklyn to formally unveil these improvements, and apparently it was memorable on a variety of levels.

Drag

Vintage Aviation News

JUNE 17, 2025

Designated “Camel” by NATO, the Tu-104 was a narrow-body, twin-turbojet Soviet airliner that became the second jet-powered airliner to enter commercial service, following the British de Havilland Comet. Czechoslovak Airlines Tu-104A at Kbely Aviation Museum, Prague. First Tu-104 prototype.

Drag

Flying Magazine

JUNE 2, 2025

The none-too-modest aim of Boom Supersonic is to design and manufacture a supersonic airliner, which it calls Overture. Boomless cruise holds out the possibility of flight speeds 50 percent higher than those of subsonic airliners. Nevertheless, total drag still temporarily triples as an airplane passes through Mach 1.

Drag

Pilot Institute

MAY 21, 2025

They flew on Delta Airlines, listening for their voices Echo coming over the Foxtrot dance floor.” Your jingle doesnt need to be flawless; it just needs to be catchy enough that repetition becomes less of a drag. Try to make a short story for each codethis is called the Story Method. ” What do you think happens next?

Air Traffic Control

Flying Magazine

JULY 8, 2025

This often happens when the customer has been doing “research” and learns they will need X number of multiengine hours to qualify for a job at an airline where they will be flying either a turboprop or jet.

Wind Shear

Vintage Aviation News

JUNE 18, 2025

Hughes also gained experience with the fledgling airlines when he assumed an alias and flew for American Airways (now American Airlines) until his true identity was discovered. He produced and directed what was then the most expensive film of the day, the World War I aviation epic Hell’s Angels.

Cockpit

WayMan

MAY 25, 2025

While commercial airliners are made up of millions of individual components, the foundation of every airplanewhether a Boeing jet or a training aircraft like a Cessna 172 starts with the same key parts. Ever looked out the window before takeoff and wondered what exactly goes into making that aircraft stay in the air?

Lift

World Airline News

APRIL 24, 2025

United Airlines/JetZero JetZero’s innovative design reduces drag and produces lift across the entire wingspan, which could lead to as much as 50% reduction in fuel burn per passenger mile compared to a similar sized aircraft. .

Airplanes

Cranky Flier

JUNE 6, 2025

IndiGo Goes Towards SkyTeam IndiGo — India’s largest airline — isn’t quite yet joining SkyTeam, but it might as well at this point. The airline previously partnered with both Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic separately, but this agreement not only adds Delta to the mix but brings a cohesiveness to its operation.

Drag

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

The average flying height of a plane is selected to optimize these savings, which is crucial for both the environment and airline costs. Most commercial planes cruise at altitudes between 33,000 and 40,000 feet, where the thinner air reduces drag, improving fuel efficiency. What is the typical cruising altitude for commercial planes?

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