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Alaska Airlines Flight 261: Investigating what caused the tragedy

Aerotime

The trim on the horizontal stabilizer – the rear wing of the aircraft – was not working. Then the tone indicating the movement of the horizontal stabilizer sounded. Los Angeles air traffic control handed the plane over to approach control in preparation for its arrival at LAX. Sadly, though, it was not to be.

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How to Fly an ILS Approach

Pilot Institute

The ILS (Instrument Landing System) uses radio signals to help pilots align the aircraft accurately on their approach to a runway. Autopilot aids ILS approaches but needs close monitoring. What Is an ILS Approach? Precision Approaches (e.g., Lets learn more about this system! What Information Does ILS Provide?

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China halts Boeing deliveries amid escalating trade war with the US: Bloomberg

Aerotime

This has seriously infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, seriously violated the rules of the World Trade Organization, and severely impacted the stability of the global economic order.

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FAA Issues New Safety Alert on Risks of Visual Approaches

Flight Training Central

The FAA recently issued a new Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 23004 to highlight operational risks associated with visual approaches. Key Points from the SAFO: Lack of stabilized approach criteria : Visual approaches often lack defined vertical profiles, increasing the risk of an unstable approach.

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Stabilized Approaches

Plane and Pilot

Back in the early days of jet airliners, pilots long experienced in more forgiving two- and four-engine, piston-powered prop planes found themselves running out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas on the final approach to landing. Several of these unstabilized approaches resulted in major aircraft damage or worse. And one more thing.

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Boeing, NASA rain-check X-66 evolution to focus on long, thin-wing development

Aerotime

In a statement on April 25, 2025, NASA announced that the pair were evaluating an updated approach to the agencys Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project. Boeing and NASA are to pause development of the X-66 flight demonstrator in order to focus their research on the evolution of long, thin-wing technology.

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Approachable Excellence

Plane and Pilot

To some extent this was carried out with the Cherokee, though the key design elementuse of a stabilator in place of a conventional elevator and fixed horizontal stabilizeris likely the influence of John Thorp. Thorp joined the Piper design team during the Cherokees development; his own Sky Scooter used a stabilator. Widell says.