Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 14, 2025

By Cassidy Cristello Contributor Cassidy Cristello recently visited Davis-Monthan AFB and captured photographs of the Convair XC-99 stored there. In this article, he outlines the history, purpose, and significance of this obscure yet fascinating aircraftan embodiment of pure 1950s technology. In modern aviation, military cargo aircraft adhere to well-established design principlestypically featuring high wings, T-tails, and undercarriage mounted below the fuselage.

Cargo

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 14, 2025

For the outbound portion of our winter trip to Tokyo and Niseko , we flew Japan Airlines 777 first class from San Francisco to Tokyo. Japan Airlines sends its premium passengers to the British Airways Lounge San Francisco (SFO), so in this post, I want to review that experience. The British Airways Lounge SFO is a pleasant facility, which was renovated several years back.

Airline

Aerotime

APRIL 14, 2025

The first all-female crewed flight since Valentina Tereshkovas groundbreaking solo mission in 1963 successfully took off aboard a Blue Origin rocket on April 14, 2025. This historic all-female flight, which lasted around 11 minutes, included pop star Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez, fiance of billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin. The 11th crewed New Shepard flight, known as NS-31, took off from Launch Site One in West Texas on April 14, 2025, with the launch window opening at 08:30 local

Pilot

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 14, 2025

Could we see boarding passes and check-in made obsolete in a matter of years, as one of the biggest shake-ups to the flying experience in decades (thanks to Jay for flagging this)? While Im sure the technology could become a reality, Im skeptical about the timeline Digital journey pass to replace boarding passes & check-in The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations body that oversees many aspects of aviation, is promoting the concept of new digital travel creden

Lift

Simple Flying

APRIL 14, 2025

On March 31st, 2025, Denver International Airport faced significant operational challenges due to strong winds, leading to the diversion of 24 flights to Colorado Springs. This surge in unexpected traffic tested the capabilities of the smaller airport and highlighted the broader implications of adverse weather conditions on aviation operations.

Weather

Aerotime

APRIL 14, 2025

Chinese eVTOL developer AutoFlight broke ground on its new assembly line in Wuhan, China, on April 10, 2025. The major centers of the eVTOL industry in China have so far been located in the coastal regions, particularly around the Pearl River Delta. However, this investment represents a significant move towards expanding what in China is commonly referred to as the low altitude economy to inland cities.

Payload

Ask Captain Lim

APRIL 14, 2025

Pilotless Commercial Passenger Aircraft: Is It a Bad Idea? On March 30, 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) made history by issuing its first commercial operation certificate for autonomous drones. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in aviation – passenger-carrying civil unmanned aircraft entering commercial service in Chinas low-altitude airspace.

Cabin Crew

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 14, 2025

Im not sure what to make of this incident, other than being grateful that the Southwest Airlines pilots seemed to know what they were doing Van Nuys tower struggles to deal with difficult situation VASAviation has the air traffic control audio and a visualization of a close call in Southern California, which happened on March 17, 2025. It involves two aircraft: N610GD, a Cessna Citation Encore, which was flying from Borger, Texas (BGD), to Van Nuys, California (VNY) Southwest flight WN2961, a Bo

Air Traffic Control

AV Web

APRIL 14, 2025

The NTSB has recovered the last of the Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter that went down in the Hudson River last week. The rotor assembly, transmission and roof beam from the helicopter are now at a secure NTSB facility for examination. Videos and photos show those parts separated from the helicopter before the cabin and part of the tail boom fell into the water off Jersey City, killing a Spanish family and the pilot. “Key components of theBell 206 L-4 helicopter that crashed into the Hudson

Tail

Air Facts

APRIL 14, 2025

Visual Angle of Attack Indicators and Systems Engineering Theory Air Facts Journal What is chiefly needed is skill rather than machinery. Wilbur Wright The best safety device in any aircraft is a well-trained crew.” A.L. Ueltschi, Founder of FlightSafety International Angle of attack indicators have not been a popular upgrade so far. By far the best and most appropriate way to consider the utilization of visual angle of attack indicators (VAOAI) in general aviation is using the techniques

Final Approach

Aerotime

APRIL 14, 2025

Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its latest Airbus A340, adding the sixth aircraft of the type to its growing fleet. The new aircraft arrived during the weekend of April 12-13, 2025, after a successful journey from Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France. The A350-1000 is one of Etihads youngest and most fuel-efficient aircraft. It is currently used to fly passengers traveling from Abu Dhabis Zayed International Airport (AUH) to: Chicago OHare International Airport (ORD) Delhi Indira Gandhi

Jet

Simple Flying

APRIL 14, 2025

Out of all 20 Concordes that were ever built, 16 are presented on display, two are in storage and one tragically crashed. This accounts for 19 aircraft, so where is and what happened to the 20th Concorde ? For many years, the history of F-BVFD has been hiding in the shadows. In this article, we will explore the story of the aircraft that disappeared, not in the air, but in plain sight.

Aerotime

APRIL 14, 2025

AirAsia will provide better connectivity in Asia with the launch of a flight service that links Bangkoks Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) to Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) via Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). AirAsia said that this is its first time to operate a fifth freedom flight in Hong Kong. A fifth freedom flight is when a carrier flies between two cities that are not located in its home country.

Airline

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 14, 2025

I recently wrote about whether its okay to fly in first class, and leave your spouse in economy. I shared my take, and Ive read the responses of OMAAT readers with great interest. In this post, I want to address a topic thats in the same general sphere, but different is it okay to fly in first class and leave your kids in economy? I think this is a bit more nuanced, and theres also not a correct answer.

Airline

Aerotime

APRIL 14, 2025

A helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River in New York, killing all on board, was not equipped with flight recorders, according to investigators from the National Transport Safety Board. No onboard video recorders or camera recorders have been recovered and none of the helicopter avionics onboard recorded information that could be used for the investigation, the NTSB announced in an upadate on April 12, 2025.

Horizontal Stabilizer

AV Web

APRIL 14, 2025

There were a few extra stars briefly in space Monday morning as a celebrity all-female entourage blasted off for a quick trip outside the atmosphere aboard a Blue Origin rocket. The six women, including pop star Katy Perry, news anchor Lauren Sanchez (also fianc of Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos) TV host Gayle King, along with civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and filmmaker Kerrianne Flynn, all guests of Sanchez, launched about 9:30 a.m.

Universal Weather

APRIL 14, 2025

As of 2023, Trkiye (Turkey) has formally implemented an Advance Passenger Information (API) system that extends to general aviation (GA) and air cargo operators. Under the oversight of the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) and its Trkiye Passenger Information Center (TPIC) , this system requires the submission of detailed crew and passenger information prior to all international and domestic flights to/from or within Trkiye.

Ferry Flight

Aerotime

APRIL 14, 2025

As China rehearses space combat tactics and the United States ramps up investment in military space capabilities, France may be sleepwalking into strategic irrelevance in orbit. Speaking before the French National Assembly’s Defense Committee on April 9, 2025, Dassault Aviation CEO ric Trappier delivered a blunt assessment on a topic rarely discussed in European defense circles: a spaceplane.

Approach

AV Web

APRIL 14, 2025

The CEO of Delta Airlines says he has the threat of import tariffs on dozens of new Airbus aircraft figured out. Ed Bastian said he’s simply not going to pay them. The airline announced it would pause deliveries from Airbus factories in Canada and Europe to avoid the blanket 10 percent tariff that is now in effect on virtually all goods imported to the U.S.

Airline

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 14, 2025

The Commemorative Air Forces Dallas/Fort Worth Wing held a heartfelt Members Day celebration to send off their beloved Douglas R4D-6S, Ready 4 Duty , as it prepares to embark on its long-awaited Navy to Victory Tour across the Atlantic. This years event held special meaning, marking the beginning of the aircrafts 12,000-mile journey to Europe after engine issues delayed its participation in last years D-Day 80th anniversary.

Cargo

Aviation Bussiness News

APRIL 14, 2025

Andrii Paramonov, Aviation Team Lead at Sigma Software Group provides advice about how airlines can avoid a repeat of the recent high profile cyberattacks on the industry The airline industry sits at the crossroads of technology and transportation, relying on digital systems for smooth passenger experiences and efficient operations. Software plays a key role in everything from ticketing and in-flight entertainment to airline operational activities.

Airline

Aerotime

APRIL 14, 2025

Data security and privacy are of primary importance today, particularly in industries such as aviation that rely predominantly on private and critical personal data. The aviation industry has never had a greater need for strong and legal data management practices in place. As the sector is growing, the complexities of dealing with personal data will keep growing as well, and you need to comply with the regulations, e.g. the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Pilot

CFI Academy

APRIL 14, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administrations Aviation Instructors Handbook emphasizes a foundational principle of education: learning is a change in behavior resulting from experience. This concept, rooted in educational psychology and applied across disciplines, including aviation training, underscores that learning is not merely the acquisition of knowledge but a transformation in how individuals think, act, or respond.

Crosswind

Flight Training Central

APRIL 14, 2025

The title of this blog post sounds like a complaint. In a way, it is meant to sound that way to draw attention and to make the point that we have something to fix. In too many training processes, we have CFIs and their students trying to get creative with their training. They are trying to shortcut training, combine requirements, and double-dip things to make it so there is less time needed to get things done.

Pilot

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 14, 2025

On this day in aviation historyApril 14, 1929we mark the 96th anniversary of the introduction of the first ground-based flight trainer, developed by aviation pioneer Edwin Ed Link. That same year, Ed founded Link Aviation Devices in Binghamton, New York, where he combined ingenuity with parts from his fathers piano and organ businesssuch as bellows and compressed air systemsto develop a revolutionary tool that would transform pilot training.

Pilot

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 14, 2025

Rules for accessing lounges at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) are continuing to get more unreasonable and arbitrary (thanks to David for flagging this). It seems to be the airport authority, Airports of Thailand (AOT), thats behind this Bangkok Airport trying to stop lounge hopping A few weeks ago, I wrote about how several airline-run lounges at Bangkok Airport left Priority Pass , all at once.

Airline

Simple Flying

APRIL 14, 2025

Cyberattacks on airports are on the rise, and this is a threat that can cripple critical infrastructure that is essential for both public and national safety, alongside economic stability. Several risks come from cyber-attacks, including those towards public safety, system vulnerabilities, data theft, and espionage, plus economic and political consequences.

Stability

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 14, 2025

Yesterday I wrote about how a British Airways flight from Cancun to London was canceled after authorities performed a drug bust prior to departure, whereby they found drugs stashed in a bag. As it turns out, thats not the only British Airways drug bust incident in recent days. British Airways engineer finds cocaine hidden in lavatory The Sun reports on yet another British Airways drug bust, this time involving a Boeing 777-200ER that had just flown from Orlando (MCO) to London Gatwick (LGW).

Cargo

Plane and Pilot

APRIL 14, 2025

Like so many of my generation, I grew up reading about the exploits of the golden age of air racing. The 1930s produced a series of civilian race planes that outran the fastest military pursuit fighters. The Granville Brothers Gee Bee R-1, Travel Air Mystery Ship, Supermarine S6, and, of course, Howard Hughes legendary H-1 set speed and distance records, pushing the boundaries of speed to nearly 400 mph.

Airfoil

Simple Flying

APRIL 14, 2025

United Airlines has long been an operator of the popular Boeing 757, a medium-capacity model which has long been known as the Swiss army knife of any US carrier's fleet. Matching the long-range capabilities of some smaller widebody jets with a lower number of seats that carriers can almost always fill, the Boeing 757 has long been an ideal aircraft for United Airlines and its complex global network.

Airline

The Aviationist

APRIL 14, 2025

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) achieved a first-of-its-kind milestone during the Ramstein Flag Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) exercise. In what is considered a significant step forward in multi-domain integration, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) and Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works successfully demonstrated the first-ever live classified data exchange between an in-flight F-35 and a non-U.S. […] The post Dutch F-35 Executes First Live Classified Data Share With C2 System

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 14, 2025

As much as I agree with the idea behind what this guy was saying, my unsolicited advice is that you really shouldnt offer unsolicited advice to others on airplanes, especially with as divided of a country as we have (thanks to Fred for flagging this). Ford executive confronts Fox News watching passenger Ford Motor Companys Chief Learning Officer took to Threads to share a story from a recent flight, which is getting quite a bit of attention on conservative social media.

Airplanes

CFI Academy

APRIL 14, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Aviation Instructor’s Handbook emphasizes a foundational principle of education: learning is a change in behavior resulting from experience. This concept, rooted in educational psychology and applied across disciplines, including aviation training, underscores that learning is not merely the acquisition of knowledge but a transformation in how individuals think, act, or respond.

Crosswind

Aviation Bussiness News

APRIL 14, 2025

At-seat power provider Burrana has announced that its RISE Power system can now be integrated with Passenger Service Solutions controls, namely the overhead reading light control and attendant call button. Making the announcement at AIX, the system has been envisaged as an option for widebody aircraft being refurbished for Low-Cost Long-Haul carriers that wish to delete the traditional seatback IFE systems to save on weight and cost.

Approach

Simple Flying

APRIL 14, 2025

The first Boeing 767 variant (the non-ER 200) began carrying passengers in 1982. As ch-aviation shows, almost 800 aircraft remain in service with multiple operators, most transporting freight. Only around 200 continue to carry passengers for obvious technological and efficiency reasons. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines deploy the 767-300ER and 767-400ER, while Japan Airlines and All Nippon remain major users of the 300ER because of substantial domestic and regional operations.

Airline

World Airline News

APRIL 14, 2025

Etihad Cargo has expanded its flights to and from China from 11 in 2024 to a planned total of 18 in 2025. Etihad Cargo has recorded an 18% growth in main deck cargo. Etihad Cargo is introducing three additional weekly freighter flights to Shenzhen and two additional weekly flights to London. The expansion strengthens trade routes between China, Europe, and the Middle East while reinforcing Abu Dhabis position as a global logistics hub.

Cargo

Simple Flying

APRIL 14, 2025

The first American jet airliner, the Boeing 707 , typically cruised at Mach 0.85. The similarly sized Airbus A321XLR that flies similar distances can only cruise at Mach 0.78. This has happened across the board, as today's airliners fly at the same speeds or slower than the planes of the past. In private aviation, however, travel has sped up. Business jets are breaking speed records, and shortening long journeys, and the newest Bombardier Global models have even broken the sound barrier.

Jet