One Mile at a Time

APRIL 27, 2025

On January 29, 2025, we saw the tragic collision of an American Eagle CRJ-700 and Black Hawk helicopter near Washington National Airport (DCA), claiming 67 lives. This was the first fatal commercial aircraft crash in the United States since 2009, so suffice it to say that this made a lot of people uneasy. In the few months since the accident, weve gotten more and more details about what happened.

Air Traffic Control

AV Web

APRIL 27, 2025

The Army Blackhawk helicopter crew involved in the mid-air collision with an American Eagle CRJ700 last January at Reagan National Airport had turned off ADS-B because they were practising a classified flight profile according to a New York Times investigation. The Times story released Sunday said the crew was rehearsing the extraction of high-level government officials because of an attack on Washington when it collided with the CRJ.

Transponder

The Aviationist

APRIL 27, 2025

Aviation spotter Micha Rokita captured two F-117s landing at Groom Lake, where the stealth fighters have relocated as Tonopah Test Range Airport undergoes maintenance. Over the last couple of years, we have published a few articles featuring videos by Micha Rokita, an aviation spotter and photographer known for traveling to remote public lands in Nevada […] The post Spotter Captures F-117’s Return to Area 51 appeared first on The Aviationist.

AV Web

APRIL 27, 2025

It would appear Boeing’s next airplane may not incorporate any of the unconventional design concepts that have been touted in the quest for fuel efficiency. The company and NASA announced they were essentially shelving a joint project to design a clean-sheet single-aisle airliner using aerodynamic struts to support extra long glider-like wings.

Airplanes

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

Traveling in first and business class is often seen as the ultimate luxury travel experience, with airlines constantly seeking ways to outdo the competition and offer an industry-leading product. For many passengers, being served their favorite drink as they relax in their lie-flat bed at 35,000 ft is one of the pleasures of traveling in first and business class.

Airline

AV Web

APRIL 27, 2025

It would appear Boeing’s next airplane may not incorporate any of the unconventional design concepts that have been touted in the quest for fuel efficiency. The company and NASA announced they were essentially shelving a joint project to design a clean-sheet single-aisle airliner using aerodynamic struts to support extra long glider-like wings.

Airplanes

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 27, 2025

The major credit card issuers have various policies in place to crack down on those who apply for credit cards exclusively for welcome offers. While credit card issuers sometimes have big bonuses to get customers to apply, they do so with the hope of people holding onto a credit card long term. While its understandable that sometimes a card might not work out for someone, those who constantly open and close cards may find themselves facing some restrictions.

Approach

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 27, 2025

Pakistans government has launched a new campaign to privatize its national airline. Past efforts have proven unsuccessful, but theres an interesting twist this time around, as the company just reported its first profit in decades, and also managed to shed most of its legacy debt issues. Pakistan government privatizing national airline Pakistans government has announced plans to urgently privatize Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Airline

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

Boeing and NASA are mutually agreeing to pause development of the X-66A, according to an April 25 Seattle Times report and an April 24 Aviation Week report plus April 24 Air Current reporting. Although most of the project's Boeing engineers are being reassigned to help with 777X and 737 MAX production issues, some will remain to work on perfecting the thin wing design at the core of the X-66A.

Aerotime

APRIL 27, 2025

Boom Supersonic has acquired a former hypersonic engine testing facility at Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP) to serve as the dedicated testing site for its Symphony engine. The move represents a major step in Boom’s transition from engine design to hardware testing for its Overture supersonic airliner. Symphony is a medium-bypass turbofan engine specifically designed for sustained supersonic flight.

Jet

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

The modern commercial aviation industry in Europe is a large and diverse sector, with airlines, airports, and aircraft of all different shapes and sizes keeping the continent connected. The bulk of the traffic at the region's key hubs comes in the form of regional or short-haul flights to other destinations within the continent. These routes remain busy today, even with increased competition from trains.

Airline

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 27, 2025

Every so often I see a frequent flyer express frustration online about not receiving a free upgrade to an empty premium seat. Some airlines have published complimentary upgrade programs, but Im referring to situations where an upgrade isnt a perk of elite status. For example, a Delta Medallion reader shares taking a transatlantic flight where half the business class seats were empty.

Airline

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

Earlier this month, Latvian flag carrier airBaltic announced that Chief Executive Officer Martin Gauss had stepped down from his position following a meeting where " the Supervisory Board decided on changes to the company's Management Board." This brought an end to Gauss's 13.5-year tenure as CEO, which began in November 2011. He had previously been the CEO of Malev Hungarian Airlines.

Airline

Aerotime

APRIL 27, 2025

Safran reported a strong first quarter for 2025, with adjusted revenue reaching 7.26 billion, a 16.7% increase year-on-year. The company confirmed its full-year guidance, while noting that global trade tensions could still impact results. “The business is benefiting from strong growth in civil aftermarket,” CEO Olivier Andris said. “Current performance and strong momentum in the civil aerospace and defense businesses reinforce our strong confidence in achieving our full-year ou

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

The Boeing 737 MAX has been in service since 2017, as the latest upgrade in the long-running Boeing 737 series. Like the generations before it (and like the Airbus A320 family), it is offered in several different sized variants. This gives airlines the choice of what is best for their fleet and operations, with different passenger capacities, ranges, and operating costs.

Airline

Ask a Flight Instructor

APRIL 27, 2025

Is there any difference between the FAA’s and Jeppesen’s publication of the Aviation Instructor Handbook? Im finding the free FAA version to be difficult to comprehend the abstract concepts of psychology due to sub-standard writing, structuring, and flow. Im still dedicating time to going through the book and create notes and flashcards but was hoping to see if anyone had any insight if Jeppesen’s version was better created and easier to digest.

Aerotime

APRIL 27, 2025

Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets carried out their first interception mission under NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing (eAP) framework, marking a historic milestone for Swedens integration into the Alliance. On April 24, 2025, two Gripens deployed at Malbork Air Base, Poland, made a visual identification of a Russian IL-20 “Coot” electronic reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, north of the Polish coast.

Jet

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

There is no easy answer to whether commercial or private aviation pays higher due the vast number of factors that influence how much someone will earn. Each cabin crew member or pilot will have a different level of experience and qualifications. The region from which the individual is flying will also impact their pay. However, as a general rule, private aviation professionals have a broader range of pay, with a lower floor and a higher ceiling.

Cabin Crew

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 27, 2025

Its an unusual year for me when it comes to airline elite status , so in this post, I want to share the strategy that Im pursuing, since one thing is very different than usual for me this year Im working my way up the AAdvantage elite ranks! As I wrote about several weeks back, I didnt requalify for AAdvantage Executive Platinum status for the first time in 14 years.

Threshold

The Aviationist

APRIL 27, 2025

Project Iron Agility is a dynamic exercise which sharpens deployment readiness skills through ACE operations with F-16s, MQ-9 Reapers, and integrated logistics support. The third iteration of the Project Iron Agility exercise at Holloman AFB (Air Force Base), New Mexico, saw unique approaches to refine ACE (Agile Combat Employment) capabilities. These include a table top […] The post MQ-9 and F-16 Crews Work Together in ACE-Focused Project Iron Agility Exercise appeared first on The Aviati

Approach

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

While commercial aviation is an industry undergoing challenges, the private aviation sector is growing greatly. This increase in private passengers is partially a result of the pandemic, when many had to fly private due to reduced commercial services. From the start of the pandemic to March 2020, GlobeAir found that 2,678 of their passengers were first-time private jet travelers.

Jet

Aerotime

APRIL 27, 2025

A Russian military satellite, Cosmos 2553, believed by US officials to be linked to Moscow’s nuclear anti-satellite weapons program, appears to be spinning uncontrollably and may no longer be operational, according to US analysts. Launched on February 5, 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Cosmos 2553 has exhibited erratic tumbling behavior over the past year.

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

On April 27, 2005, the first prototype of the Airbus A380 , registration F-WWOW, took off for its maiden flight. 20 years later, with a maximum range of 8,000 NM (14,816 km) and the ability to theoretically carry over 850 passengers in an all-economy layout, it remains a marvel in aviation history , still standing as the world's largest passenger aircraft.

Jet

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 27, 2025

Of the big three airlines in the United States, Delta has by far the fewest unionized employees, as pilots are the only major unionized workgroup. For decades, there have been campaigns to unionize Deltas flight attendants. While nothing has come of this yet, efforts are once again ramping up. To go along with that, managements messaging to dissuade this campaign is also increasing, and its rubbing some employees the wrong way, as flagged by PYOK.

Approach

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

Randy Tinseth, the former vice president of marketing at Boeing , once said that the A321LR was an attempt to "catch up" to the Boeing 737 MAX 9. Randy received criticism for these remarks because the A321neo is the best-selling variant of the best-selling jet airliner family of all time, while only 324 Boeing 737 MAX 9s were ordered as per a Seattle Times report.

Jet

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 27, 2025

Yesterday I had a (non-miles & points) friend ask me a question that Ive received many times over the years, with minor variations. Im flying in a few days and my flight looks really empty, are they just going to cancel it? Its a fair question, so let me address that here. Airlines dont usually cancel flights close to departure Its extremely rare for airlines to cancel flights close to departure simply because theyre not full.

Airline

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

Jet fuel is one of the key ingredients that make up air travel. In fact, it may well be the most important - after all, without it, aircraft would not be able to fly. The price of jet fuel is highly volatile and can be greatly affected by external events such as political or economic instability. This, in turn, has a significant impact on the aviation industry as a whole.

Jet

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 27, 2025

On this day in aviation history, April 27, 1952, the Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO reporting name: Badger ) took to the skies for the first time. Developed as a strategic heavy bomber, the Tu-16 became a cornerstone of Soviet air power during the height of the Cold War. At the time, the USSR was determined to match American advancements in aviation, as evidenced by its reverse engineering of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress into the Tupolev Tu-4 Bull.

Payload

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, is considered one of the scariest airports for its takeoffs. While Southern California's serene weather and the airport's proximity to the blue water of Newport Beach call for smooth operations, SNA's runway is restricted by size and noise requirements in the vicinity. The shorter-than-normal runway and the need to minimize noise for nearby residents have led to loud, sudden, and steep takeoffs.

Runway

The Aviationist

APRIL 27, 2025

The Boeing 757 FTB is the F-22s highly modified and instrumented aircraft that tests avionics and systems, saving costs and development timelines. Amid reports of the F-22 Raptor being slated to receive a series of software and hardware upgrades, Edwards AFB, California, released on the DVIDS network an image on Apr. 25, 2025, showing two […] The post F-22 Raptors Flying with B757 Test Bed Suggest New Upgrades and Sensors are Coming Up Fast appeared first on The Aviationist.

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) may be quite a mouthful to say, but it is even more complicated to actually understand. From the perspective of an airline industry analyst, the airport is one filled with contradictions. Recently ranked by a Simple Flying analysis as one of the top ten busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic, there is no doubt that the airport plays a key role in the Spanish and European commercial aviation industries.

Airline

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 27, 2025

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) , in collaboration with the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center, is actively seeking non-flying artifact donations through the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM). These contributions play a vital role in preserving the legacy of American military aviation and the stories of those who made it possible.

Airplanes

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is Boeing's newest single-aisle plane. It stretches the fuselage of the 737 MAX 9 and is intended to match the company's biggest thorn in its side: the Airbus A321neo. On the other side of the Atlantic, Airbus has been busy as well. It recently certified a long-range version of its largest narrowbody, dubbed the A321XLR, and the aircraft has accumulated over 500 orders to operate long-distance flights to smaller markets.

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 27, 2025

On Thursday, April 24, the Platinum Fighter Sales team launched the iconic Blue Angels Bearcat from Aurora, Illinois, to Galveston, Texas, marking the first leg of its journey to a new European home. The F8F-2 Bearcat was recently sold to a European-based flying collection, which has asked to remain anonymous until their official unveiling. Photo via Platinum Fighter Sales Grumman built Bearcat BuNo 121776 in 1948.

Jet

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

STARLUX Airlines is reportedly planning to expand its international network with new destinations in the United States in early 2026, according to a report by ETtoday , first seen by Ishrion Aviation. The news comes as the Taiwanese carrier awaits the delivery of its new Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft, which will open up new opportunities to launch routes to the United States.

Airline

Greg Brown's Flying Carpet Blog

APRIL 27, 2025

How to cinch your first CFI job, line up flight students, and train and motivate them as a pro! Flight instructing offers some of the most rewarding flying there is. We experience the joy of fulfilling our students dreams of flight, become better pilots ourselves in the process, and develop lifelong friendships with many of those we teach. This video offers some great tips to get you started!

Pilot

Simple Flying

APRIL 27, 2025

The Learjet 23 pioneered the concept of the business jet. Introduced in 1964, this fearsome plane was small, fast, efficient, and had excellent performance. Over 60 years later, Learjets are no longer being made, but the final Learjet model, the 75 Liberty, remains a unique choice in the light private jet world. Its in-flight performance is a core strength.

Jet