Italian Police have arrested a man who is alleged to have been travelling in the cockpit of Air Dolomiti flights whilst dressed as a pilot. Air Dolomiti Fake Pilots vs Real Pilots Two real pilots flew the Air Dolomiti plane while the man sat in the cockpit. The incident seems to bear a striking resemblance … Continue reading “Fake Pilot Arrested in Italy”

German carrier Lufthansa has announced it will create a new low-cost airline in 2013. The move is designed to reduced costs and will see Lufthansa’s European short-haul and Germanwings flights merged together into the new brand. New Lufthansa Airline The new, and as yet unnamed airline, will operate out of Lufthansa’s main hubs at Frankfurt and … Continue reading “New Budget Airline from Lufthansa”

Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has this week set a new speed record for a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand. Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) One of the company’s very exclusive private jets (a modified 737-700) made the 5,658-nautical mile (10,479 km) trip in just 13 hours, 7 minutes and 54 seconds, eturbonews.com … Continue reading “Boeing Business Jet 737-700 Sets New Trans-Pacific Speed Record”

The Endeavour space shuttle is once again airborne. Endeavour Space Shuttle Timescale Endeavour took off at 07:22 EDT on the back of NASA’s modified Boeing 747 aircraft. This is that start of a two day flight as Endeavour travels to her retirement home at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. This is also the … Continue reading “Endeavour Space Shuttle Leaves for Los Angeles”

Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson are on their way home from Ethiopia. Travelling Back from Ethiopia The pair were captured in July 2011 by rebels in eastern Ethiopia, accused of supporting terrorism, and sentenced to an 11-year jail term. The journalists had always denied any offense and stated that they were just doing their … Continue reading “Freed Swedish Journalists on their way home”

Catapult-assisted take-offs and free-glide landings are but two concepts that could become standard affair in the future of aviation. A new report by European plane-maker Airbus, entitled “Smarter Skies”, floated the ideas as the company looks ahead to address how air travel could one day become more sustainable, reports Gizmag.com. Flying in formation was another vision … Continue reading “Airbus ponders the future of aviation in “Smarter Skies” report”

Around 900 Lufthansa planes will be absent from Germany’s national air traffic radar for the next 24 hours as cabin crew go on strike over pay and job security. bbc.co.uk reports that the country’s flagship airline will fly at only half its normal capacity as a result of the strike-action, which is organised by the UFO … Continue reading “900 Lufthansa Planes Absent from the Skies”

China has agreed to purchase 50 Airbus A320s, including variants in the series, following a diplomatic business trip by German chancellor Angela Merkel. £2.2 Billion Airbus Deal The deal, estimated to be worth around $3.5 billion (£2.2 billion), according to bbc.co.uk, is a major victory for the European airplane manufacturer. It has previously failed to … Continue reading “New 50 Airbus A320s for China”

Two F-16 Dutch fighters were scrambled this afternoon in response to a hijack alert at Schiphol Airport, Holland. Vueling Flight VY8366 The plane was also surrounded by security personnel who feared that passengers had been taken hostage. Vueling flight VY8366 (callsign VLG8366) from Malaga triggered the alert after what is now reported to be a miscommunication … Continue reading “Hijack Alert at Schiphol”