50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

World aircraft news

aircraft related aviation news

RAAF’s first PC-21 pilots begin conversion training

The first Australian pilots to undertake conversion training on the Pilatus PC-21 pilot training aircraft recently arrived in Switzerland, the RAAF has announced. These pilots will form the transition team responsible for the development of the new training curriculum and simulators that are being acquired under the AIR 5428 Pilot Training System project, the contract for which has been awarded...

Global air ambulance demand spurs profits at FAI

Soaring global demand for air ambulance services in 2015 helped German business aircraft services provider FAI rent-a-jet to record profitability. The Nuremberg-based company – one of Europe’s largest business aircraft operators – saw revenues climb nearly 9% to €80 million ($87 million) last year. Air ambulance services accounted for €41.7 million – up fro...

Iran plans airplane shopping spree

The once-isolated country plans to purchase hundreds of aircraft from Airbus and Boeing following the lifting of sanctions Iran, which has airlines including Aseman and Iran Air, plans to buy hundreds of new aircraft as Western sanctions are lifted 

Boeing completes first refueling flight of KC-46A tanker

Boeing Co and air crews from the U.S. Air Force completed the first refueling flight of the KC-46A Pegasus aerial tanker on Sunday, transferring 1,600 pounds (725.75 kg) of fuel to an F-16 fighter jet flying at 20,000 feet (6096 m), Boeing said. The flight over Washington state lasted nearly six hours and marks a key step forward for the $49 billion program, which has seen cost increases and sc...

It's Time For Hard Questions On Boeing Earnings Call

Wednesday is Boeing BA -0.35%’s earnings call for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015. There continue to be three of four prime issues that overhang each earnings call, and nothing has changed this week. The production rate for the 777 Classic and the bridge to the production of the 777X. Boeing has long asserted it can maintain a production rate similar to the c...

Introduction: The Long Way Between LA And London

Welcome to my first new trip report of 2016, as my goal for this year is to sample as many new first & business class products as possible. And I’m sure you guys will agree this is a good start.  The way this trip came to be is sort of funny. In mid-December I wrote about how Finnair was flying the A350 to the US for a limited time in January. They just recently to...

7 hurt in severe turbulence on American Airlines jet; plane diverts to Canada

Seven people were taken to a hospital after an American Airlines plane from Miami to Milan made an emergency landing in Newfoundland after the jet briefly encountered severe turbulence. The aircraft landed safely in the East Coast Canadian province late Sunday, where it was met by paramedics. American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said three flight attendants and four passenger...

Incredible computer-controlled drone lands on moving car

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has developed a computer-controlled drone that can land automatically, even on a moving target. In a video posted by the DLR on YouTube, an unmanned aerial vehicle tracks a specially-kitted out Audi with a net on top to catch it.  With a barcode like the one you would find on a magazine - along with other trackers on top of the car - the drone tracked t...

Airbus Helicopters raises the maximum take-off weight of the H145 to 3700 KG

In December, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) awarded the certification of the increased maximum take-off weight (MTOW) for the H145. With this enhancement, the helicopter can carry an extra 50kg, raising the MTOW to a total of 3.7 metric tons. It will be available for customers in early 2016. As the improvement does not require any structural modifications or additional equipment, it wi...

Hyderabad: 70 fliers offloaded from flight for ‘unruly behaviour’

At least 70 passengers were offloaded from a Raipur-bound Indigo flight at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Friday night due to “unruly behaviour”, following which the passengers lodged a complaint with airport police alleging that they were harassed by the staff. The incident took place between 8.30pm and 9.00pm. The passengers, who as a group were travelling to R...

Buenos Aires gives Sol deadline to find new investors

Sol Líneas Aéreas (8R, Rosario, SF) staff have temporarily returned to work after the airline reached a compromise with the Argentine government concerning its immediate future. Sol ceased operations on Friday last week after Aerolineas Argentinas (AR, Buenos Aires Ezeiza) rescinded a long-standing Capacity Purchase Agreement which had availed ARS125 million (USD9.44 million) in f...

Thai to defer aircraft deliveries, sell off redundant assets

Following a board meeting this past week, the president of Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi), Charumporn Jotikasthira, told a press conference in Bangkok that additional cost-cutting measures have been proposed including the deferral of new aircraft deliveries as well as the sale of redundant assets. According to the Bangkok Post, Thai will open dialogue with Airbus Industri...