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United Kingdom aviation news

BBGA Looks To Dispel Bizav’s ‘Champagne’ Image

Business aviation in the UK faces two significant issues: dispelling the image of business aviation as a luxury for the rich and privileged rather than a business tool, and addressing such challenges as access to airports and taxation. That was the message from the annual conference of the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA), held recently in London. “P...

Lockheed venture lifts off with LOI for 12 hybrid airships

Lockheed Martin's decade of development work on hybrid airships large enough to carry the payload of a C-130J has finally led to a signed commitment from a UK-based customer. Straightline Aviation was registered in 2015 as an airship service provider and plans to acquire 12 of the helium-buoyed aircraft through Lockheed’s LMH-1 reseller Hybrid Enterprises for “approximately $480...

Charter Booking Platform Stratajet Now Offers Apple Pay

Charter booking platform Stratajet today introduced the option for customers to use Apple Pay to pay for flights. Apple Pay is a digital wallet that offers secure checkout for iPhones and iPads using Touch ID. According to the UK-based company, the Stratajet app allows users to search for and book flights based on their current location and presents users with an array of charter opti...

Embraer Phenom 100 jets to train UK armed forces aircrew

The Embraer Phenom 100 business jet has been selected to provide multi-engine pilot training to armed forces aircrew in the United Kingdom. The contract with Affinity Flight Training Services will provide five aircraft to the U.K Ministry of Defence’s Military Flying Training System, (UKMFTS) program. The contract includes support services and an option for additional follow on aircraft...

ANALYSIS: How EasyJet transformed its pilot training

EasyJet has travelled a long way in its 20-year existence. Since introducing the British public to the low-cost carrier model, and inspiring multiple other operators to follow its lead, the UK-based company is now an established airline of choice for many leisure and business travellers. More than 69.8 million passengers flew with EasyJet in 2015: a 4.6% increase on its previous year of operati...

470 RAF Valley jobs secured by £370m MoD contracts

Contracts worth £372m to help with the training of Typhoon and Tornado jet pilots will secure 470 jobs at RAF Valley on Anglesey. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) cash means in-service support for Hawk training aeroplanes will continue at the site until at least 2020. These are used by the UK armed forces to prepare pilots before conversion to frontline jets. The deals secure 700 UK jo...

Woman Put in Plastic Cuffs, Banned for Life By British Airways After Walking Around on Plane

Hair stylist Bridget Nhire has been banned for life by British Airways after getting up to stretch her legs through a flight from London to Dubai. Bridget Nhire, 33, was left in tears when she was handcuffed and escorted off the flight after the passenger behind her complained that she kept walking around. …Ms Nhire, from Uxbridge, said: ‘He was telling me to sit down and I said...

UK Airprox Board releases reviews of four airliner, drone near miss incidents

The UK Airprox Board (UKAB) released their reviews of 25 recently reported  air proximity occurrences. Four of these cases involved drones. On 13 October 2015, the pilot of an Airbus A380 reported being on the DET 1J SID from London-Heathrow Airport. In the right turn, the crew observed a large object at the same altitude which appeared to be taking avoiding action. The...

Scotland's Loch Lomond Seaplanes to enter English market

Scottish operator Loch Lomond Seaplanes is expanding into the English market with the upcoming launch of scheduled seaplane flights between Osea Island, a 400-acre private island located off the coast of Essex, and an undisclosed general aviation airport in London. The flights, which will ferry guests from London to Osea Island, are set to begin in May and will run through to September. In addi...

Rolls-Royce delays 787 engine upgrade to 2017

Rolls-Royce confirms that an upgraded version of the Trent 1000 engine for the Boeing 787 fleet will be delayed one year before entering service and reducing fuel burn levels to the originally promised standard. The UK-based manufacturer had planned to certificate the Trent 1000-TEN upgrade by the end of 2015, with deliveries beginning in 2016 for the 787-8 and 787-9. But now certification i...

Airbus A380 airliner to fly from Birmingham Airport

The world's biggest passenger airline has flown into Birmingham Airport ahead of a new daily flights schedule from the West Midlands. The Airbus A380 will operate on a route run by Middle Eastern airline Emirates between the Birmingham and Dubai from Easter Sunday. The aircraft can fly 15,200km (9,995 miles) and carry 600 passengers. Bosses hope its arrival can help the airport to kee...

UK helicopter industry gets together to improve safety

On Thursday 10th March 2016 over 40 members of the UK onshore helicopter industry got together at the buildings of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), Farnborough. Senior members of many of the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) operators and maintenance organisations, along with Airbus Helicopters UK, Finmeccanica UK, and Turbomeca UK all contributed to a busy schedule of talks aimed a...