50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Kingdom aviation news

Prince William 'unable to carry out more royal duties because of aviation industry red tape'

Kensington Palace has blamed European red tape for preventing the Duke of Cambridge carrying out more royal duties. The Duke has faced accusations in some quarters that he is “lazy” because he has only carried out two royal engagements this year, in addition to his part-time job as an air ambulance pilot. Palace sources claimed that Civil Aviation Authority rules on rest periods,...

First EASA Part NCC Workshop a success!

Flightworx Aviation are ensuring private owners and operators are ready for August 25, 2016, the date in which the EASA Part NCC ruling takes effect. They are offering free workshops between now and the August deadline to everyone within the industry who requires assistance. Today’s session and all subsequent workshops are being conducted by Flightworx Aviation’s Quality Coordinator...

British Airways wins battle of the brands for third year running

The old guard of traditional transport and manufacturing brands are at the top of the Superbrand 2016 survey, seeing off competition from younger and “sexier” technology companies. British Airways outperformed 1,600 rivals to take the top spot for the third year in a row while watchmaker Rolex holds second place ahead of Lego and electronic goods specialist Dyson. Apple is in sev...

Eric 'Winkle' Brown: Celebrated British pilot dies, aged 97

The Royal Navy's most decorated pilot, Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown, has died at the age of 97. Capt Brown also held the world record for flying the greatest number of different types of aircraft - 487. During World War Two, Capt Brown, who was born in Leith in 1919, flew fighter aircraft and witnessed the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp. The pilot, who had been a...

Drama at Birmingham Airport after plane veers off runway and slides onto grass embankment

This is the dramatic scene at Birmingham Airport after a landing plane veered off the runway and slid onto a grass verge. Panicked passengers were lucky to escape after the Airbus A320 went out of control and ended up on off the tarmac. It was quickly surrounded by emergency fire and rescue vehicles, the Birmingham Mail reports. Officials at the airport said the plane, which had just arri...

BA threatens to pull jets at London City

British Airways is threatening to pull most of its aircraft out of London City airport if the hub’s new owner raised airline charges to cover the £2bn price tag. The move could jeopardise the sale of the London airport beloved by executives, which was put on the market last August by its US owners and has already attracted offers from at least three groups. @Bloomberg A...

British Airways i360 Named Most Slender Tower In the World by Guinness World Record

British Airways i360, in Brighton, England, has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the most slender tower in the world, with an impressive height to width aspect ratio of 41.15 to 1. The tower stands 160.469 meters tall with a diameter of 3.9 meters. The tower was designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the same team who built the famous London Eye, and is set to open to the public this sum...

Zephyr contract confirmed as UK commits to regional defence sales

The UK Ministry of Defence has placed a highly anticipated order for two Airbus Defence & Space Zephyr 8 high-altitude pseudo-satellites. Announced during Singapore air show on 18 February, the contract will cover the acquisition of two solar-powered, long-endurance surveillance unmanned air vehicles, the first of which is already under construction. Under the terms of the contract &ndas...

Airbus Targets Farnborough Show for Update on Bigger A350-1000

Airbus Group SE plans to offer airlines an update by the Farnborough Air Show in July on its potential plans to come out with a bigger variant of the A350 wide-body jetliner so it can better challenge the order success of Boeing Co.’s enlarged 777X. The aircraft, a longer version of the A350-1000 --itself already a so-called stretch model --would be offer more seats in three-class co...

British Airways launches new app to iPad users

iPad users are about to get their own specially designed version of British Airways’ travel app. Available to download from the Apple App Store, the iPad app includes exclusive features, such as a new 3D globe to discover British Airways’ destinations and prices and a way for customers to create their own viewing plan for their flight’s movies, TV shows and music. It’...

Five bidders eye £2bn London City Airport deal

An infrastructure vehicle backed by Asia's richest man is among five short-listed bidders expected to make offers for London City Airport this week. Asia’s richest man is among five suitors that are this week expected to make final bids for London City Airport to clinch a deal that could value the business at about £2bn. Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (CKI), the firm controlled by Hong...

Is Ten Hours Rest Enough for Flight Attendants? The Two Flight Attendant Unions Disagree.

The nation’s two top flight attendant unions are divided on the value of pending legislation to increase the amount of required rest for flight attendants. The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents 60,000 flight attendants at United and 18 other airlines, is backing the legislation. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents the 25,000 flight attendan...