Category: aviation

Qantas Flight Safely Lands in Sydney From Auckland After Issuing Mayday Call

A Qantas plane from Auckland has landed safely in Sydney after issuing a mayday call just over the Tasman Sea. The aeroplane, which landed at its destination at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, experienced engine problems an hour away from Sydney Airport and reported the loss of one of its two engines. “Qantas Flight 144, a 737…


Aviation Startup Picks Engine Designer for Supersonic Plane

DALLAS—Aviation startup Boom Technology says it will power supersonic passenger jets with engines designed by a company better known for making small engines used on drones and cruise missiles. Boom said Tuesday that Florida Turbine Technologies, or FTT, will design the engines. The company says the plane could be making test flights in 2026 and…


SpaceX Rolls out Starlink Internet Service for Private Jets

WASHINGTON—Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expanding its satellite internet unit’s foray into in-flight WiFi services with the rollout on Wednesday of Starlink Aviation, offering customers a $150,000 airplane antenna amid mounting competition for airborne connectivity. Starlink, SpaceX’s growing network of thousands of internet satellites, will charge customers seeking broadband internet on private jets between $12,500–$25,000 a…


Remembering Kiffin Rockwell, the Courageous Aviator Who Shot Down America’s First Enemy Plane in WWI

On September 23, 1916, the young American pilot flying a French Nieuport 17 above Verdun spotted a German two-seater Aviatik and raced, as he so often had, to engage the enemy in combat. As he dove from 10,000 feet on the German aircraft, an explosive bullet fired by the Aviatik’s tail gunner tore into his…


Airline Chaos Could Persist Until 2024, Despite Efforts to Cure Woes

After a record-breaking summer of angst, aggravation, and anger at America’s airports, little relief may be in sight. The problem came into sharper focus during the past few weeks with airline complaints in May and June soaring 270 percent above pre-pandemic levels. While airlines and federal officials recently announced improved customer service and information-sharing practices…


Australia Drops Mask Mandate for International and Domestic Flights

People travelling to Australia will no longer be required to wear masks, one week after the government dropped the mask mandate for domestic flights. The move, which takes effect on Sept. 9,  comes as COVID-19 restrictions continue to be axed across the nation. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the mask mandate was removed on…


Domestic Airfares Jump as Aviation Industry Struggles With Staff Shortage and High Fuel Prices

The cost of domestic airfares is peaking after it more than doubled from April 2022, Australia’s consumer watchdog has revealed.  The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) latest report predicted the upward trend will continue until at least October due to the growing demand for travel, high jet fuel prices and reduced capacity.  According to…


United Airlines CEO Warns Fuel Costs Could Remain High

United Airlines Inc. is expecting fuel prices to remain at elevated levels over the long term, says the company’s CEO Scott Kirby. Speaking to reporters in Doha, Qatar, Kirby said that United Airlines will have to foot the bill for $12 billion in fuel in 2022 considering current prices, according to Reuters. In North America,…


Russia Says Aviation Sanctions Threaten Safety of Russian Flights—RIA

Russia’s foreign ministry said that sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union on aviation threatened the safety of Russian passenger flights, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday.


US Offers $69 Million in Aviation Manufacturing Assistance

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Transportation Department said on Friday it was offering $69 million to 127 aviation manufacturing and repair businesses under a COVID-19 relief program created by Congress in 2021. In total, the department has offered $673 million nationwide in three rounds of awards. Some previously offered awards were not ultimately paid. The $3 billion aviation…