Military
RAF Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft over North Sea
RAF Typhoons intercepted two Russian aircraft over the North Sea on the morning of 29 March, according to the Royal Air Force. The Russian aircraft, Tu-142 ‘Bears’, were first intercepted by the Norwegian Air Force but the NATO partners handed over the mission as the Russian maritime reconnaissance aircraft approached [read more]
Civil Aviation
JetBlue secures Heathrow slots and 2nd attempt
Low-cost transatlantic travel looks set to arrive at London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) this summer after it emerged that JetBlue appears to have been successful in obtaining slots on the 2nd time of trying. Information released by Airport Coordination Ltd, the UK slot regulator appears to show 14 weekly slots allocated to [read more]
Air Safety
MOD halts BAe Hawk T1 flying after crash
The UK Ministry of Defence has halted all Bae Hawk T1 flying after a Royal Navy Hawk crashed in Helston, Cornwall earlier today after it suffered an engine failure. All services which operate the Hawk T1 including the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) are now pausing flights [read more]
Air Safety
Navy Hawk crashes in Cornwall
A Royal Navy fast jet training aircraft has crashed near Helston, Cornwall after reportedly suffering an engine failure. The single engined BAe Hawk T1 crashed after the crew ejected. The aircraft was from 736 squadron based at RNAS Culdrose. In a statement the Ministry of Defence said two pilots were [read more]
Civil Aviation
Aer Lingus confirms Manchester transatlantic routes
Aer Lingus has finally confirmed the transatlantic routes it plans to operate from Manchester Airport (MAN/EGCC) with the first operating to New York and Orlando. In what has been one of the worst kept secrets of modern times, the flights will be operated under Aer Lingus UK with a UK [read more]
Civil Aviation
Ryanair sets out summer plans including 26 new routes
Irish budget airline Ryanair (FR/RYR) has set out its plans for flights in Summer 2021 including 26 new routes from the UK to Europe and a return to Belfast City. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said that he expects travel restrictions to be lifted this summer as the UK’s coronavirus vaccination [read more]
Engineering, Leasing & Finance
VIDEO: The last A380 takes flight ahead of delivery
The last Airbus A380 to be built has carried out a test flight ahead of its painting and delivery to Emirates Airlines. Airbus posted a video of the flight saying: “A first flight is always special. The one in this video is even more so as it was the first [read more]
General Aviation
Old Sarum owners get apology over comments made by councillor
The owners of Old Sarum airfield have today received a public apology from Wiltshire Councillor Ian McLennan of Laverstock, Ford & Old Sarum ward after he made a number of innacurate comments and statements online about the intentions of the owners. Mr McLennan said “Over the course of last year (2020), [read more]
Cardiff Airport News
Welsh First Minister accused of double standards over Spain flights
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has been accused of double standards after allowing flights between Cardiff Airport and Spain to operate despite Wales still being in full lockdown under his authority. Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies led the calls saying it cannot be right that peoplee can “fly from [read more]
Air Travel
Civil Aviation
Summer Holiday uncertainty as Jet2 extended suspension of holidays
The state of summer holidays for UK travellers still remains uncertain despite Government setting out the plans for which foreign air travel can resume from 17th May. Despite this, one of the UK’s leading holiday companies, Jet2 Holidays, has extended its suspension on holidays and flights until June. Passengers wanting [read more]
New Routes
Bamboo Airways secures London slots
Vietnamese carrier Bamboo airways has been granted six weekly slot pairs for London Heathrow by UK slot regulator Airport Coordination Ltd. The airline is expected to launch flights in May between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to London operating a 50/50 split between the two with 3 flights each per [read more]
Civil Aviation
JetBlue secures Heathrow slots and 2nd attempt
Low-cost transatlantic travel looks set to arrive at London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) this summer after it emerged that JetBlue appears to have been successful in obtaining slots on the 2nd time of trying. Information released by Airport Coordination Ltd, the UK slot regulator appears to show 14 weekly slots allocated to [read more]
Engineering & MRO
Civil Aviation
Airbus deliveries slightly increase in March 2021
Airbus has slightly increased the tempo of deliveries in March 2021 with 72 aircraft being delivered to 34 customers in the month. The month accounts for almost 60% of the deliveries so far in 2021. Deliveries in March include 4 Airbus A220, 50 A320 family aircraft (57 of which were [read more]
Engineering, Leasing & Finance
VIDEO: The last A380 takes flight ahead of delivery
The last Airbus A380 to be built has carried out a test flight ahead of its painting and delivery to Emirates Airlines. Airbus posted a video of the flight saying: “A first flight is always special. The one in this video is even more so as it was the first [read more]
Engineering, Leasing & Finance
777 Partners place Boeing Max order
Private investment company 777 Partners have placed an order for 24 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft to add to its growing portfolio. The Miami Florida based company leases aircraft and also invests in aviation related business across the world. One of their investments is Edmonton based Flair airlines which it [read more]
Military Aviation
Military
Nova Systems helps MOD delivery UK – Qatari Fast Jet training
UK Based aerospace service provider, Nova Systems, has been instrumental in delivering the joint Hawk-Typhoon training which has been carried out between the UK and Qatari armed forces. The training including members of the Royal Air Force and Qatari Air Force operating as a join squadron for exercises including Epic [read more]
Military
RAF Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft over North Sea
RAF Typhoons intercepted two Russian aircraft over the North Sea on the morning of 29 March, according to the Royal Air Force. The Russian aircraft, Tu-142 ‘Bears’, were first intercepted by the Norwegian Air Force but the NATO partners handed over the mission as the Russian maritime reconnaissance aircraft approached [read more]
Air Safety
MOD halts BAe Hawk T1 flying after crash
The UK Ministry of Defence has halted all Bae Hawk T1 flying after a Royal Navy Hawk crashed in Helston, Cornwall earlier today after it suffered an engine failure. All services which operate the Hawk T1 including the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) are now pausing flights [read more]
General Aviation
General Aviation
East Anglian Air Ambulance appoints new CEO
East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has announced that it has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to replace Patrick Peal who is retiring from the role. The charities current Director of Operations, Matthew Jones, will head the charity from the end of June 2021. Mr Peal has led the [read more]
General Aviation
Old Sarum owners get apology over comments made by councillor
The owners of Old Sarum airfield have today received a public apology from Wiltshire Councillor Ian McLennan of Laverstock, Ford & Old Sarum ward after he made a number of innacurate comments and statements online about the intentions of the owners. Mr McLennan said “Over the course of last year (2020), [read more]
General Aviation
New general aviation radio station set to take flight
A brand new radio station aimed at General Aviation is set to take flight soon as Touchdown Radio prepares to launch. The London-based digital station will be broadcasting a mix of aviation news, weather updates, topical features, and music to aviation lovers and is licensed to broadcast in 46 countries [read more]
Air Sports
Air Sports
WCAR selects Aurora Media as its broadcast partner for air races
The World Championship Air Race (WCAR) has announced it has selected Aurora Media Worldwide as its Broadcast and Digital Format partner for the upcoming seasons. Already world leaders in live sports productions, Aurora will be responsible for broadcasting the events worldwide on conventional and digital platforms and attracting new audiences. [read more]
Air Sports
Former Red Arrow appointed to Air Racing panel
Former Red Arrows pilot, Kirsty Murphy has been appointed to the newly formed World Championship Air Race (WCAR) board’s advisory panel. Kirsty, who is still the only female to have been selected for and flown for the RAF Red Arrows, will advise the board on programmes designed to educate, inspire [read more]
Air Safety
AAIB sending team to Cumbria glider crash
The Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) is sending a team to the site of a glider accident in Cumbria. The aircraft crashed yesterday (7th August) near Kirkland Cumbria and is understood to have suffered substantial damage. The pilot is believed to have been the sole occupant.
Air Safety
Air Safety
MOD halts BAe Hawk T1 flying after crash
The UK Ministry of Defence has halted all Bae Hawk T1 flying after a Royal Navy Hawk crashed in Helston, Cornwall earlier today after it suffered an engine failure. All services which operate the Hawk T1 including the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) are now pausing flights [read more]
Air Safety
Navy Hawk crashes in Cornwall
A Royal Navy fast jet training aircraft has crashed near Helston, Cornwall after reportedly suffering an engine failure. The single engined BAe Hawk T1 crashed after the crew ejected. The aircraft was from 736 squadron based at RNAS Culdrose. In a statement the Ministry of Defence said two pilots were [read more]
Air Safety
Boeing lodges ‘safety concerns’ over Airbus A321XLR
US Airframer Boeing has lodged safety concerns with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) claiming that the extra fuel tank in Airbus’ Extra Long-range (XLR) variant of its A321 single aisle airline. In the submission Boeing claims the design and placement of the rear fuel tank “presents many potential [read more]
Space
Military
Ex-RAF Lossiemouth Commander to head UK Space Command
Air Commodore Paul Godfrey OBE has been announced as the inaugural commander of the newly formed UK Space Command. [read more]
Features
Interview: Thales Alenia Space Team
The number of off-world projects currently in development is staggering.Earlier this month China’s Chang-E 5 landed on the moon to collect up to 2kg of regolith samples and return them to Earth. This is a short mission – Get up, Get rocks, Get home – but even this takes years [read more]
News
European Space Agency – Airbus Contract for Crucial Build
Last month we witnessed significant progress in humanity’s latest space venture. As far as off-world international co-operation goes, this is the largest team exercise for more than 20 years. The inter-continental collaboration which constructed and now operates ISS is now eclipsed by a new task: Put feet back on the [read more]
Wales
Cardiff Airport News
Welsh First Minister accused of double standards over Spain flights
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has been accused of double standards after allowing flights between Cardiff Airport and Spain to operate despite Wales still being in full lockdown under his authority. Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies led the calls saying it cannot be right that peoplee can “fly from [read more]
Cardiff Airport News
Your Pictures: The last flight of a British Airways Boeing 747
British Airways Boeing 747-400 G-BYGC left Cardiff Airport today for the short flight to St Athan marking the end of the Boeing 747 in service with British Airways. The aircraft will now be preserved at St Athan by eCube Solutions and is due to be opened to the public in [read more]
News
Wales Air Ambulance is now a 24h service
The Wales Air Ambulance Charity (WAAC) will now operate their helicopters around the clock thanks for a new double-pilot crew operation which started on the 1st December 2020. Having two pilots on crew means that the Air Ambulance can reach anywhere in Wales during the night from its bases at [read more]
Scotland
Civil Aviation
Engine fault forces Loganair’s North Sea flight to turn around
An Aberdeen to Shetland flight was forced to return to Aberdeen International Airport following a potential engine fault Thursday morning. The 06.50 am Loganair flight LM901 (18 February), was travelling to Shetland’s Sumburgh Airport when the crew received an alert of a fault with the right-hand engine. Following the alert, [read more]
Air Safety
Man dies in Scottish gyrocopter crash
Police Scotland has confirmed that the pilot of a gyrocopter has died after his aircraft went down near Avoch at 12:55pm. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services. He was the sole occupant of the gyrocopter. A spokesperson from the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has [read more]
News
Loganair calls for APD pause as it announces S21 plans
Scotland’s airline, Loganair (LM/LOG) has called on the UK Government to introduce a program for aviation similar to the “Eat out to Help Out” scheme which will see Air Passenger Duty (APD) paused in a bid to get people flying again. Dubbed “Tax off for Take off”, Loganair says that [read more]
Northern Ireland
News
Manchester to Belfast City route takes off
The new Manchester (MAN/EGCC) to Belfast City Airport (BHD/EGAC) t route has got underway today when the first of four daily return services took off The Aer Lingus Regional service is operated by Stobart Air using an ATR72-600. Julian Carr, Aviation Director at Manchester Airport, said: “It’s great to see [read more]
Civil Aviation
Loganair increases Belfast City routes
Loganair (LM/LOG) is re-establishing the Belfast City to Glasgow Airport route. The service, which starts on 4th September, will operate twice-daily Monday to Friday and a single flight on a Saturday using an Embraer EMB145 Regional Jet. The routes from Belfast City to Aberdeen and Inverness are due to restart [read more]
Air Safety
Aer Lingus under fire over packed flights
Irish carrier Aer Lingus (EI/EIN) has come under fire after images appeared on social media showing a packed flight from London to Belfast. The images posted on twitter by BBC NI journalist Kelly Bonner show a packed flight with most of the seats taken in breach of social distancing guidelines. [read more]
Channel Islands
Channel Islands
Aurigny to stay grounded until September
Guernsey-based airline Aurigny (GR/AUR) has confirmed its flights will remain grounded until the end of August. The airline says that the disruption to flights is as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and that its grounding until the end of summer is in line with the Coronavirus Exit Strategy produced [read more]
Airshow News
BEA Airbus A319 to fly at Jersey airshow
British Airways has announced that its baby retro jet, the BEA Airbus A319, will fly at the Jersey Airshow this September. The specially painted Airbus A319 G-EUPJ has been painted in the British European Airways (BEA) livery as part of the airlines 100 year anniversary, BA100. BEA was was one [read more]
Air Safety
AAIB says Emiliano Sala was exposed to potentially fatal CO levels
A special bulletin by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has said that the Cardiff City Footballer Emiliano Sala was exposed to potentially fatal levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) in the final moments before his plane crashed just north of Guernsey. The toxicology results show that Sala had a carboxyhaemoglobin [read more]
