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Tag: aviation
February 7, 2025
News

Rescuers Still Searching for Aircraft Lost Over Alaska.

A search is ongoing for a Bering Air plane carrying 10 people that vanished amid a severe winter storm in Alaska. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was bound for Nome, best known for the famous Nome serum run of 1925, from Unalakleet. when it was reported missing at approximately 4 PM local time Thursday. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the plane was about 12 miles offshore over Norton Sound when contact was lost.

The ongoing search is grappling with harsh weather conditions, including snow, strong winds, and fog leaving rescuers facing “zero visibility conditions. The alarming disappearance follows two recent deadly crashes that have heightened concerns about air safety. A mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. military helicopter resulted in 67 fatalities last week. Additionally, a medical jet crash in Northeast Philadelphia claimed seven lives two days later.

Before the latest disappearance, the pilot of the missing Bering Air flight informed Anchorage’s air traffic control about plans to enter a holding pattern due to a runway closure at Nome. The total flight time from Unalakleet to Nome is typically about 55 minutes.

Efforts to find the missing plane continue with a focus on land searches due to the hazardous ice conditions in Norton Sound. A water landing for the aircraft is considered to be the worst-case scenario.

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A search is ongoing for a Bering Air plane carrying 10 people that vanished amid a severe winter storm in Alaska. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was bound for Nome, best known for the famous Nome serum run of 1925, from Unalakleet. when it was reported missing at approximately 4 PM local time Thursday. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the plane was about 12 miles offshore over Norton Sound when contact was lost. show more
October 9, 2024
News

Seattle Flight Emergency Lands in NYC After Pilot Dies Mid-Air.

A Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing at JFK International Airport after its captain collapsed in the cockpit. The incident took place on Tuesday evening when Captain İlçehin Pehlivan, 59, suffered a medical emergency mid-flight. Despite attempts to administer first aid, the pilot was pronounced dead before the aircraft could make an unscheduled stop in New York City.

Pehlivan, who had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007, passed a medical examination in March without any reported issues. Following the captain’s collapse, the co-pilot and flight crew quickly decided to divert the Airbus 350 to the nearest suitable airport to facilitate an emergency landing.

The airline confirmed the plane’s safe arrival at JFK, where passengers were re-routed to Turkey. Turkish Airlines notified the public of the events through a post on social media platform X, explaining the unexpected turn of events and expressing deep condolences. “We wish God’s mercy upon our captain and patience to his grieving family, all his colleagues, and loved ones,” the statement read.

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A Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing at JFK International Airport after its captain collapsed in the cockpit. The incident took place on Tuesday evening when Captain İlçehin Pehlivan, 59, suffered a medical emergency mid-flight. Despite attempts to administer first aid, the pilot was pronounced dead before the aircraft could make an unscheduled stop in New York City. show more
August 28, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Election 2024
News

Top Biden-Harris ‘Green Czar’ Owns an Oil Well.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker, leading the Biden-Harris government’s climate agenda for American aviation, owns an oil well in Wyoming. Leased to Hilcorp Energy, the largest private oil company in the U.S., the well is valued at up to $100,000, with the net-zero technocrat receives annual royalties of up to $5,000 from Hilcorp.

Whitaker’s fossil fuel income raises questions about the sincerity of the Biden-Harris climate agenda. The White House has been pushing for a transition to green energy since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office, with Whitaker and the FAA being given a significant role. In February, Whitaker announced regulations aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including so-called sustainable aviation fuels.

Whitaker’s financial ties to the oil industry cast doubt on how much the Biden-Harris government really cares about reducing fossil fuel use.

“This is exactly the kind of thing that gets everyday people furious because the people who are constantly turning the ratchet up to make their gas more expensive, their car more expensive, their airline ticket to see family more expensive, to limit what they can buy at the grocery store because it doesn’t align with certain green targets—are globe-hopping in private jets, owning oil wells, and living life with abandon,” commented O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers.

Harris infamously vowed to ban fracking on “day one” of a Harris administration during her 2019-20 run at the presidency, but she now claims she will not do so—as the policy would destroy jobs in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, and drive up energy costs even further.

Image by Jan Zakelj.

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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker, leading the Biden-Harris government's climate agenda for American aviation, owns an oil well in Wyoming. Leased to Hilcorp Energy, the largest private oil company in the U.S., the well is valued at up to $100,000, with the net-zero technocrat receives annual royalties of up to $5,000 from Hilcorp. show more
June 25, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Health
UK

Airline Suspends Staff for ‘Fat Shaming’ In PRIVATE Texts.

British Airways has suspended two crew members for allegedly mocking an obese colleague’s weight in a private messaging group. They reportedly made fun of a 15-stone (210 lbs) stewardess in a WhatsApp chat that did not include her. Another staffer informed on them.

British Airways confirmed the suspension of the two staff members and announced a formal investigation. “We have a zero tolerance approach to bullying and always fully investigate any allegations brought to our attention,” the airline stated.

A source tells the British press that the “poor victim of the merciless fat jokes has been left utterly bereft,” and is now “scared to leave the house.”

Cabin crew members must perform manual tasks such as reaching overhead lockers and opening aircraft doors. British Airways specifies that cabin crew must meet certain height and reach requirements to be able to perform their duties effectively. However, there is no maximum weight limit for crew members.

Western airlines in the U.S. have been making accommodations for obese passengers for years, with Southwest Airlines having offered a free extra seat to so-called ‘Customers of Size’ who “encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat[s]” for decades.

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British Airways has suspended two crew members for allegedly mocking an obese colleague's weight in a private messaging group. They reportedly made fun of a 15-stone (210 lbs) stewardess in a WhatsApp chat that did not include her. Another staffer informed on them. show more
June 24, 2024
News

U.S. Prosecutors Push for Criminal Charges Against Boeing.

U.S. prosecutors have urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file criminal charges against Boeing, citing breaches of a settlement agreement related to two deadly crashes of 737 Max aircraft that killed 346 people. This follows accusations that Boeing violated a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) established after the crashes in October 2018 with Lion Air and March 2019 with Ethiopian Airlines.

Ed Pierson, Executive Director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety and a former Boeing senior manager, emphasized the gravity of this decision, pointing to ongoing issues with Boeing’s 737 Max and 787 models, blaming management practices for these persistent problems.

In January, an incident involving a dislodged door panel from a new 737 Max operated by Alaska Airlines further heightened safety concerns. Whistleblowers have reported production flaws in the 737 Max, 787 Dreamliner, and 777 models to the Senate, which is conducting an investigation into Boeing’s manufacturing processes.

One of the whistleblowers, John Barnett, apparently died by suicide after coming forward, despite previously telling friends, “if anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.”

Relatives of crash victims are demanding a $25 billion fine against Boeing and criminal prosecution, following a 2021 $2.5 billion settlement agreement. This settlement includes provisions for dropping criminal charges after three years if Boeing adheres to specific requirements. However, the DOJ contends that Boeing has failed to implement adequate compliance and ethics programs.

Boeing’s outgoing CEO, Dave Calhoun, faced intense scrutiny from U.S. senators last week. Despite Calhoun’s assurances that the company had learned from past mistakes and that whistleblower procedures were effective, lawmakers accused him of fostering a culture of retaliation. Calhoun will step down at the end of 2024 after nearly five years in the role but will remain on Boeing’s board.

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U.S. prosecutors have urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file criminal charges against Boeing, citing breaches of a settlement agreement related to two deadly crashes of 737 Max aircraft that killed 346 people. This follows accusations that Boeing violated a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) established after the crashes in October 2018 with Lion Air and March 2019 with Ethiopian Airlines. show more
May 23, 2024
Jack Montgomery
News

Hundreds of Boeings Have Explosive Jet Engine Fault.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified a fault in 292 U.S.-registered Boeing 777 aircraft, chiefly operated by United and American Airlines, that could cause their jet engines to discharge electrostatic energy into their fuel tanks and blow them up mid-air.

The FAA proposed an ‘Airworthiness Directive’ in March, “prompted by a determination that the nitrogen enriched air distribution system (NEADS) cover plate assembly attached to a certain vent stringer in the center wing tank [of certain Boeing 777 aircraft] was installed without a designed electrical bond.”

The air regulator explains that the “accumulation of electrostatic charge in the cover plate assembly and the float valve assembly” as a result of the fault “could lead to electrostatic discharge to the surrounding structure.”

“This condition, if not addressed, could result in an ignition source inside the fuel tank and subsequent fire or explosion,” the FAA warns.

Boeing and parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems have been plagued by scandals in recent months. Multiple aircraft have lost doors mid-air, dropped tires, and hurt passengers after violent movements caused by “technical events.”

An FAA audit failed Boeing and Spirit on dozens of product audits as these issues were becoming widely reported, with whistleblowers stepping forward alleging they were raising serious safety concerns internally and being ignored.

Two of these whistleblowers have died suddenly, including one, John Barnett, deemed to have fatally shot himself after telling friends, “If anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.”

Boeing insiders allege standards are falling as a result of “politicized” Human Resources (HR) directives pushing “anti-excellence” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

However, the FAA has also been pressuring the aviation industry to push DEI policies, not only for women and ethnic minorities but for people with “psychiatric disability” and even “severe intellectual disability.”

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified a fault in 292 U.S.-registered Boeing 777 aircraft, chiefly operated by United and American Airlines, that could cause their jet engines to discharge electrostatic energy into their fuel tanks and blow them up mid-air. show more
March 12, 2024
News
TECH

FAA Audit Uncovers Dozens of Issues with Boeing Production.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed a six-week audit of Boeing’s manufacturing of the 737 Max following an incident in which a door panel was torn from a 737 Max 9 on an Alaska Airlines flight early this year. The audit found numerous instances of noncompliance at Boeing and its key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems.

The FAA spotlighted “multiple instances” where Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems failed to meet quality control requirements. However, the agency has not disclosed the specifics of these supposed lapses.

The FAA failed Boeing on 33 of 89 product audits, recording 97 instances of noncompliance. Spirit AeroSystems, responsible for constructing the 737 Max’s fuselage, underwent 13 product audits, failing seven.

On one occasion, auditors saw Spirit AeroSystems mechanics testing a door seal with a hotel card key, which they noted was “not identified/documented/called-out in the production order.”

The FAA may have contributed to an apparent decline in standards in the aviation industry itself, however, pushing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring policies, which even encompass people with “psychiatric disability” and “severe intellectual disability.”

In addition to the Alaska Airlines door incident, Boeing jets have experienced multiple issues in just the last week, including an aircraft driving off a runway, an aircraft losing a tire, and an aircraft injuring 50 passengers after hurling them into its ceiling during a “technical event.”

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed a six-week audit of Boeing’s manufacturing of the 737 Max following an incident in which a door panel was torn from a 737 Max 9 on an Alaska Airlines flight early this year. The audit found numerous instances of noncompliance at Boeing and its key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. show more
Make Flying Unaffordable
July 31, 2023
Jake Welch
News

30,000 Pilot Shortage + Union Demands Will Make Flying Unaffordable.

Flying in the United States is set to become unaffordable for normal Americans with a combination of severe pilot shortages and increasingly-demanding pilot unions causing ticket prices to soar.

It is estimated that airlines across North America will suffer shortages of around 30,000 pilots over the next decades, as the U.S. is failing to train enough, with others opting to retire early.

“The supply of new pilots will grow, but not enough to offset a continuing wave of retirements,” states the management consulting firm, Oliver Wyman.

Pilot unions are doubling down as a result of the increased leverage and are able to drive a hard bargain in negotiations with airlines. Pilots working for United Airlines, for example, look set to receive a 34.5 to 40.5 percent pay increase over the next four years, with United having to offer other perquisites, including job security and retirement packages, and better benefits and work-life balance assurances. Pilots employed by American Airlines, too, are pushing for better pay and working conditions to match those of United, causing the companies to increase ticket prices to make up for the shortfall.

Though increasingly unaffordable, Americans will still at least have the option to fly. France, by comparison, recently announced a ban on all short-haul flights under two-and-a-half hours in an effort to “reduce carbon emissions.”

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Flying in the United States is set to become unaffordable for normal Americans with a combination of severe pilot shortages and increasingly-demanding pilot unions causing ticket prices to soar. show more