Qantas Pilots Report Radio Interference and GPS Jamming From Chinese Warships

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Qantas pilots reported repeating radio interference and GPS jamming from Chinese military units in the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. Qantas said there were no safety concerns and has instructed its pilots to keep flying on their routes despite the breach. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Japan Airlines Places an Order for 21 Boeing 737 MAX Jets

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — Boeing has emerged victorious in Japan, securing an order from the country's national carrier for 21 of its 737 MAX aircraft. The order comes as a surprise, as initial reports suggested that rival Airbus was the frontrunner. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Pilot from another airline sets in to help incapacitated pilot

Good stuff that the public doesn't hear about much. (www.nbcnews.com) More...

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary Reveals Talks Restarted with Boeing for New Aircraft Order

DUBLIN, IRELAND — In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Michael O'Leary, the Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair, expressed his optimism about the potential for a significant new aircraft order for the Irish budget carrier. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Vote on Biden's Pick to Run FAA Delayed

The fate of President Joe Biden's pick to run the Federal Aviation Administration is in doubt. The Senate Commerce Committee indefinitely postponed a scheduled vote on Denver International Airport CEO Phillip Washington, whose nomination has languished since Biden announced his choice July 2022. Major concerns were raised about the nominee's aviation industry experience. (www.usnews.com) More...

Flight attendants want to ban lap babies on planes

When the seat belt light blinks on, every passenger buckles up except for one group of fliers: lap babies. Unrestrained children sharing a seat with their parents are exempt from the safety mandate, presenting a growing concern amid recent incidents of severe turbulence. ... Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “The G-forces are not something even the most loving mother or father can guard against and hold their child. It’s just physically… (www.seattletimes.com) More...

Senators Propose Raising US Commercial Pilots Mandatory Retirement Age

A group of seven U.S. senators on Tuesday proposed legislation to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65, in a bid to address airline industry staffing issues. (www.reuters.com) More...

Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Here’s why you can’t.

Picture this: You are on a flight when you learn that the pilots have fallen ill and can no longer fly the plane. A voice comes over the public address system, asking for a volunteer to help land the aircraft. You have no experience, but you have seen “Airplane!” and “Snakes on a Plane.” Maybe you’ve frittered away hours on Microsoft’s Flight Simulator. You throw off your seat belt and march toward the cockpit, your cape rustling behind you. Hold on, hero. You might want to return to your seat… (www.seattletimes.com) More...

FAA And EASA Are Closer After Difficult Discussions

We were faced with five major tragedies: [the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the Germanwings crash, the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war]. (aviationweek.com) More...

Pentagon wants upgraded Pratt & Whitney F135 engines for fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters by 2030

The United States Department of Defense wants an upgraded F135 engine for the F-35 Lightning II fighter jets by the end of this decade. This was announced by a representative of the Joint Program Office F-35 (JPO). (gagadget.com) More...

Lufthansa Airbus A380s to Re-Enter Service From June 1, 2023

Lufthansa has finally announced firm dates for the reintroduction of its Airbus A380 aircraft. (www.gatechecked.com) More...

Pentagon probes lapse in Boeing security credentials for Air Force One - WSJ

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is scrutinizing why Boeing Co employees worked on current and future Air Force One planes without the security credentials required for the highly classified jets, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. Pentagon officials and Boeing have also been examining for how long the workers lacked current security credentials, the report said, citing an official and a person familiar with the matter. The report said the security lapse involved about 250 Boeing… (www.msn.com) More...

Cathay Pacific in Talks to Expand Fleet with up to 50 Airbus Planes

HONG KONG — Sources who spoke to Bloomberg anonymously have revealed that Cathay Pacific is currently in discussions with aircraft lessors to acquire up to 50 Airbus A320neo airliners as the Hong Kong-based carrier seeks to expand its fleet following the easing of Covid-related restrictions. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

The FAA Proposes Lengthening Cockpit Voice Recording Time to 25 Hours

The Federal Aviation Administration is working to establish a requirement that aircraft have longer duration cockpit voice recorders. The announcement comes after the agency held an emergency “safety summit” Wednesday following a series of near-collisions on US runways. (www.cnn.com) More...

Lufthansa moves cargo chief von Boxberg to run Brussels Airlines

Lufthansa is shuffling executives to run Brussels Airlines. (www.freightwaves.com) More...