Tag Archives: IAM

867 The Airline Observer

Guest

Brian Sumers, The Airline Observer. — Brian Sumers

Brian Sumers produces The Airline Observer newsletter dedicated to news and analysis about the global airline business. He covers every facet of the industry except operations. The newsletter targets professionals working in the airline and travel industries, but others with an interest in the industry will also find it valuable. Brian can also be found on The Airshow Podcast with Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder.

Brian explains the types of stories he enjoys reporting on, including the people behind the industry, who is up and who is down, loyalty programs, and revenue management. He’s been covering airlines for some 15 years and tells us about the lack of airline policy and procedures clarity, and who understands their competition and who doesn’t. We hear his thoughts about his recent interviews with Scott Kirby and Sir Tim Clark, some of the hot-button issues that airlines see ahead, and the future of LCCs in the U.S.

Brian is a professional journalist with more than a decade of expertise covering airlines. He has written for Skift, Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveler, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Brian is often found in major media discussing airline news, with recent appearances in the Washington Post, New York Times, and Boston Globe, as well as on CNN, ABC News, and CBS News. He attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School, and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Aviation News

LOT Polish Airlines’ Fraud Case Against Boeing Set to Go to Jury Trial

LOT Polish Airlines’ fraud and misrepresentation case against Boeing is proceeding to a jury trial scheduled for November 3, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. LOT alleges that Boeing rushed the 737 MAX to market, bypassed proper engineering protocols, withheld safety-critical details from regulators, and misled airline customers about the scope and safety of design changes from previous 737 models. The airline claims that these actions led to its belief that the 737 MAX was airworthy and economically advantageous. LOT claims at least $250 million in losses from the grounding, including lost revenue, storage costs, and expenses for replacing the unfit aircraft.

After months of limits, FAA allows Boeing to increase MAX production

The FAA has approved an increase in the production cap for Boeing’s 737 MAX jets, allowing for the manufacture of 42 aircraft per month. This follows a review of Boeing’s manufacturing processes and safety controls. The FAA will continue to supervise Boeing’s operations and monitor the manufacturer’s safety and quality culture. The rate increase helps Boeing’s financial situation by accelerating cash flow, improving debt serviceability, and restoring investor confidence.

Workers reject Boeing’s latest offer after nearly three months on strike

The roughly 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 at Boeing Defense in the St. Louis area rejected the company’s latest contract proposal. In a statement, Boeing said “We’re disappointed with the vote result” and “we are turning our focus to executing the next phase of our contingency plan.”

Boeing’s latest contract offer reduced the ratification bonus, added $3,000 in Boeing shares that vest over three years, and added a $1,000 retention bonus in four years. Wage growth for workers at the top of the pay scale increased in the fourth year of the contract.

Flights to Los Angeles International Airport halted due to air traffic controller shortage

Controller staffing shortages have halted some flights departing for LAX, and staffing-related delays have occurred at Chicago, Washington, and Newark, New Jersey. The temporary FAA ground stop was not expected to be the only time flights will be delayed and canceled as the air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown.

How engine shortages sent almost-new Airbus jets to the scrapyard

Due to a global shortage of commercial jet engines, especially Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine, aircraft are being grounded, and airline costs are increasing worldwide. The situation is so bad that some nearly new aircraft are being stripped for their engines and valuable components, because the engines themselves have greater market value than the entire aircraft.

The shortage of commercial jet engines is a result of supply chain disruptions, powder metal contamination issues with Pratt & Whitney’s Geared TurboFan (GTF) engines, and overwhelmed repair facilities.

Delta Connection Flight 4819

Kreindler & Kreindler LLP is representing 14 passengers from Delta Connection flight 4819 that crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport in February 2025 after a hard landing that caused the right landing gear to fail. This led to the plane’s right wing scraping the ground, breaking off, and the aircraft rolling over on the runway. Strong winds were present at the time, and the crash resulted in a fire from fuel leakage, but all passengers and crew survived. Erin Applebaum, a Partner at Kreindler & Kreindler LLP, gives us an update.

Erin is widely considered a foremost authority on litigating claims governed by the Montreal Convention, the international treaty on commercial air travel.

Mentioned

The Engine Cowl was started on September 1, 2025, by Rytis Beresnevicius, a Lithuania-based independent aviation journalist who previously worked at AeroTime and Simple Flying.

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.

Airplane Geeks Episode 339, where Micah tells the story of “Lew’s Flight of Fancy.”

The inaugural Affordable Flying Expo (AFE25) is set for November 6–8, 2025 in Lakeland, Florida, with exhibits, demo flights, forums, and seminars.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

864 Jet Fighter Pilot

Guest

Dave Berke is a retired U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot and current leadership instructor with Echelon Front. Dave is one of the rare few to have flown the F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and F-35. He also served as the Training Officer at TOPGUN, where he led the staff of instructors who trained the students in air combat tactics and leadership under pressure. He spent a year as a ground Forward Air Controller, calling in air strikes and supporting SEALs, Marines, and Soldiers in the Battle of Ramadi in 2006.

Dave describes how a Marine pilot ended up flying the F-16 and F-22, and what it’s like to fly the F-35B with its STOVL capabilities. He compares different jet fighters he has flown and explains how they are different and how they are similar.

We hear Dave’s thoughts on ground support aircraft and dedicated aircraft platforms in general. Dave tells us the combat environment is changing and how information and airframe flexibility are key now, as opposed to single-role platforms.

Of course, we ask Dave if the Top Gun movies are accurate. His answer is both yes and no, but Top Gun: Maverick is very good from a flying standpoint. Dave tells us the jet fighter career path is more attainable than many people assume. Also, while flying ability is important, being a Top Gun Instructor hinges on being a good teacher.

The Echelon Front leadership consultancy takes the lessons from combat and applies them to people’s personal and professional lives.

In his new book, The Need to Lead: A TOPGUN Instructor’s Lessons on How Leadership Solves Every Challenge, Dave describes the 10 most important mindsets and behaviors for leaders that he learned from the cockpit. Order the book on Amazon, available October 21, 2025.

Fighter pilot Dave "Chip" Berke in the cockpit. — Fighter pilot Dave “Chip” Berke.

Aviation News

FAA proposes to fine Boeing $3.1 million over widespread safety violations

Between September 2023 and February 2024, the FAA found hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing’s 737 factory in Renton, Washington, and at subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems. The FAA also identified interference with safety officials’ independence and proposed a $3.1 million fine, the maximum statutory civil penalty authority consistent with law.

The findings include: presenting two unairworthy aircraft to the FAA for airworthiness certificates, failure to follow its quality system rules, and a Boeing employee pressuring another worker to sign off on a non-compliant 737 MAX. Boeing has 30 days to respond.

Press release: FAA Proposes $3.1 Million in Fines Against Boeing

Boeing Defense, union reach tentative deal to end strike in St. Louis area

On Wednesday, Boeing Defense and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers reached a tentative 5-year contract agreement that would end a five-week-long strike in the St. Louis area.

Striking Boeing workers reject latest offer

However, on Friday, 57% of the IAM members voted to reject the agreement that would have increased the average wage from $75,000 to $109,000. The contract term would have increased from four years to five and included a ratification bonus of $4,000.

Boeing says, “…no further talks are scheduled. We will continue to execute our contingency plan, including hiring permanent replacement workers, as we maintain support for our customers.”

See: Boeing’s Terms of the Strike Settlement Offer [PDF]

NTSB describes the turbulence that threw passengers around the cabin on a Delta flight

In July, a Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam encountered severe turbulence over Wyoming and diverted to Minneapolis. Twenty-four 24 people were evaluated by paramedics, and 18 were taken to hospitals. Two crew members sustained serious injuries.

In a preliminary report, the NTSB said

The pilots had changed their flight path to avoid turbulence from storms, but the encounter caught them by surprise.
The seat belt sign was off.
The turbulence lasted two and a half minutes.
People on board experienced up to 1.75 upward Gs, followed by a half G down.
At one point, the plane’s wing dipped down as much as 40 degrees.

AP reports, “The pilots likely believed they were in the clear after asking air traffic controllers to route them around the storms. But the NTSB charted the plane’s flight path over a radar report from the National Weather Service that showed the plane flew directly into a bright red section of the map showing the worst of the storm.”

How a Global Aerospace Company Landed in Northern Maine

Kansas City-based Aero Intelligence is a certified FAA/EASA 145 Repair Station that offers aircraft asset management, 24/7 AOG, disassembly, recycling, and records management services. Also, engineering support, recruitment services, Maintenance and Engineering Audits and Inspections, Aircraft Refurbishment & Interior Design, project management, and others. The Loring Development Authority wants to create an aerospace hub and bring new jobs to Aroostook County at the former Loring Air Force Base.

Erin Applebaum

Erin Applebaum, our Legal Liaison, attended the Boeing/DOJ deferred prosecution hearing on the Government’s motion to dismiss the criminal charge against Boeing regarding the 737-Max and Ethiopian Flight 302. The DOJ asked the judge to dismiss the charge, accept a non-prosecution agreement with a fine, and allow Boeing to select its own compliance consultant. Erin explains that, in an unprecedented move, the DOJ has declared in writing that it will not prosecute Boeing, even if the judge does not dismiss the charge.

Erin is a Partner in the aviation practice at Kreindler & Kreindler LLP. She represents the interests of passengers severely injured or killed in general aviation and commercial airline accidents.

Mentioned

Video: Underwater Drone Footage Moosehead Lake, Sunken Plane Locating and Recovery Mission

Video: USAF F-22 Raptor Pedal Turn w/ flares

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

824 Robinson Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter

A Robinson hydrogen helicopter, Boeing machinists’ new contract, furloughed Boeing staff and impending layoffs, Jeppesen possibly for sale, incendiary devices at DHL, Boom Supersonic XB-1 test flight, shots fired at Spirit, and air tanker minimum drop height.

Aviation News

Unither Bioelectronics Signs Agreement with Robinson Helicopter Company

Unither Bioelectronics Inc. (UB) and Robinson Helicopter Company have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to accelerate UB’s development and certification of hydrogen-powered helicopters based on Robinson R44 and R66 models. UB is a subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation and CEO Martine Rothblatt said “…we look forward to using protons from green hydrogen to drive the membrane-based fuel cell powerplants in our Robinson R66 organ delivery electric helicopters.”

Robinson Helicopter R66 flying. — Robinson R66 (Courtesy Robinson Helicopter Company)

United Therapeutics adds hydrogen to its electric helicopter plans

United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that says it has been working on a hydrogen-powered R44 prototype for about a year and a half, and its first hover is “hopefully imminent.” In 2016, United Therapeutics began developing a battery-electric-powered Robinson R44 through a partnership with Tier 1 Engineering. A Guinness World Record was set in 2018 for the farthest distance traveled by an electric helicopter—30 nautical miles. UT also has partnerships with eVTOL developers EHang and Beta Technologies.

Boeing strike ends as workers accept new contract

The Machinists Union members accepted the contract with Boeing. Workers will get pay rises over four years. The union had demanded a 40% wage increase and restoration of a defined-benefit pension. The 38% wage increase plus a $12,000 bonus amounted to a 40% increase. The new contract does not restore the pension but promises that the next Boeing airplane will be built in the Seattle area. According to some analysts, the strike cost Boeing around $100 million a day in lost revenue.

Boeing to repay furloughed staff, proceed with job cuts

During the strike, Boeing furloughed some salaried employees, but CEO Kelly Ortberg said they would be repaid for lost wages. At the same time, Ortberg said a 10% cutback of the global workforce would proceed.

A Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) spokesperson said it was informed that 60-day notices of job losses would be issued to its members on Nov. 15, 2024. SPEEA has reached a tentative agreement with Spirit AeroSystems on a new four-year contract that offers at least a 19% pay increase over four years. It includes provisions for greater increases if needed to keep up with labor market conditions, and a guaranteed minimum 5% bonus in the spring of 2025.

Report Says Boeing Eyeing Sale Of Jeppesen

As Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg looks to sell off non-core assets, Bloomberg quotes unnamed sources as saying Jeppesen is a candidate. Jeppesen is the world’s largest provider of aviation charts and air navigation materials. Boeing may be looking to get $6 billion for the company. Boeing paid bought Jeppesen in 2000 for $1.5 billion. Boeing also owns ForeFlight but the Bloomberg report does not mention that company,

Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S. Bound Planes

Electric massagers that held a magnesium-based flammable substance were shipped via DHL from Lithuania and ignited at DHL logistics hubs in Germany and England. Security officials say this was part of a covert Russian operation seeking to start fires on aircraft flying to the U.S. and Canada.

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 jet sets new speed record during 7th test flight

Boom Supersonic plans ten subsonic test flights of their XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft before supersonic speed testing begins. Boom has now completed the seventh of those ten subsonic test flights reaching an altitude of 23,015 feet (7,015 meters) and a new top speed of 629 mph (1,012 kph), or Mach 0.82. Boom Supersonic officials said the flight “focused on flutter envelope expansion and cockpit pressure testing in order to ensure safe performance and handling qualities as XB-1 approaches supersonic speeds and higher altitudes.”

Video: Boom Supersonic XB-1 Hits New Speed Record in Latest Test Flight

Flight Attendant Injured After Spirit Airlines Flight Hit By Gunfire as it Tries to Land in Haiti

Spirit Airlines flight NK-951, an Airbus A320, departed Fort Lauderdale on November 11 for a two-hour flight to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. However, on final approach to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, it came under gunfire, injuring a flight attendant. Airlines were forced to divert and cancel flights to Port-au-Prince. The Spirit flight diverted to Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Spirit has suspended all flights to Port-au-Prince as it evaluates the situation. American Airlines and JetBlue suspended flights to Haiti.

Mentioned

Air safety watchdog releases final report into WA water bomber crash

Safe Drop Height for Fixed-Wing Airtankers

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Max Trescott, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

823 Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum

We visit the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum in Maine and speak with the Vice President and Operations Manager, and the Executive Director. In the news, more furloughs and cost-cutting measures at Spirit Airlines, the FAA’s final rule is out on powered-lift vehicles such as eVTOLS, a fuel top-off assumption leads to the loss of a Beechcraft B-60, the “doomsday plane” gets an official designation, and Boeing machinists vote again on a contract proposal.

Guests

At the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum we spoke with Vice President and Operations Manager Jeff Smat and Executive Director John B. Briley.

Front of the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum.

The Museum was founded in 2009 as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with a mission to preserve the rich heritage of NAS Brunswick (NASB) by honoring the tens of thousands of men and women who served here, educate the public about the history of maritime patrol aviation and NASB, and maintain a memorial for those NASB-based airmen who gave their lives in service to their country.

The museum is located at 179 Fitch Avenue, Brunswick, ME 04011. Currently, the Museum and Memorial Gardens are open Wednesdays (10:00 am-4:00 pm) and Sundays (12:00 pm-4:00 pm).

For more on SERE, see Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape.

Vice President and Operations Manager Jeff Smat at the flight simulator. — Jeff Smat on the flight simulator.

Aviation News

Spirit to Furlough More Than 300 Pilots as Losses Mount

Spirit Airlines is experiencing financial difficulty and a second-quarter net loss of $158 million. More red ink is expected for the third quarter. Last month the airline furloughed 186 pilots and plans to do the same for 330 more pilots effective January 31, 2025. (Spirit has 3,500 pilots.) About 120 captains are to be downgraded. Spirit says it will sell 23 of its Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft next year. That’s a fleet reduction of about 11 percent.

Energy Reserves and Pilot Training For eVTOLs Addressed in FAA’s SFAR Rules

The FAA issued its final rule for powered-lift vehicles, such as eVTOLS. The Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes – Final Rule adopts permanent amendments and a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for ten years to facilitate the certification of powered-lift pilots, clarify operating rules applicable to operations involving a powered-lift, and finalize other amendments which are necessary to integrate powered-lift into the National Airspace System (NAS).

The Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes NPRM was issued in June 2023.

Standing order to top off fuel tanks backfires on pilot

In November 2022, the pilot of a Beechcraft B-60 (N51AL) assumed the FBO topped off the fuel tanks, per his standing fueling order, before hangaring the aircraft. But fuel was not added this time and the pilot landed in a cemetery when both fuel-starved Lycoming engines quit. The pilot and his wife sustained minor injuries. See Project Summary: Aviation Investigation – 3 Docket Items – ERA23LA050 from the NTSB.

SNC Receives Second Boeing 747-8 for SAOC Conversion as Aircraft Gets E-4C Designation

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) now has the second of five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air for conversion to “Doomsday aircraft,” which become airborne command centers during national emergencies. These provide critical command, control, and communication (C3) for the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The E-4C will replace the current fleet of E-4B Nightwatch B747-200 aircraft. The contract notice says the award was for $13 Billion.

SOC recently cut the ribbon for its Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) at its Aviation Innovation and Technology Center (AITC) in Dayton, Ohio. This 100,000 sq. ft. hangar is located near Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Boeing Machinists head to the polls in decisive vote that could end strike

As we record this episode, members of the Boeing Machinists Union are voting to accept or reject the contract offer that includes a 38% general pay hike over four years.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.

816 Aerospace Workforce Development

Aerospace workforce development with the CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance. In the news, the Machinist Union votes to strike Boeing, the TSA looks to Real ID enforcement, United Airlines makes a deal with SpaceX for inflight WiFi from Starlink, and more aviation firefighting foam news. Also, interviews from the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast with the Southport Flying Club and Airport president, an Air Commodore with the RAAF, and a decorated Australian war hero.

Members of the delegation at the Farnborough Air Show — Washington state delegation at the Farnborough Air Show

Guest

Nikki Malcom is the CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA), a non-profit trade association that promotes the growth and global competitiveness of the Pacific Northwest. Nikki has spent many years in various roles dedicated to the aerospace industry and is obsessed with all things aviation and aerospace, including manufacturing. Nikki was previously our guest in Episode 741.

We get an update on the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Cluster, the grant-funded initiative with the mission to make the Pacific Northwest a magnet for aerospace manufacturing. Nikki explains the focus on workforce development [PDF], specifically aerospace career awareness, and all the many different roles in the supply chain.

Nikki tells us that the Aerospace From the Ground Up podcast will be launching on the Aerospace is for Everyone YouTube channel. It will mainly target the 18-25 age group, but not exclusively. We can expect to see interviews with and about the people in the industry. The PNAA is working to get more people into the pipeline. That includes launching a mentorship program and developing an online community.

PNAA provides business development by representing aerospace interests at Farnborough and other trade shows. Nikki also describes events organized by the Association, including the PNAA Advance 2025 conference to be held February 3-5, 2025. We also hear about the Aerospace Futures Alliance which advocates for Washington state’s aerospace industry.

Aviation News

Boeing Machinists reject contract as 96% vote to strike

The International Association of Machinists membership voted to go on strike at Boeing, despite the union leadership recommending they accept the negotiated contract. 94.6% of the members voted to reject the contract and 96% voted to strike. The proposed contract offered a 25% wage increase over four years but also dropped the annual bonus, which some estimated to be about 4% each year. The union wanted 40% over 3 years. Boeing Commercial Airplane CEO Stephanie Pope told employees in a message that “we did not hold back with an eye on a second vote.”

TSA announces proposed rule to provide necessary flexibility as federal agencies prepare to enforce REAL ID requirements beginning May 7, 2025

President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act [PDF] into law in 2005. It requires that an identity document, like a driver’s license, show that the holder has had their identity verified. Real IDs would be necessary for accessing federal facilities and nuclear power plants, and boarding commercial flights in the United States.

The TSA now wants to implement the program by May 7, 2025 and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been published that would provide federal agencies with the necessary flexibility to begin enforcement of the REAL ID regulations on the May 7, 2025 deadline in a manner that takes into account security, operational risk, and public impact. The comment period ends October 15, 2024.

For more information on REAL ID, visit TSA.gov/real-id. A map there lets you click through to see how to comply with REAL ID for each US state and territory.

United Airlines bumps GEO operators off fleet for Starlink Wi-Fi

United Airlines currently provides inflight WiFi through several geostationary satellite operators. Now the airline has made a deal with SpaceX to utilize the Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation. United says the inflight WiFi will be free and the service will be the same as you’d expect on the ground with live streaming, gaming, and connecting multiple devices simultaneously. Following testing in early 2025, United expects to equip more than 1,000 planes in its international fleet with Starlink connectivity over several years.

United press release: The Inflight Wi-Fi Revolution Now Arriving: United Signs Starlink Deal to Provide Industry-Leading Connectivity in the Sky – For Free

Starlink has Wi-Fi agreements with smaller airlines and regional jet service providers including Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, Qatar Airways, Zipair, JSX, Flexjet, and Aero.

Inspectors warned of ‘tremendous’ potential for accidental foam discharge at Brunswick airport

Fourteen months before accidentally discharging 51,000 gallons of firefighting foam, an inspection of the system found it deficient with a high probability of failure. Yet the issues were not corrected.

Pacific Airshow Gold Coast

Interviews with:

Craig Hobart, the president of the Southport Flying Club and Airport. This is one of the 4 airfields used by the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast. It’s also a private flying club.

Mika Gray, an Air Commodore with the RAAF. We hear why the RAAF supports the airshow.

Garry Cooper, an Australian who was awarded the US Air Force Cross during his combat tour in Vietnam. He is the only non-American ever awarded the cross twice. He was also awarded the RAAF Distinguished Flying Cross, among many others. See also: Interview with Gary Cooper.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

790 Airline Ticket Price

The components of an airline ticket price, Boeing’s contract negotiations with the International Association of Machinists, the NTSB’s frustration with Boeing’s cooperation, American Airlines’ order of 260 planes, an Alaska Airlines flight with an open cargo door, pilots falling asleep mid-flight, an Alaska Supreme Court ruling on aircraft surveillance, and a “technical event” involving a LATAM flight.

Aviation News

UK Air Passenger Duty Increasing, Premium Cabins Hit Hardest

The passenger tax in the UK is called the Air Passenger Duty (APD) and it is just one part of an airline ticket price. One Mile at a Time calls the APD “the highest passenger tax on air travel anywhere in the world.” As of April 1, 2024, the APD is going up:

The domestic economy APD will increase by £0.50, from £6.50 to £7 (~$9)
The domestic premium APD will increase by £1, from £13 to £14 (~$18)
The long haul economy APD will increase by £4, from £84 to £88 (~$112)
The long haul premium APD will increase by £9, from £185 to £194 (~$246)
The ultra long haul economy APD will increase by £1, from £91 to £92 (~$117)
The ultra long haul premium APD will increase by £2, from £200 to £202 (~$257)

Additional increases are planned for 2025.

An airline ticket price is made up of the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges. Government taxes and fees include an excise tax (a 7.5% tax imposed by the U.S. government on domestic flights), flight segment tax (a $4 fee per flight segment), a passenger facility charge (an airport fee determined by the U.S. airport from which you depart), the September 11 security fee ($5.60 per one-way trip to offset security costs), Air Passenger Duty (APD) (for flights departing from the U.K.), and other country-specific charges.

As watershed contract talks with Boeing open, Machinists think big

Boeing and the International Association of Machinists are negotiating a new labor contract. The union’s District 751 represents more than 32,000 Boeing Machinists. The union says they’ll ask for a wage increase of over 40% over the next three years and the restoration of its traditional pension. Also, a commitment to build the next new Boeing airplane in Seattle, more quality inspectors, more union input into quality control, and a shift in the corporate culture to one that doesn’t alienate employees. IAM president Jon Holden said the union “must stand up and save this company from itself.” A mass meeting and strike authorization vote are scheduled for mid-July. The contract expires on September 12, 2024.

NTSB Chair Not Pleased With Boeing’s Cooperation On Door Plug Probe

Regarding the investigation into the Alaska Airlines door plug incident, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy recently testified at a Senate hearing that “Boeing has not provided us with the documents and information that we have requested numerous times over the past few months.” At the hearing, Homendy complained that Boeing was not cooperating as the NTSB attempted to interview team members.

NTSB Chair: Alaska 1282 investigation is like ‘peeling an onion’

In an exclusive interview with The Air Current, Jennifer Homendy said the NTSB is planning a public investigative hearing into the January 5 accident aboard Alaska Airlines 1282. Homendy told TAC that the hearing will occur towards the end of the summer.

American Airlines to buy 260 new planes from Boeing, Airbus and Embraer to meet growing demand

American Airlines ordered 260 new aircraft and placed options for up to 193 more planes. The orders include 85 Boeing 737 Max 10s, 85 A321neo planes from Airbus, and 90 E175 aircraft from Embraer.

Alaska Airlines flight carrying pets arrives with cargo door open as carrier and Boeing face $1B lawsuit

An Alaska Airlines flight from Los Cabos, Mexico arrived at Portland, Oregon with its cargo door partly open. None of the pets in the cargo hold were injured. Alaska Airlines told KOIN in a statement that “there was no indication to the crew that the door was unsealed during [last Friday’s] flight and all indications point to the door partially opening after landing.” Also, “Our maintenance teams inspected the aircraft, replaced a spring in the door, tested the door, and reentered it into service.”

A plane was flying with 159 onboard. Then both pilots fell asleep

A preliminary report by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee says both pilots of a PT Batik Air Indonesia flight fell asleep at about the same time for around 28 minutes. The plane was carrying 153 passengers and four crew members headed to Jakarta on a two-hour and 35-minute flight.

Officers need warrants to use aircraft, zoom lenses to surveil areas around homes, Alaska court says

According to the Alaska Supreme Court, law enforcement officers cannot use aircraft with binoculars or cameras with zoom lenses to surveil a person’s home, unless they obtain a warrant. This stems from a 2012 case where Alaska State Troopers flew past a property to verify a tip that marijuana was being grown there. The officers used a camera and zoom lens to take photos of the property. Based on what they saw, a search warrant was obtained.

At least 50 hurt as LATAM’s Boeing 787 to Auckland ‘just dropped’ mid-flight

A Boeing 787 operated by LATAM Airlines experienced what the airline called a “technical event” mid-flight from Sydney to Auckland. Reportedly, the plane abruptly dropped and at least 50 people were hurt. Ten passengers and three cabin crew members were taken to a hospital. One person is in serious condition. The 787-9 Dreamliner (registered CC-BGG) operated as flight LA800 between Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.

A passenger told the BBC “The plane, unannounced, just dropped. I mean it dropped unlike anything I’ve ever experienced on any kind of minor turbulence, and people were thrown out of their seats, hit the top of the roof of the plane, throwing down the aisles. Some of the roof panels were broken from people being thrown up and knocking through the plastic roof panels in the aisle ways. And there was blood coming from several people’s heads.”

Mentioned

Understanding The UK Air Passenger Duty (APD)

FlightSimExpo

This new Airbus air taxi has a 50-mile range and is quieter than a hairdryer

XPeng’s AeroHT flexes its eVTOL expertise, taking its X2 flying car to the skies above Guangzhou

Aviation Careers Podcast

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, Max Trescott, David Vanderhoof, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

440 Glass Cockpit Avionics

This episode, we talk to the president of Dynon Avionics, a company that designs, builds, and supports glass cockpit avionics for builders and pilots of small aircraft. In the news, we discuss a celebrity landing on a taxiway, the 2017 General Aviation Awards, a capacity cutback on commercial flights to Cuba, a town that took a man’s Cessna, and the union representation vote at Boeing’s South Carolina plant.

Robert Hamilton, president of glass cockpit avionics company Dynon Avionics

Guest

Robert Hamilton is the president of Dynon Avionics. The company was founded in 2000 and is a leader in glass cockpit avionics for light aircraft. Starting with inexpensive AOA indicators, Dynon expanded the line to affordable Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) and a full range of glass cockpit avionics products for pilots.

Robert Hamilton in the Sportsman

Robert learned to fly as a teenager in the family J-3 Cub in the 1970s. More recently he owned a glass panel Diamond DA-40, and built a SkyView-equipped Glasair Sportsman. Last summer Robert earned his seaplane rating.

Robert began his career as a Flight Controls Engineer at Boeing working on the 747. But to get more into the business side, he went to the Graduate Business School at Harvard then on to Fluke Corporation as a Senior Manager where he built their electrical power business and helped develop the unique Fluke brand. But aviation called to Robert and he joined Dynon Avionics in 2008 as head of Marketing, and then became company President in 2012.

As a volunteer, Robert was the president of the Washington Pilots Association at Paine Field, and is a member of AOPA and EAA.

Dynon SkyView HDX

Aviation News

Harrison Ford in Incident With Passenger Plane at California Airport

When a pilot lands on a taxiway instead of the runway, it might not get too much attention in the mainstream media. When Harrison Ford does that in his Husky, it makes the national news.

2017 National GA Award winners named

Each year, the General Aviation Awards program and the FAA recognize the contributions of aviation professionals to general aviation. Recipients of the 2017 National General Aviation Awards are:

Charles Gensler of Parker, Colorado — Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year
Brian Carpenter of Corning, California — Aviation Technician of the Year
Mark Ducorsky of Lakeland, Florida — FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year

The awards will be presented by the FAA during EAA AirVenture 2017 in Oshkosh,Wisconsin.

EAA, Dynon Expand STC Program For GA Aircraft

Some Beechcraft, Grumman, Maule, and Mooney models are now eligible for the STC allowing installation of Dynon electronic flight information systems. The EFIS-D10A and EFIS-D100 can be installed in models on the Approved Model List, which EAA says will continue to expand.

JetBlue Follows American Airlines and Cuts Capacity in Cuba

When scheduled commercial service to Cuba was announced, we were pretty excited, and so were the airlines. Large numbers of flights were allocated to the airlines and some people wondered if the Cuban infrastructure would be strained under the influx of visitors. But it’s not turning out that way.

Elderly pilot’s Cessna dismantled in his driveway and hauled away by Long Island town

A 69-year old pilot gave up his pilot’s license in 2015 for health reasons. He had his Cessna 152 moved to his driveway in Long Island, but neighbors and the town of Oceanside didn’t think too much of that. When the man was out of the country, the town had the plane removed from the driveway, after disassembling the wings.

Workers at Boeing’s South Carolina plant reject union

According to the NLRB, 74 percent of the 2,828 voting workers at Boeing’s South Carolina plant turned down representation by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

Mentioned

Flights Above the Pacific Northwest is a closed Facebook group, originally created with the intent of sharing pictures and videos of local flights around the Pacific Northwest. FATPNW has grown to become an active online community.

Pima Air & Space Museum

Tattoos in Flight

Hey Techies show – Max Trescott was their guest on Hey Techies 84 talking about learning to fly.

What is additive manufacturing? – Published on May 22, 2013 by GE Aviation.

Austria to sue Airbus over Eurofighter contract

Credit

Intro music courtesy Brother Love from his Album Of The Year CD. Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.