Tag Archives: LaGuardia

892 Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations

Aviation News

Spirit Airlines shuts down, industry’s first Iran war casualty

Spirit Airlines shut down operations on May 2, 2026, and canceled all flights. In a statement, the company announced “an orderly wind-down of operations” and “Unfortunately, despite the company’s efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook.”

Also on May 2, the DOT released Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Secures Relief for Spirit Airlines’ Flyers and Employees with actions for flyers and former Spirit employees. These include capped ticket prices, reduced fares, and benefits for former Spirit Airlines team members.

Aircraft Technicians Make Six Figures and Airlines Can’t Find Enough of Them

Aircraft mechanics are aging out, with over 40% over 60 and nearing retirement. As airlines await new aircraft, their existing fleets require intensive maintenance. According to an industry report, North America is expected to face a shortfall of almost 7,000 certificated mechanics. The estimated shortfall of noncertificated maintenance personnel is 15,000. Entry-level salaries have jumped about 50% since 2020, and some carriers have offered signing bonuses of up to $75,000 to recruit workers.

Sonex Reopens Under New Ownership

ON Capital, Inc., led by aviator and general contractor Stephen Osborne, has acquired all assets of Sonex LLC, including the Sonex Aerospace and the AeroConversions line of products. “The lights are on, crews are working, and kits are moving.” Stephen Osborne is a lifetime EAA member, a third-generation aviator, a warbird pilot, and a flight-school owner.

Waco Aircraft Ceases Operations

The WACO YMF-4 biplane on the ground. — WACO YMF-5.

Waco Aircraft Corporation has ceased operations and terminated most, if not all, of its employees. About 60 people worked at the plant in Battle Creek, Michigan. Employees left work as usual on Tuesday and shortly afterward received an email telling them not to report for work on Wednesday. A sign was posted on the front door on Wednesday confirming the bad news.

China Cover-up After Pilot Killed 132 by Flying Plane into Mountain

The NTSB confirms earlier leaks that China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735, a Boeing 737, was intentionally crashed into mountains in Guangxi province in March 2022, killing all on board. The flight recorders show that both engines were shut down manually, the autopilot was switched off, and the jet was put into a nosedive.

United Airlines 1382 NTSB Final Report [PDF]

The NTSB has issued its final investigation report on the February 2, 2025, incident involving United Airlines flight UA-1382. The Airbus A319 experienced a right-hand engine failure, and the pilots performed an emergency stop on the runway. Passengers saw an engine fire, panicked, and overwhelmed the flight attendants as they attempted to exit the aircraft with their carry-on luggage. In the mayhem, slides were deployed while the left-side engine was still running.

Driver on N.J. Turnpike hurt as United plane hits pole on approach to Newark airport

United Airlines Flight UA169, a Boeing 767 carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members, hit a tractor-trailer and a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike during final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport. The truck driver was briefly hospitalized. The incident was caught on the truck’s dash cam.

Deadly LaGuardia Airport crash investigation prompts Port Authority to install transponders in airfield vehicles

In March, Jazz Aviation flight 646 (operating as Air Canada flight 8646), a CRJ-900, collided with Rescue 35 (R35), an Oshkosh Striker 1500 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, while landing on runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were fatally injured.

The fire truck involved in the crash did not have a transponder. The NTSB says in order for ASDE-X to work well, vehicles on runways need transponders. The Port Authority has now announced that it will install transponders on all airfield vehicles at local airports.

Several companies produce FAA-certified VMATs (Vehicle Movement Area Transponders):

uAvionix — VTU-20 all-in-one design operating on 1.5 watts in an IP67-rated enclosure, and supports both permanent and magnetic mounting. The VTU-20 has been deployed to over 60 airports across the National Airspace System.
PASSUR Aerospace (formerly L3Harris / Exelis) — ARiVA VMAT providing options for internally and externally mounted VMAT units. PASSUR has supplied and installed more than 2,300 VMAT ADS-B units throughout the United States.
FreeFlight Systems — VMAT 1.0, with hot-start capability, a compact rugged design, low power draw (10–40 VDC input). It is operational at major U.S. airports, supporting thousands of vehicles. FreeFlight Systems
AirBOSS (INDMEX Aviation) — The Portable Vehicle Tracking Transponder (PVTT), includes hardwired GPS modules and software-based tracking applications.

The Last Moments of Jeju Flight 2216

Jeju Air Flight 2216 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport in South Korea. On December 29, 2024, the Boeing 737-800 experienced bird strikes on approach to Muan, affecting both engines. The right engine lost thrust, the pilots issued a mayday, and attempted a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the landing gear did not deploy, and the aircraft belly-landed beyond the normal touchdown zone on Runway 19. The aircraft skidded off the runway at high speed and collided with a concrete structure. Of the 181 people on board, 179 were killed, with only two flight attendants surviving.

The investigation concluded that all passengers would have survived if the ILS antenna structure and its support berm had been built of frangible (breakaway) materials in accordance with international safety guidelines.

Mentioned

The Real Heroes Are Dead By James B. Stewart in The New Yorker, February 3, 2002.

Hosts this Episode

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

891 Airline Ticket Pricing

2 Replies

Dynamic airline ticket pricing, Blackhawk helicopter altitude instrumentation, a U.S. Government equity position in Spirit Airlines, the NTSB preliminary report on the fatal LGA accident, capacity cuts at airports, AI-enabled ATC, the Digital Tower Technology Coalition, and SpaceX Starlink in-motion aviation plans.

Aviation News

JetBlue sued over claims it uses customers’ personal data to set ticket prices

Airline executives have told Congress that personal data is not used to dynamically set ticket prices. However, a complaint has been filed in federal court alleging that JetBlue uses “trackers” and shares data with third parties to dynamically set prices. This stems from an exchange on X where a passenger complained about a ticket price increase and JetBlue responded by saying the passenger should try “clearing your cache and cookies or booking with an incognito window.” JetBlue later stated that the response was incorrect and added that “fares can change at any moment as seats are purchased or as inventory is adjusted based on demand”.

Army aviation chief: D.C. crash ‘wasn’t about’ outdated Black Hawk cockpit

At a media briefing on Bell’s MV-75 tiltrotor, The Air Current asked the commanding general of Army Aviation, Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, whether last year’s fatal midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet changed the Army’s thinking about fielding the Black Hawk’s partial replacement. Gill answered, “No, it’s completely unrelated.” The MV-75 will have “a more advanced cockpit, but the D.C. crash really wasn’t about whether or not it was an advanced cockpit or not.” This implied that faulty altimeters and outdated avionics in the accident helicopter did not substantially contribute to the crash.

The NTSB found that altitude exceedances on the Washington, D.C., helicopter routes were likely exacerbated by inaccurate altimeters on older UH-60L “Lima” Black Hawks, including the one involved in the crash.

Possible Spirit rescue fuels new fears about government involvement in business

The Federal government is considering an equity deal to keep Spirit Airlines afloat. Under the proposal, the airline would receive $500 million, providing additional liquidity as Spirit works to emerge from bankruptcy. The U.S. government could own up to 90% of the airline, according to sources.

Reportedly, the government would charge Spirit a reasonable interest rate and move to the top of the debtor list. CBS News says, “The loan would be protected by Spirit assets that would exceed the government’s costs, and would provide taxpayers with a warrant — the right to own 90% of the company after it emerges from bankruptcy.” Also, “The Pentagon would use Spirit’s excess capacity for transporting troops, military cargo, or other missions. The airline would then likely be sold to another carrier.”

See:

NTSB Report LGA Air Canada Incident [PDF]

On March 22, 2026, Jazz Aviation LP flight 646 (operating as Air Canada flight 8646), a CRJ-900, was substantially damaged after it collided with Rescue 35 (R35), an Oshkosh Striker 1500 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, while landing on runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were fatally injured.

Of the 2 flight attendants, 72 passengers, and 2 crew of the ARFF vehicle, 39 were transported to local hospitals with 6 serious injuries reported. The airplane was a Part 129 scheduled flight from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Montreal, Quebec, to LGA.

A review of the ASDE-X system data by the FAA determined that the system did not generate an aural or visual alert on the ASDE-X displays in the LGA ATC tower to warn controllers of the potential runway conflict.

FAA orders Chicago O’Hare International Airport to cut over 300 planned flights daily between May and October

The FAA is ordering flight reductions at Chicago O’Hare International Airport over the summer travel season. 3,080 daily flights were scheduled for peak summer days in 2026. Now O’Hare flights will be restricted to 2,708 per day from May 17 to Oct. 24. This change is motivated by capacity and operational delay concerns.

The FAA said it intends to bring in more air traffic controllers, speed up controller training, reduce delays by optimizing routes and airspace, and increase communication between the agency, the airport, and airlines during high-risk periods.

FAA quietly developing AI enabled air traffic management system

The Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) is an artificial intelligence-powered software tool designed for air traffic management. People familiar with the project say it could fundamentally change how the U.S. airspace system operates.

Palantir, Thales, and Airspace Intelligence (ASI) are competing on the initiative. Operational start could be as early as later this year. The system could enable the FAA to plan for bottlenecks and anticipate schedule conflicts before an aircraft even leaves the ground. This contrasts with today’s human-centric, reactive ATC structure.

Digital Tower Technology Coalition Pushing Remote ATC

The Digital Tower Technology Coalition “is an alliance of stakeholders advocating for the FAA’s implementation of the digital tower program, as outlined in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. By leveraging U.S. airports, regional partners, air traffic controllers, original equipment manufacturers, and federal partners, our coalition seeks to ensure an efficient and transparent process while strengthening U.S. global competitiveness in cutting-edge aviation technology.”

See the Press Release: Introducing the Digital Tower Technology Coalition, Representing Bold Commitment to Innovation in Effort to Modernize U.S. Aviation [PDF]

SpaceX Cuts Starlink Aviation Prices – New GA Plans Start at $200/Month

When SpaceX imposed a 100 mph speed cap on all non-aviation plans, general aviation pilots were forced to switch to more expensive aviation-specific tiers. That generated an outcry from the flying community, including a petition with over 9,500 signatures. GA pilots had been using Starlink Roam for $50 per month with a 100GB data cap. Now SpaceX has made some changes to its in-motion aviation plans.

Aviation 300MPH is renamed General Aviation Local 50GB, the price is lowered to $200 per month (from $250), and the monthly data limit is increased to 50GB (from 20GB). Additional data can be purchased in 50GB blocks for $25 (from $10 per GB).

The Aviation 450 MPH plan is now General Aviation Global 50GB, which is still $1,000 per month, but the monthly data cap has been increased to 50GB (from 20GB). Additional data can be purchased in 50GB blocks for $100 (from $50 per GB).

Mentioned

Swiss cheesemakers allowed to artificially make holes in Emmental cheese

Hosts this Episode

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

890 Airport Surface Detection Equipment

Aviation News

Seconds before LaGuardia crash, controller cleared the fire truck to cross the runway, NTSB says

The NTSB has determined that a LaGuardia Airport air traffic controller cleared the fire truck to cross a runway 12 seconds before the Air Canada flight touched down. The two pilots were killed in the resulting collision. The NTSB has yet to identify how this was allowed to happen.

Unanswered questions:

Are two overnight duty controllers enough?
Why didn’t a runway warning system sound an alert?
Who was coordinating air and ground traffic?
Did the fire truck hear the controller’s last-second pleas to stop?

LaGuardia has an advanced surface surveillance system called Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X). This system displays the locations of planes and vehicles to the Controllers. The fire truck didn’t have a transponder, but the emergency vehicles behind it stopped in time. Possibly, the close proximity of the vehicles merging kept the system from triggering an alarm.

ASDE-X is a surveillance system that uses radar, multilateration, and satellite technology to allow air traffic controllers to track the surface movement of aircraft and vehicles. It was developed to help reduce critical Category A and B runway incursions.

Graphic image of airport layout showing different sensors used for ASDE-X. — ASDE-X overview from FAA presentation.

The ASDE-X collects data from a variety of sensors:

Surface surveillance radar located on top of the air traffic control tower and/or surface surveillance radar located on a remote tower
Multilateration (MLat) sensors located around the airport
Airport Surveillance Radars, such as the Mode S
Automatic Dependent Surveillance — Broadcast (ADS-B) sensors
Terminal automation system to obtain flight plan data.

Multilateration (MLat) sensors determine an object’s position by measuring the time differences of signals received from multiple known locations. They are commonly used in applications such as air traffic control and navigation to accurately track the locations of vehicles or devices.

Frontier Airlines Pilots ‘Slam On the Brakes’ to Avoid Colliding With Two Trucks at Los Angeles International Airport

Frontier Airlines flight F9-3216, an Airbus A321, was taxiing for departure at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when it encountered two trucks that cut it off. To avoid a collision, the pilots were forced to “slam on the brakes.”

The Frontier pilot told LAX controllers, “It happened so fast, both of us are like holy shit and slammed on the brakes… I might have to call the flight attendants, make sure everyone is alright in the back. It was real close… close as I’ve ever seen.”

Plane suffered ‘substantial’ damage after hitting de-icing trucks at Denver airport

On March 6, 2026, a United Airlines plane struck two de-icing trucks at Denver International Airport (DIA) as it was taxiing out of the de-icing pad. No on-board injuries occurred, although one de-icing agent suffered minor injuries. The plane suffered substantial damage. There was some confusion about whether the plane had been cleared to leave the de-icing pad.

FAA proposes to hire 2,300 air traffic controllers in budget request

At the end of September, the FAA employed 13,164 air traffic controllers, about 3,500 short of the targeted staffing level. The FAA’s fiscal 2027 budget request proposes funding to hire 2,300 air traffic controller trainees, with about $95.4 million earmarked for that effort. A WSOC Charlotte, SC video reports that gamers are being offered paid training and other incentives if they apply.

Navy MQ-4C Triton’s Fate Unknown After Disappearing From Flight Tracking Over Persian Gulf

Open-source tracking indicates the surveillance drone suddenly turned toward Iran and transmitted the universal 7700 emergency code. It descended from more than 50,000 feet toward approximately 9,000 feet, then disappeared from public tracking networks.

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is the maritime version of RQ-4 Global Hawk. It is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned surveillance aircraft flown by the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Navy had 20 Triton aircraft in service in 2025, and had planned to acquire seven more. The unit cost was estimated to be just over $238 million.

See: US Navy MQ-4C Triton Vanishes Near Iran After Emergency Code: Did Tehran Just Down America’s US$200 Million Spy Drone?

Utah’s getting air taxis sooner than expected. Here’s when.

Paul Damron, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) air mobility program manager, says unmanned electric aircraft might be carrying packages and medical supplies as early as this summer. The FAA has designated UDOT to lead one of eight national pilot programs focused on integrating electric aircraft into various airspaces.

Initially operating out of Utah’s airports, the long-term goal is to create “vertiports” and connect them to existing transit modes. Under the uFLY pilot program, Utah leads a five-state partnership with Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Aircraft will be tested under a variety of environmental conditions.

Hosts this Episode

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

889 The Lost Joy of Flying

2 Replies

The decline of enjoyment in today’s air travel experience, special TSA treatment for Congress members, consolidating ATC functions, TRACON evacuations, Artemis II, Part 141 training organizations, and aerial refueling. Also, Av-Con 2026, Spacewoman documentary, “souls onboard,” and EAS.

Aviation News

‘The alarm bells are going off’: Air travel hits new lows

Recent events have made commercial air travel a difficult proposition for many air travelers. We see increasing fuel costs and increasing ticket prices, long lines at some security checkpoints, TSA workers absent, recent accidents, air traffic controller shortages, equipment malfunctions, and more.

The U.S. Travel Association’s senior vice president of government relations, Erik Hansen, said of passengers, “What they’re seeing is chaos, and what they’re seeing is a system that doesn’t work.”

Delta suspends special congressional services amid shutdown

In a statement to The Hill, Delta said, “Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta. Next to safety, Delta’s no. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.” Those services have included airport escorts and red coat services.

Senate passes measure prohibiting preferential airport screening for lawmakers

Just days before the Delta action, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a proposal to end the special treatment members of Congress get at airports. That included permitting members of Congress to speed through or skip security screening checkpoints. To become law, the House would have to pass the bill, and the President would have to sign it.

LaGuardia controller staffing may have violated procedures on night of collision, document shows

On March 22, 2026, an Air Canada jet landing at LaGuardia struck a fire truck, killing both pilots. LaGuardia tower’s standard operating procedures specify that a controller cannot perform both air and ground duties. The NTSB is investigating the roles of the controllers at the time of the crash.

A 2023 rule in the LaGuardia Tower Standard Operating Procedures states, “Positions at LaGuardia Tower are not to be consolidated to one position prior to midnight local time or 90 minutes after the start of the shift, whichever is later.” Those familiar with the matter said the rule remained in effect in 2026.

D.C.-area ATC evacuations followed 2025 smoke event which injured controllers

On March 13, 2026, FAA operations were disrupted after Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) reported a strong smell. Fire responders investigated, and the source was identified as an overheated circuit board. That incident caused a ground stop lasting a little over two hours, affecting DCA, IAD, BWI, and nearby airports.

On March 27, 2026, the TRACON was evacuated again after another strong chemical smell, reportedly originating from an overheated battery backup or other electrical component in the break room/IT area. That second evacuation also triggered ground stops and significant delays across the region.

A similar event occurred in April 2025, when smoke entered the Potomac TRACON control room. That incident did not lead to an evacuation, but did leave multiple controllers with health issues severe enough to affect their medical certificates.

Artemis II Headed for the Moon

The Artemis II Mission flew four astronauts around the moon before returning them to Earth. The planned 10-day test flight is the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972 that humans have departed Earth orbit. NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2026.

The Artemis III mission will launch a crew in the Orion spacecraft atop the SLS rocket to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial spacecraft (SpaceX and Blue Origin) needed to land astronauts on the Moon. NASA will announce specifics on the Artemis III mission design and crew closer to the 2027 launch.

Artemis IV astronauts will travel to lunar orbit, where two crew members will descend to the surface and spend approximately a week near the Moon’s South Pole conducting new science before returning to lunar orbit to rejoin their crew for the journey back to Earth.

Report Calls for Major Flight Training Changes

The FAA has released a 471-page report by the National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA) titled A Comprehensive Modernization of Pilot Training Conducted by 14 CFR Part 141 Training Organizations, which states:

“The goal of this modernization effort is unambiguous: to develop a robust certification and regulatory framework under 14 CFR Part 141 that stands alone as the preeminent accreditation and method by which aviators are trained throughout the world. Under this new framework, achieving FAA certification would represent the highest standard of training excellence available anywhere negating the need for further accreditation or external oversight. The American flight training system would, in this vision, stand alone already.“

The key recommendations include:

Establishing a dedicated Central Management Office responsible for all Part 141 pilot school initial certification and ongoing certificate management.
Establishing both Safety Management Systems and Quality Management Systems within the Part 141 training environment.
Reforming how the FAA manages and oversees certificated pilot schools.
Developing industry consensus standards as an alternate means of compliance with Part 141 regulations.
Reforming the Part 141 examining authority framework.
Expanding Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) and Technology Credit and Usage.
Modernizing training course appendices.
Replacing Provisional Pilot School with Registered Pilot School.

A-10 Warthog Being Tested With Aerial Refueling Probe Bolted Onto Its Nose

A test A-10 has been flown for the first time with a refueling probe replacing its normal aerial refueling receptacle. The A-10 successfully connected to the aerial refueling drogue of a C-130.

The Air Force uses a flying boom system, while the Navy uses a probe-and-drogue system.

Mentioned

The “Spacewoman” documentary about Eileen Collins, the first woman Shuttle pilot.

Journey is the Reward / Airplane Geeks Meet-Up, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 4:00 PM at Charlie’s Pizza, Restaurant and Pub (1980 Rt. 37, Manchester Township, NJ 08759).

Visiting the Av-Con 2026 in Atlanta – Held April 4, 2026, at the Delta Flight Museum. Av-Con is described as “the world’s first convention built for aviation fans by aviation creators.”

Souls On Board

Hosts this Episode

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

887 Runway Incursion

Aviation News

Decades of aircraft and ground vehicle near misses at LGA preceded fatal crash

Air Canada CRJ900 operated by Jazz. — CRJ900, courtesy Air Canada.

A tragic runway incursion at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, ended in disaster when an Air Canada Jazz CRJ900 landing there collided with an airport rescue and firefighting vehicle on the runway. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and left dozens seriously injured.

FAA tightens helicopter safety rules near major airports

The FAA now requires air traffic controllers to use radar to manage aircraft and helicopters in close proximity. The interim general notice (Notice (GENOT) JO 7110.801 – Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures) suspends the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters in Class B and Class C airspace, and Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs).

The DOT said, “Many helicopter operators who are used to obtaining immediate approval to transit through certain areas may have to adjust their flight routes or be delayed while controllers ensure they maintain safe distance from other aircraft. When helicopter pilots, conducting urgent medical or LEO missions, request to fly through these heavy-traffic areas, airline operations to those airports may be disrupted in order to allow these missions priority clearance.”

Exclusive: Airbus seeks Pratt & Whitney damages over engine delays, sources say

Airbus is frustrated with Pratt & Whitney over the slow delivery of GTF engines for the A320 family. The issue stems from an allocation crunch, with demand coming both from Airbus for new aircraft and from airlines waiting on repairs to get problem engines back in service. Reports suggest Airbus may be seeking potential damages.

This stems from a manufacturing problem where contaminants were introduced into the nickel-based powdered metal used to forge certain rotating engine components. (Turbine disks and some HPC parts.) These engines face an increased risk of microscopic cracks and premature failure, particularly those produced roughly between late 2015 and 2021. Instead of waiting for routine shop visits, these engines required accelerated inspections and life‑limit reductions.

NASA Second X-59 Flight Cut Short from Warning Light

The second flight of the NASA X-59 supersonic demonstrator ended after nine minutes when a warning light illuminated shortly after takeoff. An unrelated caution light indicated an issue prior to the flight, but after a system reset, the flight was approved to proceed.

The first flight took place on October 28, 2025, when the demonstrator reached 12,000 feet and 200 knots. The second flight was intended to last an hour and reach 20,000 feet and 225 knots, but ended up matching the first flight.

A-10 Warthogs Are Prowling For Iranian Boats In The Strait Of Hormuz

The Pentagon has long sought to retire the A-10 Warthog, but Congress has kept it flying. In the meantime, A-10 pilots have been training for a maritime mission: attacking Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz. AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are also now performing this mission, as well as shooting down Iranian drones. The A-10 has long been considered a close air support aircraft for ground forces, but it also has a maritime role.

JetBlue and American Airlines Bid to Serve Presque Isle Airport

The U.S. Department of Transportation has received proposals from JetBlue and American Airlines for the next Essential Air Service contract for Presque Isle International Airport. JetBlue has provided the service since 2024 with seven weekly round-trip flights to Boston. The 140-seat Airbus A220s depart early in the morning and return late at night. The airline is proposing to continue that service.

American Airlines is proposing at least 12 round-trip weekly flights on a 65-seat jet, split between Boston and Philadelphia. American is seeking a two-year contract with an average annual subsidy of $8.2 million. JetBlue is seeking an $11,521,129 in each of four years, or a two-year contract worth $11,745,899 annually.

See:

Bonus story:

U.S. Air Force to Update U-2 Dragon Lady Defensive System

The U-2 Dragon Lady first flew 70 years ago, and it’s still being used as an ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platform. Recently, BAE Systems was awarded a contract by Robins Air Force Base in Georgia to support and sustain the U-2’s AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS).

In a press release (BAE Systems to modernize Advanced Defensive System for the U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft), BAE said, “Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide continuous field service support for the aircraft’s electronic warfare (EW) system, complete repairs to maintain system availability, and provide software updates so it can detect and engage new threats.”

Mentioned

Stories about Flying. Flight Instructing is About More Than Just Logging Hours.

China Clipper (1936) movie.

Hosts this Episode

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

AirplaneGeeks 340 Designing Aircraft Propellers

E-2C+ Hawkeye

Conversation with an aircraft propeller designer, the ongoing search for MH370, LaGuardia Airport: Delta skids off the runway and the “perimeter rule” may become history, and NASA has plans for NP2000 propellers,

Guest

Anthony Falzone is the developer of the open source, public domain aircraft propeller design software named PROP_DESIGN.

We talk with Anthony about basic propeller design parameters and the mathematics involved. He tells us why propellers (which are really rotating wings) have different numbers of blades, and he explains propeller pitch, including variable pitch props.

PROP_DESIGN can be used to design aircraft propellers, but it also works for similar products such as propfans, open rotors, unducted fans, and geared turbofans. With the software, you can find the optimum geometry for any given operating condition, analyze takeoff condition, design swept blades, and much more.

Anthony is retired now, but he worked in the aerospace industry for over twelve years, holding positions at Hamilton Standard, Pratt & Whitney, McCauley Propeller Systems, and Atlantic Inertial Systems. He also did contract work for the Air Force Compressor Aero Research Lab, and designed the propeller for the General Atomics Predator B and Altair unmanned aerial vehicles.

News

Investigators find no unusual signs among MH370 pilots and cabin crew

On the March 8 anniversary of the disappearance of flight MH370, the Malaysian Ministry of Transport made available the MH370 Safety Investigation website, which provides links to the Interim Statement and Factual Information on the investigation of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Search for MH370 could end soon

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss has said the country’s search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 “cannot go on forever.” The current phase of the search is scheduled to end in May.

NTSB issues 2nd report about Delta accident at LaGuardia

The Delta Air Lines Inc. plane that skidded off a runway at LaGuardia Airport last week injured 23 passengers and damaged about 940 feet of the airport’s perimeter fence.

Flights Between New York LaGuardia And The West Coast May Not Be A Fairy Tale

You can fly from New York’s JFK airport to California, and you can fly from Newark Liberty airport to California, but under the “perimeter rule,” in most cases you can’t fly from LaGuardia to a destination more than 1,500 miles away. Except on Saturday or to Denver.

The perimeter rule was established in 1984 to combat overcrowding at LaGuardia, but the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is considering lifting the rule.

NASA selects UTC Aerospace Systems NP2000 Propellers and Electronic Propeller Control Systems for a P-3 aircraft

The NP 2000 propellers are large, 8-bladed propellers used on the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye (a tactical airborne early warning aircraft), the Grumman C-2A Greyhound (twin turboprop cargo plane used for aircraft carriers), and on C-130 Air National Guard aircraft.

NASA uses their P-3 for scientific investigations and as a technology test bed for new airborne and satellite instrumentation.

The Australia News Desk

Steve is solo this week as Grant returns from hot air balloon operations interstate. This week we present an interview with Andre Zimmerman from Pilatus Aircraft about the development of their new PC-24 business jet, recorded at the 2015 Australian International Airshow.

Mentioned

MH370 conspiracy theories and why we believe them – Rob Mark contributes to this video report.

Explore every yard of where planes go to die in amazing resolution: Bing unveils interactive map of biggest aircraft graveyard in the world – The map shows 2,600-acres of Arizona desert where several generations of military aircraft are stored. It lets you zoom in and look at the planes using an aerial view of the site.

Les Chevaliers du Ciel HD Promo – (Sky Fighters) with all actual footage.

New Hampshire lake is only ice runway in lower 48 states.

Mayday Machine – Talks about the NASA Ames Research Center, Intelligent Systems Division testing their Emergency Landing Planner software, and other automation issues.

Pilot Error – Trailer for the independent film.

Credit

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at brotherloverocks.com.

Episode 180 – Mary Kirby from APEX

Guest Mary Kirby is is Editor-in-Chief of the Airline Passenger Experience magazine and the APEX media platform. We talk about the current state of inflight internet connectivity, what passengers expect aboard the flight, the GoGo IPO, and why we’re going to see more announcements. Also, pressure on interior suppliers as a result of the huge numbers of narrow body orders going on the books, and how that’s delaying aircraft deliveries. We touch on airline alliance interior commonality, and the outlook for embedded IFE.

Find Mary at the APEX Editor’s Blog and on Twitter as @APEXmary. The Airline Passenger Experience Association is at apex.aero.

The week’s aviation news:

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, also known as the Super Tweet.

In this week’s Australia Desk report: 12th A380 arrives for Qantas, more A380s coming to Melbourne as Emirates signals their intentions, cracks appearing in some A380s including one QF aircraft, 150 Qantas pilots now working for Gulf based airlines during their down time, tragic balloon crash in New Zealand kills 11 people.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter talks to new aerobatic pilot and author of The Aerobatic Project, Lauren Richardson. Lauren explains what’s its like to transition from a 152 to a Pitts Special and what it was like in her first aerobatic competition. Lauren can be found on Twitter @Groovy_Nut, while Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.oba

Mentioned in the episode:

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Episode 176 – Greg Morris Flys Warbirds

Greg Morris is Chief Pilot at Gauntlet Warbirds, a warbird, aerobatic, and tailwheel training center with headquarters at Aurora Airport, just west of downtown Chicago. They are on the web at http://www.gauntletwarbirds.com/.

He has been flying for fifteen years, and instructing in warbirds and aerobatic aircraft for the past ten. He holds a current low level aerobatic waiver in the L-39 and T-6 and is a FAST rated formation pilot.

Greg has flown the FM-2 Wildcat, Extra 300, Su-29, Pitts S-2B and S-2C, Lazer Z-200, Cap-10B, Great Lakes, T-34, T-6, T-28, Ju-52, and is rated in the L-29 Delfin and L-39 Albatros.

A graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in aerospace engineering, Greg was designated a Master CFI-Aerobatic by the National Association of Flight Instructors and the IAC in September 2005. Greg has been published in the International Aerobatic Club’s Sport Aerobatics magazine and Warbirds of America’s Warbirds magazine writing about maneuver technique, how to get started flying warbirds and safety and risk management. He is a regular presenter at Oshkosh.

The week’s aviation news:

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Steve gets his instructor rating…for trains, doubts raised over new Qantas Asian airline, PCDU code share activated!….David gets serious with the light saber, RAAF KC-30A aerial refuelling trials begin, a little air to air refuelling history lesson, Army MRH90 helicopter contract comes under scrutiny. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on his Across the Pond segment, Pieter Johnson highlights the change in European Air Law which will make pilots work longer hours and he gives thanks for their so far excellent flying safety record. He also says thanks for a few other things too! Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet.

The Grill the Geeks questions this week are both great and goofy, and both Dan and David have Grill the Listeners questions.

Mentioned in the episode:

American Airlines Court Documents and Claims Register
Commemorative Air Force
Me 262 photos from Ryan Hothersal: myaviation.net/?pid=02041781 and myaviation.net/?pid=02041782
Aviation photographer Manny Gonzalez
TF39 engine photo showing the “stage and a half” fan.
Motherboard TV: Flying Around The World In A Solar Powered Plane
Airbus sees 2012 A380 deliveries on par with 2011

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Episode 111 – Airline Revenue Management

Guest Jesse Ziglar works for a large airline in revenue management. He was previously with DHL Express, and he interned with Delta Air Lines in schedule planning. Jesse got his private pilot license at Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa, but went on to earn an under graduate degree in Aviation Management (With Flight) and his flight training ending with commercial, multi-engine, and instrument licenses. Jesse blogs at Airtransparency and has a few things to say about the need for more creativity in the airlines.

The week’s aviation news:

Mentions:

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

F-15 photo by Paul Filmer. Find his aviation photography at http://skippyscage.com/.

Episode 86 – Airplane Spotting with Phil

Phil Derner, Jr., the founder of NYCAviation joins Max, Rob, and David as they discuss the week’s aviation news and talk about the sport of airplane spotting. NYCAviation provides airline news and resources for aviation enthusiasts, as well as spotting guides and other great information. (That’s Phil above, with the camera.)

David Vanderhoof has his This Week in Aviation segment, and Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast have their Australia Desk report.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

This episode’s opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. Visit his site at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.