British Airways is sharing the love with its customers this Valentine’s Day with a range of special touches.....

British Airways is sharing the love with its customers this Valentine’s Day with a range of special touches including seasonal desserts, a dedicated ‘Love is in the air’ in-flight entertainment channel and sweet treats in its lounges.

To celebrate the month of love, the airline’s culinary experts have created a bespoke Valentine’s Day afternoon tea for those travelling in First. The indulgent afternoon tea comprises of a range of finger sandwiches, a chocolate orange Battenberg, raspberry tart and a chocolate love heart cookie. To accompany the sweet treats, customers can select from the Warre’s Colheita 2009 Tawny Port or the Sauternes, both carefully selected by the airline’s Master of Wine.  

For those travelling in Club World, the airline has lovingly created a chocolate mousse dessert and a raspberry and rosewater Valentine’s macaroon as part of the afternoon tea in Club Europe. For customers wishing to pair these sweet treats with a tipple, the airline recommends Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Ruby Port.

To help customers get in the romantic mood this February, British Airways has also launched a dedicated ‘Love is in the air’ in-flight entertainment channel available in every cabin. Customers looking to enjoy a date night for one in the air can settle in and select from a range of romantic classics and bingeworthy boxsets such as Bridget Jones’s Diary, You’ve Got Mail and The Mating Game.

DfT Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund awards the RAeS with funding for Falcon 2

DfT Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund awards the RAeS with funding for Falcon 2

Raising the profile of Inclusive Skies of Tomorrow, through outreach

The Royal Aeronautical Society on 1 February 2023 were announced as one of 11 recipients of the ‘Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund’ by the Department of Transport (DFT) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the Falcon 2 STEM outreach programme.

The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) has inspired many generations of aviation, aerospace and space enthusiasts into various careers. The RAeS aims to inspire younger generations through a variety of STEM education and outreach programmes. For many the dream to fly or undertake a career in aviation and engineering are not easy. Promoting an inclusive aviation and aerospace industry of tomorrow, raising awareness of disabilities and accessibility needs is what the RAeS most recent outreach programme Falcon 2 aims to achieve.

The Falcon 2 programme is a STEM outreach challenge for young students aged 6-19 years. The programme provides an opportunity for underrepresented groups, especially students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, to design, conceptualise and build an accessible mobile flight simulator as well as increasing disability awareness. The aim of Falcon 2 is to create a learning platform for all students to collaborate with their peers to address accessibility issues in the aviation and aerospace industry, paving a way for the future workforce to provide unique solutions to current limitations, all whilst experiencing the wonder of flight.

IATA issues new guidance on transporting mobility aids safely and efficiently

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced new guidance to assist airlines and handling agents to transport mobility aids safely and efficiently and improve the travel experience for passengers with disabilities. 

Providing safe, reliable and dignified transport for passengers with disabilities is a priority for airlines that was reinforced by a unanimously approved Resolution at the 75th IATA Annual General Meeting in 2019. The safe and efficient transport of mobility aids was identified as a key area for improvement by airlines, working with industry stakeholders and disability groups. 

Star Alliance lounge at Schiphol Airport available to use on a pay as you go basis.

Star Alliance Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Now Offers Pay-as-you-go Access

Passengers travelling in all cabins on Star Alliance member airlines can now choose to experience the premium lounge before their flight.

The Star Alliance-branded lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) airport now permits pay-as-you-go type entry.  Thus, in addition to offering complimentary access to Star Alliance Gold members, and First Class and Business Class passengers, the lounge will now welcome other Star Alliance passengers regardless of membership status or cabin class, for a nominal fee.

This is the fifth among the six Star Alliance-branded lounges to offer paid access, after the Star Alliance lounges in Rome (FCO) Airport, Rio De Janeiro (GIG) Airport, Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The Star Alliance Amsterdam airport lounge is located airside in Departures Hall 2 after security clearance for the Schengen Area. This makes it ideally positioned for easy access to passengers travelling to or from European destinations within the Schengen Zone. Currently, 14 Star Alliance member airlines operate flights from the Amsterdam airport connecting 20 destinations in 16 countries.

Codeshare deal with Airlink opens up Southern Africa for British Airways passengers....

British Airways has announced a codeshare partnership with Airlink, improving connectivity between the UK, Europe, North America and more than 15 destinations in Southern Africa.

With bases in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban in South Africa, Airlink is a premium regional airline with a wide-reaching network of cities in 14 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.

The agreement means British Airways’ customers travelling from or transiting through London will be able to connect to their final destination via Cape Town or Johannesburg on a single ticket.  This will offer more choice and flexibility for those travelling on to one of 18 towns and cities, such as Windhoek in Namibia and Durban in South Africa.

British Airways currently flies twice daily between London Heathrow and Johannesburg with A380 aircraft, twice daily between London Heathrow and Cape Town with B777 and A350 aircraft and three times per week between London Gatwick and Cape Town with B777 aircraft.

Members of British Airways’ loyalty programme, the Executive Club, can earn Avios when flying on Airlink flights on a British Airways’ codeshare journey. Avios is the programme’s currency, which can be used as part-payment towards Reward Flights or upgrades, as well as hotel stays, car hire and more.

OAG Launches Flight Status Alerts.

OAG, the world’s leading provider of travel data and insight, today announced the launch of its new Flight Status Alerts, which delivers an all-new view of immediate flight changes.

Flight Status Alerts directly integrates into OAG’s Flight Info Platform, which already provides a continuous stream of flight schedule changes. Flight Status Data together with Flight Schedules now delivers the broadest possible coverage of flight information to OAG customers which include booking engines, travel and hospitality apps, airline apps, online travel agencies, metasearch, search engines and flight tracking apps.

This powerful combination provides a first-of-its-kind flight window into key schedules and status data – from the moment a flight is scheduled to when luggage hits the baggage belt, and everything in between.

Powered by Microsoft’s Azure Event Hub, the advanced technology delivers speed and scale to notifications on OAG’s Flight Info Platform. It processes an average of 40 updates each second and provides millions of updates in real-time on schedule and status changes.

Key benefits of the flight window include:

Pegasus Airlines Statement following the Earthquake in Kahramanmaraş

Pegasus Airlines Statement following the Earthquake in Kahramanmaraş

We are deeply saddened by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş, and which has affected many provinces. May those who lost their lives rest in peace. Our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and we wish a fast recovery to those who have been injured.

We would like to inform you about the activities carried out by Pegasus Airlines within the scope of earthquake solidarity. 

Wideroe to start new Bergen - London Stansted route next month.

A new Widerøe flight linking London Stansted and Bergen will offer travellers from London and the East of England easy access to Norway's famous fjords from 26 March 2023.

Widerøe, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, will operate a twice-weekly service to the country’s second-largest city using a 110-seat Embraer E190-E2 aircraft.  Flights will depart London Stansted at 18.40 on Fridays and 11.30 on Sundays.

A World Heritage Site located in the west of Norway, Bergen, is renowned for its Bryggen harbour district, one of Europe's oldest ports, and as the gateway to Norwegian fjords.

Simon Gorrighan, London Stansted’s Aviation Director, said:  "We're delighted to welcome Widerøe to London Stansted, adding yet another new destination to our growing network and giving passengers even more choice when travelling from their local airport.

This new route makes a beautiful region of Norway more accessible to UK travellers as well as being an important route for business, especially the energy industry in Norway and the East of England."

Christian Skaug, Widerøe’s Commercial Director, said:   "We are very pleased to be flying to London Stansted from 26th March and being able to maintain London as part of our route map. London Stansted has smooth and convenient connections to the City of London, which we know our customers will appreciate."

Several other new flights will be available from London Stansted this summer, including Belfast, Newquay, Edinburgh, Asturias, Klagenfurt, and Leipzig with Ryanair.

Smiths Detection awarded contract to upgrade New Zealand’s airport checkpoint security

Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security inspection technologies, has been awarded a contract to supply New Zealand’s Aviation Security Service (AvSec) with advanced checkpoint security technology for its five major international airports; Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Wellington.

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Smiths Detection will supply 35 HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX computed tomography (CT) X-ray machines. The HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX, which meets international regulatory requirements in both the USA and EU, ensures the highest level of security while improving the experience for both passengers and operators. The carry-on baggage scanner can speed up security screening by allowing passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their cabin baggage, as well as deliver cost savings to airports as it is the most energy-efficient checkpoint CT X-ray on the market. In addition, Smiths Detection will also supply:

The iLane.evo smart automatic tray return system, which delivers a steady flow of trays, removing bottlenecks and providing a seamless checkpoint journey

 

The iCMORE Weapons algorithm that supports security operators by identifying knives, guns, gun parts or ammunition concealed in bags

Each piece of equipment is part of Smiths Detection’s integrated checkpoint and uses leading-edge technology designed to help increase security, improve passenger experience, and enhance operational efficiency.

The Equity Index 2022/23 produced by Lead 5050 places IAG Cargo in second place.

The cargo division of the International Airlines Group, IAG Cargo has taken the second spot in The Equity Index 2022/23 which is produced by Lead 5050, a cross-industry accreditation body, that ranked firms using official data on average salaries, bonuses, and pay at every level. 

The well-respected IAG Cargo was only beaten by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) after data showed the business had a very small median and mean overall pay gap, with pay more evenly spread throughout all levels of the organisation.

Caroline Andrews, Chief People Officer at IAG Cargo said: "At IAG Cargo, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that appreciates the value of diversity and delivers on a great place to work for everyone. As a traditionally male-dominated industry, we are challenging this stereotype and working hard to inspire future female talent, and we are proud to receive recognition for this in the Equity Index 2022/23."

Leanne Linacre, chief executive officer of Lead5050, said: "Whilst the UK is a world leader in ensuring employers provide transparent data on gender-related pay, after years of progress, the gender pay gap for full-time workers has increased.

At the same time, the number of job vacancies rose to a record level last year whilst the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite adversely affecting women who are having to reduce their hours of work because of the cost of childcare.

"Closing the gender pay gap would strengthen the economy as higher wages would encourage more women to either enter the labour market or extend their working hours."

British Airways and Airlink announce codeshare deal

British Airways has announced a codeshare partnership with Airlink, improving connectivity between the UK, Europe, North America and more than 15 destinations in Southern Africa.

With bases in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban in South Africa, Airlink is a premium regional airline with a wide-reaching network of cities in 14 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.

The agreement means British Airways’ customers travelling from or transiting through London will be able to connect to their final destination via Cape Town or Johannesburg on a single ticket.  This will offer more choice and flexibility for those travelling on to one of 18 towns and cities, such as Windhoek in Namibia and Durban in South Africa.

British Airways currently flies twice daily between London Heathrow and Johannesburg with A380 aircraft, twice daily between London Heathrow and Cape Town with B777 and A350 aircraft and three times per week between London Gatwick and Cape Town with B777 aircraft.

Members of British Airways’ loyalty programme, the Executive Club, can earn Avios when flying on Airlink flights on a British Airways’ codeshare journey. Avios is the programme’s currency, which can be used as part-payment towards Reward Flights or upgrades, as well as hotel stays, car hire and more.

Introducing the Air Safety Management System Tool (ASMAT)

A new evaluation tool to help with Self-Assessment of Air Safety Management.

What is the Air Safety Management Assessment Tool (ASMAT)?

The ASMAT is the MAA’s new tool to help the Defence Air Environment (DAE) Regulated Community to comply with Air Safety management regulations. It replaces the previous MAA Air Safety Management Performance Matrix (MAPM) as a means to conduct first and second party assurance.

What is the ASMAT for?

Safety management is about preventing accidents, keeping people safe and maintaining operational output. To do this effectively, commanders need to understand the risks involved in aviation activities to understand what could go wrong and the likelihood of such an occurrence. If these are understood, they can be prioritised and importantly commanders can put suitable barriers in place to help prevent incidents from occurring. The barriers can then be monitored to assess and assure their effectiveness. This tool helps people to ask the right questions of their Air Safety Management System (ASMS), so they get relevant answers, and are able to highlight areas of strong performance as well as areas where more focus may be required.

Safety is not about risk avoidance, but risk management.

What is the relevance to the wider aviation community?

Everyone involved in aviation must be engaged from a safety culture perspective. Generating and maintaining an engaged safety culture is heavily influenced by the leadership, but it requires support and commitment throughout the entire organisation. To maintain operational effectiveness, the provision of aviation capability must be supported by an ASMS that encapsulates everything we do day-to-day. This comprises the entirety of all documented and undocumented structures, processes, procedures, tools and methodologies that exist to manage Air Safety. This series of interconnected elements that make up the ASMS is what Aviation Duty Holders (ADH) must establish and maintain to comply with RA 1200. The ASMS is not about safety for the sake of it, nor is it about risk avoidance, but rather it is about conducting operations safely and risk management. The Air Safety Management Assessment Tool provides a self-compiled excel database that allows units to score their ASMS. The use of the tool is optional, while its make up is similar to the Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) Self-Evaluation tool (linked to their Safety Management System (SMS) regulation – CAP 795), the ASMAT is structured around the areas covered within the four pillars of an ASMS: Safety Policy and Objectives, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance and Safety Promotion.

What is the benefit of using the ASMAT?

The ASMAT provides a wide-ranging assessment of the current performance of the ASMS and highlights areas where further development may be needed. This approach can assist organisations in making better informed decisions when allocating resources to the management of Air Safety. The ASMAT should be used to record findings and has a function to produce a graphical representation of the assurance assessment conducted.

An important benefit of the ASMAT is that it is a tangible resource that can help Flight Safety teams and ADHs understand specific areas of strength or weaknesses in compliance to regulation. In keeping with the principle of simplicity, it provides a snapshot of the ASMS and associated scoring chart with the click of a button. By keeping all the ASMS evidence in one place, it makes it simple and efficient to provide self-assessment at both first and second party levels of self-audit.

The ASMAT has been designed to address previous shortcomings in the MAPM

Following discussions with Air Safety Management teams across the DAE, it was found that the majority of individuals in Flight Safety posts found the MAPM difficult to use as it lacked any guidance and was simply a template to record audit findings. The ASMAT address these issues by including:

a revised question set that has been compiled from a variety of internal and external inputs, helping to provide an overt connection with the Air System Safety Case (where relevant)

safety culture assessments which were previously excluded

the addition of enhanced tool use guidance making it easy for anyone to use

an improved scoring system across a 1 to 8 scale within the standard Present, Suitable, Operating, Effective (PSOE) scale used by the CAA 

a more intuitive and user-friendly interface

Mesa Airlines is launching a new direct-entry captain position

Mesa Airlines is launching a Direct-Entry Captain Position for highly qualified candidates with a 24-month flow to United Airlines. Qualifications are as follows:

Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP).

A minimum of 1,000 hours of Part 121.436 qualifying experience.

Must have flown 100 hours within the previous 12 months.

Current FAA First Class Medical Certificate.

Must pass a security background check and FAA-mandated drug test.

With the launch of the Direct-Entry Captain Position to United, Mesa will offer highly qualified candidates the most competitive overall package in terms of compensation and career opportunity, including:

$110,000 sign-on bonus paid in full at the completion of training.

Longevity match program for pilots who have worked for any Part 121 or Part 135 carrier.

Earning potential between $150 to $215 a flight hour as a Captain at Mesa before transitioning to United.

Multiples bases to choose from, including Phoenix, Houston, Washington Dulles, Dallas, Louisville, and Denver.

Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and CEO of Mesa said, “This program provides an incredible opportunity for Captain qualified candidates to have a direct flow to United’s flight deck and advance their career goals in just two years. United is the fastest growing, best positioned and most employee-friendly airline in America.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved supply of missiles that shot down MH17 in 2014

The international team investigating the shooting down of  Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 operating flight MH17 by a  BUK-TELAR missile system said today, it has convincing evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the decision to allow the missile system into Ukraine.

MH17 was on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on 17th July 2014 and was in the sky over the eastern part of Ukraine when the Russian-made and Russian-supplied BUK-TELAR missile system was used to shoot it down, killing all 298 passengers and crew onboard. 

In a statement, the international prosecutors said: "There are strong indications that the Russian president decided on supplying the Buk TELAR to the DPR (Donetsk People's Republic) separatists,' the investigators."   The team also said they were suspending the criminal investigation into the atrocity as they have insufficient evidence to launch any new prosecutions.

The Netherlands will continue to hold Russia to account for its part in the shooting down of the 777, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Wednesday.  He said it was a "bitter disappointment" that there would be no further prosecutions, but promised, "We will continue to call the Russian Federation to account for its role in this tragedy,"

Universal Hydrogen gets experimental airworthiness certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration and completes first taxi tests....

Universal Hydrogen Co., whose mission is to make hydrogen aviation a near-term reality, today announced it was granted a special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to proceed with the first flight of its hydrogen-powered regional aircraft. The company also released video footage of successful first taxi tests of the aircraft, designed to evaluate ground handling qualities and the performance of the fuel-cell electric powertrain at low power settings and airspeeds.

The Dash 8-300 flying testbed has a megawatt-class hydrogen fuel cell powertrain installed in one of its nacelles. The powertrain is in a configuration that closely resembles the company’s first product—a conversion kit for ATR 72-600 regional airliners—which is expected to be certified and in commercial passenger service starting in 2025. Notably, Universal Hydrogen’s powertrain does not utilize a hybrid battery architecture—a major innovation—with all of the power transmitted directly from the fuel cells to the electric motor, significantly decreasing weight and lifecycle cost.