How flight-tracking site FlightAware works, for consumers and airlines

It started as the pet project of a software developer who was also a pilot. Today, the company boasts a team of 110 employees in four countries, and helps some 15 million travelers per month, over 200 airlines and 15,000 other companies. (thepointsguy.com) Plus d'info...

Opinion: Don’t Feel Sorry for the Airlines

Before providing them any assistance, we must demand that they change how they treat their customers and employees. (www.nytimes.com) Plus d'info...

The toll on travel

Visualization of FlightAware data showing global air travel decreasing as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds. (graphics.reuters.com) Plus d'info...

Are you noticing a lot more flight activity on FlightAware?

Help us share! Are you noticing a lot more activity on FlightAware? Last night we toggled on default visibility to all detected flights (instead of just the ones that we receive flight plans for). Check your FlightAware app or see a live view by clicking the link below. (www.linkedin.com) Plus d'info...

United Airlines Promotes Commercial Flight Health Safety

FlightAware is proud to showcase the efforts of our trusted partner, United Airlines, in continuing to provide their passengers the safest travel experience possible. (flightaware.com) Plus d'info...

Delta sends a private plane after American Airlines cancels student group’s flight

American Airlines cancels flight a student group had booked to continue their trip toWashington DC. Delta employees heard about the student’s predicament, contacted Delta Headquarters who sent a spare plane to pick up the group (www.businessinsider.com) Plus d'info...

Fraport will use FlightAware data – What does that mean for the whole ATM community?

We are now entering a time where a private organization, not run by a state, can provide better data and prediction than national or even trans-national ANSPs. In this age of data, it is also likely that FlightAware and the like can provide better flight profile and performance data than theory and research based models like BADA. (radar.foxatm.com) Plus d'info...

Emirates Airline Begins Conducting Rapid COVID-19 Tests For Boarding Passengers

In a move that could be a step toward making air travel palatable to the public again, Emirates Airline has begun conducing rapid-on site COVID-19 for passengers. The testing began with passengers on a flight from Dubai to Tunisia on Wednesday. The analysis is a blood test with results within 10 minutes. The airline says it is the first to roll out rapid testing. Emirates says it is working to scale up testing capabilities and extend it to other flights. It says its testing could also be used to… (www.npr.org) Plus d'info...

FlightAware Launches Entry into Service Program, Announces Textron Aviation as First Participant

FlightAware announced today that they will provide a premium version of their professional, private flight tracking service, called FlightAware Global, to owners and operators of new or pre-owned business jets manufactured by select partners. FlightAware Global offers worldwide flight tracking that fuses thousands of data sources and makes them available to unlimited users via web or mobile. To launch the program, FlightAware has reached an agreement with Textron Aviation Inc. to be the first… (flightaware.com) Plus d'info...

Autoland Is Garmin's Newest Safety Feature

For the past eight years, Garmin has secretly been working on a fascinating new capability, an autoland function that can rescue an airplane with an incapacitated pilot or save a pilot when weather conditions present no other safe option. Autoland should soon receive its first FAA approval, with certification expected shortly in the Piper M600, followed by the Cirrus Vision Jet. (www.ainonline.com) Plus d'info...

Crossing traffic 1000 feet below as seen from a 747. This was over the east coast of Russia.

787 dreamliner contrail. Crossing traffic 1000 feet below as seen from a 747. This was over the east coast of Russia. (www.youtube.com) Plus d'info...

Collings Foundation B-17 crash leads to fire, closure of Bradley Airport

Firefighters responded to a large fire from an aircraft crash at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. The airport confirmed on Wednesday morning that it is closed. "We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft [Wednesday] morning at Bradley Airport," it posted to Twitter. "We have an active fire and rescue operation underway. The airport is closed. We will issue further updates as information becomes available." (www.wfsb.com) Plus d'info...

FAA identifies new potential risk on 737 MAX

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has identified a new potential risk that Boeing Co must address on its 737 MAX before the grounded jet can return to service, the agency told Reuters on Wednesday. The risk was discovered during a simulator test last week, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. As a result, Boeing is not expected to run a certification test flight until at least July 8, they said. "On the most recent issue, the FAA’s process is designed to discover and… (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

The Star Wars aircraft is flying the friendly galaxy. Where is it now?

While not everyone will have the chance to see the new livery in person, anyone will be able to track our special aircraft on FlightAware, the world’s largest online flight tracking platform. For the first time, you can track past and future flights on both desktop and mobile by entering the plane’s tail number – N36272 – and the new aircraft will appear on FlightAware’s flight tracking maps as the X-Wing starship. (flightaware.com) Plus d'info...

Fraport to Deploy FlightAware Predictive Technology at Frankfurt Airport

Fraport will integrate FlightAware's predictive data into their operational tools and analytical platforms to optimize airfield efficiency and ground personnel allocation at Frankfurt Airport. (flightaware.com) Plus d'info...

An-124 flies to Ponta Delgada to save Delta's stranded Boeing 757

Ponta Delgada, Portugal - An Antonov An-124 that belongs to heavy cargo operator Volga-Dnepr was sent to Ponta Delgada to transport required parts for the maintenance of seriously damaged Delta Boeing 757. (airlinerwatch.com) Plus d'info...

How Airlines Are Defending Dormant 737 MAX Jets From The Ravages Of Corrosion, Insects And Time

Boeing 737 MAX planes have been stuck on the ground now for five months. With the likelihood rising that they won't return to service before the winter, some airlines may soon have to deal with the danger that the planes could literally become stuck to the ground. Tires of planes that are parked for long periods of time can freeze to the tarmac during sub-zero weather, warns a Boeing maintenance manual for the previous generation of 737 aircraft. It advises maintenance workers to place sand… (www.forbes.com) Plus d'info...

American Airlines mechanic accused of attempted sabotage of flight with 150 on board

A mechanic for American Airlines was arrested Thursday and accused of trying to sabotage a commercial airliner shortly before it was set to take off from Miami International Airport for the Bahamas with 150 people on board. (www.cnn.com) Plus d'info...

A thief stole two airplanes with a signature and a couple of stamps

According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, the paperwork Hughes had sent to the FAA was phony, something that only came to light when a worker at the Washington State Department of Transportation placed a routine call to the Piper’s previous owner to confirm their cancellation of the plane’s registration. The confused owner, a US Navy doctor in Gig Harbor, WA, said he hadn’t sold his plane, nor did he intend to. (qz.com) Plus d'info...

Lufthansa’s First Boeing 777X Spotted Outside In Seattle

While most aviation news has been cause for concern of late, one source of excitement is the progression of Boeing’s new widebody program. On Wednesday, launch customer Lufthansa’s first 777X aircraft was spotted outside the factory walls for the very first time. (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...

Delta Receives Last Boeing Airplane, The Future Is All Airbus

Delta Air Lines took delivery of its very last factory-fresh Boeing aircraft—the 130th 737-900(ER) to join its fleet. From now on, what used to be one of Boeing's largest customers, has only scheduled for delivery brand-new Airbus planes. After 130 Boeing 737-900(ER)s being delivered straight from Boeing, a chapter has momentarily closed between the manufacturer and the Atlanta-based airline. Today, the airline remains operating a gigantic fleet of 530 Boeing planes, including the 717-200,… (airwaysmag.com) Plus d'info...

When a Southwest Airlines Flight Was Delayed, Passengers Got Increasingly Frustrated. Then the Gate Agent Did Something Remarkable

Last week, a Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando to Washington, D.C., was delayed. Passengers sat at the gate for an hour. Then two. Naturally, they grew frustrated. But then a gate agent stepped in and started playing games with the waiting passengers. One game? A contest for the worst driver's license picture. Other games included a paper airplane contest. (www.inc.com) Plus d'info...

This device can disinfect the interior of an airplane – and kill coronavirus – in minutes

Ever since coronavirus concerns have taken over essentially every aspect of everyday live, airlines have been paying more attention to the process of cleaning planes. Now, a company named Dimer is seeing increased interest in a device they conceived several years ago to battle the flu. Think drink cart, but when you run it down the aisle of an airplane, it disinfects the entire interior in minutes. A guy named Elliott Krightenberg. He describes himself as an “international and intergalactic… (ktla.com) Plus d'info...

Off-duty easyJet captain heading to Alicante with his wife and son ends up flying the plane himself

This is the remarkable moment an off-duty pilot offers to fly his fellow passengers to Spain - as he and his family faced a delay of around two hours. (www.dailymail.co.uk) Plus d'info...

FlightAware and FlightBridge Partner to Provide Seamless Flight Tracking

The leading flight tracking and logistics management system are now integrated for business aviation operators and FBOs. (flightaware.com) Plus d'info...

What Really Brought Down the Boeing 737 Max?

Malfunctions caused two deadly crashes. But an industry that puts unprepared pilots in the cockpit is just as guilty. (www.nytimes.com) Plus d'info...

September 11: FAA Closure of US Airspace

Although this animation was published 10 years ago, it gives an excellent visual of our airspace as things shut down on 9/11/01. From the description: This animation was created by NASA using FAA air traffic control data from September 11, 2001. It shows the rapid grounding of air traffic across the US, and redirection of incoming international traffic, in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Time is at lower left, number of planes in the air lower right. At 9:06am, FAA issued a ground stop… (www.youtube.com) Plus d'info...

Airline adds baby seat map to help passengers avoid infants

Few things can make a trans-Pacific flight more unpleasant than sitting next to a crying infant, so one airline wants to help passengers avoid that. (abc13.com) Plus d'info...

Qantas gears up for the second "Project Sunrise" research flight

Sydney, Australia - The Australian flag carrier Qantas will fly a nearly empty a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from London Heathrow to Sydney as part of “Project Sunrise”. The 787-9 registered VH-ZNJ will take off from Heathrow and fly directly to Sydney with no paying passengers onboard. (airlinerwatch.com) Plus d'info...

Ukrainian passenger plane carrying 180 people 'crashes near Tehran'

A Ukrainian passenger plane carrying 180 passengers and crew has crashed near Tehran. (www.dailymail.co.uk) Plus d'info...

Space-Based ADS-B Joins Search & Rescue Efforts

Not only are such stories beginning to surface, but Aireon’s space-based ADS-B service, which is only compatible with 1090ES systems, has shown an ability to help as well—especially in areas where ground-based ADS-B data is not available. Don Hinkel was flying over the Bahamas on December 23 when the engine of his 1981 Cessna P210N failed. It would not restart, said Hinkel, who lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands and regularly flies back and forth to Florida. “I activated an onboard ELT when I… (www.aopa.org) Plus d'info...

My Letter to the Editor of New York Times Magazine - by Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger

The MCAS design should never have been approved, not by Boeing, and not by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (www.sullysullenberger.com) Plus d'info...

American Airlines Mechanic Jailed Following Aircraft Sabotage

An American Airlines mechanic who deliberately sabotaged an American Airlines Boeing 737 last July in an attempt to gain more overtime has instead been sentenced to 37 months in prison. (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...

2 Air Canada planes have a near miss

Although this occurred on March 8,2020 it just goes to show you that reducing the number of aircraft flying doesn't reduce some dangers. Also makes you wonder what's going to happen at thousands of airports that now have almost no activity. It's nesting season, and birds will be very happy to have all this new airspace. The rule of unexpected consequences applies. (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...

Air Force One Performs Daytona 500 Flyover

Just short of President Trump's arrival at the Daytona 500. The president's 747 did a buzz of the speedway at about 800 feet. Amazing spectators before landing at Daytona Airport next door. (www.dailywire.com) Plus d'info...

Boeing is Suspending Production of the 737 MAX in January

Boeing will halt production of its 737 Max narrow-body jet in January, escalating the company's crisis as it prepares to end a year marked by accidents, scandals, and a plummeting public perception. (www.businessinsider.com) Plus d'info...

Al Haynes, captain of United Flight 232 dies at age 87

Al Haynes, who was the captain of United Airlines flight 232 which crash-landed at Sioux City, Iowa on July 19, 1989, died Sunday. (siouxcityjournal.com) Plus d'info...

Airbus A350 Engine Shutdown Incidents Linked to Cockpit Drink Spills

Airbus and Rolls-Royce are investigating two incidents in which A350s experienced uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown after drinks were spilled on controls situated on the cockpit centre pedestal. (www.flightglobal.com) Plus d'info...

Finding Amelia Earhart’s Plane Seemed Impossible. Then Came a Startling Clue.

Robert Ballard is the finder of important lost things. In 1985, he discovered the Titanic scattered beneath the Atlantic Ocean. He and his team also located the giant Nazi battleship Bismarck and, more recently, 18 shipwrecks in the Black Sea. Dr. Ballard has always wanted to find the remains of the plane Amelia Earhart was flying when she disappeared in 1937. But he feared the hunt would be yet another in a long line of futile searches. “You have it in a holding pattern in your head,” said Dr.… (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

FlightAware Releases Revolutionary New Operational Insight for Business Aviation Operators

For the first time ever, operators can dynamically adjust schedules and see new arrival times including the impact of taxi and turn times. (flightaware.com) Plus d'info...

ForeFlight Feature Focus: Internet Traffic via FlightAware

Stream live global aircraft traffic directly in ForeFlight with the Internet Traffic feature. In partnership with FlightAware, ForeFlight allows you to view airborne traffic around the globe, and ground traffic at thousands of airports worldwide, to help you gauge airport activity like active arrivals and runways, see how ATC vectors traffic around weather, or assist with planespotting on the ground. Internet Traffic is included in all ForeFlight subscription plans. (www.youtube.com) Plus d'info...

El Al “draws” image of jumbo to commemorate its very last Boeing 747 flight

After 48 years of service, El Al joins the aviation ranks in saying good bye to the Boeing 747. To honor the jumbo’s send off, just two hours before its arrival into Tel Aviv (TLV), the airline leveled off at 10,000 feet and made a series of turns to “draw” a picture of a 747. (www.gatechecked.com) Plus d'info...

Boeing says some of its 737 Max planes may have defective parts

Boeing on Sunday said some of its 737 planes, including many 737 Max aircraft, may have faulty parts on their wings. It's the latest problem Boeing faces as it tries to get its most important and popular airplane, the grounded 737 Max, back in the air. Working with the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing said it has reached out to airlines that fly 737 planes, advising them to inspect their slat track assemblies on Max and NG aircraft. The 737 NG series includes the 737-600, -700, -800… (www.cnn.com) Plus d'info...

Multiple fatalities reported after helicopter slams into Calabasas hillside

Kobe Bryant Dead at 41 in a helicopter crash, Calabasas California (www.dailynews.com) Plus d'info...

A fire at a Florida airport destroyed more than 3,500 rental cars

A fire that spread through a grassy area of Southwest Florida International Airport has destroyed thousands of rental cars, fire department officials said. The blaze began Friday, spanned 15 acres and originally involved only 20 cars in the grassy rental car overflow area at the airport in Fort Myers, fire department officials said. But by the time it was extinguished, the flames had destroyed more than 3,500 rental cars, a Lee County Port Authority spokesperson told CNN affiliate WINK. (www.cnn.com) Plus d'info...

Airline pilot flies dad's remains home from Vietnam 52 years after seeing him off at same Dallas airport

When Air Force Maj. Roy Knight, Jr., left Dallas for Vietnam 52 years ago, his 5-year-old son, Bryan, came to Dallas Love Field to see him off. On Thursday, Bryan, now a captain for Southwest Airlines, brought back his father's remains aboard a flight to the same Dallas airport. (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

Pakistan Airliner Landed Gear Up On First Try: Report

Pakistan media is reporting Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK8303 landed gear up and the crew muscled it back into the air before it crashed on a second landing attempt, killing 97 of 99 people aboard on Friday. According to reports gathered by the Aviation Herald, the A320 slid on its nacelles at the airport in Karachi for more than a thousand feet before it became airborne again. (www.avweb.com) Plus d'info...