An entirely logical step, like the BAe 146-100 to -200 to -300, the A330-200 to -300, the A340-200/300/500/600, the 737-100 to -900 (over time and generations), the 777-200 to -300 and the 767-200 to -300 to -400. When you have a winning formula, it makes sense to sweat the assets. Roll on Mirabel, Mobile and Belfast!

(Written on 18/01/2019)(Permalink)

There is a certain irony in the naming of the new airline, given that FlyBE took over "BA Connect", the remnant of BA regional, some years back. FlyBE has provided us with an excellent network based out of our local airport here at Southampton on Britain's South Coast. Maybe the purple paintwork was a step too far??

(Written on 18/01/2019)(Permalink)

Aeroflot - Airbus - nose-first into terrain from altitude; pilot's teenage son at controls. THAT is why a sterile cockpit is required. "Them good ole' days" don't cut it any more - sadly!

(Written on 13/01/2019)(Permalink)

A worrying quote - “What Boeing did was take the pilot out of the loop,” This otherwise pretty-excellent product needs a better owners' manual.

(Written on 14/12/2018)(Permalink)

I am firmly of the opinion that there are far more nice people in tis world than there are self-serving "a***holes". Sadly, it is the latter who usually garner the publicity - "Oh look at me, I am spending so much money on worthless tat in my pointless life". This story is evidence that the nice people simply get on with doing good; a great way to start a Friday morning. Anonymous person - thank you on behalf of the human race.

(Written on 14/12/2018)(Permalink)

"al landing anomaly". Only from the country which brought us "incontinent ordnance" (AKA "oops, we we bombed our friends")

(Written on 07/12/2018)(Permalink)

And so, once more, safety makes advances on the shoulders of a tragedy. That's evolution, folks!

(Written on 07/12/2018)(Permalink)

"Oh, just say sorry (if you feel like it) and give them four free pairs of fresh underwear and tell them to walk home...." Oh sorry, just dug out a Customer Care manual from the 1960s...…..

(Written on 07/12/2018)(Permalink)

"share any information to emerge from an investigation" - I should certainly hope that they will! I recall ominous echoes of the old 737 "uncommanded rudder activation" problem of some decades past. At least we know that "the system" is pitching the nose down, rather than a work piston.

(Written on 23/11/2018)(Permalink)

"William Baker" (why the lower-case "b"??): Allow me to add the first positive flag! Periodically, airline use exposed different areas of the engines to stress. Standing alongside the runways at LHR, it is evident that BA drivers run the engines on 787 Dreamliners in a different manner to, say, Virgin drivers on the Dreamliners with identical engines. Remember the original P&W JT9Ds on the original 747. I remember Eric Moody (BA driver and famous for the 1982 747 "Galunggung glider" incident with volcanic ash over Indonesia) remarking (in the 747 50-year documentary earlier this year) that he recalled 22 engine failures (and he described 13 of them as "real failures"). Boeing, P&W and the early airline customers worked together to solve the problem. On a slightly frivolous note, you'd be safe in an A330. The Airbus A330-241 holds the record for the longest unpowered glide in history. In 2001, Air Transat drivers managed to piss some 13 tons of kerosene out over the Atlant

(Written on 23/11/2018)(Permalink)