Flying around Christmastime can be Dangerous

This must be the ultimate Christmas yard decoration… The site is near the Oak Creek Bridge on St. Michael’s Road [MD 33]. The folks who own the property always have eye-catching displays celebrating various ‘holidays’ through the year… this year they have certainly outdone themselves!  

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) – What are the Implications?

We have all heard in the news how UASs have been used by the military and police forces to catch bad guys. Sometimes referred to as drones, these strange looking aircraft seem to possess superhuman abilities to sniff out targets. So what are they really and what will happen when they start to appear outside… Continue reading Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) – What are the Implications?

FAA/NextGen Bashing on the other Side of the Pond

If you thought we were occasionally unkind to SESAR, read this post. Then make up your own mind. While doing that, do not forget that what you are reading was put together before FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt was charged for driving under influence and subsequently quit the top-job of the FAA. Babbitt is a veteran… Continue reading FAA/NextGen Bashing on the other Side of the Pond

Direct Routes and Wind Updates – Boeing Tools to Improve Flight Efficiency

For air traffic controllers, giving a “direct” to a flight is a good feeling. They have, after all, probably shortened the track to be flown and this saves fuel. A good thing, right? Well, yes and no. In the legacy environment where aircraft are made to fly routes that are usually much longer than they… Continue reading Direct Routes and Wind Updates – Boeing Tools to Improve Flight Efficiency

The Final Moments of AF 447

A lot has been written about Air France 447 but nothing is more revealing than the sounds and discussion that were recorded on the aircraft’s recording equipment. Those bits and bytes reveal the incredible scene that prevailed in the cockpit during the last minutes of the flight. Here is a synopsis by Jeff Wise (reprinted… Continue reading The Final Moments of AF 447

States should be Made to Pay

When I read about the Paris-Toulouse flight conducted by Air France to show how much CO2 emission they can save by optimized air traffic management including continuous descent approaches, my immediate reaction was not happiness about saving the planet. No sir, my reaction was: here is the best source of funds to pay ATM developments… Continue reading States should be Made to Pay

The Boeing 787, more than just a new aircraft in the sky

With the long awaited new 787 finally in the hands of launch customer All Nippon Airways, an 89 month run for the manufacturer has come to the end but it does not mean that they are looking to slow down in Chicago and Seattle. Two stretched versions, the 787-9 and the 787-10 are on the… Continue reading The Boeing 787, more than just a new aircraft in the sky