Latest News
Latest news stories:
Ireland to cut passenger tax from €10 to €3 March – December 2011
Date added: 10 December, 2010
The Irish government will reduce its air passenger tax from €10 to €3 in a bid to support tourism, as part of the debt hit country's recent budget review. T his goes against the growing trend in Europe of introducing or increasing air passenger taxes. The UK saw its APD rise again in November this year, while Germany and Austria are set to introduce their own versions in the new year. The reduced Irish rate will apply from March 2011 until the end of 2011. (ABTN)
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Door panel fell off Flybe plane at Southampton on take-off in April
Date added: 10 December, 2010
An unsecured engine door panel fell off a passenger plane and damaged a wing as it was taking off from Southampton Airport. Before departure on 22 April the captain had inspected the plane, including a check that the engine panels were secure. The report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch concluded the door had not been properly secured. The panel was found in the grass near the runway. The plane landed safely with no injuries.(BBC)
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UN chief, Ban Ki Moon, urges climate deal at Cancun, warning nature ‘will not wait’
Date added: 8 December, 2010
Saying the planet's future is at risk, Ban Ki Moon tried to revive stalled climate
talks by urging world leaders to agree to steps - however imperfect - to fight
climate change. "We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good," Ban told delegates from
193 nations gathered in Cancun. Rich and poor nations have been split on how
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental ministers are interested in
setting up a "green fund" of $100 billion by 2020.
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Blackpool Airport beaten in High Court by Jet2.com
Date added: 8 December, 2010
The airport has suffered a stinging High Court defeat at the hands of budget
airline, Jet2.com, after it tried to ban early morning and night flights. The airline won an injunction forcing Blackpool to "use its best endeavours" to
accommodate its flights outside its normal operating hours. The judge said Jet2 had a, "strong arguable case," that banning flights in and out
of the airport before 7am and after 9pm would amount to a breach of contract.
(Gazette)
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Manchester Airport On Trial. Day 2: Guilty verdicts, but the fight continues
Date added: 8 December, 2010
On the second day of the Manchester trial, the judge found Amanda Walters and
Mark Haworth guilty of obstructing the highway at the airport, back in May. They
were given fines of £175 an £250 respectively plus were ordered to pay £460 in
costs each plus a £15 ‘victim surcharge’ each. During the day, the court heard
that the expansion of the Airport would have significant impacts on local homes
and globally in contributing to climate change.
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Belfast City residents’ fury at removal of airport passenger limit
Date added: 7 December, 2010
Local residents are furious that Edwin Poots has decided to do away with the
passenger limit at George Best Airport. The limit was a crucial aspect of the
airport’s planning agreement, designed to protect local communities against undue
aircraft noise. There will now be nothing to stop all 48,000 of the permitted
annual flights using the airport from using the larger, noisier type of planes
which have been operating there – which will greatly increase the misery of people
living below
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CCC: UK should commit to a 60% cut in emissions by 2030 as a contribution to global efforts to combat climate change
Date added: 7 December, 2010
The Committee on Climate Change has recommended a Carbon Budget for 2023-27 and
a target for emissions reductions in 2030 – halfway between now and 2050. The recommended target for 2030, to cut emissions by 60% relative to 1990 levels
(46% relative to current levels), would then require a 62% emissions reduction
from 2030 to meet the 2050 target in the Climate Change Act. The Carbon Budget
says international aviation and shipping should be included, and it is vital that
UK aviation emissions in 2050 are no higher than in 2005. Also that, as technologies
to cut aviation emissions are not readily available, other sectors of the economy will need to cut by 85% in 2050 in order to let
aviation grow by 60%.
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Manchester Airport protest trial: Day 1
Date added: 6 December, 2010
11 local campaigners were in court facing charges of obstructing the highway. 9 of the 11 pleaded guilty, unable to bear the cost of a trial and were sentenced with
fines of on average £300 each. The trial continues as 2 defendants plead not guilty, and argue that due to the local democratic deficit and the threat to local homes,
biodiversity spots and the climate from the expansion of the airport, their actions
constituted a reasonable use of the highway.
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Glasgow airport has lost around 2m passengers, but hopes to get more long haul
Date added: 6 December, 2010
Despite losing nearly two million passengers over the last two years, Managing
Director Amanda McMillan said the airport had retained its position as Scotland’s
leading hub for long-haul destinations and traditional bucket ’n’ spade charter
holidays. She said Glasgow was now well placed for recovery, with long-haul and charter flights
both increasing in popularity. (But with the usual whinge about APD ... )
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Qantas A380 engine had problems before explosion and likely to be a manufacturing problem
Date added: 6 December, 2010
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says that a problem in the "manufacturing
process" led to the uncontained engine failure on a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 powering
a Qantas A380. There was an "area of fatigue cracking" within a stub pipe that feeds oil to the High Pressure
/Intermediate Pressure bearing structure. Also a misaligned region of counter-boring
within the stub pipe outlet. This causes an elevated risk of fatigue crack initiation
etc
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Manchester activists in Court for runway closure – Monday 6th December
Date added: 4 December, 2010
In May 2010, 17 people staged a non violent direct action at Manchester Airport,
temporarily shutting it down. They did this to reduce CO2 emissions that the airport
is responsible for annually and in opposition to plans to destroy family homes
at Hasty Lane, and local biodiversity, to expand the World Freight Centre. The
first trial, of 11 people who face charges of obstruction of the highway of the
road access to the World Freight Centre starts on 6th Dec.
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COP16: new additions to draft text on bunker fuels
Date added: 4 December, 2010
8% of global economic activity depends on aviation transporting 40% of total
freight value. 4.9% of anthropogenic CO2 is caused by aviation. Regulating emissions
from maritime and air transport could perhaps generate climate finance for developing
countries. There is the principle of common but differentiated responsibility,
and the problem of carbon leakage to unregulated countries. ICAO needs to be more
effective in geting cuts in emissions.
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Thousands of climate campaigners march in London for a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030
Date added: 4 December, 2010
Thousands of campaigners marched on Parliament demanding CO2 emissions are slashed
to help prevent climate catastrophe, while UN delegates are meeting in Cancun, to hammer out a deal to cut global warming. Hundreds in Hyde Park formed themselves into a "2030" with a giant zero - the date
by which campaigners want a 'Zero Carbon Britain'. The rally after the march urged
the coalition Government to take strong action to decarbonise the economy and create
a million green jobs.
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Nellie (the elephant in the room) drops in on Manchester City Council’s climate change conference
Date added: 2 December, 2010
Campaigners from Manchester Climate Action took a giant white elephant (lovingly
named Nellie) to greet the public and organisations attending Manchester City
Council's Climate Change stakeholder conference. ‘Manchester: A Certain Furture’ set
targets for the city to reduce emissions 41% by 2020. However, this doesn’t include
the flight emissions from Manchester Airport (55% owed by the city council and
the region's biggest source of emissions).
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‘Resource efficiency’ the new buzzword in Commission workplan – includes transport
Date added: 2 December, 2010
The Commission has confirmed it will publish a new white paper on EU transport policy next year. This came as part of the Commission’s workplan for 2011, aiming to make resource efficiency a priority. The work programme concentrates on a low-carbon economy, energy security and a resource-efficient economy. There will be an overall approach to how energy and transport can be put on the road to transform the EU economy by 2050. T&E will ensure aviation is included.
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Gatwick chairman blasts airport expansion ban (not a surprise)
Date added: 2 December, 2010
The government moratorium on airport expansion has been strongly criticised by
the former permanent secretary at the DfT, who warned that ministers could not
ignore the demand for new runways. Sir David Rowlands, now chairman of Gatwick Airport, said the need for new airport
capacity in the UK could not be avoided and warned that aviation's contribution
to the British economy was not appreciated as much as it should be. (Guardian)
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Managing director, Stewart Wingate, leaves Stansted – succeeded by David Johnston
Date added: 2 December, 2010
BAA today announces that David Johnston has been appointed managing director
of Stansted Airport, succeeding Stewart Wingate, who has chosen to leave the company
to join Connaught plc. David is currently group procurement director, having joined BAA in 2007 as managing
director of Edinburgh Airport. This is the 4th change of MD in four years.
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Council claims “Diverting A45 for Birmingham Airport runway will provide £631m boost to economy”
Date added: 2 December, 2010
The airport and Birmingham City Council are claiming that the planned extension of theAirport runway and diversion of the A45 will create
almost 3,400 new jobs and deliver a £631 million boost to the local economy. Forecasts produced for the Council by consultants Arup suggest that the 2 projects
combined will trigger significant long-term economic and transport benefits, boostingknowledge-based
business parks around the M42. (Post)
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Lufthansa first airline to use biofuel on commercial flights next spring
Date added: 30 November, 2010
In April 2011, Lufthansa is to begin a 6-month trial with an Airbus A321 on scheduled
commercial flights on the Hamburg-Frankfurt route. Pending certification, one of the aircraft's engines will use a 50-50
mix of biofuel and traditional kerosene. The purpose of the project is to conduct
a long term study on the effect of biofuel on engine maintenance and life. Lufthansa
is the first airline to test this fuel over a long period. The Federal Govt is
giving €2.5m for the Lufthansa project.
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BA launches new route from London City to Chambery (for skiing not business)
Date added: 29 November, 2010
BA is extending its route network from London City Airport with the launch of
a new flight to Chambery, the gateway to the French Alps, on December 18. It
operates 4 times a week each way till March. The airport said it "is ideally set up to give our customers the opportunity to spend a long weekend,
a full week, or even longer, skiing on some of the world's best slopes and resorts."
Strange for an airport devoted to helping business flyers. As its Ibiza route.
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Aberdeen Airport’s £10m runway 124 metre extension goes ahead starting March
Date added: 29 November, 2010
A £10m 124m. extension of Aberdeen Airport's main runway is to finally take off,
it has been announced. Aberdeen City Council approved the extension in December 2006 and now BAA has
said work will begin in March. Plans were first put forward in late 2005. It is expected to finish in the summer of 2012. The longer runway opens up new
destinations, and the airport hopes it will attract business to the area. Green
groups are deeply opposed. (BBC)
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12 die as mercy flight freighter crashes just after take off in Karachi
Date added: 29 November, 2010
A Russia-built freighter crashed in Karachi in the early hours of the morning
killing at least 12 people.
The Ilyushin Il-76 was carrying 31 tonnes of relief aid to Khartoum in Sudan.
The plane caught fire immediately after take off from Karachi’s Jinnah International
Airport. It crashed minutes later into a residential construction site, exploding
into a fire ball, killing all 8 crew and at least 4 people on the ground and injuring a
few more.
(IFW)
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Biofuel approval nears, Lufhansa plans service trial in spring 2011 – fuel partly from palm oil
Date added: 29 November, 2010
With the aviation fuels subcommittee of standards-setter ASTM to meet next week to decide on approval of bio-jet fuels, Lufthansa has announced
plans for a 6-month in-service trail of a 50:50 mix of biofuel and conventional
kerosene using an Airbus A321. ASTM has already approved 50% blends of synthetic
paraffinic kerosenes (SPKs) produced from coal, natural gas or biomass using the
Fischer-Tropsch process. The bio-SPKs may be next, by March 2011.
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Revealed: Newcastle Airport scandal that could cost taxpayers millions
Date added: 28 November, 2010
North East taxpayers could bear the brunt of a huge debt worth hundreds of millions
of £ £s after 2 airport bosses were paid high bonuses for just taking out a loan. Newcastle Airport, which is partly-owned by the region’s 7 councils, had agreed
a £377m mortgage as part of a refinancing deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland
in 2006. Two directorsiis, had it written into their contracts that they received a % of the loan as
a bonus. (Journal)
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bmi asks CAA to review BAA’s plans for higher charges on domestic flights
Date added: 27 November, 2010
bmi has complained to the Civil Aviation Authority about BAA’s plans to introduce higher charges for domestic passengers flying out of Heathrow. BAA recently announced that, from April 2011, it intends to raise charges by over 50%. The rate increases from £13.43 to £20.25 per departing passenger. bmi wants to ask the CAA to investigate under the Airports Act 1986 to see if this is unfair discrimination against domestic operations. (Flightline)
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Boris Johnson to press for Thames Estuary airport
Date added: 26 November, 2010
Boris Johnson will formally take his case for a new hub airport in the South-East
to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond. His deputy at Transport for London, Daniel
Moylan, said he would argue for the option to be included in the Government's
first aviation review. Business groups believe airport expansion is essential for the growth of London's
economy. Ministers have repeatedly poured cold water on the proposal on cost grounds.
(Standard)
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Airline financing rift deepens as new alliance wants more subsidies to buy planes
Date added: 26 November, 2010
Export credit, which mainly consists of government guarantees to support commercial
loans for airlines to buy planes, underpins more than 30% of Airbus and Boeing
deliveries. 10 global airlines, calling themselves the Aviation Alliance, are among the biggest
beneficiaries of US and European subsidies to buy jetliners. They want an easing
of rules on aircraft-export guarantees and to ensure that export financing isn't closed off. OECD talks are under way.
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Greenhouse gases at record levels: UN agency. CO2 at 387 ppm in October at Mauna Loa
Date added: 26 November, 2010
Concentrations of the main greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached their
highest level since pre-industrial times, according to the World Meteorological
Organization. Concentrations of the gases continued to build up in 2009 - the
latest year of observations - despite the economic slowdown. CO2 was 387 ppm in October at Mauna Loa. Globally averaged nitrous oxide in
2009 was 19% higher, at 322.5 parts per billion, than the pre-industrial era.
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IATA says global air freight demand rose 14.4% in October; freight is 1% above early 2008 levels
Date added: 25 November, 2010
In October, compared to a year before, international freight was up + 14.4%. Freight appears to be at a turning point. In October global cargo capacity expansion
of + 9.2% was well below the demand increase of +24%. Global freight is +1% above
its previous peak level in early 2008. European airlines recorded a +12.1% year-on-year demand increase in October, though their traffic
remains 12% below pre-recession levels of early 2008.
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Taxpayers to pay yet more to fund road scheme to help Birmingham Airport runway extension
Date added: 25 November, 2010
Taxpayers will be asked to pay £10 million more towards the cost of moving a major road to allow Birmingham Airport’s runway to be extended. The long-awaited project can only go ahead once the A45 Coventry Road has been
diverted at a cost of £32 million. Regional transport body Centro’s CEO, Geoff Inskip, said Birmingham City Council would be asked to decide next month
whether to contribute £10 million towards the scheme. (Post)
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2010 on course to be joint hottest year with 1998 since 1850
Date added: 25 November, 2010
This year likely to match 1998 temperatures as UN scientists predict more floods,
heatwaves and rising sea levels. 2010 is so far tied for the hottest year in a record dating back to 1850 in a new sign of a warming
trend. Expectations for Cancun are no longer for a comprehensive deal to slow warming,
but only smaller progress. Temperatures are now about 0.8C above pre-industrial levels, and 2010 is about
0.5C above the 1961-1990 average, near the record, with 2 months' data still to
collect.
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IATA says global air passenger demand is strengthening – up +10.1% in October
Date added: 25 November, 2010
There was a +10.1% year on year increase in passenger demand and a +14.4% year-on-year
increase for freight in October. Passenger demand is 5% above pre-crisis levels
of early 2008, while freight is 1% above. Over the first 10 months of the year,
passenger demand grew by +8.5%, with a capacity expansion of +4.0%. European carriers showed a +9.6% increase over October 2009; it is now 4% higher than the pre-recession
levels of early 2008.
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Residents concerned at bmibaby move to Belfast City airport – questions raised over passenger limit
Date added: 25 November, 2010
Local residents have voiced their concern at the bmibaby decision to switch its
operations from Belfast Internat Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport.
Belfast City Airport Watch will be asking the Dept of the Environment whether
the planned move will mean the airport is, once again, breaching planning regulations.
Only last month, the Assembly’s Environment Committee recommended that the airport’s
stipulated passenger limit should remain in place
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‘Gatwick hell’ eases as airport queues speed up
Date added: 24 November, 2010
Gatwick has turned around its reputation as one of Britain's worst run airports
a year after it was sold by BAA to GIP in Dec 2009. Regular passengers say they have been astonished by the banishing of "Gatwick
hell" at an airport once notorious for long queues and surly staff. Gatwick, which handles about 32 million passengers a year. GIP promised £1 billion
of improvements to its two ageing terminals and politeness training for staff.
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Brazilian airline TAM flies an Airbus A320 45 minute flight on 50% jatropha biofuel
Date added: 24 November, 2010
On 22 Nov an Airbus A320 powered by CFM56 engines was flown off the coast of
Rio de Janeiro, fuelled by a 50:50 blend of biofuel and conventional aviation
fuel. The 45-minute flight, which was conducted by Brazil’s largest airline TAM, used
biodiesel derived from jatropha seeds in what has been named the first experimental
flight in South America using aviation fuel. The biofuel was processed by UOP
LLC, a Honeywell group member.
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Revamp to shut Manchester Airport main runway at night for eight months
Date added: 24 November, 2010
A £20m refurbishment of the main runway at Manchester Airport is to take place
next year – closing it from 9.30pm to 6am from January to September 2011. It is the biggest runway refurbishment since the airport opened in 1938 but passengers
will not be affected nor flights cut. Night-time take-offs and landings will be switched to Runway Two,
though planes are not normally allowed to land on this runway between 10.30pm and 6am
except in emergencies
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Santa business in poor elf, but increased trips to German Christmas markets, and New York
Date added: 23 November, 2010
German Christmas markets have overtaken visits to Santa in the run up to this
Christmas season, according to the Co-operative Travel. Trips to Lapland have
fallen by 26% while visits to German markets have gone up 25%. People are apparently
keen to " kick start their Christmas shopping and soak up the atmosphere" at a
market. The Co-op said retail trips to New York and Holland have seen a rise of
8% and 21% respectively (bookings 3 - 17th Dec).
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MEMS microphones low-cost means to map noise pollution
Date added: 23 November, 2010
UK sound engineers have developed a novel use for Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
(MEMS) microphones to map noise pollution. It uses a wireless array of low-cost
MEMS microphones to provide a means of collecting noise data over a widespread
area, in order to augment the production and validation of noise maps. They can
run unattended continuously. The flagship test site was an area of land adjacent
to a major airport. (Engineer)
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Global carbon emissions in 2010 set to be highest in history – and accelerating
Date added: 22 November, 2010
Emissions of man-made CO2 in the atmosphere are roaring ahead again after a smaller-than-expected
dip due to the worldwide recession. Scientists forecast that CO2 emissions from
burning fossil fuels will reach their highest ever this year, and are accelerating.
CO2 emissions fell only 1.3% in 2009 as more coal was burnt, and will probably
rise 3% this year. National attempts to stabilise CO2 have been too feeble to
have any noticeable impact on global emissions.
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Delta makes 3 emergency landing within a few days
Date added: 22 November, 2010
A Delta Air Lines flight on its way to Moscow had to return to New York JFK airport
after its wings reportedly caught fire. The Boeing 767 aircraft dumped fuel in the Atlantic before turning back to JFK
shortly after take-off last night. Nobody was injured. The incident is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration. This
was one of three emergency landings involving Delta Air Lines over the weekend.
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British Airways – Iberia merger set for take-off
Date added: 21 November, 2010
Willie Walsh is set to pull off his long-desired merger with Spain’s Iberia next
week if as expected shareholders in both airlines vote for the £5 billion tie-up. The deal to create International Airlines Group (IAG), a joint holding company
for the 2 airlines, goes to a shareholder vote on Nov 29. If the merger is approved the headquarters of IAG will be in London with its
primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and its secondary listing in Madrid.
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New call by UN body for carbon charges on aviation and shipping
Date added: 21 November, 2010
A UN body set up after the Copenhagen summit has recommended increased taxes on carbon emissions and air and sea transport with the aim of raising $100 billion a year to help poorer nations fight global warming. The group is led by the prime ministers of Norway and Ethiopia. It said carbon emission taxes must be used as a deterrent to producing greenhouse gases and to raise money so the developing nations can play their part in fighting climate change. (T&E)
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Qantas airbus A380 fleet could now be grounded for weeks
Date added: 21 November, 2010
Airbus A380s operated by Qantas Airways might be grounded for weeks as Rolls-Royce
plans how to fix an engine problem that forced one of the superjumbos into an
emergency landing. The airline has lost about 4% to 5% of its seat capacity and £78 million a day so
far. A delay would squeeze the Australian airline's capacity as it heads into
the busy holiday season.
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MORE GLARING JUXTAPHOTISIONS – the amazing juxtapositions of completely conflicting images
Date added: 21 November, 2010
George Marshall, (of Climate Change Denial) shows some examples of weirdly contrasting
adverts, placed side by side, with no apparent irony. A brilliant pair in Bristol,
of an Oxfam climate campaign ad right beside a Ford Galaxy car ad. And a great
ad by the Carbon Trust offering a prize of two business class tickets to Dubai
for helping create a low carbon Britain. And newspaper articles on climate beside
the cheap flight ads. Confused, schizophrenic modern society ...
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Former chairman of BMI airlines to become Conservative peer
Date added: 21 November, 2010
The former chairman of airline BMI has been appointed to the House of Lords. Michael Bishop CBE, a long-standing member of the Conservative Party, is to become
a Tory peer. Sir Michael sold the Castle Donington-based airline to Lufthansa in 2009 for
£220m. He took control of the airline in 1978 after a management buy-out. New Lib Dem
peers include ex-MP Susan Kramer, who actively worked on the anti Heathrow campaign.
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Solena and Rentech to partner on synthetic fuel technology for Europe’s proposed first sustainable jet fuel facility
Date added: 20 November, 2010
Solena Group, which is seeking to build a facility in London to convert waste
biomass feedstock into sustainable jet fuel, has signed a letter of intent with
fellow US company Rentech to negotiate a licensing deal to the use the latter’s
proprietary Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel technology. The GreenSky facility is due to open in 2014 and will produce around 16 million
gallons of jet fuel and nine million gallons of bionaphtha a year when fully operational.
(GreenAir)
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Airships and air cargo ? They may have a low carbon transport future
Date added: 20 November, 2010
There are a number of companies in the US, and at least one in Germany, that
are engaged in the design and development of the next generation of airships.
A few are developing heavylift vehicles – of course, "heavylift" is only thinking in kilos
rather than tonnes. Heavylift is not an easy problem to resolve in lighter-than-air
ships. To achieve any meaningful lift capacity, the size of the vehicle has to
be impracticably large.
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Gliders could be grounded by new European safety law
Date added: 20 November, 2010
Gliding - flying a plane without an engine - is popular in Britain, but the sport
is under threat from a new European law. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) wants to introduce a new continent-wide
pilot's licence which will improve safety. This means no more flying in or near clouds, as there are often associated thermals, and
restrictions on evasive manoeuvres often necessary in cloudy British skies for
gliders.
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BAA may face changes to forced UK airport sales – Competition Commission invites submissions
Date added: 19 November, 2010
Britain’s competition regulator said the UK government’s decision to cancel a
3d runway at Heathrow and oppose extra ones at Gatwick and Stansted may affect
its probe of BAA. The current decision calls for BAA to sell Stansted and either
the Glasgow or Edinburgh. The Competition Commission asked competitors and customers
to comment on last year’s decision by Dec 15th 2010, before it makes a final order
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Newcastle airport resolves wind farm radar threat
Date added: 19 November, 2010
Newcastle Airport is set to announce it has invested in new technology which
will allow for growth in the number of wind turbine sites in the North East.
A modification to radar displays will essentially block-out a number of new wind
farms on air traffic control screens. The breakthrough represents the end of a 6-year stand-off when the airport was unable
to sanction any new large-scale wind farms for safety reasons.
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Putney MP Justine Greening’s bid to tackle aircraft noise with BAA’s chief exec
Date added: 19 November, 2010
Justine Greening met Colin Matthews to discuss the company’s plans to tackle
aircraft noise from Heathrow. She raised concerns from local residents about increases in aircraft noise and the number
of night flights over the area, and urged BAA to engage in constructive debate
with residents on the issue of noise to move forward. BAA are currently consulting with the DfT and DEFRA on their draft noise action
plan, due to be published by the end of the year.
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50% of Airbus Rolls-Royce engines need replacing, says Qantas
Date added: 19 November, 2010
Around half Rolls-Royce engines (Trent 900) in service on Airbus A380 aircraft are to be replaced after one broke apart during flight. The airline has grounded its 6 A380s since the incident on 4th November, while
its rival Singapore Airlines, with 11 Rolls-Royce powered A380s, has had to cancel
several flights in order to remove some engines and replace them. There are 37
A380s, in operation worldwide. Some 21 of those are powered by the Trent 900
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Three recent bird strike incidents for aircraft including Qantas and Thomas Cook
Date added: 18 November, 2010
A Qantas Boeing 747 had to turn back to Johannesburg after one of its engines
suffered a bird strike, the latest in a string of incidents to beset Qantas. The plane's number two engine lost power after sucking in a bird shortly after
takeoff with damaged turbines forcing an unplanned landing. There were 171 passengers
on board. On 19th June a British holiday jet flying back to Manchester survived flying into a flock of
seagulls on take-off in Dalaman.
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London City Airport protest as High Court hearing begins
Date added: 18 November, 2010
Opponents of the expansion of London City Airport have protested outside the
High Court ahead of a 2-day hearing. Judges will decide whether Newham Council was right to have allowed a 50% expansion
of flight movements back in October 2008. Residents group Fight the Flights was joined for the protest by Lib Dem MEP Baroness
Sarah Ludford and London Assembly Member Darren Johnson, among others. Gita Parihar, Acting Head of Legal at Friends of the Earth, said: "We believe
Newham Council has acted illegally by failing to adequately consult on its proposals
and failing to consider Government policy on tackling climate change.
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Qantas A380 engine blast ‘severed cables’ and had a series of system failures
Date added: 18 November, 2010
Further details have been released of the problems of the Qantas A380 superjumbo
that saw one of its engines explode on 4th November. Airbus say flying debris from the Rolls-Royce engine severed cables in the aircraft's wing.
This caused a series of system failures in the plane. Pilots could not immediately
shut down one of the A380's 3 other engines. Up to 40 Rolls-Royce engines on Airbus
A380 s worldwide need to be replaced.
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Malcolm Robertson is BAA’s new communications director
Date added: 18 November, 2010
He started on his new £400,000 corporate and public affairs job last month, and
says he wants to adopt a more proactive comms strategy to improve the public's
perception of Heathrow. Now that BAA is largely off the main news pages, the
challenge for him is getting the business back onto the news pages in a good way.
His career so far - he started off in BAA Scotland, and was Deputy comms director, BAA in 2007.
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London City Airport says it delivers £ ½ billion to UK economy every year
Date added: 18 November, 2010
London City Airport says a new study from York Aviation has revealed that the
airport "directly contributes over £1/2 billion to the economy each year." This
study was rushed out to coincide with the Judicial Review at the High Court, of
the Newham decision on the airport's expansion plans. York Aviation, in a paper
study, has come up with a list of figures such as " £197 million spent by business tourists coming via London City Airport" etc
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US Navy tests new fuel in MH-60S Seahawk Helicopter. US navy want 50% biofuels by 2020
Date added: 18 November, 2010
Moving closer to achieving the objective of decreasing its need for petroleum-based
fuels, the Navy flew an MH-60S Seahawk on a 50/50 biofuel blend. The helicopter tested a fuel mixture made from the Camelina seed, which is in
the same family of plants as the mustard seed and rapeseed. Camelina - in theory
- needs little water or nitrogen to flourish and can be grown on marginal agricultural
soil. The US military want biofuels for energy security.
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Jobs claims by London City Airport shown to be highly inaccurate
Date added: 17 November, 2010
Campaigners at London City Airport have been looking carefully at the airport's
job figures and job claims. The airport said, in its S106 agreement to be allowed
to expand the airport, that 35% of jobs at the airport should be filled by Newham
residents. It turns out that the airport just makes "reasonable endeavours" to
get Newham staff. There are actually around 23% that live in Newham, and the home
addresses of police and immigration staff are not known.
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Fight the Flights judicial review against London City Airport expansion set for Thursday
Date added: 17 November, 2010
Fight the Flights take their battle against London City Airport’s proposed expansion to the High Court on Thursday in a judicial review. Campaigners against City airport expanding to 120,000 flights a year will challenge Newham Council in the Royal Courts of Justice. The grounds are that Newham failed to consult people living in neighbouring boroughs, or the local authorities, about the effects of increasing flights by around 50%. Also on climate change grounds.
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Air India plane crash: ‘Sleepy’ pilot blamed. Pilot fatigue an issue
Date added: 17 November, 2010
A dozing pilot was to blame for a plane crash in May in southern India which
killed 158 people, an official investigation has found. The Air India Express
plane approached Mangalore at the wrong height and angle. The Serbian pilot, Zlatko
Glusica, was "disorientated" having been asleep for much of the 3-hour flight.
The issue of tired pilots is not a new one. Pilots often work long hours, the
job is noisy and tiring, and there are late or night shifts.
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Easyjet profits jump on rising passenger numbers and more business fliers
Date added: 17 November, 2010
Easyjet has seen profits almost triple on rising passenger numbers and cheaper
fuel. It made profits of £154m in the 12 months to September, up from £55m a year earlier.
Passenger volumes rose 8% in the year to 49 million. Easyjet said it would buy
another 24 planes by September 2013, representing a 12% increase. It is launching
a no-frills business class and fares will be "far cheaper" than carriers like
BA. Almost 20% of its passengers are on business.
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Noise Action Plans soon to go to ministers – at last
Date added: 16 November, 2010
The chairman of East Midlands Airport Consultative Committee recently attended
a meeting at DfT. He was informed by Roy Strap that DfT hope to release the first
group of airport NAPs towards the end of this year, or early in 2011. There was no detail of how many NAPs will be in the first release, nor which
airports, and no information on when the remaining NAPs may be issued. (AEF)
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Birmingham Friends of the Earth letter to Birmingham City Council on use of public funds
Date added: 16 November, 2010
In response to the news that Birmingham City Council may give £10 million or
more to help with road alterations to enable the airport to lengthen its runway,
Birmingham FoE have written an open letter to councillors at BCC questioning their
use of public funds to pay for the runway extension. At the same time BCC are
looking to save £300 million pounds from their budget. The road project they
are paying for is outside the boundary of Birmingham.
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Durham Tees Valley Airport to charge £6 for departure
Date added: 16 November, 2010
Passengers will have to pay for the privilege of being allowed to board their flight from today. The airport is introducing a charge for access to its departure lounge, which is the only way to actually reach the plane. They will have to pay £6 for adults and £2 for children aged between three and 15. This
is part of the overall strategy to stabilise its financial situation and follows the introduction of similar schemes at other regional airports.
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Rolls-Royce scrambles for A380 engines to replace faulty ones; delays seen
Date added: 16 November, 2010
Rolls-Royce is preparing to cannibalise several half-built A380s from its production
line, to obtain new engines to help airlines like Qantas that operate A380s.
But both Singapore Airlines and Qantas, with a combined 22 A380s still to be delivered,
said on Tuesday they had not been informed of any delivery delays. All 6 of Qantas' A380s
are still grounded since the incident when part of an engine exploded in mid air.
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News update from Stop Stansted Expansion
Date added: 15 November, 2010
November newsletter from SSE
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Gatwick runway victory celebrated
Date added: 14 November, 2010
Over 40 representatives of local councils and environmental groups attended the
annual GACC meeting. The keynote speech was given by Crawley MP Henry Smith who
said "While everyone recognises the significance of the airport to the local
economy it is important that the area should not become over-dependent on one
industry. The volcanic ash close-down, the threat of terrorist attacks and the
recession all remind us of how vulnerable the aviation industry is."
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Pontin’s goes into administration – they have 5 seaside sites in the UK
Date added: 12 November, 2010
Holiday park operator Pontin’s has been placed in administration. It operates 5 sites in Somerset, Sussex, Suffolk, Wales and Merseyside and employs
around 850 staff across the UK. KPMG has been appointed administrators, and say KPMG all 5 sites continue to trade as normal and no redundancies of park staff
have been made. Pontin's is an iconic British brand which forms the backdrop to thousands of
treasured family holiday memories since 1946.
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Airbus prepares safety warnings after problems with computer controls on a flight in August
Date added: 12 November, 2010
Airbus is drafting a worldwide safety warning about electrical problems on some
of its aircraft. It is investigating a fault that temporarily affected primary cockpit displays and
computer controls on a BMI flight from Khartoum to Beirut in August, when for
several minutes the plane did not respond to controls. The standby instruments on the A321 plane did operate normally. The pilots eventually regained control of the aircraft - but by that time it
was 20 miles off its course.
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Thomas Cook holiday jet to Manchester survived bird strike after take off in Turkey
Date added: 12 November, 2010
A British holiday jet flying back to Manchester survived flying into a flock
of seagulls on take-off in Turkey. The "significant bird strike" led to birds passing through both Rolls-Royce engines
of the Boeing 757 said the AAIB. The Thomas Cook Airlines flight landed safely in Manchester after flying from
Dalaman on 19 June. The extent of the damage was discovered on landing included a cracked nose, landing
gear light and dents in the engine intake cowlings.
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Cargo plane bomb found in Britain was primed to blow up over US
Date added: 11 November, 2010
Scotland Yard has revealed that the device taken from a plane in Britain was
timed to explode in mid-air over the eastern United States. The bomb was found by police on board a cargo plane at East Midlands airport
last month after detailed information was passed through intelligence channels
to the UK and US from Saudi Arabia. An alarm clock on a mobile phone attached to the printer bomb was set to go off
at 10.30am BST. Another device was found at Dubai airport.
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DfT work plan published. Aviation scoping document will be published March 2011
Date added: 11 November, 2010
The DfT has produced its Business Plan 2011-2015 which it says will be refreshed
annually. Its Section 5 is entitled "Promote sustainable aviation". It wants to create a "sustainable" framework (definition unclear) for aviation in the UK,
improve passenger experience at airports and maintain high standards of safety
and security for passengers and freight. The scoping document will be published
in Mar 2011 and the consultation will be March to July 2012.
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Demand for the resignation of the directors of Flying Matters over unsubstantiated claims
Date added: 11 November, 2010
The website of the pro-flying pressure group, "Flying Matters" states clearly
that they are: "Committed to to improve fuel efficiency of new aircraft by 50%
by 2020 ". Also they have a "commitment to get emissions down to 2000 levels by 2050 despite a trebling of
passenger numbers". A campaigner is threatening to report Brian Wilson and Michelle Di Leo to the
Serious Fraud Office, for making exaggerated, unsubstantiated and unrealistic
claims to artificially boost their case.
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Business travel recovery boosts BAA October passenger numbers – up 3.4%
Date added: 10 November, 2010
BAA today posted a 3.4% increase in total passenger numbers for October, boosted
by a recovery in the level of business travel. Passenger numbers across its six airports rose by 318,000 to 9.75 million, up from 9.44 million
in the same period last year, helped by a 1.2% increase in the number of flights. Cargo was up 12.5% across BAA's UK airports. There was a 6% increase in flights at Heathrow and a 7.2% increase in passengers. Passengers
were down - 3.1% at Stansted.
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UK CAA publishes review of London City Airport departure changes
Date added: 10 November, 2010
The UK CAA has published its 12-month review of NATS’ revisions to the London
City Airport departure routes, which were introduced in May 2009, allegedly to
maintain the high safety standards. The review found that the change had delivered
the safety benefits that had been anticipated in the NATS proposal - but it ignored
the annoyance and distress caused to the thousands now being overflown, and data
on the noise these communities suffered before the change.
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EU Transport emissions up 34% since 1990 and aviation emissions up 110%
Date added: 10 November, 2010
A new report by T&E found that between 1990 and 2008, transport emissions
in the EU increased by 34% while emissions from other sectors decreased by 14%. So
the share of transport in total emissions rose to 29% in 2008; in 1990 the share
of transport was 21%. Emissions from international aviation and shipping rose
by 110% and 56% respectively between 1990 and 2008. The average annual emission
growth of EU aviation since 1990 has been 4.2% (not including non-CO2 effects).
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Boeing halts test flights of delay-plagued 787 Dreamliner due to fire
Date added: 10 November, 2010
Boeing has halted test flights on its new 787 Dreamliner, dealing a fresh setback
amd probably delays to a program already running about 3 years behind schedule.
The decision came after a fire aboard a test plane forced an emergency landing. A spokeswoman said the fire was the most serious incident since test flights began
in December 2009. The length of the suspension is not known and testing will only
be on the ground till the problem is understood.
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London City Airport – a marketable proposition?
Date added: 9 November, 2010
A long article with a lot of background on London City Airport, its strengths and weaknesses. "on the downside LCY’s future growth depends on its plans for expansion being acceptable in the community". But the approval decision, to allow an increase in flights from 80,000 to 120,000 per year, is subject to a judicial review which is scheduled to take place on 18th and 19th November, following a poll that is being conducted by the GLA.
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Airbus A380 plane aborts landing due to strong gust of wind at Manchester
Date added: 9 November, 2010
The A380 had to abort a landing after being hit by a strong gust of wind. It was caught up in the gale at Manchester on Monday, having flown from Dubai. After touching down briefly the pilot took off again and managed to land safely
on the 2nd attempt. It was then hit by an electrical fault which delayed the flight by 24 hours.
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