How The Government Shutdown May Affect Aviation Safety

Washington politicians, demonstrating behavior fitting of a group of kindergarteners, has resulted in a government shut down. What does this mean to aviation? Well, how do you feel about commercial aircraft not being inspected? Yes, the government shut …

Southwest Airlines Jet Forced To Make Emergency Landing After Bird Strike

Another Southwest Airlines’ 737 was taken out of service Monday night following a bird strike. The flight was taking off from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and heading to Chicago’s Midway Airport, at the time of the incident. News reports indic …

Update on the American Airlines Merger with US Airways

As discussed in an earlier entry, AMR Corporation’s proposed $11 billion mega-merger with US Airways was called into question recently when the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”), six state attorneys general and the District of Columbia filed …

DOJ Sues to Stop the Merger Between American Airlines and US Airways

AMR Corporation’s proposed mega-merger with US Airways appears to be on the ropes. The likelihood that the $11 billion deal will close was called into question yesterday, when the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”), six state attorneys general …

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 Passengers Need Qualified Aviation Attorneys (Shysters Need Not Apply)

There is a news story floating around today about the NTSB reporting a law firm to the Illinois State Bar for allegedly making inappropriate contact with Chinese victims of Asiana Flight 214. I do not know anything about the specific facts of that case …

Southwest Airlines Flight Gear Collapse Under Investigation

As everyone has heard by now, the nose gear on a Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to New York’s LaGuardia Airport collapsed on landing Monday, causing several injuries as well as flight delays and cancellations. The gear reportedly collapsed re …

General Aviation Safety on NTSB Most Wanted List

Earl Weener, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”), recently released a video concerning the need for improvement in safety of general aviation (”GA”). GA, in basic terms, is any flight that is not military, airlines or charter. …

Terrible Weekend for Commercial Aviation

This past weekend was marred by two tragic airplane crashes. By now, everyone has heard about Saturday’s crash of Asiana Airlines flight 214 in San Francisco that killed two young girls and injured dozens of other passengers. Just over 24 hours later, …

Doing The Bump – Delta Airlines Style

It’s not an old disco move or a knuckles on greeting between friends. Nope. Delta Airlines (Delta) was recently fined again for its practices and procedures with respect to bumping passengers. As we all know, airlines routinely oversell flights. If too …

FAA Considers Loosening Restrictions on Portable Electronic Devices

Current Federal Aviation Regulations prohibit the use of all portable electronic devices below 10,000 feet. In other words, if it has an on/off switch, you are supposed to turn it off until the captain tells you it is safe to use it. There are reports, …