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Tech NewsNewsFAA Chief: Look, I’ll Fly the Freakin’ Thing Myself
In a bid to reassure the public that Boeing has fixed the problems with its disastrous 737 Max line of passenger jets, Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson will personally get behind the controls for a test flight next week, according to Bloomberg. Every 737 Max jet in operation was grounded last year after two … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Tech NewsTransportation‘Disturbing Revelations’ About Boeing 737 Max Crashes Made Public in New Report
Two plane crashes in 2018 and 2019 involving the new Boeing 737 Max aircraft weren’t a result of one single issue, but instead were caused by the failures of Boeing staff, Boeing management, and the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a new 245-page report released Wednesday by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsNewsDid You Fly a Jetpack Over Los Angeles This Weekend? Because the FBI Is Looking for You
Did you fly a jetpack over Los Angeles at approximately 3,000 feet on Sunday? Some kind of tiny helicopter? Maybe a lawn chair with balloons tied to it? If the answer to any of the above questions is “yes,” you should probably lay low for a while (by which I mean cool it on the … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Tech NewsAI Murder Machine Kicks Air Force Pilot’s Ass in DARPA’s Simulated Dogfight Contest
Anyone remember the 2005 sci-fi movie Stealth? As far as I can remember, it involves a secret, artificially intelligent U.S. Air Force fighter plane that rebels against its creators when it is struck by lightning. It was not very good. Regardless, the U.S. military is now one step closer to its dream of unleashing an … Continued
By Tom McKay -
ScienceHealthLatest Coronavirus Science: Hopeful Evidence for Longer-Lasting Immunity
In this roundup of the latest research into the covid-19 pandemic, we cover encouraging evidence for immunity, why the virus may not be very airborne, and an unexpected effect of the pandemic on our weather forecasts. Immunity hopes A study out this week seems to offer a ray of sunlight amidst concerns that immunity to … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealthTed Cruz’s Office Says He Was Just Enjoying a Delicious Beverage, Not Violating Mandatory Airline Mask Policy or Anything
American Airlines has said it is investigating after Senator Ted Cruz was photographed in apparent violation of its policy mandating use of face masks during the coronavirus pandemic by all passengers and crew on Sunday, per CBS News. Scientists believe flying on a passenger airline is relatively risky during the pandemic due to close proximity … Continued
By Tom McKay -
EartherThe UN Just Made It Easier for Airlines to Pollute
A United Nations council of 36 countries has agreed on a major change to the main global scheme addressing the climate impact of aviation, a move expected to remove requirements for airlines to offset emissions for several years. The change to weaken what was already viewed as a wholly inadequate climate policy has been met … Continued
Jocelyn Timperley -
ScienceHealthAttention Passengers: We’ve Got a Dweeb Alert
This is your captain speaking. Dweeb alert! This is not a drill. Dweeb alert! That’s right, folks, there is a dweeb alert in effect on this aircraft. American Airlines removed a passenger from a flight from New York to Dallas on Wednesday for refusing to wear a mask under its new mandatory face-covering policy, CNN … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Tech NewsTransportationTrump Regime Plans to Ban Passenger Flights From China on June 16: Report
The Trump regime plans to ban all passenger flights from China as early as June 16, according to a new report from Reuters that cites airline officials. The plan is reportedly retaliation for the Chinese government’s refusal to allow most American flights to land in China while Chinese carriers continue to fly into the United … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsNew Airbus Blended-Wing Airplane Concept Looks Very Similar to a 1940s Design for a Futuristic Flyer
Earlier this year, Airbus unveiled a sleek new concept aircraft with a blended wing that looked incredibly futuristic. And while it looks like it could have been ripped out of a sci-fi movie from the 2010s, the plane concept also has many elements of retro-futurism. Specifically, the plane looks similar to the proposed Northrop Flying … Continued
By Matt Novak -
EartherThe EPA Introduced the First-Ever US Airplane Carbon Regulations
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed carbon dioxide standards for the airline industry. Yes, the Trump EPA. The standards would be the first time the federal government has ever regulated the airplane emissions. But let’s be clear, this isn’t exactly cause for celebration. For one, the proposal has yet to be publicly released. And for … Continued
By Dharna Noor -
Tech NewsNewsFrench Government Report Explains Fighter Jet Passenger Who Accidentally Ejected Himself Was Really Stressed Out
It’s happened to all of us: You’re unexpectedly pressured to fly around in a military fighter jet despite your lack of aviation experience before you accidentally mash that eject button. That scenario is exactly what occurred last March at an airbase in Saint-Dizier, France, according to a French government report released this month. Colleagues of … Continued
By Tom McKay -
EartherExtreme WeatherWhy the Covid-19 Related Drop in Air Travel Could Make Weather Forecasts Less Accurate
Amid the covid-19 pandemic, everyone’s cancelling their flights. To prevent the spread of the virus, countries are enforcing strict travel bans and encouraging social distancing, which means no air travel unless absolutely necessary. Airlines are taking huge hits: Southwest’s planes are just 20 percent full, Delta’s CEO said the demand fall-off is “unlike anything we’ve … Continued
By Dharna Noor -
Tech NewsNewsBlasting Airplanes With Lasers Makes It Much Harder For Ice to Stick to Wings
If you’ve ever had to fly during the cold winter months you’ve probably already experienced the hassle of a delayed flight because the aircraft had to be blasted with deicer before take off. But annoying delays are just one of many issues ice build-up on a plane can cause, so researchers have come up with … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangeHow the UN’s Shady Aviation Organization Could Upend a Key Effort to Combat Climate Change
The United Nations’ official aviation body begins three weeks of talks this week. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) council meeting will discuss all manner of aviation-related topics, from coronavirus to unannounced missile launches. But it is also set to make a decision on which carbon offsets it will permit in its scheme to combat … Continued
Jocelyn Timperley -
Tech NewsDelta CEO Nose-Dives Into the Seat Reclining Debate
Yesterday, the internet was split asunder by a great moral conundrum over a viral video of a man punching a woman’s seat when she tried to recline. Some people took the man’s side—tall people have knees and it’s rude to recline! Others took the woman’s side—she paid for her seat, and has every right! Well … Continued
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Tech NewsNewsBoeing Finds New Software Problem With Scandal-Plagued 737 Max Plane
Engineers at Boeing have discovered a new software issue with the 737 Max plane, which has been grounded worldwide for almost a year over technical issues. The new problem, first reported by Bloomberg News, involves the trim system, which regulates whether the nose of the aircraft is pointed up or down. A light for the … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsNews60 People Treated After Delta Flight Dumps Jet Fuel on Los Angeles County
Around 60 people in Los Angeles County were treated by first responders after a jet returning to Los Angeles International Airport dumped its fuel in mid-air, showering at least five elementary schools and a high school shortly before noon, CNN reported on Tuesday. No one at any of the sites required hospitalization, Los Angeles School … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Tech NewsPoliticsIran Says It ‘Unintentionally’ Shot Down Ukrainian Airlines Flight [Updated]
Iran’s military admitted to “unintentionally” shooting down a Ukrainian International Airlines passenger jet that crashed shortly after takeoff earlier this week, per a recent Associated Press report. The crash, which killed all 176 aboard, resulted from “human error” according to an official statement broadcast on Iranian state television, and those responsible for the unintentional strike … Continued
