herroyalmelness

"Airports rely on you spending money inside the terminal. In 2024, US airports generated over $1 billion of revenue from purchases like $6 bottled water, $27 beers, and $10 Chex Mix.

And airports are only getting more expensive. In the early 2000s, some tried to match the price of goods outside the airport. But today, many airports are raising or removing that limit. And there’s little competition inside the terminal — much of the food and retail at the airport is operated by a few massive companies.

So how did airports become so expensive? And why are some raising prices even more?"

"According to press reports, the aircraft began taxiing with no communication between the crew and the tower; maneuvering erratically, it entered a runway without clearance. With its lights off and its transponder not transmitting, 844AA took off to the southwest, and headed out over the Atlantic Ocean. The 727 and the two men have not been seen since."

Air & Space Magazine
By: Tim Wright September 2010

"The shortage of air traffic controllers keeping watch over America’s skies prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to embark on a massive recruitment drive.
Now, the FAA has another problem: There are not enough instructors to teach all those new recruits the ropes."

"Until recently, they could keep track of the flights using publicly accessible websites.
But the monitors and others say airlines are now using dummy call signs for deportation flights and are blocking the planes’ tail numbers from tracking websites, "

"In National Geographic's new six-part series TOP GUNS: THE NEXT GENERATION, cameras follow a class of Navy and Marine Corps student pilots as they enter the final and most unforgiving phase of elite strike fighter training."

"Data reveals civil aviation’s most astonishing, exceptional survivals—and shows no seat is reliably safe."

Air traffic control school: A look inside the FAA's largest training class
The Federal Aviation Administration's training academy in Oklahoma is trying to get thousands more controllers into chronically understaffed towers.

This popped up in my suggestions on YouTube. I recently watched the Thunderbirds documentary. This one isn't as highly produced like the Blue Angels & Thunderbird ones on Netflix, but a nice behind-the-scenes look at the recruiting & practice of the #RedArrows. This looks to be one of others in a series. The On the Move YouTube channel has more, if you're inclined to watch the bunch.

John Oliver discusses the working conditions of air traffic controllers, why those conditions are impacting us all, and – for those under 30 – what a “floppy disk” is.

Acta Astronautica
Volume 222, September 2024, Pages 69-80

"As the number of rocket launches and commercial aircraft flights increase, the probability of a catastrophic collision between an aircraft and reentering space debris is also growing.
• Technologies and mission designs exist to enable all rocket bodies to be returned to Earth in a controlled manner, eliminating the casualty risk.
• From a broad economic perspective, space companies are externalizing some of their risks and costs and imposing them on the aviation industry.
• States are liable for damage caused by reentering space objects and could be liable for the economic costs caused by precautionary airspace closures.
• The 2023 Montreal Recommendations offer actionable steps to reduce the risk of collisions between space debris and aircraft."

I love how Kevin was able to turn his passion & his photo news skills into something that sustains him.

"Unexpected Role: Flight attendants were told they would fly rock bands, sports teams and sun-seekers. Then Global Crossing Airlines started expanding into federal deportation flights.
Human Struggles: Some flight attendants said they ignored orders not to interact with detainees. “I’d say ‘hola’ back,” said one flight attendant. “We’re not jerks.”
Safety Concerns: Flight attendants received training in how to evacuate passengers but said they weren’t told how to usher out detainees whose hands and legs were bound by shackles."