Airlines
This is How Alaska Airlines is prepping for winter storms
Everyone knows snow can make the holidays extra cozy. But it can also cause headaches for people traveling during the ‘most wonderful time of the year.’
Peek inside Alaska Airlines’ first 737-800 retrofit(Opens in a new browser tab)
Pacific Northwest forecasts are calling for the possibility of snow beginning this weekend and continuing throughout the week. We could see up to three separate snowstorms that could span rain/snow showers to snow actually accumulating on the ground.
How should I proceed if an aircraft is about to crash?(Opens in a new browser tab)
At Alaska, it prepared to pull every lever to get you to your holiday destination, but disruptions from the snow and ice do happen. While team is working hard to get guests where they need to go, we want to share some of the reasons why we do what we do:
Why do the impacts feel worse in Seattle?
Seattle is Alaska’s hometown, and operations represent the largest percentage (by a wide margin) of departures and arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) compared to other airlines. Because of this, more of guests are impacted when something impacts operations at Seattle. If another airline’s main hub got hit with a snowstorm, hurricane or power outage, they would be disproportionately impacted.
For context, SEA has a very small footprint by acreage compared to other metropolitan airports. This constrains ability to deice entire schedule of flights in wintry weather. Because the space doesn’t allow for that type of volume, they have to thin out their schedule to keep planes moving.
Why do we cancel flights before snow arrives?
We use numerous tools and resources to help us predict the weather. When forecasts tell us to expect snow or ice, we know we need to act. Freezing temperatures and precipitation mean that we need to deice aircraft before they can safely fly. Much like putting chains or studded tires on your car before hitting a snowy road, deicing aircraft slows down operation. This means we can’t move normal number of aircraft into and out of the airport. In order to reduce traffic jams, they need to proactively cancel flights from schedule so they can keep as many aircraft moving as possible.
If need to cancel flights, they try and let impacted guests know as early as possible. This means it could look clear and beautiful outside, but your flight tomorrow may have been canceled.
Why does an airplane need to be deiced?
Whenever there’s any snowfall or ice on aircraft, it begin deicing procedures as part of safety protocol. Aircraft cannot safely operate if there is snow or ice accumulation on the wings or tails, so it’s critical that remove it before takeoff.
It has a full fleet of trucks, equipment and personnel across stations ready to do that work, along with a well-stocked amount of deicing solution. They work as quickly as the airport and weather conditions will safely allow. However, deicing aircraft at the gate can lead to longer wait times on the tarmac—but safety comes first.
How to be a pro winter traveler
- Download mobile app to check-in, pay for bags and stay up to date on any changes to your reservation—it’s like having a travel agent at your fingertips.
- Always check the status of your flight before heading to the airport. You can do this on mobile app or alaskaair.com.
- Allow extra time to travel to the airport and navigate security.
- Stay up to date on restrictions for unaccompanied minors and pets flying in the cargo hold. Often during winter weather, it will impose these restrictions to keep everyone safe.
What to do if your flight is canceled?
If your flight has been canceled, you will be contacted and reaccommodated on another flight. You will be emailed a special phone number to call if you need further help with your reaccommodation.
Airlines
Woman slams Air India for downgrading her mother’s business class ticket to economy,
Air India finds itself embroiled in controversy yet again following a recent incident where a passenger was downgraded from Business Class to Economy Class on a flight from Delhi to Washington DC.
The incident has sparked a debate surrounding customer service standards and the airline’s adherence to established protocols. when a user, Ms. Vitasta, took to social media to share her mother’s troubling experience. According to her account, her mother, who held a Business Class ticket for the Delhi to Washington DC flight, was confronted with a series of bewildering situations.
Initially, airline staff informed her that her seat couldn’t recline, followed by the explanation that it was reserved for the crew. However, to her dismay, she later discovered another passenger occupying her rightful seat while she was unceremoniously shifted to Economy Class. Ms. Vitasta expressed her frustration in a tweet, condemning Air India for its actions and highlighting the discomfort and inconvenience her mother endured.
In response, Air India reached out to Ms. Vitasta, assuring her that they were investigating the matter with priority alongside the airport team. However, their subsequent offer of compensation, which included 75% of the fare and an upgrade voucher, was met with skepticism and further criticism. Ms. Vitasta updated her followers, expressing dissatisfaction with the compensatory measures and denouncing the rude behavior of the ground staff in Delhi.
Following the incident, Air India purportedly offered to compensate 75% of the fare and provided an upgrade voucher to Ms. Vitasta’s mother. However, many online users deemed this response inadequate and urged her to file a formal complaint against the airline for the deficiency of service experienced. “Don’t accept the 75%; she paid for a service and didn’t receive it; she should get 100% minimum,” said a second person. “@airindia’s reckless, arrogant culture would never change regardless of who owns it,” commented a third.
Airlines
Somalil and ATC Prevents Collision Between Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines
Somalil and’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) played a pivotal role in preventing a potential catastrophe as an Ethiopian Airlines plane narrowly dodged another near-collision incident with an Emirates aircraft over Somalia’s airspace.
The harrowing event unfolded last Sunday, involving flight ethiopian airlines ETH 690 and emirates UAE 722, both cruising at 37,000 feet. According to an incident report released by the Somaliland Civil Aviation and Airports Authority on Tuesday, the two planes were on a collision course after receiving conflicting instructions from Mogadishu Control, placing them on a collision trajectory.
Fortunately, swift action by Somaliland’s ATC, in collaboration with the ethiopianairline
crew, averted disaster. The pilots of the et airline 737 MAX promptly ascended to 39,000 feet, creating a safe distance between the two airliners.
This incident underscores the critical importance of proficient air traffic control in ensuring the safety of airspace, particularly in the Horn of Africa region, which has witnessed similar close calls in recent times. The repeated errors by Mogadishu’s air traffic controllers highlight the pressing need for enhanced oversight and training within the aviation sector.
The Somalil and Civil Aviation and Airports Authority has issued a cautionary statement, warning that such mistakes pose a significant threat to the safety of international flights. They emphasized that the “stubbornness and lack of knowledge” displayed by Mogadishu Tower personnel present a clear danger to air safety.
The government of Somalia has yet to respond to the incident or address concerns raised by Somaliland authorities.
Airlines
Emirates A380 superjumbo was damaged by a ground vehicle in Moscow
In a startling incident at Moscow Domodedovo Airport, an Emirates Airbus A380, one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, encountered significant damage as it prepared for departure.
The mishap unfolded on a Wednesday afternoon when a pushback tug found itself wedged beneath the colossal double-deck aircraft.
Photographs circulated on social media platforms depicted the vivid yellow pushback truck ensnared under the belly of the A380, indicating the severity of the situation. The unfortunate incident, as per RadarBox data, unfolded mere hours prior, during the preparation for flight EK133 from Dubai to Moscow, operated by the aircraft with registration A6-EDM.
Thankfully, the aircraft had not yet welcomed passengers on board, as it awaited departure scheduled for 16:35 local time.emirates flights However, the faced postponement and eventual cancellation due to the damage sustained. The underbody of the airbus a380 emirates
bore notable harm, necessitating extensive repairs before it could resume service.
Emirates promptly responded to the incident, ensuring the safety and convenience of its passengers. A spokesperson for the airline conveyed, “ek flight EK134 has been cancelled due to a ground services vehicle making contact with the aircraft prior to passengers boarding.” Additionally, affected passengers were swiftly rebooked on alternative Emirates flights, assuring minimal disruption to their travel plans.
The statement issued by emirates air line underscored their commitment to passenger and crew safety, reiterating that the well-being of all involved remains paramount. While the setback in Moscow may cause inconvenience, Emirates assures passengers that steps are being taken to rectify the situation and resume normal operations swiftly.
Aerospace
China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21
China consistently keeps aviation enthusiasts surprised with its advancements in fighter jets and other aircraft. Leading the pack in Asia, China continuously pushes boundaries in developing domestically-built aircraft.
Recently, images circulating on the internet reveal China’s latest creation, the Z-21 helicopter. Resembling its predecessor, the Z-10, this helicopter boasts enhanced fighter capabilities. The emergence of these images sparks questions regarding the fate of plans to acquire Russian-made Ka-52K attack helicopters, particularly the naval version.
Observing the helicopter in flight, it shares design elements with the Harbin Z-10, notably in the front fuselage and cockpit canopy. The wing stubs for weapon mounts exhibit similar shapes, though with less pronounced angular features. With a tandem seating arrangement, the Z-21 also draws comparisons to the Mil Mi-28, featuring an elongated body with five rotor blades and weapon bays on its sides.
The unveiling of the Z-21 has triggered speculation about its potential role in future military operations. Analysts suggest that beyond its firepower, its introduction could signal significant technological advancements. There’s particular interest in whether China will incorporate a ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ system akin to later Apache models, enabling the Z-21 to control armed drones for reconnaissance and attacks, reducing risks to the helicopter itself.
The emergence of the Z-21 underscores China’s increasing military prowess and its commitment to developing cutting-edge weaponry. Its deployment and capabilities will be closely monitored, especially concerning regional security dynamics.
The helicopter presents a significant challenge to American-built Apache and other medium helicopters, boasting superior capacity for flying at higher altitudes and more powerful speed and combat capabilities, thus enhancing its effectiveness on the battlefield. On the other hand, amidst ongoing Indian border tensions, this aircraft is poised to play a crucial role in surveillance along the sensitive China border and beyond.
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