Aviation

Top 6 Airlines With the Best Wine Lists by One world Alliance

In the wine-tasting awards, Oneworld delivers yet another significant victory. On 15 February 2024, Thursday: The oneworld® Alliance won the title of World’s Best Airline Alliance for the thirteenth consecutive year in an annual international tasting competition about wines served on board by member airlines.

Business Traveller’s Cellars won the Gold award in the Best Alliance category of the 38th annual Sky Awards in 2023.

Roger Blackburn, Vice President of Oneworld Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, accepted the award this week at a ceremony in London after judges blind-tasted more than 280 wines that 30 airlines had submitted for evaluation.

1. Best Business Class White, Best Business Class Red, Best Business Class Cellar, Best First Class Sparkling, Best First Class White, Best First Class Red, Best First Class Fortified / Dessert Wine, Best First Class Cellar, and Best Overall Cellar were among the nine categories in which oneworld member Qantas took home a record thirteen medals in 2024.

A number of airlines associated with Oneworld were also granted medals in the Cellars in the Sky Awards: 2. American Airlines was awarded a Silver Rosé in the First Class category.

3. Silver in First Class Sparkling, Bronze in First Class Rosé, and Silver in First Class Red awards were won by British Airways.

4. Japan Airlines received bronze medals in the First Class Best Wine List and First Class White categories.

5. Malaysia Airlines took home three awards: Silver in the First Class Cellar category, Bronze in the First Class Sparkling category, and Gold in the First Class White category.

6.Qatar Airways won a Bronze in First Class Fortified/Dessert Wine, a Silver in Business Class Cellar, a Bronze in Business Class White, a Silver in Business Class Cellar, and an Overall Cellar award.

Airlines are eligible to compete for awards in any category as long as they can enter two red and white wines, a rosé, a sparkling wine, a fortified or dessert wine, and serve wine in business or first class on mid- or long-haul routes.

Aerospace

Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Ready-to-Build Aircraft in India Amidst C-390 Competition

In the competition for medium-range military transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force, there are currently three main contenders. Airbus offers the A400, Embraer presents the C390, and Lockheed Martin proposes the C130J, which is already in service with the Indian Air Force.

These contenders are actively promoting their aircraft to India, as the Indian Air Force plans to acquire between 40 to 80 aircraft, subject to various operational requirements.

Embraer has partnered with Mahindra to assemble its aircraft in India, aligning with the Make in India initiative. This initiative aims to manufacture products locally and enhance domestic production capabilities.

Lockheed Martin, leveraging its joint venture with Tata (TLMAL), aims to capitalize on the significant opportunity to sell military transport planes to India. TLMAL currently manufactures tail assemblies for C-130s in the US.

As per the sources Airbus is pitching its A400M aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The company has a joint venture with Tata to produce C295 transports in India. Meanwhile, Embraer, which manufactures the C-390, has already sold eight planes to India for executive and early warning aircraft use and has partnered with Mahindra to compete for this order.

Lockheed Martin advocates for India to continue procuring C-130Js, highlighting their availability of spare parts, reliability, and low operating costs. Additionally, the commonality in training, maintenance, spares, and logistics support is emphasized as advantageous features of the aircraft.

Aviation

Boeing’s New Engineering Hub in Daytona Beach: 200 High-Paying Jobs on Offer

Boeing is set to establish a new engineering facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Plans to hire 200 engineers initially

The facility will initially focus on engineering work for military aircraft programs and advanced technology capabilities. Boeing plans to hire approximately 200 high-paying engineering professionals this year, with expectations to nearly double that number in the coming years.

The work will span Boeing’s defense and government services portfolios, emphasizing engineering design, research, development, and prototyping.

Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees, described the development as a significant milestone for Daytona Beach, Florida, and the broader aviation community. The facility’s construction, including a 65,000-square-foot space with a 40,000-square-foot hangar, commenced in 2022 and is on track for completion in fall.

Boeing anticipates operations to commence by late fall, contributing to the local economy and fostering collaboration with students in aerospace, cybersecurity, commercial space, and other STEM fields at Embry-Riddle’s Research Park.

Boeing investing $100,000 in Volusia County

Boeing is also demonstrating its commitment to the community with a $100,000 investment in Volusia County nonprofit organizations. This funding supports initiatives like the Second Harvest Food Bank of Volusia County Schools Partnership Program, aimed at ensuring students have access to nutritious food.

Additional support will benefit local veterans and environmental programs, underscoring Boeing’s broader impact beyond its operational footprint.