Airlines

United unveils its brand new flight attendant uniforms to include a name tag with pronouns

After a protracted pandemic-related delay, United’s frontline staff members finally had a chance to see the revamped designs for the flight attendant and pilot uniforms.

Since 2017, when the Chicago-based airline first enlisted the help of designer Tracy Reese and menswear retailers Brooks Brothers, United has been working on its new uniform project, and various iterations of the designs have already been revealed.

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The style of the uniforms are obviously Star Trek-inspired, with two hues of blue serving as the major accent colors. Additionally, United Airlines will incorporate name tags with the employee’s preferred gender pronoun, following the lead of other airlines that have updated their uniforms to reflect the times.

United already permits staff members to use their chosen pronouns in email signatures “to create space for employees of all gender identities to be seen and referred to in the manner that is most affirming, respectful, and courteous.” One of the first major airlines to permit employees to wear pronouns on their uniforms is United Airlines. The new name tags and wings will be worn by flight attendants starting “later this year.”

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United Airlines stated We will keep working to create a workplace and airline where each of us and all of us feel seen. Our aim is for every employee to feel included and empowered to make a measurable difference in our success.

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Airlines

S7 Group Begins Fan Blade Production for Western Engine Models

The privately-owned Russian aerospace giant S7 Group has reportedly commenced production of blades for Western-built aero engines at its subsidiary, the Berdsk Electromechanical Plant (BEMZ), located in Novosibirsk.

This development, reported by the Russian aviation publication ATO.ru, marks a significant step for the company amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.BEMZ has started manufacturing composite fan blades compatible with jet turbine engines, including the CFM International CFM56, which powers popular aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family.

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The technology for restoring blades of gas turbine engines used in Airbus and Boeing aircraft was previously developed by the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and is now being implemented in the production of new aircraft parts at BEMZ.

Currently, BEMZ focuses on producing parts essential for maintaining the airworthiness of civil aircraft. Over the past year and a half, the plant has manufactured approximately 3,500 structural elements and components for replacement on foreign aircraft, which are utilized by airlines such as S7 Airlines, Pobeda, Aurora, and Aeroflot.

The facility is undergoing expansion, with two stages of an investment program totaling 2 billion roubles already completed. These developments are likely geared toward producing blades for the CFM56 engines, which equip more than half of S7’s operational fleet, including 28 Airbus A320-family aircraft and 19 Boeing 737-800s.

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Vasily Yurchenko, CEO of Berdsk Electromechanical Plant, emphasized the shift in focus towards maintaining the airworthiness of the Western-made fleet. The plant has delivered thousands of components to S7 and other Russian carriers since 2022. Notably, according to Russia’s Air Operators Association, 89% of the country’s passengers in 2023 traveled aboard foreign-made aircraft.

Future plans include serious investments to transform the plant into a modern, high-tech aircraft manufacturing facility. In addition to engine blades, BEMZ is also known for producing various spare parts for aircraft, reinforcing its role in the Russian aviation industry as it adapts to new manufacturing needs.