For chauvinism in air transport an award should be given to French Secretary of State for transport Dominique Bussereau who called for a global blacklist of unsafe airlines this week. Um, Air France anyone?
Air safety
Union had better back big safety claims against Qantas
Did Qantas last June allow a Boeing 767 which had experienced severe turbulence before landing at Cairns continue its journey without completing all of the mandatory inspections required?
So you survived a plane crash — now what?
Stay put. The biggest mistake stranded victims make is trying to swim. Body heat naturally creates a warm envelope of water around your person.
First report on AF447 disaster lands
The preliminary report into the AF447 mid-Atlantic crash says the jet didn’t break apart before it hit the sea, writes Ben Sandilands.
Airbus scrutiny required (not for the reasons you think)
The Yemenia Air crash and the Air France disaster have nothing in common (despite their Airbus link), but there are good reasons for continued scrutiny of the modern A330 design involved in the AF447 disaster.
Airbusophobia alive and well after Yemeni air disaster
The crash of a Yemenia Airbus A310 had all the classic early jet age prerequisites for an air disaster, writes Ben Sandilands. Any links to the Air France Airbus mid-Atlantic crash are dubious.
Airlines, the Senate and the transfer of criminal responsibility
A back door attempt to water down the absolute responsibility of airlines for the actions of their employees and criminalise pilots has been blocked in the Senate.
Mapping the AF447 debris
The French accident investigator has released a map of of the wreckage and victims recovered from AF447. It shows the scale of the task still ahead, says Ben Sandilands.
AF447: what we know so far
If a reasonable guess is to made about what was happening on AF447 that night, it was that the jet was flying at perhaps the worst possible speed into a storm cell. Ben Sandilands explains.
Emirates near miss reveals problems on the ground
Brain fade or incompetency at Melbourne Airport compromised border security and passenger welfare after the Emirates accident involving flight EK407 on 20 March.
AF447’s critical tail parts found
The recovery of a large part of the Air France A330-200’s tail from the mid-Atlantic crash site is of critical importance in determining the sequence of events that caused the disaster.
Qantas rules out its own AF447 risk
The Australian airline says it is unaffected by the pitot probe issues that are being implicated in the AF447 Airbus crash in the mid Atlantic, writes Ben Sandilands.
Air France Flight 447: a detailed meteorological analysis
Tim Vasquez tries to isolate the aircraft’s location against high-resolution satellite images from GOES-10 to identify any association with thunderstorm activity.
CASA air safety and regulation ruin
Air safety and its regulation in FNQ have been in disgrace for years, writes Ben Sandilands.
Mystery and speculation surround Air France flight AF447
Only two things are certain about the loss of Air France flight AF447 last night. It suffered unprecedented massive electrical failures, and a catastrophic loss of control. Everything else is speculation.
Qantas flies high … can they maintain it?
Qantas landed its record before tax profit of $1.408 billion amidst the damage maintenance issues have done to the carrier’s reputation, writes Ben Sandilands.
Bulkhead blues another blow to Qantas’ reputation
Pressure bulkheads like those in the six temporarily grounded Qantas 737-400s are vital to safe flight. If they break apart the difference in pressure between the cabin interior and the external air pressure will destroy the jet, writes Ben Sandilands.
Qantas special investigation just more CASA spin?
The CASA special investigation of Qantas could be seen as a rediscovery of its legal obligations to adequately monitor, audit and enforce compliance with safety regulations. Or it could be seen as more spin, writes Ben Sandilands.
What sort of Qantas will Jetstar-Joyce deliver?
His Jetstar project turned out to be a boon for Virgin. Will Alan Joyce bring home the bacon for Qantas, wonders Ben Sandilands?
CASA in flames
Already in the news after its belated grounding of Torres Strait carrier Aero Tropics on Friday, CASA will be under scrutiny in the Senate this week as well.
Air Traffic Controllers are crying out for help
I’m angry, disheartened, and in complete shock as to what is happening in our aviation industry, writes an air traffic controller’s wife.
Prickly poisonous fire: the plastic airliner horror
Crikey’s aviation expert Ben Sandilands on new ways to die in an air accident.
Government launches inquiry into CASA. Why?
A snap inquiry into the Civil Aviation Safety Authority was sprung by the government this morning. Ben Sandilands asks why?
The jet engine ice age cometh
There are hints that a jet ice age is about to be confirmed by aircraft engine makers, writes Ben Sandilands.
Rusty balls may put 737s at risk: FAA
A safety question mark has been put against the Boeing 737 by the US Federal Aviation Administration, writes Ben Sandilands.
