Air France Flight 447: a detailed meteorological analysisTim Vasquez tries to isolate the aircraft’s location against high-resolution satellite images from GOES-10 to identify any association with thunderstorm activity.
Air safety
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.
Flying blind: time to look at our air infrastructure
The combination of dark skies and dark runways ought to be causing concern in the government, writes Ben Sandilands.
US08: Airline fiasco is a symptom, not the disease
America’s current airline kerfuffle should be seen not as inconvenience but as metaphor, writes Guy Rundle.
Pointing the laser at airline safety
Today’s laser abuse summit in Canberra convened by Customs faces much tougher issues than fools pointing bright beams of light at aircraft, writes Ben Sandilands.
Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks
Down the back end … No word from the ABC but another run for the turtle … The Daily Reality Check … The Pick of this Morning’s Political Coverage …
Australia in danger of losing its aviation safety rating
Deficiencies in air safety in Australia have been uncovered in an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and must be fixed by the end of the year to avoid risking the loss of its Level 1 rating, writes Ben Sandilands.
Jetstar leaves Launceston in the dark?
Jetstar is under the Australian Transport Safety Bureau spotlight for allegedly taking off Launceston Airport for Sydney last Wednesday night in total darkness, writes Ben Sandilands.
