Explosions intensified on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on Tuesday, spewing ash and sparking a red alert for aviation for the first time since the latest eruption began 12 days ago. Ash and volcanic smog, or so-called vog, rose up to 3657 metres (12,000 feet) above Kilauea's crater and floated southwest, covering cars on Highway 11 with gray dust and sparking an "unhealthy air" advisory in the community of Pahala, 29km from the summit. An aviation red alert means a volcanic eruption is under way that could affect aviation by spewing ash into air routes, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) website. Ash was also a new hazard for residents of Hawaii's Big Island already dealing with volcanic gas and lava that has destroyed 37 homes and other structures and forced around 2000 residents to evacuate. A shift in winds was expected to bring ash and vog inland on Wednesday and make them more concentrated, said John Bravender of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). … [Read more...] about Hawaii ash cloud sparks aviation red alert
Aviation
Drone users warned to check aviation laws
Photographic drone users are being urged to check the law before they take to the air.Qualified pilot John Williams contacted the Bury Free Press after seeing Mike Brett's drone picture of Bury St Edmunds' Abbey Gardens we published last week.He pointed out that drone users should be aware that there are Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules on how and were you can fly a drone.He said: "It seems no-one has any idea of the legalities of flying drones and taking pictures and I am worried that your full page photo will encourage others."The CAA Drone Safe guidance is available here.It makes it clear drones should not be flown near airfields or above 400ft to protect aircraft.But it also says unlicensed pilots must not fly within 150ft of people or property or go within 500ft of crowds or built-up areas.It says: "Failure to fly responsibly could result in criminal prosecution". … [Read more...] about Drone users warned to check aviation laws
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 crash was deliberate, aviation experts suggest
An investigation by an Australian TV news program suggests the pilot of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared with 239 people aboard more than four years ago, deliberately crashed into the Indian Ocean. Investigators are still searching for the aircraft, but these findings raise the possibility that one of the greatest aviation mysteries in modern history may not have been a catastrophic accident, but instead a possible mass murder-suicide. "60 Minutes Australia" brought together an international group of aviation experts who say that the disappearance of MH370 was a criminal act by veteran pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah. "He was killing himself; unfortunately, he was killing everybody else on board, and he did it deliberately," said Canadian Air crash investigator Larry Vance. Boeing 777 pilot and instructor Simon Hardy reconstructed the flight plan based on military radar, and says Captain Shah flew along the border of Malaysia and Thailand, crossing in and out of each … [Read more...] about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 crash was deliberate, aviation experts suggest
Russian, US aviation authorities to sign transit agreement in 2018 — minister
By Trend Aviation authorities of Russia and the United States and US airlines should sign an agreement on transit across the territory of Russia by the end of this year, Acting Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told reporters on Monday, TASS reports. "Such an agreement should be signed by the end of the year not merely with US air carriers but also with US aviation authorities at the level of the Russian Ministry of Transport and Russian aviation authorities. Certain arrangements must be achieved there, which should definitely satisfy our country and our transport sector from the political and the economic standpoint, the official said. Russia expects to hold talks with the United States on air communication in the near future, he added. "We are preparing our position. First of all, it will be based on the interests of Russia, development of the transport industry. It will be an informed decision, but we need to come to it. We are formulating our position now. We … [Read more...] about Russian, US aviation authorities to sign transit agreement in 2018 — minister
Aviation experts declare MH370 disappearance a ‘murder-suicide’ mission
Aviation experts say they are clear on what really happened with flight MH370. "This was planned. This was deliberate," bluntly stated Martin Dolan, who spearheaded a two-and-a-half year search for the aircraft. The Malaysian Airlines flight, en-route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished on March 8 in 2014. The mystery behind the aircraft's disappearance along with the 239 passengers on board has plagued the aviation world. A panel of five, with expertise across a range of aviation disciplines, appeared on 60 minutes Australia to shed light on the growing consensus. The experts retraced the final steps taken by the captain, Zaharie Amad Shah. Senior Boeing 777 pilot and instructor Simon Hardy said the plane was used for a murder-suicide mission. While the flight path at first seemed random, Hardy is clear the diversion was to fly by the captain's hometown of Penang for an "emotional goodbye." Using Zaharie's flight plan from a military radar, Hardy points out the pilot … [Read more...] about Aviation experts declare MH370 disappearance a ‘murder-suicide’ mission