David W. Thornton

Refinery may give Delta Air Lines competitve advantage

In a move that is the first of its kind for an airline, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is buying its own refinery in an effort to control fuel costs. Along with labor and aircraft, jet fuel is...

U.S. exports pilots around the world

An economic analysis by the Wall St. Journal reports that large U.S. companies are adding jobs abroad much faster than in the U.S. According to the report, the number of workers employed by U.S...

AOPA releases new pilot app for Apple products

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association recently announced the release of a new Apple application for pilots. The application, called FlyQ, is free to download and use for AOPA members. The app uses DUAT, the FAA...

Merger between US Airways and American may be imminent

A merger between American Airlines and US Airways may be imminent. Reuters reports that three of American’s unions have expressed support for the proposed merger. The Allied Pilots Association, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants...

WWII "Wings of Freedom" tour the nation

Visitors to New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW) recently were treated to the spectacle of a trio of World War II veterans. These veterans, lovingly restored and cared for, looked just as young and vibrant as they did during...

Solar storm diverts airline flights

The Earth is currently experiencing the impact of a massive solar storm that experts believe may be strong enough to impact aviation and commonly used electronic devices. GPS satellites, power grids, and telecommunications are a few of the...

Rising fuel costs may hurt airlines

The airline industry is one of the segments of the economy that is most vulnerable to steadily climbing oil prices. Fuel is a large part of the cost of running an airline and when fuel prices increase it...

Chemtrails and contrails

An enduring aviation conspiracy theory is the idea of chemtrails, the belief that jet airliners are spraying mysterious chemicals as they fly over the country. The motive of these sprayers varies according to different websites and conspiracy purveyors. ...

Speed limits in the sky

One of the most common questions that non-pilots ask is whether airplanes have to obey a speed limit like cars do. The answer, as with many things in life, is that it depends. Aircraft...

iPads in the cockpit

The next time you get on an airline flight, don’t be surprised if you see the pilots carrying iPads into the cockpit. Don’t worry. They won’t be planning to catch up their...

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