A Boeing 787 Photo Credit: RF 123 The Hidden Danger of Tail Strikes Every pilot knows the moment: the nose lifts, the wheels leave the ground, and for a split second the tail of the aircraft dips dangerously close to the runway. This is a tail strike — when the rear underside of a plane …
SKY STRATEGY – Every flight on the map exists for a reason. Here is how airlines decide where to fly For most passengers, a flight feels simple: book a ticket, board the plane, arrive at your destination. But behind every route is a story of careful calculation, strategy, and sometimes bold decisions. Airlines don’t just …
Air France Airbus A330-203 F-GZCP at Charles de Gaulle Airport 2008 Photo Credit: Hansueli Krapf (Simisa) Air France and Airbus found guilty of corporate manslaughter After 17 years and five major judicial proceedings, the families of Air France Flight 447’s victims have finally secured a criminal conviction. On 21 May 2026, the Paris Court of …
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AIRPLANE EAR EXPLAINED Why our ears ache or ‘pop’ just before landing. If you’ve ever felt a sharp ache or uncomfortable pressure in your ears as an aircraft begins its descent, you’re not alone. For many travelers, this moment that often occurs just before landing can be more ‘memorable’ than the flight itself. The good …
SUPERSONIC RETURN The coming back of faster-than-sound commercial flight. From 1976 to 2003, Concorde was the most powerful and fastest commercial jet ever to enter airline service. Flying faster than the Earth’s rotation, Concorde offered a unique experience: a passenger could have breakfast in London, fly to New York, and still sit down to breakfast …
URBAN AIR MOBILITY This article is about air taxis and how they’ll change city travel. Imagine stepping out of a gridlocked traffic jam, riding an elevator to a rooftop vertiport, boarding a quiet electric aircraft, and arriving across town in a fraction of the time it would take by car. That is the promise of …
BATTERY SAFETY IN THE CABIN Why lithium battery fires in the aircraft cabin are dangerous and why you should stay informed. A small power bank, a loose battery or a damaged phone – ordinary items we carry every day – can suddenly become a serious hazard at 35,000 feet. Lithium-ion batteries store a lot of …
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FLYING For most people, flying is more than just a way to get from one place to another. It’s a mix of excitement, curiosity and sometimes a touch of nervousness. Some passengers can’t wait to board, already planning what movie to watch or what meal to choose. Others, however, grip the armrest …
Qantas Boeing 737 Took Off With “51 Passengers Missing” The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) recently revealed an unusual but important safety incident involving a Qantas Boeing 737-800 on December 1, 2024. The aircraft departed even though 51 passengers were mistakenly marked as “not onboard” on the load sheet due to a simple data-entry error …
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GREENER SKIES AHEAD – From lighter aircraft to cleaner fuels, here is how aviation is becoming more sustainable Not long ago, the idea of flying in an environmentally-friendly plane sounded like science fiction. But today, as climate change becomes a global concern, the aviation industry is making big changes to reduce its impact. From smarter …
Consequences of a Passenger causing a lithium battery fire. A doctor shared a video of a lithium battery fire inside an aircraft cabin and asked me about the consequences for the passenger who caused the fire. Indeed, an Air China flight bound for Seoul was forced to make an emergency landing in Shanghai on Saturday, …
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FUTURE FLIGHT Have you ever wondered what air travel might be like in the future? As the world races to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change, the aviation industry is quietly undergoing a revolution. Imagine boarding an aircraft that runs almost silently, releases little to no carbon dioxide, and costs less to operate compared …
AI in Aviation Flying has always been a marvel of modern engineering. But today, artificial intelligence (AI) is making air travel safer, faster and more efficient. Before you even step foot in an airport, AI is already at work. Airlines now use AI-powered chatbots to help customers book flights, answer questions and even resolve common …
Pre-Flight Checklist Before you board your flight, something remarkable happens behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed. While you get ready to embark on your journey, pilots and engineers are hard at work performing a crucial set of procedures that is second nature to them: the pre-flight check. Preparation Before Flight Pre-flight checks are a …
A Day in the Life of a Pilot For many passengers, air travel is a routine experience – boarding a plane, settling into a seat, and trusting that the air craft will safely reach its destination. But behind the smooth operation of every flight is a carefully organized routine carried out by pilots. Pre-Flight Routine …
Why Pilots Delay Landing? Not long ago, a disgruntled passenger took to social media to vent about a flight from Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur. The complaint centered on the captain’s decision to remain airborne for three hours due to a technical issue with cabin pressurization. In this case, the aircraft was flying at a lower …
What do pilots do if there’s a medical emergency onboard? Captain Lim Khoy Hong explains how pilots handle such situations. In the event of a medical emergency onboard, the captain’s primary concern is to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected passenger while maintaining overall flight safety. Normally, the cabin crew informs the captain …
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UNDERSTANDING TURBULENCE Turbulence in the skies is a much-dreaded phenomenon when flying. But what exactly is it and how does one ride it out safely? Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains. Turbulence is a sudden, unsteady movement of air. To simplify it, imagine driving a car on a bumpy road. Turbulence is the aerial equivalent of …
Should I Turn Off My Phone on a Plane? Yes, you should either turn off your phone or switch it to airplane mode when flying. Airplane mode disables all wireless signals – cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth – while still allowing you to use offline features. The main reason for this requirement is to prevent …
Pilotless Commercial Passenger Aircraft: Is It a Bad Idea? On March 30, 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) made history by issuing its first commercial operation certificate for autonomous drones. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in aviation – passenger-carrying civil unmanned aircraft entering commercial service in China’s low-altitude airspace. This …
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