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Airlines cancel flights after volcanic eruptions. An aviation expert explains why that’s a good thing

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/patrick-murray-2027113">Patrick Murray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a></em></p> <p>At least three airlines <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-13/flights-to-and-from-bali-cancelled-due-to-volcanic-ash/104593698">cancelled flights between Australia and Bali</a> this week after a volcano eruption in eastern Indonesia spewed a vast plume of volcanic ash into the air.</p> <p>But while would-be holiday makers are naturally <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/volcanic-eruption-in-indonesia-forces-airlines-to-cancel-flights-to-bali-stranding-frustrated-passengers-c-16732486">upset</a> at having their plans disrupted, it’s worth remembering it’s not safe to fly planes through volcanic ash.</p> <p>So, how do airlines decide it’s not safe to fly when a volcano erupts? And why is volcanic ash so dangerous for aircraft, anyway?</p> <h2>What does volcanic ash do to a plane?</h2> <p>Volcanic ash particles are very, very abrasive. They can cause permanent damage to windscreens in the aircraft and can even make windscreens look opaque – like someone has gone over them with sandpaper.</p> <p>Imagine getting spectacles and scraping them over and over with sandpaper – that’s what you’d see if you were sitting in the cockpit.</p> <p>Volcanic ash can also clog or damage external sensors, leading to erroneous readings, and can infiltrate an aircraft’s ventilation system. This can affect cabin air quality and lead to potential respiratory issues.</p> <p>But the main issue, in fact, is the impact volcanic ash has on engines.</p> <p>A jet engine works by drawing in air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel and igniting it. This creates high-pressure exhaust gases that are expelled backward, which pushes the engine (and the aircraft) forward.</p> <p>The correct balance of fuel and airflow is crucial. When you disrupt airflow, it can cause the engine to stall.</p> <p>Ash particles that get inside the engines will melt and build up, causing disruption of the airflow. This could cause the engine to “flame out” or stall.</p> <p>Volcanic ash has a lot of silica in it, so when it melts it turns into something similar to glass. It won’t melt unless exposed to very high temperatures – but inside a jet engine, you do get very high temperatures.</p> <p>There was a famous incident in 1982 where a <a href="https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-british-airways-flight-9-the-boeing-747-that-lost-all-four-engines-due-to-volcanic-ash-yet-it-landed-safely/">British Airways Boeing 747 plane</a> was flying in the vicinity of Indonesia and lost all four engines after it encountered volcanic ash spewing from Java’s Mount Galunggung.</p> <p>Fortunately, the pilot was able to <a href="https://simpleflying.com/gallunggung-glider-the-story-of-british-airways-flight-9/">restart the engines and land safely</a>, although the pilots were unable to see through the front windscreens.</p> <h2>How do airlines decide it’s not safe to fly when a volcano erupts?</h2> <p>The decision is made by each airline’s operational staff. Each airline’s operational team would be looking at the situation in real time today and making the decision based on their risk assessment.</p> <p>Every airline has a process of risk management, which is required by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority.</p> <p>Different airlines may tackle risk management in slightly different ways; you might have some cancelling flights earlier than others. But, in broad terms, the more sophisticated airlines would come to similar conclusions and they are likely all communicating with each other.</p> <p>Mostly, they make the call based on the extent of the plume – how big the cloud of ash is and where it’s going, bearing in mind that winds vary with altitude. As you get stronger winds with altitude, the ash can drift quite far from the source.</p> <p>There is also a United Nations agency called the <a href="https://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx">International Civil Aviation Organization</a>, which issues guidance on volcanic ash hazards. Various meteorological agencies around the world work together and liaise with aviation authorities to spread the word quickly if there is an eruption.</p> <p>For airlines to resume flights, the ash needs to clear and there needs to be a low probability of further eruptions.</p> <h2>Passenger safety is the priority</h2> <p>The underpinning reason behind these flight cancellations is safety. If you lose engines and you can’t see out the window, the risk to passenger safety is obvious.</p> <p>Naturally, people are upset about their holiday plans being held up. But it’s actually in passengers’ best interests to not fly through volcanic ash.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243576/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/patrick-murray-2027113">Patrick Murray</a>, Emeritus Professor of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/airlines-cancel-flights-after-volcanic-eruptions-an-aviation-expert-explains-why-thats-a-good-thing-243576">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

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Even after the government’s aviation crackdown, Australia will lag behind on flyers’ rights

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p>When it comes to consumer protections for airline passengers, Australia has long been dragging its feet.</p> <p>The limited protections we do have rely heavily on the general <a href="https://consumer.gov.au/index.php/australian-consumer-law">Australian Consumer Law</a>. The “consumer guarantees” provided in this law only require services to be delivered in the arguably vague framework of a “reasonable time”.</p> <p>That might be okay if we’re just getting a sofa delivered from a furniture retailer. The cost of a late delivery is low.</p> <p>But these guarantees were not tailored to the unique impacts delayed or cancelled flights can have on travellers. Australia’s lack of aviation-specific protections has long been a severe <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">pain point</a> for flyers, only heightened by pandemic disruption.</p> <p>The government’s much-awaited <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">Aviation White Paper</a>, released in full on Monday, promised to address this issue. At the heart of the reforms, Australia will get a new aviation ombud scheme, and a new charter of customer rights for passengers.</p> <p>The recognition that new protections are needed is a step in the right direction. But this once-in-a-generation white paper missed the chance to achieve far more, by moving Australia to the style of consumer protection that have now been offered for 20 years in <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">Europe</a>.</p> <h2>Why is air travel unique?</h2> <p>Airline customers have a reasonable expectation of arriving at their destination, at (or close to) the time published by the airline in its schedule at the time the reservation was paid and ticketed.</p> <p>If this can’t be achieved, they should at least arrive at some amended time that was advised far enough in advance to allow related reservations and bookings to be adjusted.</p> <p>Air travel has to be punctual because it doesn’t have any substitutes. On even a modest deadline, driving from Perth or even Sydney to Melbourne, for example, is not a comparable option.</p> <p>And a passenger’s options to adapt their travel plans diminish as the departure date approaches. In the final days before travel, hotel cancellation deadlines pass and alternative connecting flight options sell out or spike in price.</p> <p>In some cases, travelling to a specific event can become pointless for a passenger if a delay is lengthy enough.</p> <h2>Australia is playing catch-up</h2> <p>In contrast with Australia, aviation-specific protections have long existed in many other developed economies.</p> <p>In the European Union (EU), for example, <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al24173">regulations</a> make clear that airlines have specific obligations and responsibilities in the event of delays, cancellations and denied boardings. This includes the <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">right to compensation</a> of up to €600 (A$988).</p> <p>These protections and the levels of compensation payable for failure to meet specified requirements for different kinds of flights are comprehensively legislated.</p> <p>Canada has a <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-150/index.html">slightly different approach</a> – smaller regional carriers have different obligations to mainline operators. But as with the European regulation, it imposes an obligation to get the passenger to the ticketed destination, or to refund the ticket if the journey has become pointless.</p> <p>The absence of such legislated protections in Australia means we typically have to rely on the goodwill of the airline when things go wrong.</p> <h2>Real action has been delayed</h2> <p>The centrepiece proposal of the <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">white paper</a> is to create a new ombud scheme with “the power to direct airlines and airports to provide remedies to consumers and investigate customer complaints about airlines’ and airports’ conduct”. This will replace the existing <a href="https://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/General/Default.aspx">Airline Customer Advocate</a>.</p> <p>A new charter of customer rights, to be produced by the scheme, will aim to give flyers “greater certainty about what they can expect when flights are cancelled and delayed” and require airlines to be more transparent about their performance.</p> <p>The white paper noted the poor on-time performance of Australian carriers. It also pointed out that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">identified</a> problems with consumer protections for air travel in Australia as far back as 2017. But its proposals offer no real quantifiable or enforceable improvements to consumer rights.</p> <p>Despite the well-established models in comparable countries – many of which have <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-australia-had-an-aviation-ombudsman-passengers-could-get-compensation-for-cancelled-flights-235679">followed the EU’s lead</a> – Australians will need to wait for yet another discussion process to be complete before they see what protections may eventually be introduced.</p> <p>The government’s white paper has largely just kicked the can down the road.</p> <p>At a minimum, passengers on Australian carriers deserve the assurances given to those travelling in and from Europe: in the event of a cancellation or long delay, that they will be transported to their destination on an alternative flight as quickly as possible.</p> <p>They should also be given appropriate meals and accommodation until they can make this onward journey, receive compensation for lengthy delays, and have the option to return home with a full refund if their travel has become pointless.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237469/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/even-after-the-governments-aviation-crackdown-australia-will-lag-behind-on-flyers-rights-237469">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Domestic Travel

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Passengers on cancelled flights to be compensated under new reforms

<p>Plane passengers could soon be entitled to compensation or refunds for delayed or cancelled flights in Australia. </p> <p>The long-awaited Aviation White Paper will be handed down this morning, as part of the federal government's crackdown on the aviation sector. </p> <p>The white paper makes 56 recommendations, including the the establishment of an Aviation Industry Ombudsman Scheme, which will have the authority to make it compulsory for airlines to provide support to passengers and give travellers more rights. </p> <p>The Aviation Industry Ombudsman Scheme will also be able to refer to allegations of misconduct for investigation and enforcement. </p> <p>It will also introduce a new "Charter of Rights" entitling airline customers to refunds for flights that are disrupted, cancelled, or unreasonably delayed. </p> <p>Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the changes were critical to ensure that passenger had better experiences in the air, and will provide them with a baseline for the services they can expect on flights. </p> <p>"The aviation customer experience has deteriorated post-COVID, with an urgent need to better protect the rights of the travelling public," she said.</p> <p>She added that Australians were often not being dealt with fairly by airlines. </p> <p>"The bottom line is if people don't get the service that they are expecting, then customers deserve to get their money back or they deserve to get an equivalent service," she said. </p> <p>"And that's really not what's been happening when it comes to the consumer space."</p> <p>Under the Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme, airlines will also have to "show cause" and provide a valid reason why a flight has been delayed or cancelled, and the ombudsperson has the right to request additional information. </p> <p>Airlines will also be required to provide support to people to make alternative travel arrangements. </p> <p>As part of its white paper, the government will also establish new minimum standards for airlines to make their services more accessible to those with disabilities. </p> <p>Legislation to establish the aviation ombuds office will be introduced next year, but the government plans to appoint an interim ombudsperson. </p> <p>The scheme is expected to be fully implemented in 2026. </p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

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If Australia had an aviation ombudsman, passengers could get compensation for cancelled flights

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/justin-wastnage-489752">Justin Wastnage</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p>The financial difficulties of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-02/rex-airlines-staff-notified-of-termination/104172020">Rex Airlines</a>, coming so soon after the bankruptcy of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-26/bonza-directors-accused-of-trading-while-insolvent/104022496">Bonza</a>, have brought into sharp focus one of the federal government’s key priorities for aviation: enhancing passenger rights.</p> <p>In each case, passengers were left with tickets for flights that did not fly. In the case of Rex, tickets were honoured by rivals Virgin Australia and Qantas, possibly trying to recapture the small toehold Rex had established in the Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne golden triangle.</p> <p>The Bonza story was more complex as the fledgling airline, which collapsed in May, had sought to exploit under-serviced routes to smaller leisure-based cities including Maroochydore and Port Macquarie.</p> <p>In many cases, passengers were left out-of-pocket and stranded.</p> <h2>Support for an ombudsman</h2> <p>These failures will have emboldened the federal government’s plans to introduce stronger passenger protections and an airline ombudsman.</p> <p>The release of its <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">policy white paper</a> is imminent. The paper covers aviation issues including competition between airports and airlines, the sector’s environmental impact and better mechanisms for consultation.</p> <p>After years of opposition, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/qantas-and-virgin-change-tune-on-aviation-ombudsman-ahead-of-white-paper-release/">Qantas and Virgin quietly fell in behind the idea in May</a>, signalling a deal is close to being announced.</p> <p>The ombudsman is designed to protect consumer rights in what is often monopolistic or quasi-monopolistic operating environments. With the exception of residents of southeast Queensland and the western suburbs of Melbourne, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0967070X18302063">most Australians only have one airport from which to fly.</a></p> <p>This, coupled with an effective airline duopoly, can lead to higher prices and poorer service for consumers, the <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airline%20competition%20in%20Australia%20-%20June%202023%20report.pdf">Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC)</a> has argued.</p> <p>The ACCC has been calling for better passenger rights for more than a decade. But its calls grew louder after it fined Qantas <a href="https://theconversation.com/qantas-has-finally-settled-its-ghost-flights-lawsuit-for-120-million-whats-next-229368">A$120 million for selling “ghost” flights in May</a>.</p> <p>Passengers did receive refunds, but the process was not easy compared to many overseas jurisdictions where compensation is automatic and based on distance travelled.</p> <p>Australia is rare among developed countries for not having automatic compensation if a flight is cancelled or delayed.</p> <h2>The EU model</h2> <p>The leader in air passenger rights, as in many areas of consumer protection, is the European Union. <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/261/oj">The EU Passenger Rights regulation</a> is 20 years old and now also applies to rail and bus passengers.</p> <p>The regulation favours the passenger and awards compensation <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">of up to €600 (almost A$1,000) for delays or cancellations</a>. There are clauses for when a delay is unavoidable, but generally airlines have now built the scheme into their costs of doing business.</p> <p>The scheme is well publicised and in 2022, about <a href="https://schengen.news/8-million-passengers-affected-by-flight-cancellations-airport-strikes-are-eligible-for-compensation-of-up-to-e600/">eight million passengers were eligible for refunds</a>.</p> <p>Air passenger rights in the UK continued in the EU mould after Brexit and were even strengthened.</p> <p>But in a 2023 review into the UK scheme, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-aviation-consumer-policy-protecting-air-passenger-rights/outcome/response-to-the-aviation-consumer-policy-reform-consultation#chapter-3-compensation-for-delays-and-cancellations">some airlines argued</a> “private insurance was a better option for some passengers”, particularly those with disabilities.</p> <p>The same reasoning led to the removal of Australia’s previous consumer protection scheme for airline passengers, the <a href="https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/peaceofmind/#:%7E:text=The%20Travel%20Compensation%20Fund%20continued,and%20until%2030%20June%202014.">Travel Compensation Fund</a>, which refunded customers when airlines or travel agencies went bankrupt.</p> <p>The scheme was ended under the Abbott government in June 2014, with travellers told instead to take out their own travel insurance.</p> <p>Labor is expected to reintroduce an element of corporate responsibility for airline delays, not least since Brazil, Canada and Türkiye have also followed the EU’s lead.</p> <p>Brazil’s scheme is particularly generous, with up to R7,500 (A$1,950) available to passengers who have to pay for last minute accommodation if their flight is cancelled.</p> <p>Lawmakers there countered claims by airlines that low cost airline passengers could stay in cheaper hotels, by applying the compensation uniformly, regardless of travel class.</p> <h2>Popular with voters</h2> <p>Air passenger rights can be a vote winner, too. Before he withdrew his bid for reelection, US President Joe Biden trumpeted the <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-final-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline">automatic airline compensation scheme</a> the US Department for Transportation will bring in this year.</p> <p>Until now, airline compensation was mandated by the states without coordinated processes meaning some airlines used vouchers, some credits and a few cash to compensate customers.</p> <p>Despite this, about <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-final-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline">US$3 billion (A$4.6 billion)</a> in refunds have been issued to US passengers since 2020, including more than US$600 million to Southwest Airlines passengers alone.</p> <p>This was due to a serious scheduling crisis which forced the low-cost carrier to cancel almost 60% of its flights in the 2022 summer.</p> <p>By contrast, in Australia, air passengers have only had basic protections under <a href="https://consumer.gov.au/australian-consumer-law/legislation">consumer rights law</a> since deregulation in 2002.</p> <p>There is no guarantee of a seat or even flight the consumer purchased. This has led consumer advocates including <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/consumer-advocacy/policy/policy-submissions/2023/november/aviation-green-paper">Choice</a> to support calls for an airline ombudsman and automatic delay and cancellation compensation.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/235679/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/justin-wastnage-489752">Justin Wastnage</a>, Adjunct Industry Fellow, Griffith Institute for Tourism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-australia-had-an-aviation-ombudsman-passengers-could-get-compensation-for-cancelled-flights-235679">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

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The easy way Aussie airfares could be halved in the future

<p>A federal taskforce has found that there is a way for Aussies to pay half the amount on airfares, and that is by simply introducing some competition. </p> <p>Early results from their research found that the "mere threat" of rivalry can be enough to lower airfares. </p> <p>Just last year the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/industries/tourism/accc-blames-qantas-and-virgin-australia-duopoly-for-high-flight-prices-and-poor-service/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that the duopoly between Qantas and Virgin Australia was a key contributor to the "high prices and underwhelming customer service." </p> <p>The early findings of the Competition Taskforce, which was set up last year, found that having flights serviced by three carriers instead of one can significantly reduce the cost. </p> <p>When serviced by a sole carrier, airfares average 39.6 cents per kilometre - this drops to 28.2 cents a kilometre with a second rival, and to 19.2 cents a kilometre with a third. </p> <p>Assistant Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh said that competition  exerted "significant" downward pressure on airfares.</p> <p>He added that a lack of competition in the aviation industry was problematic for a country that relies heavily on flying to connect cities to reach other parts of the world. </p> <p>"For a resident of Darwin, it is often cheaper to fly from Darwin to Singapore than it is to fly from Darwin to Sydney, even although the international flight is longer than the domestic one,"  he said. </p> <p>Leigh added that more than a dozen airlines operated in Australia before World War Two, but from the 1950s to the 1980s, a duopoly prevailed which kept prices high. </p> <p>"Only with the deregulation of aviation in the late 1980s did flying become affordable for many middle-class families and small businesspeople," he said. </p> <p>"Australia's aviation history shows the value of competition."</p> <p>Just last year the aviation sector came under fire after the government's decided to block Qatar Airway's from running additional flights in Australia, with accusations that the move was made to protect Qantas from competition.</p> <p>The federal government has since issued a review of the  sector - including its competitiveness - and a white paper is expected to be released mid-year. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Money & Banking

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Which seat on a plane is the safest? We asked an aviation expert

<p>When booking a flight, do you ever think about which seat will protect you the most in an emergency? Probably not. </p> <p>Most people book seats for comfort, such as leg room, or convenience, such as easy access to toilets. Frequent flyers (this author included) might book their seat as close as possible to the front so they can disembark more quickly.</p> <p>We rarely book a flight with hopes of getting one of the middle seats in the last row. Well, guess what? These seats are statistically <a href="https://time.com/3934663/safest-seat-airplane/">the safest ones on an airplane</a>.</p> <h2>Air travel is safe</h2> <p>Before we get into it, I should reiterate that air travel is the <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/how-safe-is-flying-heres-what-the-statistics-say/knzczab06">safest mode of transport</a>. In 2019, there were just under <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/flightradar24s-2019-by-the-numbers/">70 million</a>flights globally, with only <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2020/01/02/aviation-safety-in-2019-fewer-deaths-but-more-fatal-accidents/?sh=58d372f74ceb">287 fatalities</a>.</p> <p>According to the US National Safety Council’s analysis of census data, the odds of <a href="https://time.com/3934663/safest-seat-airplane/">dying in a plane</a> are about 1 in 205,552, compared with 1 in 102 in a car. Even so, we pay little attention to fatal road accidents, but when we hear about an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/15/nepal-plane-crash-with-72-onboard-leaves-at-least-16-dead">ATR72 crashing in Nepal</a> it’s the lead story on every news page.</p> <p>Our interest in plane crashes might lie in wanting to understand why they happen, or what the odds are of them happening again. And perhaps it’s not a bad thing; our concern ensures these tragic incidents are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-crashes-nepal-singapore-kathmandu-accidents-3b26342109872610d922f515fe94455b">thoroughly investigated</a>, which helps keep air travel safe.</p> <p>Frankly speaking, there is no real need to worry about safety when you board a commercial flight. But if you’ve still got that nagging question in your head, driven by sheer curiosity, read on.</p> <h2>In the middle, at the back</h2> <p>It’s worth remembering accidents by their very nature do not conform to standards. In the 1989 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/United-Airlines-Flight-232">United Flight 232</a> crash in Sioux City, Iowa, 184 of the 269 people onboard survived the accident. Most of the survivors were sitting behind first class, towards the front of the plane.</p> <p>Nonetheless, a <a href="https://time.com/3934663/safest-seat-airplane/">TIME investigation</a> that looked at 35 years of aircraft accident data found the middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared with 44% for the middle aisle seats.</p> <p>This logically makes sense too. Sitting next to an exit row will always provide you with the fastest exit in the case of an emergency, granted there’s no fire on that side. But the wings of a plane store fuel, so this disqualifies the middle exit rows <a href="https://www.rd.com/list/flight-safety/">as the safest row option</a>.</p> <p>At the same time, being closer to the front means you’ll be impacted before those in the back, which leaves us with the last exit row. As for why the middle seats are safer than the window or aisle seats, that is, as you might expect, because of the buffer provided by having people on either side.</p> <h2>Some emergencies are worse than others</h2> <p>The type of emergency will also dictate survivability. Running into a mountain will decrease chances of survival exponentially, as was the case in a tragic 1979 disaster in New Zealand. Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/erebus-disaster">in Antarctica</a>, killing 257 passengers and crew.</p> <p>Landing in the ocean nose-first also decreases chances of survival, as witnessed with the 2009 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/10/air-france-flight-af477-2009-crash-trial-airbus">Air France Flight 447</a>, in which 228 passengers and crew perished. </p> <p>Pilots are trained to minimise potential risk in an emergency event as best as they can. They will try to avoid hitting mountains and look for a level place, such as an open field, to land as normally as possible. The technique for <a href="https://www.aviationsafetymagazine.com/features/the-myths-of-ditching/">landing in water</a> requires assessing the surface conditions and attempting to land between waves at a normal landing angle.</p> <p>Aircraft are designed to be very robust in emergency situations. In fact, the main reason the cabin crew remind us to keep our seat belts fastened is not because of crash risk, but because of “<a href="https://www.skybrary.aero/articles/clear-air-turbulence-cat">clear air turbulence</a>” that can be experienced at any time at high altitudes. It is this weather phenomenon that can cause the most damage to <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-12-20/turbulence-persists-as-a-major-cause-of-injuries-on-flights">passengers and aircraft</a>. </p> <p>Manufacturers are designing new planes with more composite materials capable of handing in-flight stress. In these designs, the wings are not rigid and can flex to absorb <a href="https://www.wired.com/2010/03/boeing-787-passes-incredible-wing-flex-test/">extreme loading</a> to prevent structural failure. </p> <h2>Does the type of plane make a difference?</h2> <p>Granted, there are certain variables, such as impact from airspeed, that can vary slightly between different airplane types. However, the <a href="https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/UEET/StudentSite/dynamicsofflight.html">physics of flight</a> is more or less the same in all planes.</p> <p>Generally, larger planes will have more structural material and therefore more strength to withstand pressurisation at altitude. This means they may provide some additional protection in an emergency – but this, again, is highly dependent on the severity of the emergency.</p> <p>That’s not to say you should book your next flight on the largest plane you can find. As I’ve mentioned, air travel remains very safe. So I’d suggest thinking about what movie you’ll watch instead, and hoping they don’t run out of chicken and only have the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/19/6-airplane-foods-you-should-avoid-according-to-food-safety-experts.html">shrimp</a> left!</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/which-seat-on-a-plane-is-the-safest-we-asked-an-aviation-expert-198672" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

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Debate rages over "most reclined seat in the history of aviation"

<p dir="ltr">Frustrated travellers have called out a passenger for reclining his seat all the way on a short flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Pointer Brothers shared a video to TikTok saying it’s the “easiest red card of all time” when someone reclines their seat when there’s not enough room to begin with.</p> <p dir="ltr">“5 hour flight home…is this the most reclined seat in the history of aviation,” their caption read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video shows one of the brothers annoyed at being squished in his seat because of the person in front of him being reclined.</p> <p dir="ltr">At one point he moves really close to the passenger's head to show his frustration.</p> <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7156382025732132142&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thepointerbrothers_%2Fvideo%2F7156382025732132142%3Fis_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1%26lang%3Den&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F0f73e1499904406bb843f4d28028f3d4_1666225042%3Fx-expires%3D1667966400%26x-signature%3DK1evkklXcSTqSnlVDK5VeUqWwl4%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">Viewers said the brothers have a point in calling the issue out as planes are already cramped enough.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Those seats should just not recline, it’s cramped enough and I already don’t have leg room,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That's when passive-aggressive tray adjustments commence,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m 6’3” and I have never reclined my seat. I can’t bring myself to push into others' space, the dang planes are small the way it is,” someone else pointed out.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others however said the brothers were in the wrong and everyone is entitled to recline their seat.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So many people in this comments section don't understand how legroom works... reclining your seat doesn't keep your knees from being smashed,” someone said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wah people are using the seats for what they're for. Want more room, get first class,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

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Sustainable aviation fuels – is Australia being left behind?

<p>Some solutions in renewable energy are relatively easy. Solar panels on roofs for example, or battery powered cars.</p> <p>But our obsession with air travel is significantly harder to decarbonise. Batteries are too heavy except on very short flights, and other zero carbon solutions in aviation are few and far between. Without removing air travel altogether, the next best thing is something called ‘sustainable aviation fuels’ or SAFs.</p> <p>While many other countries are ramping up their SAF production and already mixing it in with traditional fuels, Australia is being left behind.</p> <p>“It’s a shame if Qantas meets its 10 per cent sustainable aviation fuel target in 2030 by just buying it offshore,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce earlier this year.</p> <p>“That would be terrible outrage in my mind, and it’s a terrible dropping of the ball in Australia.”</p> <h2>What is sustainable aviation fuel?</h2> <p>SAFs are lower carbon fuels. They can be made of either biomass like waste oil or alcohol – called biofuels, or built chemically, brick-by-brick from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen – called e-fuels.</p> <p>Biofuels particularly are not a zero-carbon alternative, but they are markedly better than traditional fossil fuel-based jet fuel.</p> <p>These fuels can be used just by themselves – called 100% SAF-powered – and they have very similar chemistry to traditional fossil jet fuel so they’re just as effective.</p> <p>The problem though is the cost. They’re up to four times as expensive as traditional jet fuel, and around the world there’s just not that much of it on the market – less than 1% of jet fuel available.</p> <p>“Aviation fuels represent about 7-8% of all fuel consumption I believe, and of course in a country like Australia it’s an even bigger part of our liquid fuel consumption,” Lars Nielsen, a professor at the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, told Cosmos.</p> <p>“A very large part of the cost of flying is the aviation fuel. Nobody’s jumping to pay more for flying to Europe, therefore, it’s market demand. Are the customers willing to pay the extra price that would be involved with it?”</p> <p>As we decarbonise other areas of emissions – like electricity, transport and agriculture – aviation emissions as a percentage of total emissions are likely to skyrocket. While we could lower our reliance on flying (a small but growing habit), or discover completely zero carbon solutions for aviation, working out how to make SAFs sustainable and cost effective is important.</p> <p>Nielsen has worked with SAF in the past, as part of a project called the Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative.</p> <p>The group was trying to work out if three different sources of biofuels – sugar cane crop, algae, and a drought resistant tree called pongamia – could be made cost efficient compared to traditional fossil based jet fuels.</p> <p>“Whenever the prices of jet fuel go high, people start getting interested,” he says.</p> <p>“The only thing that could happen at a reasonable speed was sugar to fuel. But even then, we could see the prices were not competitive [even though] it’s technically very feasible.”</p> <h2>International Jet Fuel</h2> <p>Despite these problems, companies have started creating SAFs and selling them to aviation companies around the world.</p> <p>Heathrow for example is the largest major airport user of SAFs. This is partially due to a government mandate requiring 10% of jet fuel be SAF by 2030, and a priority to have at least 5 commercial-scale SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025.</p> <p>This is on top of Heathrow airport putting in place SAF incentives earlier this year.</p> <p>In the US, the government has launched the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge to reduce the cost, enhance the sustainability, and expand the production and use of SAF.</p> <p>United Airlines has used over five million gallons at Los Angeles International Airport, while JetBlue has signed a ten-year uptake agreement to receive at least 670 million gallons of blended SAF to its three New York area airports – JFK, La Guardia, and Newark.</p> <p>But there have already been some kinks in the system, particularly with first generation biofuels.</p> <p>“What was really quite disastrous is that in 2005 Europe committed to using biodiesel. Of course, biodiesel manufacturers in Europe found out the cheapest oil source we have is palm oil,” Nielson said.  </p> <p>“It expanded quite significantly the amount of biodiesel incorporated.”</p> <p>Unfortunately, a report in 2016 found that Europe’s switch might have increased greenhouse gas emissions. They reported that emissions from biodiesel are more than three times higher than those from conventional diesel engines when indirect effects are considered.</p> <p>The EU has now committed to phasing out these ‘first generation biofuels’ by 2030, but it highlights that not all sustainable fuels are equal.</p> <h2>Australia is being left behind</h2> <p>Meanwhile, in Australia we have barely made it into first-generation biofuels. The Queensland Sustainable Fuel Initiative shut down in the early 2010s, and there hasn’t been much traction since.</p> <p>This is both in getting the SAF into planes, as well as creating the fuel in Australia. Having a SAF industry in Australia would create jobs, potentially use waste products like used fry oil, as well as lower the emissions getting the fuel shipped halfway across the world.</p> <p>There have been a few toes dipped into the water in the past few years.</p> <p>In 2017 Virgin Australia announced a trial to add SAF through Brisbane Airport’s fuel supply system. It finished up in 2018, after being used in 195 flights from Brisbane. However, since the completion of the trial, there has been no other SAF incorporated into Australia’s jet fuel supply.</p> <p>Despite Virgin committing to net zero emissions by 2050, there’s currently no concrete plans for SAF to be used in their planes. Instead, they are prioritising modernising planes, lowering operational efficiencies, ground emissions, waste management and expanding the carbon offsetting programs.</p> <p>“Virgin Australia continues to work proactively with government and industry to establish a program for the viable commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel here in Australia,” a Virgin Australia Spokesperson told Cosmos in a statement.</p> <p>In March this year Qantas announced a Climate Action Plan where they pledged 10% SAF by 2030, and 60% by 2050. They also invested $50 million dollars in domestic production of SAF.</p> <p>Currently, the only SAF being used in the Qantas fleet is from the Heathrow Airport, but they’ve agreed to purchase SAF for its operations from California from 2025.</p> <p>In April, the Queensland government announced the first commercial sustainable aviation fuel biorefinery in Australia, which is hoping to provide 350 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel once it’s up and running.</p> <p>We might be waiting a while though – construction isn’t set to start until 2023, and the company behind the facility – Oceania Biofuels – has suggested that operations won’t begin until at least 2025.</p> <p>With the government’s 35% reduction in emissions by 2030, and net zero by 2050, working out how to create and incorporate SAFs to meet demand needs to be a priority.</p> <p>The previous government released a ‘bioenergy roadmap’ back in November last year, however the report has almost no commitments and limited funding for SAFs.</p> <p>Currently the Albanese government is still in the planning stages of creating any SAF initiatives.</p> <p>“The Minister for Transport has already outlined her intention to form a Jet Zero-style council to work across the aviation sector to help co-ordinate ongoing work to drive down aviation emissions,” a spokesperson for the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, told Cosmos.</p> <p>“In addition, our upcoming Aviation White Paper will consider as a priority how to maximise the aviation sector’s contribution to achieving net zero carbon emissions, including through sustainable aviation fuel and emerging technologies.</p> <p>“The Minister is also establishing a unit in the department to work across government and with industry to drive down domestic transport sector emissions.”</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainable-aviation-fuels-is-australia-being-left-behind/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Jacinta Bowler.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Aviation expert's new theory on missing flight MH370

<p>A noted aviation expert has said he has found the likely location of flight MH370.</p> <p>If he’s right it would solve the eight-year-old mystery of the whereabouts of the aircraft and its 239 passengers and crew, all of whom are presumed to have died.</p> <p>The findings have also reinforced a “horrifying” theory according to the senior officer in charge of the initial search of the missing plane’s final hours.</p> <p>Authorities are yet to be persuaded to tackle a new search mission.</p> <p>Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March the 8th, 2014 several hours after leaving Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, bound for Beijing, China.</p> <p>The plane headed north-east towards China but not long after take off it abruptly changed direction in the Gulf of Thailand and headed back across the Malaysian peninsula. It then plotted a course south-west into the remote depths of the Indian Ocean.</p> <p>It’s thought to have crashed 2000 kilometres off the coast of Western Australia, the search for MH370 has covered 120,000 square kilometres.</p> <p>British aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey has conducted an examination of the anomalies in radio signals from that fateful night. He has said that’s enabled him to zero in on a new crash zone.</p> <p>“In my view there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be planning for a new search,” Mr Godfrey told Channel 9’s 60 Minutes on Sunday.</p> <p>The breakthrough discovery claim came after an analysis using Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) technology – this is effectively an invisible radio wave similar to trip-wires that record anything disturbing or passing through the waves.</p> <p>However, experts have expressed serious doubts as to whether historical WSPR data can be used to track MH370.</p> <p>Mr Godfrey said 160 signals were disturbed over the Indian Ocean that night, disturbances likely caused by an aeroplane.</p> <p>Only one other aircraft was anywhere near MH370 over the ocean and Mr Godfrey said that plane was at least an hour away.</p> <p>That meant the disturbances were most likely caused by the Malaysian jet allowing its flight to be tracked as well as its probable final resting place.</p> <p>He has said he can narrow a search area down to just 300 square kilometres which could be looked at in just a few weeks. That includes some areas already searched and others that were never looked at during the initial rescue effort.</p> <p>“With this very difficult terrain it is possible to miss wreckage,” he said.</p> <p>“When you’re going through 120,000 square kilometres you get one chance, one pass of each point. With 300 square kilometres you can have several passes and from different angles, so it’s possible.”</p> <p>Findings put focus on pilot</p> <p>Mr Godfrey told 60 Minutes that his research has uncovered another aspect to the flight and its captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah.</p> <p>Far from heading in a straight line into the Indian Ocean, Mr Godfrey has claimed MH370 did a number of 360 degree turns over the sea – almost like holding patterns before an aircraft lands at a busy airport. That would mean the “ghost flight” theory – that the plane was on autopilot and the passengers and crew were incapacitated may not be accurate.</p> <p>“This is strange to me. When you’re in the remotest part of the Indian Ocean trying to lose an aircraft why would you enter a holding pattern for 20 minutes?</p> <p>“The captain may have been communicating with the Malaysian government, he may have been checking whether he was being followed, he may have simply wanted time to make up his mind,” said Mr Godfrey.</p> <p>If correct, the curious course of the Boeing 777 over the Indian Ocean gives credence to the theory that the captain deliberately flew the plane into oblivion.</p> <p>Peter Foley was the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) director of operations for the MH370 search.</p> <p>Asked on the program by 60 Minutes’ reporter Sarah Abo if the most likely scenario was that the captain was behind a mass murder incident, Mr Foley said “Yes, by a wide margin. It’s horrifying”.</p> <p>But nonetheless, Mr Foley said some of Mr Godfrey’s conclusions needed more scrutiny.</p> <p>“There’s certainly merit in exploring new avenues.</p> <p>The ATSB described Mr Godfrey as “credible” but has not launched a new investigation.</p> <p>“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has not had a formal involvement in any search for the missing aircraft MH370 since the conclusion of the first underwater search in 2017, has not recommenced a search for the aircraft, and notes that any decision to conduct further searches would be a matter for the Government of Malaysia,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said in a statement.</p> <p>“The ATSB does acknowledge that Mr Godfrey’s work recommends a search zone for MH370, a significant portion of which covers an area searched during the ATSB-led underwater search.</p> <p>“When the ATSB was made aware that Mr Godfrey’s zone incorporates an area of ocean surveyed during the ATSB-led search, out of due diligence the ATSB requested Geoscience Australia review the data it held from the search to re-validate that no items of interest were detected in that area.”</p> <p>“The ATSB expects that review to be finalised in coming weeks, the results from which will be made public on the ATSB’s website.</p> <p>“The ATSB remains an interested observer in all efforts to find the missing aircraft.”</p> <p>Mr Mitchell reiterated that any decision to conduct further searches for MH370 would be a matter for the Government of Malaysia.</p> <p><em>Image: news.com.au</em></p>

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Blue-sky thinking: net-zero aviation is more than a flight of fantasy

<p>As international air travel rebounds after COVID-19 restrictions, greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are expected to rise dramatically – and with it, scrutiny of the industry’s environmental credentials.</p> <p>Aviation emissions have almost <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2253626-aviations-contribution-to-global-warming-has-doubled-since-2000/">doubled since 2000</a> and in 2018 reached <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions-from-aviation">one billion tonnes</a>. Climate Action Tracker rates the industry’s climate performance as <a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/sectors/aviation/">critically insufficient</a>.</p> <p>As the climate change threat rapidly worsens, can aviation make the transition to a low-carbon future – and perhaps even reach net-zero emissions? The significant technological and energy disruption on the horizon for the industry suggests such a future is possible.</p> <p>But significant challenges remain. Achieving a net-zero aviation sector will require a huge collaborative effort from industry and government – and consumers can also play their part.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nW6J989UBhA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <h2>Build back better</h2> <p>The aviation sector’s progress in cutting emissions has been disappointing to date. For example, in February last year, <a href="https://theconversation.com/major-airlines-say-theyre-acting-on-climate-change-our-research-reveals-how-little-theyve-achieved-127800">research</a> on the world’s largest 58 airlines found even the best-performing ones were not doing anywhere near enough to cut emissions.</p> <p>Most recently, at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, the industry merely reasserted a commitment to a plan known as the <a href="https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/CORSIA/Pages/default.aspx">Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation</a>.</p> <p>The scheme relies on carbon offsetting, which essentially pays another actor to reduce emissions on its behalf at lowest cost, and doesn’t lead to absolute emissions reduction in aviation. The scheme also encourages alternative cleaner fuels, but the level of emissions reduction between fuels varies considerably.</p> <p>Governments have generally failed to provide strong leadership to help the aviation sector to reduce emissions. This in part is because pollution from international aviation is not counted in the emissions ledger of any country, leaving little incentive for governments to act. Aviation is also a complex policy space to navigate, involving multiple actors around the world. However, COVID-19 has significantly jolted the aviation and travel sector, presenting an opportunity to build back better – and differently.</p> <p>Griffith University recently held a <a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/institute-tourism/our-research/rethinking-aviation/aviation-reimagined-2021?fbclid=IwAR3Hd8xLJkEWMaHae8sho1MiSfV6TzbPbf30vo2fbJ0CHMg-xdvywNCmZbU">webinar series</a> on decarbonising aviation, involving industry, academic and government experts. The sessions explored the most promising policy and practical developments for net-zero aviation, as well as the most significant hurdles.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437570/original/file-20211214-25-1rc1cnc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="passengers queue at airport" /> <span class="caption">COVID-19 has significantly jolted the aviation sector.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Steven Senne/AP</span></span></p> <h2>Nations soaring ahead</h2> <p>Some governments are leading the way in driving change in the aviation industry. For example, as a result of <a href="https://www.government.se/495f60/contentassets/883ae8e123bc4e42aa8d59296ebe0478/the-swedish-climate-policy-framework.pdf">government policy</a> to make Sweden climate-neutral by 2045, the Swedish aviation industry developed a <a href="https://fossilfrittsverige.se/en/roadmap/the-aviation-industry/#:%7E:text=The%20strategic%20objective%20for%202030,line%20with%20the%20Government%27s%20goals">roadmap</a> for fossil-free domestic flights by 2030, and for all flights originating from Sweden to be fossil-free by 2045.</p> <p>Achieving fossil-free flights requires replacing jet fuel with alternatives such as sustainable fuels or electric and hydrogen propulsion.</p> <p>The European Union plans to <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_3662">end current tax exemptions</a> for jet fuel and introduce measures to <a href="https://www.eurocontrol.int/article/eus-fit-55-package-what-does-it-mean-aviation">accelerate</a> the uptake of sustainable fuels.</p> <p>The United Kingdom is finalising its strategy for <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/achieving-net-zero-aviation-by-2050">net-zero aviation</a> by 2050 and a public body known as UK Research and Innovation is <a href="https://www.ukri.org/our-work/our-main-funds/industrial-strategy-challenge-fund/future-of-mobility/future-flight-challenge/">supporting</a> the development of new aviation technologies, including hybrid-electric regional aircraft.</p> <p>Australia lacks a strategic framework or emissions reduction targets to help transition the aviation industry. The <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/emerging-aviation-technologies/drones/eatp">Emerging Aviation Technology Program</a> seeks to reduce carbon emissions, among other goals. However, it appears to have a strong focus on freight-carrying drones and <a href="https://www.greenbiz.com/article/7-urban-air-mobility-companies-watch">urban air vehicles</a>, rather than fixed wing aircraft.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437569/original/file-20211214-13-lsswi6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="plane taking off" /> <span class="caption">Some governments are leading the way in driving change in the aviation industry.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhao Xiaojun/AP</span></span></p> <h2>Building tomorrow’s aircraft</h2> <p>Low-emissions aircraft technology has developed substantially in the last five years. Advancements include electric and hybrid aircraft (powered by hydrogen or a battery) – such as that being developed by <a href="https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/zero-emission/hydrogen/zeroe">Airbus</a>, <a href="https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/accel.aspx">Rolls Royce</a> and <a href="https://www.zeroavia.com/">Zero Avia</a> – as well as <a href="https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2021-07-14-Boeing-and-SkyNRG-Partner-to-Scale-Sustainable-Aviation-Fuels-Globally">sustainable aviation fuels</a>.</p> <p>Each of these technologies can reduce carbon emissions, but only battery and hydrogen electric options significantly reduce non-CO₂ climate impacts such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), soot particles, oxidised sulphur species, and water vapour.</p> <p>For electric aircraft to be net-zero emissions, they must be powered by renewable energy sources. As well as being better for the planet, electric and hydrogen aircraft are likely to have <a href="https://www.zeroavia.com/">lower</a> energy and maintenance <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/electric-aviation-could-be-closer-than-you-think/">costs</a> than conventional aircraft.</p> <p>This decade, we expect a rapid emergence of electric and hybrid aircraft for short-haul, commuter, air taxi, helicopter and general flights. Increased use of sustainable aviation fuel is also likely.</p> <p>Although electric planes are flying, commercial operations are not expected until at least 2023 as the aircraft must undergo rigorous testing, safety and certification.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437571/original/file-20211214-23-1clsep1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="A solar powered aircraft prototype flies in mountainous terrain" /> <span class="caption">Electric planes exist, but the route to commercialisation is long. Pictured: a solar powered aircraft prototype flies near the France-Italy border.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Laurent Gillieron/EPA</span></span></p> <h2>Overcoming turbulence</h2> <p>Despite real efforts by some industry leaders and governments towards making aviation a net-zero industry, significant strategic and practical challenges remain. Conversion to the commercial mainstream is not happening quickly enough.</p> <p>To help decarbonise aviation in Australia, industry and government should develop a clear strategy for emissions reduction with interim targets for 2030 and 2040. This would keep the industry competitive and on track for net-zero emissions by 2050.</p> <p>Strategic attention and action is also needed to:</p> <ul> <li> <p>advance aircraft and fuel innovation and development</p> </li> <li> <p>update regulatory and certification processes for new types of aircraft</p> </li> <li> <p>enhance production and deployment of new aviation fuels and technologies</p> </li> <li> <p>reduce fuel demand through efficiencies in route and air traffic management</p> </li> <li> <p>create “greener” airport operations and infrastructure</p> </li> <li> <p>build capability with pilots and aerospace engineers.</p> </li> </ul> <p>The emissions created by flights and itineraries can <a href="https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/variation-aviation-emissions-itinerary-jul2021-1.pdf">vary substantially</a>. Consumers can do their part by opting for the lowest-impact option, and offsetting the emissions their flight creates via a <a href="https://theconversation.com/flying-home-for-christmas-carbon-offsets-are-important-but-they-wont-fix-plane-pollution-89148">credible program</a>. Consumers can also choose to fly only with airlines and operators that have committed to net-zero emissions.</p> <p>Net-zero aviation need not remain a flight of fantasy, but to make it a reality, emissions reduction must be at the heart of aviation’s pandemic bounce-back.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171940/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emma-rachel-whittlesea-1280917">Emma Rachel Whittlesea</a>, Senior Research Fellow, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-ryley-1253269">Tim Ryley</a>, Professor and Head of Griffith Aviation, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/blue-sky-thinking-net-zero-aviation-is-more-than-a-flight-of-fantasy-171940">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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These New Zealand aviation experiences are a must try

<p>New Zealand’s diverse landscapes offer an ever-unfolding natural backdrop for flight-seeing and aerial adventures so it’s no wonder that aviation tourism is a popular activity all over the country.</p> <p>New Zealand by air makes for spectacular sightseeing. Vast coastal expanses, high mountain peaks, deep fresh-water lakes, braided rivers, dramatic fiords and colourful volcanic landforms are some of the scenic highlights of the land – celebrated as the home of Middle-earth – that are best revealed from above.</p> <p>Most regions have multiple aviation adventures and activities – from flight-seeing and helicopter landings on an active volcano or a grand tour of the highest peaks in the Southern Alps, to champagne picnics in wilderness locations, West Coast glaciers heli-hikes or heli-ski excursions into remote snowy expanses.</p> <p>Many luxury lodges, wilderness retreats and city hotels have helipads offering easy access, transfers to and from, and the-skies-the-limit activity options – including weddings in majestic natural locations.</p> <p><strong>North Island aviation activities</strong></p> <p><strong>White Island –</strong> an active marine volcano off the North Island’s Bay of Plenty coast – is a spectacular and unique landmark. Scenic flights over the island operate from Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatane, along with helicopter tours that land on the island for a hiking option.</p> <p>New Zealand’s famed central North Island volcanic plateau also sets the scene for flights over Lake Taupo, a cluster of volcanic peaks – Tarawera, Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe – and the treasured dual world heritage Tongariro National Park.</p> <p><strong>South Island aviation activities</strong></p> <p>The South Island, with its sweeping Southern Alps mountain chain, and the continuous parade of lakes and glaciers is an aerial feast.</p> <p>Early morning balloon flights take in the vast expanse of the Canterbury Plains, Pacific seaboard and the snowy mountain peaks while The Grand Traverse is a dramatic scenic flight exploring the highest peaks on both sides of the island and over Mt Cook and Westland national parks.</p> <p>Aviation pioneer Mount Cook Ski Planes has been landing fixed-wing planes on a glacier for more than 50 years – and it’s still the only opportunity in the world for tourists to make this kind of glacier landing.</p> <p>In Westland National Park, helicopters take tourists on a spectacular ascent onto the twin West Coast glaciers – Franz Josef and Fox – with an ice landing and hike across the frozen landscape.</p> <p>The ski fields of the Southern Alps are the launching pad for heli-ski excursions away from the crowds on resort slopes. Methven Heliski operates from a Canterbury high country sheep station, taking powder hounds into the mighty glaciated Arrowsmiths mountain range to make first tracks across the fresh powder.</p> <p>Queenstown’s Over the Top luxury helicopter excursions reveal stunning hidden gems that set the scene for gourmet picnics, extreme golfing, exclusive wine and fly fishing experiences.</p> <p><strong>Home of Middle-earth</strong></p> <p>Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film fans from around the world know New Zealand as the home of Middle-earth, and flying is the best way to see some of the top Lord of the Rings tourism destinations – guided by locals who helped find the locations and transport the stars during filming.</p> <p>In the Nelson Tasman region, Reid Helicopters operates flights to stunning Lord of the Rings locations in the beautiful Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes national parks.</p> <p>From Queenstown, Glacier Southern Lakes, Trilogy Trail and Heli Works share insider stories on a string of Middle-earth locations throughout the Southern Lakes region.</p> <p><strong>In the pilot seat</strong></p> <p>New Zealand is an attractive destination for experienced pilots who want to take the controls while experiencing scenic highlights.</p> <p>Flight charter companies and aero clubs throughout New Zealand rent planes for self-fly excursions or offer flying lessons.</p> <p>Omarama, surrounded by the Southern Alps, is a renowned destination for gliding enthusiasts from around the world.</p> <p>At Wanaka, U-Fly Wanaka offers budding aviators the opportunity to pilot a dual-control Light Sports aircraft while enjoying the stunning alpine and vineyard landscape below.</p> <p><strong>Aviation heritage</strong></p> <p>New Zealand’s national symbol might be the flightless kiwi bird but that has never held back the human Kiwi population whose love-affair with the skies and all things aerial – from planes, helicopters, gliders and hot air balloons, to airborne adventure sports like skydive and paragliding – goes back to the earliest days of flight.</p> <p>New Zealanders embraced the aviation revolution as inventors, pilots and passengers. Some rose to fame – including solo pilot Jean Batten for her record-breaking journeys, early inventor-aviator Richard Pearse, and tourism pioneer Sir Henry (Harry) Wigley whose Kiwi ingenuity developed the world’s first retractable skis for planes.</p> <p><strong>At New Zealand’s oldest aerodrome –</strong> Mandeville airfield near Croydon, in Southland – the Croydon Aircraft Museum has a collection of planes from the 1930s era including de Havilland aircraft. Visitors can take a nostalgic flight in a Tiger Moth or, for the daring, experience the adrenalin rush of an acrobatic joy ride. They can also watch activities in the workshop which is recognised as a world leader in aviation restoration and, once a year in February, the Mandeville Fly-In Weekend attracts incredible vintage aircraft from the 1920s and 1930s.</p> <p><strong>Aviation museums &amp; collections</strong></p> <p>New Zealand’s aviation heritage and heroes are celebrated in a series of museums and collections throughout New Zealand. Notable world-class aviation collections are open to visitors in Auckland, Tauranga and Masterton (in the North Island), Marlborough and Wanaka (in the South Island). Many smaller collections are also open to the public:</p> <p><strong>Auckland</strong>: MOTAT Aviation Display Hall – one of the southern hemisphere’s most impressive aircraft collections.</p> <p><strong>Tauranga</strong>: Classic Flyers Aviation Museum – includes classic aircraft that regularly take to the skies and aviation memorabilia.</p> <p><strong>Masterton</strong>: The Vintage Aviator Fighter Collection – rare rotating collection of airworthy WWI and WWII fighter aircraft on display at Hood Aerodrome.</p> <p><strong>Marlborough</strong>: Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre – not just another museum, this is an inspiring multi-sensory experience featuring film-maker Sir Peter Jackson’s incredible collection of WWI and WWII aircraft displayed in out-of-this world movie sets.</p> <p><strong>Christchurch</strong>: Air Force Museum – features several generations of classic aircraft, and entry is free.</p> <p><strong>Wanaka</strong>: Wanaka Airport – home of the biennial Warbirds over Wanaka airshow – draws together several aviation experiences. Warbirds &amp; Wheels Museum is a collection of rare fighter aircraft and vintage vehicles that tells the stories of the New Zealand flying aces of WWI and WW2, and documents the life of local flying legend Sir Tim Wallis. The National Transport and Toy Museum is one of the world’s largest private collections and includes rare and unusual aircraft and vehicles. Classic Flights will take nostalgic punters up and away in a vintage Tiger Moth.</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/new-zealand-aviation-tours-experiences/">MyDiscoveries.</a> </em></p>

Travel Tips

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New Zealand aviation experiences you need to try

<p>New Zealand’s diverse landscapes offer an ever-unfolding natural backdrop for flight-seeing and aerial adventures so it’s no wonder that aviation tourism is a popular activity all over the country.</p> <p>New Zealand by air makes for spectacular sightseeing. Vast coastal expanses, high mountain peaks, deep fresh-water lakes, braided rivers, dramatic fiords and colourful volcanic landforms are some of the scenic highlights of the land – celebrated as the home of Middle-earth – that are best revealed from above.</p> <p>Most regions have multiple aviation adventures and activities – from flight-seeing and helicopter landings on an active volcano or a grand tour of the highest peaks in the Southern Alps, to champagne picnics in wilderness locations, West Coast glaciers heli-hikes or heli-ski excursions into remote snowy expanses.</p> <p>Many luxury lodges, wilderness retreats and city hotels have helipads offering easy access, transfers to and from, and the-skies-the-limit activity options – including weddings in majestic natural locations.</p> <p><strong>North Island aviation activities</strong></p> <p>White Island – an active marine volcano off the North Island’s Bay of Plenty coast – is a spectacular and unique landmark. Scenic flights over the island operate from Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatane, along with helicopter tours that land on the island for a hiking option.</p> <p>New Zealand’s famed central North Island volcanic plateau also sets the scene for flights over Lake Taupo, a cluster of volcanic peaks – Tarawera, Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe – and the treasured dual world heritage Tongariro National Park.</p> <p><strong>South Island aviation activities</strong></p> <p>The South Island, with its sweeping Southern Alps mountain chain, and the continuous parade of lakes and glaciers is an aerial feast.</p> <p>Early morning balloon flights take in the vast expanse of the Canterbury Plains, Pacific seaboard and the snowy mountain peaks while The Grand Traverse is a dramatic scenic flight exploring the highest peaks on both sides of the island and over Mt Cook and Westland national parks.</p> <p>Aviation pioneer Mount Cook Ski Planes has been landing fixed-wing planes on a glacier for more than 50 years – and it’s still the only opportunity in the world for tourists to make this kind of glacier landing.</p> <p>In Westland National Park, helicopters take tourists on a spectacular ascent onto the twin West Coast glaciers – Franz Josef and Fox – with an ice landing and hike across the frozen landscape.</p> <p>The ski fields of the Southern Alps are the launching pad for heli-ski excursions away from the crowds on resort slopes. Methven Heliski operates from a Canterbury high country sheep station, taking powder hounds into the mighty glaciated Arrowsmiths mountain range to make first tracks across the fresh powder.</p> <p>Queenstown’s Over the Top luxury helicopter excursions reveal stunning hidden gems that set the scene for gourmet picnics, extreme golfing, exclusive wine and fly fishing experiences.</p> <p><strong>Home of Middle-earth</strong></p> <p>Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film fans from around the world know New Zealand as the home of Middle-earth, and flying is the best way to see some of the top Lord of the Rings tourism destinations – guided by locals who helped find the locations and transport the stars during filming.</p> <p>In the Nelson Tasman region, Reid Helicopters operates flights to stunning Lord of the Rings locations in the beautiful Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes national parks.</p> <p>From Queenstown, Glacier Southern Lakes, Trilogy Trail and Heli Works share insider stories on a string of Middle-earth locations throughout the Southern Lakes region.</p> <p><strong>In the pilot seat</strong></p> <p>New Zealand is an attractive destination for experienced pilots who want to take the controls while experiencing scenic highlights.</p> <p>Flight charter companies and aero clubs throughout New Zealand rent planes for self-fly excursions or offer flying lessons.</p> <p>Omarama, surrounded by the Southern Alps, is a renowned destination for gliding enthusiasts from around the world.</p> <p>At Wanaka, U-Fly Wanaka offers budding aviators the opportunity to pilot a dual-control Light Sports aircraft while enjoying the stunning alpine and vineyard landscape below.</p> <p><strong>Aviation heritage</strong></p> <p>New Zealand’s national symbol might be the flightless kiwi bird but that has never held back the human Kiwi population whose love-affair with the skies and all things aerial – from planes, helicopters, gliders and hot air balloons, to airborne adventure sports like skydive and paragliding – goes back to the earliest days of flight.</p> <p>New Zealanders embraced the aviation revolution as inventors, pilots and passengers. Some rose to fame – including solo pilot Jean Batten for her record-breaking journeys, early inventor-aviator Richard Pearse, and tourism pioneer Sir Henry (Harry) Wigley whose Kiwi ingenuity developed the world’s first retractable skis for planes.</p> <p>At New Zealand’s oldest aerodrome – Mandeville airfield near Croydon, in Southland – the Croydon Aircraft Museum has a collection of planes from the 1930s era including de Havilland aircraft. Visitors can take a nostalgic flight in a Tiger Moth or, for the daring, experience the adrenalin rush of an acrobatic joy ride. They can also watch activities in the workshop which is recognised as a world leader in aviation restoration and, once a year in February, the Mandeville Fly-In Weekend attracts incredible vintage aircraft from the 1920s and 1930s.</p> <p><strong>Aviation museums &amp; collections</strong></p> <p>New Zealand’s aviation heritage and heroes are celebrated in a series of museums and collections throughout New Zealand. Notable world-class aviation collections are open to visitors in Auckland, Tauranga and Masterton (in the North Island), Marlborough and Wanaka (in the South Island). Many smaller collections are also open to the public:</p> <p><strong>Auckland:</strong> MOTAT Aviation Display Hall – one of the southern hemisphere’s most impressive aircraft collections.</p> <p><strong>Tauranga:</strong> Classic Flyers Aviation Museum – includes classic aircraft that regularly take to the skies and aviation memorabilia.</p> <p><strong>Masterton:</strong> The Vintage Aviator Fighter Collection – rare rotating collection of airworthy WWI and WWII fighter aircraft on display at Hood Aerodrome.</p> <p><strong>Marlborough:</strong> Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre – not just another museum, this is an inspiring multi-sensory experience featuring film-maker Sir Peter Jackson’s incredible collection of WWI and WWII aircraft displayed in out-of-this world movie sets.</p> <p><strong>Christchurch:</strong> Air Force Museum – features several generations of classic aircraft, and entry is free.</p> <p>Wanaka: Wanaka Airport – home of the biennial Warbirds over Wanaka airshow – draws together several aviation experiences. Warbirds &amp; Wheels Museum is a collection of rare fighter aircraft and vintage vehicles that tells the stories of the New Zealand flying aces of WWI and WW2 and documents the life of local flying legend Sir Tim Wallis. The National Transport and Toy Museum is one of the world’s largest private collections and includes rare and unusual aircraft and vehicles. Classic Flights will take nostalgic punters up and away in a vintage Tiger Moth.</p> <p><strong>Aviation events</strong></p> <p>New Zealand hosts several high profile aviation airshows and events:</p> <p>Wings over Wairarapa – three-day biennial event (February)</p> <p>Mandeville Vintage Aircraft Fly-in – two-day event (March)</p> <p>Classic Fighters at Omaka – three-day biennial event (April)</p> <p>Balloons over Waikato – five-day event (March)</p> <p>Wairarapa Balloon Festival – held annually (April)</p> <p>Warbirds over Wanaka – three-day biennial event (April)</p> <p><strong>More information</strong></p> <p>Aero Clubs: <a href="http://www.flyingnz.co.nz">www.flyingnz.co.nz</a></p> <p>Air licensing requirements: <a href="http://www.caa.govt.nz">www.caa.govt.nz</a></p> <p><em>Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/new-zealand-aviation-tours-experiences/"><em>MyDiscoveries</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Hawaii goes on red alert for “major eruption”

<p><span>On Tuesday, explosions on Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano triggered an aviation red alert for the first time since the eruption started 12 days ago.</span></p> <p><span>The explosions caused ash and volcanic smog to rise 3.7 kilometres above Kilauea’s crater. The ash and smog floated southwest, covering cars on Highway 11 and causing an “unhealthy air” advisory in Pahala, a community 29 kilometres from the volcano.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Hawaii's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kilauea?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kilauea</a> volcano, officials have issued a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedAlert?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RedAlert</a> as explosive activity reaches new heights. <a href="https://t.co/li7xYb9YjG">pic.twitter.com/li7xYb9YjG</a></p> — Aneika Angus (@aneikaangus) <a href="https://twitter.com/aneikaangus/status/996716485371297793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2018</a></blockquote> <p><span>A red alert for aircraft means a volcanic eruption is under way which could spew ash along aircraft routes, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) website.</span></p> <p><span>John Bravender of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said a shift in winds was expected to bring ash and smog inland.</span></p> <p><span>“We’re observing more or less continuous emission of ash now with intermittent, more energetic ash bursts or plumes,” said Steve Brantley, a deputy scientist in charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).</span></p> <p><span>The observatory has warned that the eruption could become more violent.</span></p> <p><span>“At any time, activity may become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent,” the HVO said in a statement after the aviation alert moved from orange to red.</span></p> <p><span>Ash is not poisonous but irritates the nose, eyes and breathing. USGS chemist David Damby explained that large emissions of ash could cause the failure of electrical power lines.</span></p> <p><span>The area worst hit by the eruption is near the village of Pahoa, 40 kilometres down Kilauea’s eastern flank.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Kilauea volcano has already destroyed houses and hurled "splatter bombs" into the sky. Now it's wreaking havoc on Hawaii's famed tourism industry. <a href="https://t.co/ndgJ92nqsO">https://t.co/ndgJ92nqsO</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZNZS7LyC71">pic.twitter.com/ZNZS7LyC71</a></p> — CNN (@CNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN/status/996590074975391745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2018</a></blockquote> <p><span>Lava has burst from the ground, tearing through housing developments and farmland.</span></p> <p><span>On Tuesday, a fissure in the Earth opened, spewing lava and toxic gases which caused air quality into “conditioned red” around Lanipuna Gardens and nearby farms.</span></p> <p><span>The toxic gases caused “choking and inability to breathe”, according to the HVO and Hawaii County Civil Defense.</span></p> <p><span>No deaths or major injuries have been reported from the eruption. </span></p>

Travel Trouble

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Aviation expert warns against budget airlines

<p>We all want to save as much money as possible on air fares, but one aviation expert is warning against travellers cutting costs on their plane tickets. The alert comes just days after a Malaysia-bound AirAsia flight was <a href="/travel/travel-insurance/2017/06/air-asia-plane-forced-to-make-emergnecy-landing/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">forced to turn back</span></strong></a> to Perth due to a technical issue.</p> <p>“Australians regrettably think with their pocket and not their head,” aviation expert and chairman of Strategic Aviation Solutions, Neil Hansford, told <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-26/aviation-expert-urges-rethink-on-budget-air-travel-airasia/8653278" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">the ABC</span></strong></a>. “Because if you go to the trouble of working out whether a carrier’s got a record or not you would look at AirAsia and you would say, ‘Well why would I fly with that carrier who can't get seven stars?' If the difference in the fare was $200, is my life worth $200?"</p> <p>Despite the plane having landed safely back on solid ground, Hansford believes the outcome could have been very different – especially given the lack of professionalism from the pilot.</p> <p>“The pilot’s responsibility is to make all of the passengers feel comfortable and let them know that he’s in command,” he explained. “Now in asking people to pray, that’s almost saying that he’s passing the responsibility to some other person that's not on the plane.”</p> <p>Those who were on the affected flight were flown to Kuala Lumpur on a replacement plane last night. AirAsia are yet to offer an explanation into what caused the near-tragedy.</p> <p>Do you fly with budget airlines? Will the latest incident encourage you to rethink those cheaper flights? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.</p> <p><strong><em>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a></span> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</em></strong></p>

Travel Insurance

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Pilot says plane engines cut out on most flights

<p>If you’re a nervous flyer, odds are you’ve already has visions that have revolved around your airplane’s engines cutting out mid-flight followed by some nightmarish descent.</p> <p>But what if we were to tell you engines cut out on most routine flights?</p> <p>The prospect of sitting in an airplane that’s 30,000 feet in the air and doesn’t have its engines on is one that’s daunting to consider (especially if you don’t have a degree in civil aviation) but most modern aircraft are designed to glide.</p> <p>Even mega-jumbo jets can glide for extreme distances. If you’re sitting in the cabin and it sounds as though the engines have been turned off, it’s because they have.</p> <p>Aviation expert Patrick Smith told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>News.com.au</strong></em></span></a>, “It’s not the least bit uncommon for jets to descend at what a pilot calls ‘flight idle,’ with the engines run back to a zero-thrust condition,” he wrote.</p> <p>“They’re still operating and powering crucial systems, but providing no push. You’ve been gliding many times without knowing it. It happens on just about every flight.</p> <p>“Obviously an idle-thrust glide is different from the engines quitting outright, but even then, the glide itself would be no different.”</p> <p>Were you aware of this? Are you a nervous flyer?</p>

International Travel

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In pictures: Prince George’s first official royal engagement

<p>Prince George made his first ever official royal engagement last Friday when he visited a Royal Airforce Station in Gloucestershire, England, with his mother and father, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.</p> <p>The two-year-old couldn’t hide his excitement as he toured the station with his parents, as part of the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world’s largest air show. There were 247 different aircrafts on show at the event, which aims to encourage young people to get involved with aviation.</p> <p>Prince William no doubt passed on his knowledge of aircrafts to his son, having graduated from the Royal Air Force in 2010. But it seems no amount of helicopters and planes could keep the Prince from feeling overwhelmed by the occasion, with snaps of him having a little cry before Kate rushed to comfort him, as only a mother knows how.</p> <p>But all in all, George looked like he was having a ball, especially in his baby blue noise-cancelling headphone.</p> <p>The official Kensington Palace Twitter account predicted he would, tweeting: “The @airtattoo is a fantastic family-orientated event. The Duke and Duchess know that George will enjoy seeing the aircraft up close.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Prince George at his first ever official royal engagement.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/having-a-sibling-makes-boys-selfless/"><em>Having a sibling makes boys selfless</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/sibling-rivalries-in-my-childhood-shaped-who-i-am-today/"><em>Sibling rivalries in my childhood shaped who I am today</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/kids-are-the-worst-instagram/"><em>In pictures: Kids behaving badly</em></a></strong></span></p>

News

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Airlines will soon be able to track an aircraft’s location every 15 minutes

<p>Aircrafts will soon be able to be tracked minute-by-minute as the aviation industry seeks to avoid repeating the mystery of Malaysia Airlines flight 370. An international aviation summit of the in Montreal this week gave support to plans to monitor planes in real time.</p><p>The proposal is expected to be ratified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council in November this year, which would make it obligatory for all airlines from 2016. The development would make it much easier to pinpoint any planes lost at sea.</p><p>The plan, brought about by the disappearance of flight MH370, “will not prevent accidents,” said ICAO chairman Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, but will mean the end of lost jets. The current system, wherein radar is used to track a plane, can be unreliable – coverage fades when aircraft are out at sea or below a certain altitude.</p><p>The new system, which is an inexpensive upgrade to make, will mean that airlines can track their aircraft’s location every 15 minutes. If a plane is in distress – deviating from their flightpath, or suffering an unexpected change in altitude – the signal will be repeated every minute.</p><p>Some airlines are already working on their own systems to track planes more efficiently, hoping to effect the change as soon as possible.</p><p>The summit also agreed to add ejectable floating black boxes to all commercial jetliners, which would make them easier to find at sea. The devices, vital in helping discover what has gone wrong in an aviation disaster, can be difficult to locate when a plane is lost at sea.</p>

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