Russian plane 'crashes into road outside Moscow'

 

 

Breaking News

Lufthansa Moves Scottish Route

 

German airline Lufthansa Regional has switched its Düsseldorf service from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow Airport.

From 8 April 2013, Lufthansa will run six flights per week from Glasgow, then a daily service from 24 June.

Glasgow Airport said it was delighted to host the route which connected two "economic powerhouses".

Edinburgh Airport said it could not understand the commercial logic behind the move and believed its service would have better served Scottish passengers.

Glasgow said Lufthansa's decision would see it host direct flights to Düsseldorf for the first time in 20 years.

Etihad Looks Into Two Indian airlines

 

 

Etihad Airways has looked at expansion for a long time and reported this week,  it has identified two Indian airlines as potential targets for investment. 

Etihad boss James Hogan wouldn’t be drawn on the names of the two airlines he’s been looking at, however all indications are going to be troubled Kingfisher Airlines who issued a statement saying it was in talks with the Gulf carrier. The other airlines could be its codeshare partner,  India’s Jet Airways. 

Etihad is keen to exploit India’s fast-growing aviation market after India opened the aviation sector to overseas investment for the first time in September of this year.   “We’re looking at a couple of opportunities in India,” Mr Hogan said in an interview in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. “We’re going through the due diligence at the moment. If we believe we can meet the criteria, we’ll then discuss that with our board.”

If any deal is done, it would be a minority stake, “we don’t want to take over someone’s airline,” he added. Owned by Abu Dhabi’s oil-rich government, Etihad last year bought a 29.2 per cent stake in Air Berlin and has also expanded its global network through three other equity stakes including a 10 per cent holding in Virgin Australia, a 40 per cent stake in Air Seychelles and 2.987 per cent in Aer Lingus.

Virgin & BA to Clash Over Scotland

 

 

Virgin plans to compete with British Airways on Heathrow links with Scotland.  It is to fly six round trips between the London airport and Edinburgh, with three round trips linking it with Aberdeen.

The airline says 150 people will be employed as a result of the move.  Virgin Atlantic will take over landing slots from BMI, after it was bought by British Airways owner, IAG.

From 31 March 2013, the planes are to be operated by Aer Lingus, but will be in Virgin Atlantic livery.

Delta To Buy Virgin Stake

The US airline, Delta has agreed a super deal to buy the 49% Singapore Airlines' stake in Virgin Atlantic for $360m (£224m).

Virgin Group and Sir Richard Branson will retain a 51% shareholding, and the Virgin brand will remain in place, the new partners said in a joint statement.   Obviously the deal is subject to regulatory approval in both the US and Europe.  Already expected is a challenge from the horrifically immoral Willie Walsh,  boss of IAG group, owners of BA and financially crippled Iberia.    
Mr Walsh offered to wager a "knee in the groin" in a bet with Sir Richard over whether the Virgin brand would still be around in five years.  However Branson, hit back offering a £1million bet offered by Sir Richard on Monday.

Virgin and Delta said the deal would allow allow them to "overcome slot constraints" and offer more flights from Heathrow.  The carriers will operate 31 peak-day round trips between the UK and North America.  "Our new partnership with Virgin Atlantic will strengthen both airlines and provide a more effective competitor between North America and the UK, particularly on the New York-London route," said Delta boss Richard Anderson.

Sir Richard said it was an "exciting day" in Virgin's history.  "It signals the start of a new era of expansion, financial growth and many opportunities for our customers and our business."  Singapore Airlines says it is selling its stake, which it has owned since 1999, because of increased competition in its local market, where it wants to keep its focus.

Loizos Heracleous, professor of strategy and organization at Warwick Business School, said the airline had always faced this issue and that the move really reflected Singapore Airline's disappointment with its investment.
"Singapore Airlines has made it known years ago that it was considering options with respect to its Virgin stake. Virgin Atlantic has not been very profitable, posting a loss for the most recent financial year and slim returns in the years where it did make profits.
Singapore Airlines has itself launched a low-cost carrier, Scoot, and has been putting money into its regional service, SilkAir.

Crash Test Not Dummies.

A test crash of a Boeing 727 in the Sonoran desert to learn more about what actually happens to passengers when a plane goes down found that simply bracing for impact could help save lives.

In one of the most ambitious tests ever undertaken in the name of airline safety, Discovery TV had a Boeing 727 equipped with more than a half a million dollars worth of crash test dummies, 38 specialized cameras and sensors, and a crew of incredibly daring pilots. The pilots, who'd donned parachutes, bailed out of a hatch in the back of the aircraft minutes before the huge jetliner careered into the ground in a horrific crash that tore the plane apart.

Staged last spring as part of the Discovery Channel's "Curiosity Plane Crash," the test crash was the result of four years of planning and consultations with a huge team of experts, all to better understand what happens to passengers when an aircraft goes down.

Air Canada To Hire More Staff

Air Canada plans to hire about 1,100 employees, including 200 at its new low-cost carrier, as the airline moves ahead with growth plans following a spate of labour conflicts with its major unions.

The airline, which currently employs some 27,000 people worldwide, said Thursday the jobs are part of its strategy to "seize new commercial opportunities, enhance customer service and renew our workforce."

China to Melbourne

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Sichuan Airlines has joined a growing number of carriers flying direct from Asia to Melbourne. Source: AAP

ANOTHER Chinese airline has joined a growing number of carriers flying direct from Asia to Melbourne.

Sichuan Airlines, majority-owned by the Sichuan provincial government, will fly directly from Chengdu three times a week and establish its Australian headquarters in Melbourne.

Announcing the deal during a trade mission to China, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu said it was a significant step in positioning the state as Australia's gateway to China.

"Direct air services between Melbourne and Chengdu will increase business, education and tourism ties between Victoria and China," he said.

Chengdu is one of the largest cities in western China, with a population of 14.7 million, and has presented itself as a key driver of China's economic growth in recent decades.

China Eastern, China Southern and Air China all fly directly from China to Melbourne.

New African Airline

AT a time many Nigerian airlines are folding up due to tough operating environment and government’s policies, some are braving the odds to offer new airline services to the huge Nigerian travelling public.

The question is, won’t new entrants like Med-View Airlines, which had taken bold steps to dare to step into a difficult terrain not encounter the same problem as many other airlines that have become extinct?

The Guardian learnt that about three more airlines are at the advanced stages of securing all the important Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the aviation regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The decision of a new airline, First Nation Airways and others to commence scheduled domestic and regional operations has elicited joy in the sector and afforded older carriers to begin to strategize to continue to retain their market share.

New spirit in air over America

The last great Texas fares war took place 40 years ago, when a cheeky new start-up airline called Southwest launched flights from Dallas to Houston. The flat one-way fare was $20 – saving at least five bucks on rivals' fares. The incumbent airline, Braniff, slashed its fares in response. Southwest hit back with a flat $13 – promoted by full-page newspaper ads reading: "Nobody's going to shoot Southwest Airlines out of the sky for a lousy $13." In fact, business travellers on expenses were encouraged to pay $26, which qualified them for Southwest's rudimentary loyalty scheme: a bottle of whiskey or vodka.

On Thursday, battle commenced once more between the two biggest cities in Texas – with Southwest this time as the incumbent. Its challenger: Spirit Airlines, which describes itself as "arguably the best airline in the Americas". I call it America's answer to Ryanair.

Ethiopian Shows Off Dreamline

Following its landmark as the first Africa airline to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the 777-200LR, Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines has achieved another milestone by becoming the first African airline to operate the Boeing 777 Freighter (Boeing 777F). The aircraft was delivered at the Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport on Thursday, September 20. Ethiopian leased its first Boeing 777F from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) with plans to order five more of those. The airline currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787 jets in passenger service and 757, MD-11, 747, and 777 freighters in cargo operations.

JAL cuts flights and share price falls

A Japan Airlines Boeing 747 plane taxis at Tokyo's Haneda Airport

HONG KONG -- Shares of Japan Airlines tumbled Friday after the airline announced it was cutting flights to China amid a dispute over islands in the East China Sea.

Monarch Flight Runs Off Birmingham Runway

Breaking News 

Birmingham Airport's runway has been shut after a plane skidded off it.

Airport officials said the Monarch flight ZB467 from Nice in France skidded off the runway shortly after 13:10 BST.

The airport said the flight had been operated by Lithuanian company Aurela Airlines. There were not thought to be any injuries.

The airport said all flights were suspended and "airfield services" were assisting the airline crew.

Inbound flights have been diverted to East Midlands Airport.

Air Malta Restructuring Go Ahead

The deal struck between pilots and Air Malta has overcome the last hurdle after a difficult restructuring exercise, according to the airline’s CEO.

Peter Davies yesterday said the four-year agreement clinched in the early hours of Saturday meant Air Malta “could now move forward”.

“It is critical that we got a deal on more efficiency and productivity that is within budget,” he said.

Dreamliner for Air India

Air India Ltd. is set to take delivery this week of its first 787 Dreamliner jet after a wait of some four years and following a long, public battle between the airlines and Boeing Co. over compensation for the delay.

The first of the aircraft could land in New Delhi Wednesday or Thursday, and two more will follow "in quick succession," an Air India executive told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

Passenger Cash For Fuel

The crew of an Air France plane that was re-routed via Damascus on Wednesday asked passengers how much cash they could stump up after Syrian authorities refused credit card payment to refuel the aircraft, the French airline said on Thursday.

China Southern Profits Dive

China Southern Airlines, Asia’s biggest carrier by passenger numbers, said first-half profit tumbled 84 percent because of an economic slowdown, higher fuel prices and currency fluctuations. Net income fell to 449 million yuan ($70.6 million) from 2.76 billion yuan a year earlier, the Guangzhou, China-based company said in a filing to Shanghai stock exchange today. That compares with the 570 million yuan median of three analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg News.

Air Canada low cost option to launch next year.

Air Canada, after overcoming union resistance to the launch of a low-cost carrier, the troubled Canadian airline is about to start offering cheap flights to a range of holiday destinations with the low cost launch next year

New Congo Airline Faces Risks

By Jonny Hogg

KINSHASA | Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:24am EDT

Its tarmac littered with dozens of dilapidated planes, the airport in Congo's capital Kinshasa makes clear the dire state of aviation even by Africa's generally low standards.

Qantas Loss

Australian airline Qantas  has reported a $245 million annual loss,  that is £162 million, loss in profits, as the airline has been hurt by increasingly rapid rising fuel prices, a series of damaging strikes that temporarily grounded its fleet and its struggling international division.

The Australian flagship carrier's reputation has been greatly dented by recent action and accidents, including those afflicting its new airbus A380 aircraft.  

Clothing stop travel....

You can't wear that???

Reasons for not being allowed to travel.

A woman flying from Las Vegas on Southwest this spring says she was confronted by an airline employee for showing too much cleavage. In another recent case, anAmerican Airlines pilot lectured a passenger because her T-shirt bore a four-letter expletive. She was allowed to keep flying after draping a shawl over the shirt.

Dreamliner arrives for Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines' first Dreamliner is hosed down on arrival in Addis Ababa. Photo: AFP

Ethiopian Airlines received Africa's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Friday, making Ethiopia the only country aside from Japan to operate the innovative aircraft.

"As a continent this shows how much we are making progress as Africans... competing on the global stage and changing our image," Ethiopian Airline CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told reporters at Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport.

The plane arrived from Dulles airport in Washington, DC, home to the largest Ethiopian diaspora population globally.

State-owned Ethiopian Airlines -- Africa's fastest growing carrier -- has purchased ten 787 Dreamliners from Boeing. Each has an official list price of some $US207 million ($198 million), although airlines rarely pay such figures, especially for bulk orders.

More woes at Kingfisher

Cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines Ltd is seeing an exodus of people with at least 3,500 employees having resigned in the last one year, also reflected in falling employee costs in the April-June quarter.

The headcount is down to 4,200 from 7,700 a year ago, according to two executives of the Vijay Mallya-promoted airline. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Out of the 4,200, 40% are not working as the airline closed at least 20 airport stations as part of downsizing its operations,” said one of the officials.

A Kingfisher Airlines spokesperson declined to comment.

Three United Aircraft Emergency Landings

 (Image Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

ABC News’ John Schriffen reports:   United Airlines says it is conducting a thorough review this morning of three weekend incidents that left hundreds of passengers stranded and some wondering whether the airline’s rocky merger with Continental has undermined its operations.

Since their merger two years ago, the two airlines have combined operations this year. Since 2010, the new United has suffered a rash of bad publicity and now has the worst records in the industry for delays.

In June, the last month for which the government released data, United passengers filed nearly 600 complaints. That’s five times higher than its nearest competitor and five times higher than before the merger.

“We’ve seen this huge spike in customer complaints,” said ABC News aviation consultant Steve Ganyard. “Now that we’re seeing a rash of in-flight emergencies, the FAA is going to want to ask are they having the same problem integrating their maintenance.”

United Flight 96 heading from New Jersey’s Newark Airport to Berlin was reportedly forced to make an emergency landing Saturday, and witnesses on the ground said they saw fire coming from the Boeing 757′s engine as they watched in suspense.

“I ran to the window, looked outside, saw the airplane and saw fire coming out,” D’Jenaba Johnson Jones said.

Alex Jackson said, “As it was elevating, I noticed that there was a flame spitting out of the left engine; it was kind of going like pop-pop- pop-pop.”

Cellphone video showed the plane circling for two hours and 15 minutes to burn off fuel before all 173 passengers and crew members landed safely back at Newark Airport.

“The crew followed standard procedures in returning to Newark, where the airplane landed safely,” United Airlines officials said in a statement Saturday.

United Flight 409 had to return to Newark Sunday morning after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. The Boeing 757 was bound for Seattle. And United Flight 1124 bound for Boston had to return to Houston a few hours later because of engine problems.

“The question is, how well is maintenance being done on those airplanes?” Ganyard said. “Is it a coincidence or is there a greater underlying problem that needs to be investigated.”

American Airlines Crews Approve New Contract

 Flight attendants at American Airlines voted to approve a new contract offer from the airline, which is seeking to cut costs in bankruptcy protection.   The results released Sunday showed attendants voted to accept the contract by 59.5 percent to 40.5 percent, according to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

Stansted Airport For Sale

Airports operator BAA has decided to sell Stansted Airport, ending its long-running legal battle.

It has been fighting a 2009 Competition Commission ruling that it must sell Stansted because of the lack of competition between London airports.

BAA was told to sell off Stansted and Gatwick, but by then it had already started the process of finding a buyer for Gatwick.

Short of fuel - a common problem?

Two Virgin Atlantic passenger jets issued emergency alerts on the same day this year because they were running out of fuel.  Air traffic controllers dealt with a total of four low-fuel emergencies at Stansted Airport, Essex, that day  – including a ‘mayday’ call.

Two were Virgin 747s, which can carry 451 passengers each. They needed priority landing after flying from America, according to an investigation by the Exaro website.

United To Remove Cockpit Protection

United Airlines is paying to remove a gate from some of its newest planes that’s meant to protect the cockpit from intruders, according to the union for its pilots.

United is getting Boeing Co.’s newest plane, the 787, later this year. Those planes were to come with a folding metal gate that blocks the cockpit when the door is open, according to the Air Line Pilots Association. But United is paying extra to have those gates removed, according to a letter from the union to the airline obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Federal rules do not require the gates, although United has them on its 777s. Most planes flown by U.S. airlines do not have the gates.

Cockpit security became a huge issue because of the hijackings of Sept. 11, 2001, prompting airlines to strengthen all of their cockpit doors.

However, the doors still need to be opened during flights, especially on longer flights when pilots need to use the lavatory or go to bunks while other pilots fly the plane. The secondary barrier blocks access from the passenger cabin to the cockpit even when the door is open.

“It makes no logical sense for a safety and security conscious airline with the history of United to pay for the removal of this device that further protects the flight deck from those with hostile intent,” the letter dated Monday said.

United spokeswoman Christen David said secondary barriers are just one component of flight security, and the combination of security measures can vary from one type of plane to the next. She declined to discuss the barriers in detail, but said “we are thorough in carrying out our security responsibilities for every flight. The safety and security of our employees and customers are our top priorities.”

United expects to get at least five 787s this year. The airline is part of Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc.

Virgin Blue High Tech Inflight Entertainment

Virgin America's new in-flight entertainment system will help passengers multitask. (Photo: Virgin America)Gone are the days when a cross-country flight meant being stuck for hours without a way to contact the outside world. In-flight connectivity is going mainstream. Virgin America--one of the most tech-embracing airlines in the nation--announced substantial tech upgrades to its in-flight entertainment system at the Airline Passenger Experience Association Expo in Seattle today.

A380's of Thai and Malaysian

The first Thai Airways International (THAI) A380 rolled out of the Airbus paint shop during June 2012, marking completion of its painting and cabin installation work.  Photo by Airbus.

Yesterday, Airbus showed off photos of Thai Airways International’s (THAI) first A380 that is in full livery.

The airline’s first double-decker has also completed interior installation and will now go through its final phase of ground and flight tests in Hamburg, before the aircraft will be believered to THAI sometime during the third quarter of 2012.

THAI will become the ninth operator of the A380 and the airline has firm orders for six A380s.

TAKE A PHOTO INTERIOR TOUR OF THAI’S A380 via Australian Business Traveler

The first A380 for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) was unveiled today bearing its special celebration livery, ahead of entry-into-service next week on the Kuala Lumpur-London route. Image from Airbus.

Airbus also showed off Malaysia Airlines (MAS) first A380, sporting a special “celebration livery.” The A380′s new paint scheme was added post-delivery and highlights the A380 as the flagship for the airline. The plane will start operations on the MAS Kuala Lumpur-London route next week and is configured in three classes with a total of 494 seats.

LAN and TAM to Merge.

Chile's LAN Airlines merged with TAM Airlines of Brazil on Friday, forming LATAM Airlines Group S.A., the largest airline in Latin America and one of the largest in the world, in terms of network connections.LATAM Airlines Group is based in Santiago, Chile, with secondary offices in San Paulo, Brazil.

Delta Expects Profits to Rise.

Delta Air Lines the No. 1 U.S. carrier by sales, said in a regulatory filing that revenue and profit should rise this quarter, aided by stronger business travel and expansion of its number of flights to New York.

But it said it expects to record losses from fuel hedging due to declining oil prices and charges for staff cuts.

Southwest to offer Live TV

 Southwest Airlines plans to sell live television service on five planes and expand it to more aircraft by mid-July.

The airline said Thursday that it would offer seven sports and news channels for passengers to watch on their own devices.

Southwest said it will test prices from $3 to $8 during a trial period. Passengers will need a Wi-Fi-enabled device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop computer.

Live TV will be offered separately from wireless Internet access and customers won’t have to buy Internet access to watch TV.

The Southwest channels: NBC Sports, MLB (Major League Baseball), NFL Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News and Fox Business News.

Southwest hired Row 44 to provide the service, which the airline plans to expand to 20 planes by mid-July. Southwest said that if the service is successful, it will be added to all the airline’s Wi-Fi-enabled planes by the end of the year.

The airline has about 550 Boeing 737 jets including about 250 with Wi-Fi. It plans to outfit 70 percent of its fleet by the end of 2013.

Airlines have been expanding in-flight entertainment options such as Internet access to distinguish themselves from other airlines that often sell tickets for about the same price.

JetBlue Airways and Virgin America have offered live TV programming on seat-back screens for several years at no extra fee. They provide 36 and 18 channels, respectively. Frontier Airlines sells 25 channels of live satellite TV on its larger planes for $6, with elite-level frequent fliers getting it free. United charges $6 for flights under two hours and $8 for longer ones but hasn’t outfitted its entire fleet.

Separately, Delta Air Lines said Thursday that it will offer Internet access on international flights beginning early next year. Delta’s entire domestic fleet is already outfitted for Wi-Fi, but airlines have been slower to add the service on overseas routes partly because they need satellites to get a signal over the middle of the ocean, not the land-based transmission signals often used within the U.S.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

EasyJet Founder Starts New Airline

A new budget airline backed by EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou will soon take to the African skies, promising to bring low-cost flights to millions of people in the continent.

Dubbed Fastjet, the no-frills carrier is expected to launch in three to four months, aiming to cash in on Africa's robust economic growth and a growing appetite for travel by its burgeoning middle class.

American Airlines asks for more time

The parent company of American Airlines may get more time to present a turnaround plan in federal bankruptcy court. AMR Corp. said Friday that a committee of unsecured creditors agreed to support a three-month extension for AMR’s exclusive right to offer a restructuring plan. 

Singapore Clings to the Luxury Mantle

Tony Fernandes, the flamboyant chief executive of budget airline AirAsia, joked last month that he could buy Singapore Airlines and even displayed an artist's impression of his competitor's plane painted in AirAsia colours.

It was a tongue-in-cheek jab, but one that struck at a painful truth for Singapore Airlines The company has stuck to its luxury image even as low-cost carriers picked off passengers in a weak global economy, and profits have suffered.

The airline reported an unexpected loss in the January-March quarter, its first since the tail end of the global financial crisis in 2009 which crushed global air travel. Its shares are down 29 percent in the past 12 months, while AirAsia's  are up 10 percent.

UK Airlines Join Forces To Force Govt Action

 Britain's aviation industry said the government needs to come up with a clear, long-term policy to address capacity issues at its main airports, or face the prospect of falling further behind European rivals.

Britain will launch a consultation document on aviation next month, with Ferrovial-owned BAA  expected to lobby again for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, which it operates.

A group made up of BAA, British Airways-owner IAG  Virgin Atlantic, Manchester Airports Group, the Trades Union Congress and the Chamber of Commerce said on Monday the government should implement a new policy immediately, and not rule out options favoured by the industry, such as a third runway.

Put Oxygen Back In The Can Says FAA

The government is giving airlines more than three years to restore emergency oxygen to aircraft lavatories, although safety advocates say that's too long to be without the potentially life-saving supplies.

WiFi on Japan's Main Airlines.

JAL will start offering Wi-Fi from July 15 on flights between Tokyo and New York, it said. A one-hour plan will cost US$11.95, while 24 hours of access will cost US$21.95. The Wi-Fi will be offered for free through September for first class and other elite passengers.

The service will be offered on the New York route every other day until Aug. 5, then on every flight. In late August, Wi-Fi will be expanded to flights from Tokyo to Los Angeles and Chicago, and in October flights to Jakarta will also get access.

American Airlines Staff Seek New Talks

Flight attendants and mechanics at American Airlines want to resume contract talks as a deadline nears for a federal judge to rule on whether the airline can impose its own terms on workers.

Separately, the pilots' union board was meeting Tuesday to reconsider whether to let members vote on American's final contract offer.

Tuesday's developments raised the prospect that American could negotiate voluntary cost-cutting deals with all three of its labor unions, which seemed unlikely just a week ago.

MD83 of American Airlines Makes Emergency Landing

Leaking oil forced an American Airlines plane to make an emergency landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Airport officials said the pilot noticed the leak shortly after taking off from Raleigh for Chicago around 8:15 a.m. Sunday. The first attempt at an emergency landing was scrapped, but the pilot brought the plane down safely as emergency crews stood by on the second attempt. Authorities say none of the 138 passengers on the MD-83 jet were injured.

Ryanair warn of low profits

Ryanair Holdings Plc  Europe’s biggest discount airline, predicted earnings will fall this year as a slowing European economy prevents it from increasing fares sufficiently to make up for surging jet-fuel costs.

Net income rose 25 percent to 502.6 million euros ($643 million) in the 12 months to March 31, Ryanair said today in a statement. That figure may slip to between 400 million euros and 440 million euros this year, the Dublin-based company said.

The April issue of New York's premier queer monthly publication is out now, loads of features inside, including, Abby Dees is a Los Angeles based civil rights attorney-turned-author, speaker, syndicated columnist and IMRU radio host. Abby wrote the book Queer Questions Straight Talk to help bridge the communication gap between the LGBT and straight communities.   Ruthie Alcaide has appeared on MTV’s Real World Hawaii, and The Challenge programs. She’s now a college lecturer.

There is also a page dedicated to gay writer and broadcaster,  Jason Shaw!

Check out the April issue of Diversity Rules Magazine featuring Abby Dees and Ruthie Alcaide at http://www.diversityrulesmagazine.com

Once there,  just click  on the current issue tab,  to visit and read the wonderful online version of this fine publication.

New books from Jason Shaw

Priced at £6.99

Click here.

 

Priced at £6.99

Click here.

On Sale Now

The Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies Of All Time book launched

Hey, it's been a short while, but at last the first of a series of books from me is out,  The Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies.

Following on from extensive research, watching, calculating and a veritable avalanche of emails the cogitation and compilation is complete and it's now time to unveil the final Top 50 of those wonderful gay movies that hold some sort of influence over us.

Available in printed from at £6.99 

Also available in a digital form exclusive to Amazon Kindle  

This is an exciting time for me and I sincerely hope you will enjoy this comprehensive guide to the most influential gay movies of all time.

All top 50 movies have a full review, complete with synopsis and sometimes some reader/viewer comments and suggestions -  maybe yours is included?

Presented in a clear and easy to understand way, this really is designed to be an  gentle first insight into those special gay movies that have helped shape our emotions and our society.

More A380 Woes

Wing cracks on the A380 have grounded some of the super jumbo aircraft.Airbus has insisted the double-decker plane, used by Emirates and Qantas airlines among others, is safe to fly.

However, European aircraft safety authorities have ordered the checks on nearly a third of the A380 fleet in service.

Hairline cracks were discovered on the wings on a number of "non-critical" brackets known as "rib feet" inside the wings during routine inspections, Airbus said.

Similar flaws were spotted earlier this month during the repair of the Qantas aircraft which suffered an engine blow-out after taking off from Singapore in November 2010.

The latest cracks have been described as more significant and it is believed that mainly A380s run by Singapore Airlines and Emirates were affected.

But Airbus's Justin Dubon told Sky News that with more than 2,000 such brackets in each wing - a total of 4,000 per plane - cracks on a small number of rib feet would not affect wing performance.

He added that the cracks were a result of the manufacturing process and not caused in flight.

Airbus aircraft are manufactured in pieces in its engineering centres across Europe and assembled in Toulouse - the wings are assembled in the UK, in the Cheshire town of Broughton.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued an order for A380 aircraft which have completed 1,800 flight cycles - take-off and landing - to be visually inspected by January 28.

Planes which have completed between 1,300 and 1,799 flight cycles are required to have the checks within the next six weeks.

With many of the A380 delivered to airlines recently, some of the aircraft which need repairs may still be under a manufacturer's warranty.

The world's largest jetliner, which has two floors and can carry up to 853 passengers, entered service in October 2007 with Singapore Airlines.

The A380 costs $390m (£251m) on average after Airbus announced a price increase on Wednesday.

Gay Movies

Gay movies, we’ve all heard of them, seen them, enjoyed or hated them. Some are great, some good, some fun, some not so good or fun or even that interesting.  Like any genre so broad as this, there are genres within genres within genres, horror, historic, recreations, love stories, coming of age and rite of passage battles, the list probably as endless as we are different.  Yet,  some of these gay movies are better than others,  some more popular, well known, enjoyable, worthy or just plain silly,  but all have some   are level of influence, be it tiny or great. Take Philadelphia and Brokeback Mountain for example, both I’m sure you’ll agree had a fair level of influence on audiences, both mainstream and gay as well as the media and the movie industry as a whole,  but that’s only my thoughts,  what are yours,  what do you think have been the most influential gay movies over the last 50 years?  Surly you have a view, perhaps you’re a gay movie fan, or connoisseur or maybe you like most are just a casual watcher, you may be bi, straight or gay, it doesn’t matter, I want to hear your views,  what you think are the most influential gay movies of the last 50 years. 

Please leave me a comment in the comment section below,  or email  gaymovies@seafrontdiary.com    or if you prefer,  text 075 123 76995

Please leave me a comment in the comment section below,  or email  gaymovies@seafrontdiary.com    or if you prefer,  text 075 123 76995