Planes

FAA investigates event of one jet flying too close to another, though both crews responded to alerts and landed safelyThe US Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it was investigating a close call ​at New York’s John F Kennedy international airport ‌between two passenger jets.“The crew of Republic Airways Flight 4464 performed a go-around at John F. Kennedy International Airport after missing the ​intended approach path and flying too close to ​Jazz Aviation Flight 554, which was cleared to ⁠land on a parallel runway. Both flight crews responded ​to onboard alerts,” the FAA said in a statement about ​the Monday incident. Continue reading...

With some misgivings, families and aviation enthusiasts bring stepladders and picnics to the perimeter fenceIt was a 4.40am start for the Wilkinson family. They packed their car with gear you might take on a trip to the seaside – folding chairs, blankets, a picnic. But instead of heading to the coast, they drove 80 miles from their home in Hampshire to Gloucestershire and set up camp close to the perimeter fence of RAF Fairford to watch American warplanes take off and land.“It’s definitely cheaper than a trip to a theme park,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, who was there with wife, Katie, and three sons, aged seven to 12. “The sights and sounds are impressive. But it’s a bittersweet thing. These planes are only here because of war. We have to keep that in mind.” Continue reading...

Defence ministry says US failed to request authorisation in time for parliament to give approval as required by international treatyItaly has denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to US military planes carrying weapons for the war in Iran after the US did not follow the required authorisation procedure.A source at the Italian defence ministry confirmed a report in Corriere della Sera that “some US bombers” had been due to land at Sigonella – one of seven US navy bases in Italy – before heading to the Middle East, but that use of the base had been denied because the US sought authorisation to land only while the aircraft were already en route to Sicily. Continue reading...