Feature Stories
Sure, pilots understand the true feeling of majesty and freedom that comes from being at the helm of your own plane, cruising through the skies. For them, aviation is a dream come true. But for the rest of us—the everyday travelers—the majority of thi... read more >>>
The union representing cabin crew at British Airways is poised to announce a strike, but management at the airline is getting ready. Unite must inform BA management by March 15 if it intends to take strike action. It must give the airlines seven days notice. T... read more >>>
Did you know that among U.S. airports with commercial air service, 75 percent are now served solely by regional carriers? In fact, these airlines, which fly on behalf of familiar big name carriers like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, now operate 53 percent of all ... read more >>>
Imagine driving a Ferrari sports car that can fly and land on water. It's not fantasy, but a reality. The Icon A5 amphibious plane has a cutting edge design with fold-out wings that extend out at the push of a button. The Icon Aircraft company believes this plane wil... read more >>>
Hundreds of women pilots who made history during World War II were honored today on Capitol Hill. Some 175 members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were on hand at a ceremony that recognized their service, and awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal. I... read more >>>
Gerard Arpey, CEO of American Airlines, says he believes passenger profiling should be used by the TSA to help improve security in the airline industry. "Common sense tells us we will need to use technology much more aggressively, and we need to use more aggressi... read more >>>
The following are the most recent travel warnings and alerts issued by the U.S. Department of State. For more country-specific information, visit their website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html or click on the links below. Current Travel Warnin... read more >>>
Thunderstorms are rolling across southern areas of the country today, from Texas and the Southern Plains into the Southeast. Rain is also falling in the Midwest, and there’s snow on the Western Plains. It’s a sunny and breezy day in Southern Califo... read more >>>
Plane spotters have been observing aircraft since the 1920's. During World War Two, citizens in Britain were encouraged to become members of the Royal Observer Corps to help spot enemy aircraft in the skies over England. Plane spotting became even more popular after the ... read more >>>
Just south of Los Angeles International Airport, a small hill offers a panoramic view of the airport, complete with benches, shady trees and an observation deck. Imperial Hill in El Segundo is a popular spot for aviation aficionados. They come to see and photograph the b... read more >>>
Almost every day, plane spotters gather at Imperial Hill in El Segundo, California, to watch jets take off and land at LAX. Avid spotters are methodical and diligent in following the strict sequence of actions required to record each plane they see. However, while the p... read more >>>
Airlines can expect steady growth over the next 20 years, according to a new report being released today. In its 20-Year Forecast for Fiscal Years 2010-2030, the Federal Aviation Administration says it expects passenger levels to increase slowly this year, by 0.5 perc... read more >>>
The two busiest carriers at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport are asking for an exemption to the upcoming tarmac delay rule. Under the new rules from the Department of Transportation, airlines will be fined up to $27,500 per passenger for any plane... read more >>>
The East Coast and Midwest snowstorms of the past month were painful for the nation’s airlines. AirTran says it lost $5 to $6 million in revenues on account of the inclement weather; at Southwest, it was $15 million; Continental, $25 million; US Airways, $30 mill... read more >>>
The story about the kids directing air traffic from the Control Tower at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport has drawn plenty of attention. Reaction in the media has been mixed – opinions seem to be split between those who think it was not a bi... read more >>>
The union representing 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines has a plan it believes will help make flights safer. The Association of Flight Attendants is asking for its members to be trained in hand-to-hand combat. The request is part of a four-point counter-terro... read more >>>
Poor Los Angeles International Airport. As we said in a story last week, it just doesn’t get any respect. “You couldn’t put in the newspaper what I think of LAX,” says one traveler in an Orange County Register story about new flights to Hawai... read more >>>
On a stretch of beach under the flightpath at Los Angeles International Airport, a special memorial was held Friday to honor two U.S. Air Force pilots who disappeared after departing on a training flight in 1955. This past year, the wreckage of the Lockheed T33A jet trai... read more >>>
US Airways has been fined $40,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation for failing to disclose the full price of its airfares to consumers. The DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office found that the US Airways website was displaying fares without taxes or fees incl... read more >>>
Air Force pilot Harold Shumard and his crew of 15 men were aboard a massive KC-97G Stratofreighter when it rolled down the runway in Roswell, New Mexico on a cold, cloudy day in October of 1957. The Stratofreighter departed Walker Air Force Base for a 12-hour round robi... read more >>>
New full body scanning machines are now arriving at 11 major U.S. airports. It’s part of the Transportation Security Administration’s plan to deploy 1,000 machines over the next two years. Airports receiving the new equipment: Los Angeles International, ... read more >>>
Triple digit heat and an angry rattlesnake greeted the AeroChannel Wreck Hunters recently when they trekked through California desert canyons to a 1961 crash site. The AeroChannel hikers led a Florida man, Gene Shokes, 47, of Pensacola, to the site of his father's fort... read more >>>
Its four runways handle hundreds of flights per day, but Los Angeles International Airport also makes room for other aircraft -- helicopters. On the top of the Terminal 4 parking structure is a helipad where helicopters like the popular Robinson R-44 can be routinely spo... read more >>>
Climbing the summit of the Rincon Mountains in southern Arizona, we find a long forgotten piece of history. Wreck Hunters Trey Brandt and Jim Fusco hike the wreck site of a twin engine bomber that slammed into the mountain decades ago. During World War II and in the year... read more >>>
The Qantas A380 made its debut in Los Angeles, with the first scheduled flight arriving from Melbourne in October 2008. Attending the event, Qantas Ambassador-at-Large John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Click on the video to see our AeroChannel special report on the i... read more >>>
The thought of being stuck next to an unruly child on a long flight is enough to frighten the most seasoned traveler. In fact, surveys have shown that out of control children are one of the biggest annoyances travelers have when on an airplane. What's a parent to do to... read more >>>
Arizona became a major hub for the training of U.S. Army Air Force personnel during World War II and in the years that followed. Pilots and crew flew in and out of seventeen active air bases. But training sometimes ended in tragedy with planes crashing in the desert and s... read more >>>
Before airplanes became a popular method of air travel, a different type of aircraft existed -- the dirigible or lighter-than-air aircraft. The first airships were developed in the latter half of the 19th century in Europe, most notably by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.... read more >>>
The Emirates Airbus A380 superjumbo made its Southern California debut at Los Angeles International Airport in 2008, and the airline arrived in style to show off its acquisition. Their new aircraft can carry 489 passengers: 14 in its first-class private “suites&r... read more >>>
Last fall, a Qantas A380 aircraft from Sydney to Los Angeles was forced to divert to Melbourne after a problem was found with a fuel pump. The diversion might not have gotten much attention, except that singer John Mayer was aboard the flight, and he took the opportuni... read more >>>
