Even with all the signs and signals on the roads and motorways, all of us have at one time or another gotten lost whilst driving. It would be natural to imagine, therefore, that in the vast expanse of the sky it would be quite easy to get lost withou
Believe it or not, there’s a direct correlation between the type and number of coats of paint covering an aircraft and both its weight and aerodynamics — and therefore, of course, its fuel consumption. This, in turn, has an impact on the amount of ca
At one point or another we’ve all experienced bumpy patches during a flight, and whether we’re nervous flyers or not, few of us enjoy it. So what exactly is airturbulence, technically speaking? Wind, of course, is the movement of air particles in gr
Ever wonder about the details of those inflatable slides that get passengers out of the plane in the event of an emergency? Here's a quick primer. If you fly with any frequency, a phrase heard over the public address system, “crew, slide arm and cros
I recently had the opportunity to tour the220,000-square metre (54-acre) maintenance facilities of Iberia Airlines at Madrid's Barajas Airport, to observe the incredibly meticulous processes brought to bear on enormous and enormously complex machiner
As crews were still struggling to raise the fuselage AirAsia flight QZ8501, Indonesia's top transportation official said the aircraft climbed at an extreme rate just before it crashed. Investigators have had time to study the flight recorder; we can
So-called black boxes are sadly back in the news again since AirAsia's have finally been found. But how do they work? When it was first invented in 1958 by Australian mathematician, chemist, and aeronautics scientist David Warren, amazingly enough, w
That air travel is the safest form of transportation going is not mere happenstance but rather due to rigourous maintenance of equipment and exhaustive training of personnel. Most major airlines dedicate huge financial resources toward it, and set as
Most of the time we find ourselves passing through expansive airports with amenities and services galore, and nice, wide, long runways. And then, of course, there are the other airports. The ones that make for great cocktail-party tales of harrowing
Spectacular aircraft photos abound all over the Web these days–shots taken on runways, in hangars, taking off/landing, at cruising altitude. And many of us who glance at them, sometimes think, “how cool,” and move on. And then there are the planespot
One of the safest things you could be doing right now is flying. According to solid research, 3 miles on an Interstate puts you at the same risk of fatality as does a coast-to-coast flight. Every time you drive 3 miles on an Interstate highway (or ab
Would you sedate your child on a flight? Are parents who do so wrong or right? A Wall Street Journal article reported that many parents "drug" or sedate their kids on planes so they'll be less bothersome for the parents, flight attendants and fe
Being a “legacy airline” with a national identity can be a complicated business at times. We are of course extremely proud of our history and heritage as Spain’s first airline, and the carrier that most people around the world automatica
Sure, vacations can be exciting. And for parents who feel the need for a break away from work and the stress, it can be one of the most relieving times in your life. On the other hand traveling with young children can at times almost seem to add more
Have a Twitter account and speak Spanish? Today and tomorrow come try for a shot at 2 round-trip long-haul tickets by tweeting what you love about Madrid and why it should host the Olympic Games in 2020. The winning tweet will make it onto the fusel
Flying with a wheelchair is a lot like playing the tables at Vegas. You throw the dice and hope for the best. Sometimes, it really does feel like a craps shoot. Although U.S. airlines are generally required to accommodate you, it would not be in yo
Off late I see many airlines entering into bi-lateral agreements to code-share or add value to their air network. In many cases one of the carrier is a member of an alliance and other is not. IEmirates-Qantas, Delta-Virgin etc. Then we see reduction
I think I have remembered all the planes I have flown on since I started traveling in the 1960′s. That was tough. I started traveling as a child in the Midwest, then to South America, and then, well all over.
I recently had the opportunity to tour the220,000-square metre (54-acre) maintenance facilities of Iberia Airlines at Madrid's Barajas Airport, to observe the incredibly meticulous processes brought to bear on enormous and enormously complex machiner
That air travel is the safest form of transportation going is not mere happenstance but rather due to rigourous maintenance of equipment and exhaustive training of personnel. Most major airlines dedicate huge financial resources toward it, and set as
Spectacular aircraft photos abound all over the Web these days–shots taken on runways, in hangars, taking off/landing, at cruising altitude. And many of us who glance at them, sometimes think, “how cool,” and move on. And then there are the planespot
