The xkcd Phone, with FlightAware integration (joke)

xkcd, one of the Internet's favorite comics, has announced the xkcd Phone in their latest issue. Further, it has deep FlightAware integration to annoy you every time a plane flies overhead. (xkcd.com) More...

Planes Without Pilots

Advances in sensor technology, computing and artificial intelligence are making human pilots less necessary than ever in the cockpit. Already, government agencies are experimenting with replacing the co-pilot, perhaps even both pilots on cargo planes, with robots or remote operators. (www.nytimes.com) More...

Ars Technica author appeals and gets his PNR history

Cyrus Farivar from Ars Technica had previously attempted to get his PNR history from US CBP but was unsuccessful. After an appeal, he got what he requested and describes what kind of data is included. (arstechnica.com) More...

Airlander 10: World’s largest aircraft slowly drifts toward commercial use

Feast your eyes upon Airlander 10, a massive airship that's currently under construction in a suitably oversized hangar in England. The ginormous blimp was originally going to be deployed by the US Army for long-term surveillance, but in 2012 the project had to be canned due to delays and budgetary issues. That wasn't the end of this airship's story, though. (arstechnica.com) More...

Spirit Airlines Sees Business Take Off With Raunchy Ads

South Florida-based Spirit Airlines is known for being cheap. It boasts "ultralow" base fares and then charges for items such as carry-on luggage or printing out your boarding pass at the airport. That thrift carries over to Spirit's advertising. (www.npr.org) More...

Amazon planning to have delivery by drone

On CBS's 60 Minutes, Jeff Bezos revealed that Amazon.com is hoping to have 30 minute delivery by drone available in four to five years. (www.zdnet.com) More...

US terrorist database growing at rapid rate

The U.S. government is rapidly expanding the number of names it accepts for inclusion on its terrorist watch list, with more than 1.5 million added in the last five years, according to numbers divulged by the government in a civil lawsuit. (news.yahoo.com) More...

Air Algerie Plane Disappears From Radar With 116 On Board

An Air Algerie flight from Burkina Faso to Algiers has disappeared from radar. There were 110 people on board and it lost contact 50 minutes after take off. Reports say that flight AH5017 may have been over a high risk zone for US airlines, but there are no reports of what may have happened to it. The plane was reportedly in Mali air space when it lost contact. (flightclub.jalopnik.com) More...

Unruly passenger diverts flight from IAH to New York

A man caused United 1435 to divert to Memphis on Saturday. After departing from IAH, he began to harass another passenger and it escalated into him trying to rush the cockpit. After landing in Memphis, the man was removed and the plane searched for a gun. The passengers finally were put on a new plane and taken to EWR, never making it to their original LGA destination. A fellow passenger recorded video of the incident. (www.click2houston.com) More...

Gunmen attack Karachi's Jinnah International Airport

Heavily armed gunmen have attacked Karachi's international airport, killing at least four security guards and hurling grenades, reports say. (www.bbc.com) More...