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Air Canada staff forced to think 'outside the box' in shipment of largest item airline has ever fit into Boeing 767 Air Canada staff in Toronto were “put to the test” when recently tasked with shipping one of the largest items the airline has ever loaded into a Boeing 767. (Air Canada) Abby O'Brien CTV News Toronto Multi-Platform Writer Follow | Contact Published Jan. 17, 2023 7:14 a.m. MST Share facebook twitter reddit More share options Air Canada staff in Toronto were “put to the test” when recently tasked with shipping one of the largest items the airline has ever loaded into a Boeing 767 – a 44-foot long IMAX screen weighing nearly 2,000 lbs. The screen was shipped to Quito, Ecuador in November for a viewing of James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” according to a release issued by the airline Tuesday. “While Air Canada Cargo moves some pretty large items with its Boeing 767 freighters, the shipment of an IMAX screen from Toronto to Quito in November put the aircraft and the Air Canada Cargo teams to the test,” the release read. “The 44-foot long, 800-kilogram crate that housed the screen was one of the largest items Air Canada Cargo has fit into the 767.” RELATED STORIES Plane crashes, ends up on road near airport in Markham, Ont. B.C. family recalls 'amazing' experience working on new Avatar movie 'Avatar 2' makes waves with $134 million domestic debut Movie reviews: 'Avatar: The Way of the Water' has breathtaking visuals, but too simple a story Air Canada says they’ve never had to transport something so long in the 767s before, meaning the team “literally had to write the manual on how to properly and safely ship the screen.” Air Canada’s Cargo Operations Engineering Manager, Mamun Ansari, oversaw the planning and execution of the move. “We had to think outside the box because this was something we never did before, and despite some initial thoughts of ‘what did we get ourselves into,’ everyone on the team bought into the challenge and was excited to solve this puzzle,” Ansari said. “We felt it would be a real feather in our cap.” The screen was first transported from Montreal to Toronto Pearson International Airport by truck, Ansari said. The team then had to build a mock-up of the crate that would carry the screen using ABS pipes. This initial step took days, they said. Then, the team used two loaders, placed at a “canted angle” to the 767, that lifted the crate, “while a team of up to 20 Air Canada staff employees helped manoeuvre the crate into position inside the main deck.” It took several hours of “methodical” movements to make sure the crate was properly secured for its transcontinental flight. “This was a total team effort and everyone at Air Canada Cargo is really proud of this,” Ansari said. “There was a lot of excitement around this challenging shipment, but the teams all rose to the occasion and executed the plan.”

Under current regulations, Air Canada's move is completely within the regulations. Saskatoon Chamber Asks Watchdog to Examine Air Service Changes NEWS PROVIDED BY Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Jan 17, 2023, 10:30 ET Air Canada decision amounts to net loss of competition, customer choice SASKATOON, SK, Jan. 17, 2023 /CNW/ - The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce today called on Canada's Competition Bureau to examine Air Canada's decision to terminate air service from Saskatoon to Calgary's regional hub, and the implications for travellers who now face less choice and higher costs because competition has been harmed. "Air Canada has not adequately explained its 'business decision' to disregard strong and growing demand and eliminate a route that has been consistently profitable for over 30 years," said Jason Aebig, CEO of the Saskatoon Chamber, noting forecasts that predict strong economic and population growth for Saskatoon and Saskatchewan in the years ahead. "If Air Canada is unwilling to explain its decision to its customers and stakeholders, it can explain its decision to its regulators." He continued: "We believe in profitability. We believe in competition. This decision doesn't make sense and all of it needs a closer look." The Chamber's 11-page submission to the Bureau contends that Air Canada's cancellation of service from Saskatoon to Calgary amounts to a net loss of competition and choice for business and leisure travellers, leaving its closest, direct competitor as the sole provider of comparable service to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan. WestJet will be the only airline offering direct service between Saskatchewan and Calgary now that Air Canada's route cancellation has taken effect, giving it an anticompetitive monopoly. Route changes through 2022 suggest that Air Canada and WestJet took steps to soften competition in the oligopolistic Canadian airline industry. Air Canada withdrew competition from the traditional home-turf regional routes of WestJet, and WestJet did the same in the traditional home-turf regional routes of Air Canada. The Chamber has asked the Bureau to determine whether the air carriers either expressly or tacitly came to an agreement to allocate markets, contrary to the conspiracy provisions, or the civil competitor collaboration provisions, of the Competition Act. Even if the conduct falls short of being an "agreement" between the airlines, it amounts to an abuse of dominance by Air Canada and WestJet where the airlines have engaged in conduct intended to harm competition, thereby improving their respective positions in the market. "Generations of taxpayers have supported the operation of our airlines and national air services system with the expectation that they work for the benefit of all Canadians, in every province and region," says Aebig. "They have a responsibility to the country, and specifically the travelling public, to account for decisions that are clearly undermining competition and choice." The Chamber believes softened competition between Air Canada and WestJet has been to the detriment of the Canadian travelling public and the Canadian business community with Saskatoon and Saskatchewan as the latest victims. "Air Canada's route cancelation means that Saskatoon-based businesses will spend more time and more money to connect with the people and markets they serve," said Aebig. "Compared to neighbouring provinces, Air Canada's decision creates unnecessary barriers for Saskatoon's current businesses, research institutes and residents, as well as those wishing to visit, study or do business here." The Chamber believes Air Canada's decision to abandon a longstanding and profitable domestic route, and cede ground to its closest direct competitor, is concerning and warrants the Bureau's intervention. "We trust the Competition Bureau to clarify the issues," said Aebig. "What is clear is business confidence is strong, our economic horizon is bright, and growing numbers of people are eager to visit, study and work in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan." The Conference Board of Canada is forecasting Saskatoon's economic growth to outpace nearly every other Canadian city. These trends are attributable to Saskatoon's impressive population growth, resource mining and processing facilities, thriving agri-food and research clusters, and burgeoning tech hub. The full text of the Chamber's submission to the Bureau is available at https://saskatoonchamber.com/issues/. SOURCE Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce

Sunwing extends cancellations, shuts down all winter flights from Regina airport Story by Brooke Kruger • 1h ago Sunwing has cancelled all of their winter flights out of Regina effective Feb. 4, 2023.© Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press Sunwing has cancelled all of their winter flights out of Regina effective Feb. 4, 2023. "The cancellations will impact weekly flights from Regina to Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic with the exception of departures to Puerto Vallarta starting on Feb. 5, and the following flights scheduled for Family Day weekend departures to Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 17, and Cancun on Feb. 18 and 20," read the release. Sunwing claims that the cancellations are "necessary due to operational and business constraints that would prevent us from delivering the standards of service our customers in Regina both expect and deserve when travelling with Sunwing." Sunwing is giving passengers the option to cancel their vacation for a full refund or transfer their vacation package to same-day departures from a different airport. In late December, Sunwing cancelled all of their Saskatchewan operations, until Feb. 3, 2023, leaving many passengers stranded down south with empty pockets. The Regina Airport confirmed that they had been given no warning, and further noted that Tuesday's announcement was the first they heard about the full cancellation. The airline had only returned to Saskatchewan for approximately two months before the flight cancellations began.

Vulcan rocket one step closer to launch by Staff Writers Decatur AL (SPX) Jan 15, 2023 File illustration of the Vulcan Centaur rocket. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket has begun its journey to the launch site in preparation for the first test flight. The certification flight one (Cert-1) rocket was completed, loaded onto the R/S RocketShip outside of ULA's rocket factory in Decatur, Ala. and is on a 2,000-mile voyage to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. "The first Vulcan is complete, and we look forward to the test flight this year. Vulcan is a powerful rocket with a single core booster that is scalable for all missions including heavy class performance normally requiring a Delta IV Heavy configuration," said Tory Bruno, ULA's president and CEO. "Vulcan provides higher performance and greater affordability while continuing to deliver our unmatched reliability and orbital precision for all our customers across the national security, civil and commercial markets." Once RocketShip arrives in Cape Canaveral, the Vulcan hardware will be transferred to ULA facilities for inspections and processing ahead of launch preparations. Vulcan will undergo a series of flight readiness verification tests including multiple tanking tests and a wet dress rehearsal, culminating in an engine flight readiness firing. Following the successful final testing, the payloads will be integrated, and the vehicle will be readied for launch. "The ULA team has worked tirelessly to complete the rocket for the first certification flight," said Mark Peller, vice president of Vulcan Development. "Now that production is complete, our launch team will begin processing and testing this innovative new rocket in preparation for the first mission which will deliver a payload to the Moon."

Cargojet extends Master Services Agreement with Canada Post Corporation and Purolator Inc. until 2029 17 January 2023Canadian Aviation News Strategic Renewal with Canada Post Corporation and Purolator Inc. reinforces Cargojet’s Leadership Position in the Domestic Air Cargo Market MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 17, 2023 /CNW/ – Cargojet Inc. (“Cargojet“) (TSX: CJT) is pleased to announce today that it has extended the Master Services Agreement (the “Agreement“) with Canada Post Corporation and Purolator Inc., (Canada Post Group of Companies “CPGOC“) until September 30, 2029. An additional option to renew to March 31, 2031, continues to remain available. Cargojet and CPGOC first entered into the Agreement in 2014 for a seven-year term, with CPGOC exercising its first three-year renewal option in 2017 extending the Agreement until March 31, 2025. The newly extended Agreement will also continue to have minimum guaranteed volumes allowing Cargojet to continue to invest in value-added and enhanced services. “From the very first day of our relationship with CPGOC, we have focused on delivering an unparalleled service, industry leading reliability and on-time performance. The customer centric mindset of our entire team has once again allowed us to renew the trust and confidence of two of Canada’s most iconic brands,” said Ajay Virmani, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cargojet. “Cargojet’s flagship domestic air network is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of all of our strategic customers. By serving over 90% of Canadian population each and every day, we provide a critical backbone for Canada’s supply chains”, concluded Mr. Virmani. About Cargojet: Cargojet is Canada’s leading provider of time sensitive premium air cargo services to all major cities across North America and select international destinations, providing dedicated, ACMI, CMI and international charter services and carries over 25,000,000 pounds of cargo weekly. Cargojet owns/operates a fleet of 40 aircraft. Airlines, Canadian Aviation News, CargojetCargojet

Sweden opens Mainland Europe's first spaceport by Simon Druker Washington DC (UPI) Jan 13, 2023 Sweden inaugurates new satellite launch site Jukkasjaervi, Sweden (AFP) Jan 13, 2023 - Just days after a failed UK satellite launch, Sweden inaugurated Friday its new launching site as the race heats up to be first country to send satellites into orbit from the European continent. Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson cut the ribbon during a ceremony at "Spaceport Esrange", described as "mainland Europe's first satellite launch complex". "There are many good reasons why we need to accelerate the European Space Programme," von der Leyen said. "Europe has its foothold in space and will keep it." The site is an extension of the Esrange Space Centre in Sweden's Arctic, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the town of Kiruna. Around 15 million euros ($16.3 million) have been invested in the site, which is expected to serve as a complement to Europe's space hub at Kourou in French Guiana. It will also provide launch capabilities at a time when cooperation with Russia and the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan has been curtailed by the war in Ukraine. Esrange's state-owned operator, the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), aims to launch its first satellite from the site "in the first quarter of 2024", a spokesman told AFP on Friday. That would make Sweden the first country in continental Europe -- excluding Russia -- to send up a satellite from its soil. Other European spaceports are also in the race. Projects in Portugal's Azores archipelago, Norway's Andoya island, Spain's Andalusia and Britain, among others, are all vying to be the first to succeed. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a German specialist in smaller launchers that are increasingly used by countries and firms sending more compact satellites into space, said recently its first launch would take place at SaxaVord in the Shetland Islands at the end of 2023. An attempt to launch the first rocket into orbit from Britain -- on a Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 that took off from a spaceport in Cornwall -- ended in failure on Tuesday. The satellite industry is booming, with the number of satellites in operation in 2040 expected to reach 100,000, the SSC said, compared to 5,000 now. With a reusable rocket project called Themis, Esrange will also host the European Space Agency's tests of rockets able to land back on Earth, similar to those used by SpaceX, one of the company's owned by the billionaire Elon Musk. Sweden on Friday inaugurated and officially opened Mainland Europe's first space facility for satellite launches. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf cut the ribbon in the city of Kiruna, around 25 miles from the new Spaceport Esrange. The event was timed to coincide with Sweden taking over as the head of the Council of the European Union. The facility in Northern Sweden gives the EU the ability to launch satellites, something only around 10 countries previously had the ability to do. "This spaceport offers an independent European gateway to space. It is exactly the infrastructure we need, not only to continue to innovate but also to further explore the final frontier," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during the inauguration. Spaceport Esrange is operated by the government-owned Swedish Space Corporation, which already operates 10 ground stations strategically located around the world for optimum coverage, plus eight supplementary partner stations. The corporation expects around 10,000 new satellites will be launched globally over the next few years, with the total number eclipsing 100,000 by 2040. There are around 5,000 operational satellites in orbit today. The new facility gives Sweden and the rest of the EU better access to that growing world. It will also host testing of Europe's initiative for reusable rocketry, the European Space Agency's Themis program led by ArianeGroup, as well as suborbital test launches of several next generation rockets. "This new launch complex will help create a foundation for a resilient Europe in Space. New satellite constellations in orbit, responsive launch capabilities and development of reusable rocketry will enable a secure, competitive and sustainable Europe. This will make Europe stronger," SSC CEO Stefan Gardefjord said in a statement. "This is a giant leap for SSC, for Sweden, for Europe and the rest of the world. Satellites are decisive for many functions of the daily lives of today's modern world, and the need for them will only increase in the years to come with Space playing an even more important role." The first satellite launch is expected to launch by the end of the year. "This leading-edge spaceport gives Europe the capabilities to address this growing demand. The benefits of small satellites, that can be launched from here, are immense. We have just heard that it is important to launch these satellites over and over, to have the reusability, to test them," von der Leyen said Friday. Arctic Sweden in race for Europe's satellite launches Esrange Space Centre, Sweden (AFP) Jan 13, 2023 - As the mercury drops to minus 20 Celsius, a research rocket lifts off from one of the world's northernmost space centres, its burner aglow in the twilight of Sweden's snowy Arctic forests. Hopes are high that a rocket like this could carry a satellite next year, in what could be the first satellite launch from a spaceport in continental Europe. Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday inaugurated "Spaceport Esrange", an extension to the Esrange Space Centre. "Europe has its foothold in space and will keep it," von der Leyen said. Here, about an hour from the mining town of Kiruna, there's not a person in sight, only the occasional reindeer herd in the summer. The vast deserted forests are the reason the Swedish space centre is located here, at the foot of "Radar Hill", some 200 kilometres (124 miles) above the Arctic Circle. "In this area we have 5,200 square kilometres (2,007 square miles) where no one lives, so we can easily launch a rocket that flies into this area and falls down without anyone getting harmed," Mattias Abrahamsson, head of business development at the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), tells AFP. Founded by the European Space Agency in 1966 to study the atmosphere and Northern Lights phenomenon, the Esrange space centre has invested heavily in its facilities to be able to send satellites into space. At a huge new hangar big enough to house two 30-metre rockets currently under assembly elsewhere, Philip Pahlsson, head of the "New Esrange" project, pulls up a heavy blue door. Under the rosy twilight of this early afternoon, the new launch pads can be seen in the distance. "Satellite launches will take place from here," Pahlsson says. "This has been a major development, the biggest step we have taken since the inception of Esrange." More than 600 suborbital rockets have already been launched from this remote corner of Sweden's far north, including the SubOrbital Express 3 whose late November launch AFP witnessed as the temperature stood at minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.) While these rockets are capable of reaching space at altitudes of 260 kilometres, they're not able to orbit Earth. - Booming business - But with Europe gearing up to send its first satellite into space soon, Esrange is looking forward to joining a select club of space centres that include Baikonur in Kazakhstan, Cape Canaveral in Florida, and Europe's space hub in South America, Kourou in French Guiana. Various projects in Europe -- in Portugal's Azores, Norway's Andoya island, Spain's Andalusia and the UK's Shetland Islands among others -- are all vying to launch the first satellite from the European continent. An attempt to launch the first rocket into orbit from UK soil -- from a Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 that took off from a spaceport in Cornwall -- ended in failure earlier this week. "We think we are clearly the most advanced," says the SSC, which is aiming to launch in early 2024. The satellite industry is booming, and the Swedish state-owned company is in discussions with several rocket makers and clients who want to put their satellites in orbit. With a reusable rocket project called Themis, Esrange will also host ESA's trials of rockets able to land back on Earth, like those of SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk. While the Plesetsk base in northwestern Russia carried out several satellite launches in the post-Cold War period, no other country in Europe has done so. - Small satellites driving demand - So why is the continent -- so far from the Equator, which is more suited for satellite launches -- suddenly seeing such a space industry boom? "Satellites are becoming smaller and cheaper, and instead of launching one big satellite you spread it out over multiple small satellites and that drives the demand," explains Pahlsson. The number of satellites in operation in 2040 is expected to reach 100,000, the SSC said, compared to 5,000 now. Orbiting the North and South Poles is enough for many satellites, making sites like Esrange more attractive. In addition, having a launch site close to European clients spares them and their satellites long boat journeys to Kourou. In Sweden, like in the rest of Europe, the rockets being developed are "micro-rockets". These are around 30 metres long, capable of carrying a payload of several hundred kilos. In the future, SSC is aiming for payloads of more than a tonne. But working in the harsh Arctic climate "comes with challenges", SSC says. With temperatures regularly dropping to minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius, special attention needs to be paid to the metals used, which become more fragile in the cold. The war in Ukraine -- where the engines for the European Vega rocket are manufactured -- and the abrupt end to the West's space cooperation with Russia have meanwhile increased interest in having spaceports on the continent. "Europe needs independent access to space. The horrible situation in Ukraine has changed the space business," notes Pahlsson.

Russia plans risky rescue for stranded ISS crew | Watch News Videos Online (globalnews.ca) Russia plans risky rescue for stranded ISS crew Posted January 12 2023 07:44pm Russia is about to embark on the risky rescue of two cosmonauts and one astronaut stuck on the International Space Station. Jackson Proskow explains why the trio became stranded, the concerns about the mission, the timeline, and who is being left behind.

Black box and cockpit voice recorder from plane that crashed in Nepal found The black box and cockpit voice recorder of the plane that crashed in Nepal have been found, a Kathmandu Airport official has said. The ATR 72 aircraft, operated by Yeti Airlines, was carrying 72 people when it crashed. Rescuers called off their search on Monday evening local time with two people still unaccounted for, and the operation will resume on Tuesday, according to an airport official. Video on local media showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as rescue workers and crowds gathered around the wreckage of the aircraft. Teknath Sitaula, a Kathmandu Airport official, said the so-called black boxes "are in a good condition now. They look good from outside". The data on the recorders may help investigators determine what caused the plane to crash. Nepal declared Monday a day of mourning and has set up a panel to investigate the disaster and suggest measures to avoid such incidents in future. The plane, on a scheduled flight from Nepal's capital Kathmandu to Pokhara, the gateway to the scenic Annapurna mountain range, was carrying 57 Nepalis, five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one person each from Argentina, Ireland, Australia and France. Pokhara police official Ajay KC said the search and rescue operation, which stopped because of nightfall on Sunday, has now resumed. He said: "We will take out the five bodies from the gorge and search for the remaining four that are still missing." The other 63 bodies had been sent to a hospital, he said. As it crashed the aircraft's fuselage was split into multiple parts which were scattered down the gorge. Tek Bahadur KC, a senior administrative officer in the Kaski district, said he expected rescue workers to find more bodies at the bottom of the gorge. Gaurav Gurung, a witness, said he saw the aircraft spinning violently in the air after it began to attempt a landing. He added he saw the plane fall nose-first towards its left and then crash into the gorge. "The plane caught fire after the crash. There was smoke everywhere," Mr Gurung said. Nearly 350 people have died since 2000 in plane or helicopter crashes in Nepal - home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Everest - where sudden weather changes can make for hazardous conditions. Experts say air accidents are usually caused by a combination of factors, and investigations can take months or longer. Sun, January 15, 2023 at 11:15 p.m. MST·2 min read

What exactly is the advantage for WestJet over letting the deal die? The mission statement says "The transaction is a central piece to the WestJet Group's commitment to prioritize leisure and sun travel from coast to coast and increase affordable air and vacation package offerings for all Canadians" Of course Sunwing controls a number of 737s but then of course there comes, 1. Union Contracts Alpa vs Unifor 2. Debt load 3. Slots 4. lower priced competition 5. grandfather rights etc. Sunwing has fewer than 2,500 on staff and operates 40 aircraft in winter and 10 in summer. It owns 18 of those planes, which are included in the WestJet purchase .Oct 26, 2022

B.C. commuter airline Cascadia Airways unable to continue operations BY SKIES MAGAZINE | JANUARY 13, 2023 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 16 seconds. A small commuter airline based out of British Columbia has made the difficult decision to cease operations for the time being. Cascadia Airways confirmed in a statement on Jan. 11 that it has been “negatively affected by higher overall costs” during the past year, and it has become “unsustainable” for the company to continue its operations. Formerly KD Air, the airline relaunched operations as Cascadia Air at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It shared that its recent decision to cease operations was extremely difficult, as it not only impacts its nearly dozen employees, but “the communities we have served.” here is a current list of their fleet.

Update on "Start Me Up" mission anomaly by Staff Writers Long Beach CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2023 Virgin Orbit is continuing to process its next scheduled rocket through final integration and checkout ahead of its upcoming mission, which is planned to occur from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Virgin Orbit also anticipates returning to Spaceport Cornwall for additional launches, and is in active discussions with key government and commercial stakeholders in the UK to start planning mission opportunities for as soon as later this year. Preliminary analysis of data from the Start Me Up mission has begun to shed light on the outcome of the January 9th flight and next steps to follow. The Start Me Up mission was the first orbital launch attempt in history conducted from western Europe. The flight was conducted by Virgin Orbit's air-launched LauncherOne system from the newly commissioned Spaceport Cornwall in the UK, which just a few weeks ago was transformed from a mere slab of empty cement at a commercial airport into the world's newest space launch operations center. After successfully proceeding through pre-launch operations and taking off as planned from the runway at Spaceport Cornwall, Virgin Orbit's carrier aircraft traveled to the bespoke drop zone selected for this mission and successfully released the rocket. The rocket then ignited its first stage engine, quickly going hypersonic and successfully completing the stage one burn. Initial data assessments indicate that the first stage of the rocket performed as expected, that the rocket reached space altitudes, and that stage separation, ignition of the upper stage, and fairing separation similarly occurred per the planned mission timeline. Later in the mission, at an altitude of approximately 180 km, the upper stage experienced an anomaly. This anomaly prematurely ended the first burn of the upper stage. This event ended the mission, with the rocket components and payload falling back to Earth within the approved safety corridor without ever achieving orbit. Virgin Orbit's carrier aircraft and its crew returned safely to Spaceport Cornwall. Update on the Investigation and Next Steps Extensive telemetry coverage for the flight allowed for the collection of an enormous quantity of data during the mission, allowing Virgin Orbit's engineers and review board members to start their analysis immediately upon detection of the anomaly. Virgin Orbit has initiated a formal investigation into the source of the second stage failure, to be led by Jim Sponnick (Co-Investigator), a distinguished aerospace veteran who was instrumental in the development and operations of the Atlas II, III and V launch systems and operations of the Delta II and IV launch systems and Chad Foerster (Principal Investigator), Virgin Orbit's Chief Engineer and Vice President of Technology Development. An extensive fault analysis and investigation and completion of all required corrective actions identified during the investigation will be completed prior to the next flight. Virgin Orbit is continuing to process its next scheduled rocket through final integration and checkout ahead of its upcoming mission, which is planned to occur from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Virgin Orbit also anticipates returning to Spaceport Cornwall for additional launches, and is in active discussions with key government and commercial stakeholders in the UK to start planning mission opportunities for as soon as later this year. Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit, said: "We are all disappointed that we were not able to achieve full mission success and provide the launch service that our customers deserve. Upon identifying the anomaly, our team immediately moved into a pre-planned investigation mode. Given our four previous successful missions, which have proven our technology, our team's deep understanding of the LauncherOne system from massive amounts of previously collected flight data, and the ample telemetry data that was collected characterizing the flight and the anomaly, I am confident that root cause and corrective actions will be determined in an efficient and timely manner. We are continuing to process and test our next vehicle per our plan and will implement any required modifications prior to our next launch. "I also want to express my heartfelt appreciation to our team, who worked tirelessly under high pressure and difficult conditions, and most importantly to our customers, supporters, and partners in the UK, the US, and across the world. We thank you for the many expressions of confidence and support we have received over the past two days."

and we all wondered what if would happen if computers took over the world, lately, at least in aviation, it seems that they have.

Historic UK rocket mission ends in failure by AFP Staff Writers London (AFP) Jan 10, 2023 An attempt to launch the first rocket into orbit from UK soil ended in failure on Tuesday, with scientists reporting an "anomaly" as it neared its goal. A Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 carrying the 70-foot (21-metre) rocket took off from a spaceport in Cornwall, southwest England, at 2202 GMT. The rocket then detached from the aircraft and ignited as planned at a height of 35,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland at around 2315 GMT. But in a series of tweets as the rocket was due to enter orbit and discharge its nine satellites, Virgin Orbit said: "We appear to have an anomaly that has prevented us from reaching orbit. We are evaluating the information. "As we find out more, we're removing our previous tweet about reaching orbit. We'll share more info when we can." The aircraft returned as planned to a subdued Spaceport Cornwall, a consortium that includes Virgin Orbit and the UK Space Agency, at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The launch was the first from UK soil. UK-produced satellites have previously had to be sent into orbit via foreign spaceports. Had the mission been successful, the UK would have been one of only nine countries that could launch craft into Earth's orbit. "Joining that really exclusive club of launch nations is so important because it gives us our own access to space... that we've never had before here in the UK," Spaceport Cornwall chief Melissa Thorpe told BBC television before the launch. Hundreds of people watched the launch, named "Start Me Up" after the Rolling Stones song. The satellites were to have a variety of civil and defence functions, from sea monitoring to help countries detect people smugglers to space weather observation. The number of space bases in Europe has grown in recent years due to the commercialisation of space. For a long time, satellites were primarily used for institutional missions by national space agencies but most of Europe's spaceport projects are now private-sector initiatives. The market has exploded with the emergence of small start-ups, modern technology making both rockets and satellites smaller, and the rapidly growing number of applications for satellites. Some 18,500 small satellites -- those weighing less than 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) -- are expected to be launched between 2022 and 2031, compared with 4,600 in the previous decade. Campaigners, however, criticised the launch. "Space is the new frontier for military escalation and spending with no real public scrutiny or accountability," said Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) general secretary Kate Hudson. Drone Wars director Chris Cole denounced a "space arms race which will inevitably lead to greater risk of instability and conflict". har/jwp/leg BOEING

Some very interesting airports You Won't Believe These Tiny Airports Actually Function (msn.com)

Date: Jan 6 2023 By: Kathryn Folliott Share TORONTO — Canadian travellers in Mazatlan and other destinations in the Mexican state of Sinaloa have been advised by the Canadian government to shelter in place in the wake of high-level cartel violence. Mazatlan’s airport has closed, along with other airports in the area. At travel.gc.ca, Canada posted this update for Mexico: “There is widespread violence and security operations in Sinaloa State, particularly in Culiacan, Mazatlan, Los Mochis and Guasave since the arrest, on January 5, 2023, of a cartel leader. There are burning cars, exchanges of fire and threat to essential infrastructure, including airports. The Culiacán and Mazatlán airports are closed and all flights are suspended at Los Mochis airport until further notice.” The Canadian government is advising Canadians in Sinaloa to … Limit their movements and shelter in place if possible Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place Don’t attempt to cross road blockades, even if they appear unattended Allow extra time to reach your destination Expect an increased presence of security forces Contact their airline or tour operator to change their travel arrangements if necessary Monitor local media for information on the evolving situation Follow the instructions of local authorities UPDATE FROM SUNWING, AIR CANADA & WESTJET Sunwing, which offers Mazatlan, has this advice for travellers: “Customers travelling to or from Mazatlan over the next 24-48 hours are advised that the temporary closure of Mazatlan airport and surrounding roads may impact their travel plans and there is potential for flights to be delayed or cancelled. For Sunwing customers currently in Mazatlan, please reconfirm your transfer times with your Sunwing representative in destination before heading to the airport. Sunwing customers with upcoming travel plans for Mazatlan are advised to check their flight status for the most up-to-date information on flight times before departing Canada.” Air Canada does not operate flights to Mazatlan, however the airline is keeping an eye on the situation. “None of the places we fly to in Mexico are affected. However, we are watching the situation closely,” Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick told Travelweek. Travelweek also reached out to WestJet, which does operate flights into Mazatlan. WestJet spokesperson Denise Kenny says: “We are monitoring the civil unrest in Sinaloa State closely and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our guests and crews have proactively cancelled operations to and from Mazatlán International Airport today, January 6, 2023. All impacted guests have been notified.” Kenny says the impacted flights are WS2042 (Vancouver to Mazatlán) and WS2043 (Mazatlán to Vancouver). She adds: “As the situation continues to evolve, we will make operational changes in the name of safety as necessary. We advise all guests currently in the region to follow all response instructions provided by local authorities.” WestJet’s current travel advisories are posted online at: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/advisories News wire service The Canadian Press is reporting that Mexico’s violence began after a pre-dawn security operation yesterday, in which security forces captured alleged drug trafficker Ovidio ‘The Mouse’ Guzman, who is a son of former cartel boss Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, and that the violence is particularly fierce in Culiacan, Mazatlan, Los Mochis and Guasave. Canadian officials said on Twitter that cars had been lit on fire, guns were being fired and there was a threat to essential infrastructure, including airports.