Fancy questioning a former pilot and current Acting Operations Director for bmibaby? Well today you have the chance as bmibaby’s recently appointed Acting Operations Director, Pete Durnford, will be taking part in a live Twitter interview today, 22 July at 3pm.

This will be the second in a series of live Twitter Interviews on the @bmibaby_com Twitter feed, and will see Pete taking over the @bmibaby_com Twitter feed for an hour to answer questions on bmibaby flight operations, the bmibaby fleet and offering career advice for any budding pilots out there!

Pete has worked with low cost airline bmibaby since 2004 as a Boeing 737 Captain, before being promoted to Base Captain for Birmingham Airport. Pete has held the position as Chief Pilot for bmibaby for the last five years and has recently taken on the role as Acting Operations Director.

Pete has a huge passion for flying and for the airline industry. He first learnt to fly at the early age of 17 at Kent Aerodrome, becoming an instructor and then Chief Flying Instructor with the Southern Aero club before moving in to commercial aviation.

During his ten year career in commercial aviation as a Learjet Captain Pete traveled all over the world flying celebrities including his idol William Shatner!

Manx2.com launched its flights between Galway and Cork last week.

The Company, which hopes to stimulate commerce and tourism in Ireland, launched the special service on Friday in a bid to reconnect Galway in the heart of the West with Cork, Southern Ireland’s second largest city.

Flights operate every Friday and Sunday between the two cities along with connections from the Isle of Man to Galway via Belfast International Airport also every Friday and Sunday.

The flights are set to improve connectivity between the West of Ireland and Cork by reducing travel times from three hours to just 40 minutes.

Ryanair has announced it is to offer passengers the option of increased baggage allowances this summer.

The new allowances mean passengers can each check in up to two bags per trip and also have the option of paying for an increased weight allowance on their first checked-in bag – from 15kg to 20kg.

As with any Ryanair ‘extra’ you’ll have to pay for the privilege, and prices depend on time of travel – see below for online prices:

1st bag
standard 15kg allowance: €15/£15, or €20/£20 during peak season of July and August
increased 20kg allowance: €25/£25, or €30/£30 during July and August

2nd bag
15kg maximum allowance for the second bag: €35/£35, or €40/£40 during July and August

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the introduction of a new Time Limited Zone (TLZ) which will allow flights to take place though denser ash cloud than previously permitted.

Following discussions with airlines, regulators, and aircraft and engine manufacturers the new Time Limited Zone, which effectively doubles the amount of permissible ash grammes per cubic metre of air, will reduce the need for airspace closures caused by volcanic ash.

New procedures and the introduction of the zone will take place from midday today, 18 May 2010.

To operate in the new zone airlines need to present the CAA with a safety case that includes the agreement of their aircraft and engine manufacturers. UK airline Flybe is the first to achieve this and will therefore be able to use the new zone from midday.

Announcing the change Andrew Haines, Civil Aviation Authority Chief Executive, said: “I’m pleased that the huge efforts we’re all making across aviation to keep flying safe whilst minimising the disruption from the volcano have resulted in further progress. Unprecedented situations require new measures and the challenge faced should not be underestimated. Firstly because the standard default procedure for aircraft that encounter ash, to avoid it completely, doesn’t work in our congested airspace. Secondly, the world’s top scientists tell us that we must not simply assume the effects of this volcano will be the same as others elsewhere. Its proximity to the UK, the length of time it is continuously erupting and the weather patterns are all exceptional features.

“The answer can only come, therefore, from aircraft and engine manufacturers establishing what level of ash their products can safely tolerate. At an international aviation conference we held last Thursday, attended by all the leading airline operators this approach was welcomed and supported. The manufacturers are co-operating fully and urgently in this task and the new zone is an excellent example of how the industry should be working to move the issue forward and I commend Flybe for its work.”

The introduction of the Time Limited Zone is based on measurements collected from test flights through the current ash cloud over the past month, as well as on data and evidence compiled and analysed from previous volcanic ash incidents combined with additional analysis from manufacturers.

Ryanair has announced it will operate extra flights tomorrow, Wednesday 21 April, and Thursday 22 April from Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife to Madrid.

The extra flights will enable stranded passengers to reach mainland Europe and therefore make their own way home via road, rail or ferry – onward journeys will be at passengers’ own expense.

For more information check the Ryanair website here: www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-introduces-extra-canary-island-flights

PremiAir, the UK’s leading helicopter charter company, is flying its twin-engined helicopters almost shuttle style between London and Dublin for executives stranded by the continuing closure of controlled UK airspace owing to Iceland’s volcanic ash cloud. Since Friday 16th April the company has also carried out flights to and from Germany, Belgium and Paris, that is until the French ATC stopped all VFR (Visual Flight Rules) traffic.

“We had an idea to position a few helicopters over in Calais to bring people back to the mainland, but have been prevented to do that since the closure of French airspace,” said Neil Gibson, PremiAir’s Head of Charter and Management.

PremiAir grounded its helicopter fleet on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning but resumed commercial flying Friday afternoon after undertaking its own risk analysis and after indepth dialogue with the engine manufacturers on its Twin Squirrel and Sikorsky S76 fleet. PremiAir also took advice from its own inhouse meteorologist and the company is constantly monitoring the situation.

PremiAir is operating with some strict operational restrictions – flying its helicopters at lower altitudes. Flying VFR or under VMC (Visual Visual Meteorological Conditions) is flying in weather conditions clear enough for the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.

Following the collapse of Highland Airways, Loganair has announced it is to launch services between Stornoway and Benbecula.

From today, Monday 29 March, Loganair will operate two return flights each weekday between Stornoway and Benbecula using a 33-seat Saab 340B aircraft.

India’s leading domestic carrier and only five-star airline, Kingfisher Airlines, is lining up to join oneworld® after signing a memorandum of understanding as its first step towards full membership of the airline alliance, subject to Indian regulatory approval.

The agreement was concluded at a meeting between Kingfisher Airlines’ Chairman Vijay Mallya and Chief Executives from oneworld’s 11 existing member airlines, which include some of the best and biggest names in the industry.

A target date for Kingfisher Airlines to join the alliance will be confirmed once this approval is gained. The process to bring any airline on board normally takes around 18 months to complete, so Kingfisher Airlines could be expected to start flying as part of oneworld during 2011.

Kingfisher Airlines’ addition to oneworld will link India’s extensive domestic network (58 Indian cities) with oneworld’s unrivalled global network – the only alliance with airlines based on every continent.

A four-day strike by Lufthansa pilots has started today.

Lufthansa is advising passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.

For more information for passengers booked to fly between Monday 22 February and Thursday 25 February check with Lufthansa on 0800 850 6070 or here

Passengers can also check for updates on Twitter @Lufthansa_DE

Hey, this may be a publicity stunt but it is funny.

easyJet has offered the Pope free flights between Rome and London in an attempt to reduce the cost of his UK visit, which is estimated to cost the UK tax payer in excess of £20million.

According to easyJet’s website: The airline has contacted the Holy Press Office in Rome to extend the invitation and is currently awaiting a response.

How long before someone offers the Vatican free car hire, or free shuttle services?